Navigating the World: A Comprehensive Guide to the Global Studies Major at UCLA

The global studies major at UCLA offers a unique and interdisciplinary approach to understanding the interconnected world. It caters to students passionate about globalization and its profound impact on contemporary international politics, providing a flexible curriculum and diverse study topics. This guide dives deep into the program's structure, requirements, and opportunities, equipping prospective and current students with the knowledge to navigate this enriching academic journey.

An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Globalization

Global studies at UCLA distinguishes itself by examining the linkages between people across the world that transcend geographic and political boundaries. It's not just about international relations in the traditional political science sense, but a broader, more inclusive field that explores the multifaceted nature of globalization. The program provides a solid structure focused on global education, allowing students to explore their interests without constraint.

The Three Pillars of the Global Studies Curriculum

The curriculum's core is built upon three fundamental pillars:

Culture and Society: This pillar explores the social and cultural dimensions of globalization, including sociocultural anthropology, cultural geography, global music, world literature, culture and communication, and gender studies. Courses like Russian history can satisfy this requirement, allowing students to explore personal interests while fulfilling major requirements.
Governance and Conflict: This focuses on the political and legal aspects of globalization, including contemporary world history, history of Africa, comparative or world politics, political theory, and sociology. Courses like M194DC: Immigration Law and Policy (Approved for Governance and Conflict), with a paper focusing on globalization, can satisfy this requirement.

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Markets and Resources: This examines the economic and environmental dimensions of globalization, including economic geography, environment and sustainability, sociology of migration, microeconomics, and macroeconomics.

These categories provide students with flexibility in choosing courses that align with their interests while maintaining a structured curriculum focused on global education.

Admission and Application

Admission to the global studies major is highly selective. Students admitted to UCLA as Pre-Global Studies MUST apply for the major once at UCLA no later than Fall of their junior year. Transfer Students admitted under another major may also apply to switch to Global Studies. Eligible students: Current Sophomores and Juniors during Fall ONLY. The average prep GPA for the 2024-25 period was 3.8, and the admission rate was 75%. Students are often advised to have a backup major due to the competitive nature of the program.

Application Process

Before applying, students should model their DARS (Degree Audit Report System) for Global Studies to ensure all preparatory courses are correctly reflected. If discrepancies exist, contacting the Global Studies Advising Office is crucial. Application information is typically available under the 'Applying to the Major' tab on the department's website. Incoming transfer students must apply Fall of their junior year (your first quarter at UCLA).

Core Requirements and Preparation

To prepare for the global studies major, students must complete a set of required courses, including:

A minimum of six courses from specified categories.
One course in introduction to globalization.
One statistics course.
At least one year of a college-level modern foreign language.
Five courses, with no more than two from any of the three pillars (Culture and Society, Governance and Conflict, Markets and Resources).

Note that no more than one semester of foreign language may be used toward the minimum six major preparation courses required. High school language of instruction is NOT acceptable to meet major preparation requirements but may be used to satisfy the departmental foreign language requirement after matriculation.

The Travel Study Requirement

One of the most iconic aspects of the global studies major at UCLA is the travel study requirement. Global Studies majors are required to fulfill the study abroad requirement through our Global Studies Travel Program. Alternatively, students may petition to satisfy this with two UCEAP courses or complete the requirement domestically. DACA/undocumented students who are not able to participate in travel study may fulfill this requirement domestically.

Global Studies Travel Program

This program offers an immersive study abroad experience over the summer in various locations for a 4-week period. Students are required to attend at least once to take the required class in an abroad setting to fully absorb the meaning of globalization and its impact on different societies. Certain destinations fill up quickly, so early enrollment is recommended. Students who are not admitted to the Global Studies major will have the option of dropping Global Studies Travel Study Program, but the deposit will not be refunded.

UCEAP Courses

UCEAP courses should focus on the region you are visiting (preferably the country) within a global context. Topics such as cultural exchanges, immigration, colonization, war, conflict, international cooperation, trade, and international business/markets. Alternatively, students may petition to satisfy this with two UCEAP courses. Deadline to submit petition for approval: December 2nd of the term you are applying to the major. No more than 4 courses can be petitioned at a time. Submit official petitions upon your return.

Domestic Option

Alternatively, students may complete the requirement domestically. ** DACA/undocumented students who are not able to participate in travel study may fulfill this requirement domestically.

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Language Proficiency

Language: Level 6 is required for graduation. The foreign language requirement (intermediate level) may be completed at UCLA via placement exam, appropriate coursework, or language immersion abroad. If you hold an F1 visa and attended high school where instruction was not in English, the Global Studies foreign language requirement may be waived. When applying to the Global Studies major, completion of the elementary year of the foreign language is acceptable (i.e. Spanish 3). Courses can be completed in the summer at UCLA or a Community college.

Language Placement Tests will give you a course recommendation. They are offered through a language's respective department. You must take the Placement Test, not the Exemption Test. *Note: Exemption Test is only for the College Foreign Language requirement. AP Test credit may be accepted depending on the AP score. IGETC FL may be accepted as 1 year equivalent.

Capstone Requirement

Global studies majors must also complete a capstone project to graduate. *I A STD 195CE is an optional internship course that fulfills capstone requirement for majors. There are two primary options for fulfilling this requirement:

Independent Research: This involves independent research on a topic of your choice with assistance from a faculty mentor. Potential faculty can be only Professors, Associate/Assistant Professors, or Emeritus. Lecturers, adjunct, and visiting instructors are not allowed. Check with our office. Search for a Faculty Advisor (Adjunct Professors are not allowed. Check instructor's title HERE), preferably faculty you've had classes with before. Submit 10-15 final paper and proof of attendance to workshops to GS advising office to receive credit for capstone.
Internship: The internship must be a min of 80 hours and 8 weeks during a quarter. On campus internships are not eligible. Search for internships (process can take at least 5-7 months). Some federal internships require applications 1 year prior. The programs below offer internship options that may fulfill the GS capstone requirement. A good research question is not descriptive but explanatory-that is, it will produce explanations not descriptions or summaries. Submit a petition to get approval for internship before starting the program.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial aid might cover part of the cost, check with Financial Aid office for details. Search for scholarships, grants, & fellowships. Located at 233 Covel Commons. There are numerous books available that highlight financial aid for specific programs and destinations. Financial Aid for Study Abroad by Gail Ann Schlachter and R. UndocuBruins Fellowship Program: a fellowship program that ensures all students, regardless of immigration status, have the opportunity to receive financial support and achieve their educational and professional goals. Mariposa Achivement Project (MAP) Scholarship: MAP Scholarship was created to support undocumented students cover the cost of academic materials. Application will close on September 23, 2022.

Resources and Support

The UCLA General Catalog is published annually in PDF and HTML formats. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in the UCLA General Catalog. However, all courses, course descriptions, instructor designations, curricular degree requirements, and fees described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice. Consult this Catalog for the most current, officially approved courses and curricula. Other information about UCLA may be found in materials produced by the schools of Arts and Architecture; Dentistry; Education and Information Studies; Engineering and Applied Science; Law; Management; Medicine; Music; Nursing; Public Affairs; Public Health; and Theater, Film, and Television.

With questions regarding major requirements, research, internship, etc. Expect approximately 2 business days for a response. Current UCLA students only. Core courses are typically offered once a year.

Career Paths

While the global studies major at UCLA is not ranked on College Factualâs Best Colleges and Universities for International/Globalization Studies, a degree in global studies can lead to various careers.

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