Global Cultures, B.A.
Global Cultures is an innovative undergraduate major in the School of Humanities with an exciting mission: to explore the problems and processes of globalization from a humanistic perspective. The major provides students with 21st century analytical skills and knowledge that is critical to understanding the complexities of the diverse world in which we live. In the process, Global Cultures equips students with the knowledge and tools that lead to successful careers in a wide range of professions and fields.
Global Cultures faculty offer high-quality lectures and, in advanced courses, interactive small group seminars. The major favors a multidisciplinary approach that draws on multiple departments and programs, housed in both the Humanities (including Art History, English, Film and Media Studies, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Spanish and Portuguese, and many more) and the Social Sciences (Anthropology, Chicano/Latino Studies, Political Science, Sociology, among others).
Up-to-date examples of the highly diverse courses taught in the major may be found at the Global Cultures website. The curricular offerings of Global Cultures are extraordinarily broad. With this intellectually stimulating learning environment, the major attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds. Global Cultures faculty provide these students with a critical understanding and a strong foundation for practice in a variety of occupations, both domestic and international.
Students majoring in Global Cultures must choose a primary emphasis and a secondary emphasis from the list that can be found by clicking the major tab. Each emphasis essentially consists of a geographic focus. Students may also design their own emphasis in consultation with a program advisor and with the approval of the Global Cultures Committee. All emphases are chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor and/or the approval of the Global Cultures Committee. Examples of how current students are combining their primary and secondary emphases are available at the Global Cultures website.
The major requires a total of 14 courses. Six of these courses are specific, and eight are electives (see below). Students are encouraged to augment their foreign language competence beyond the School minimum. Participation in the UC Education Abroad Program is strongly recommended for all Global Cultures majors.
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Requirements for the Major
| A. Complete the following: | |
| HISTORY 21A | World: Innovations |
| HISTORY 21B | World: Empires and Revolutions |
| HISTORY 21C | World: Nation, War, and Rights |
| B. Complete the following: | |
| GLBLCLT 103A | Global Cultures I |
| GLBLCLT 103B | Global Cultures II |
| C. Complete the following: | |
| GLBLCLT 191 | Senior Seminar:Topics in Global Cultures |
| D. Select seven upper-division courses from those listed on the emphasis tab. 1 | |
| E. Select one additional upper- or lower-division course those listed on the emphasis tab. 2 | |
- 1
Five of the courses must focus on one emphasis and two on a second emphasis. Quarterly consultation with a faculty advisor is also required.
- 2
The selected course must focus on the primary or secondary emphasis.
Students are encouraged to augment their language other than English competence beyond the School minimum. Participation in the UC Education Abroad Program is strongly recommended for all Global Cultures majors.
Residence Requirement for the Major: At least five upper-division courses required for the major must be completed successfully at UCI. By petition, two of the five may be taken through the UC Education Abroad Program, provided that course content is approved—usually in advance—by the Director of the Global Cultures Program.
Hispanic, U.S. Latino/Latina, and Luso-Brazilian Cultures
Examines the historical, political, and cultural formations of regions where Spanish and Portuguese are spoken, including Spain, Portugal, Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries in the Western Hemisphere, and the Latino/Latina population in the United States.
| ANTHRO 134A | Medical Anthropology |
| ART HIS 145C | Topics in the History of Modern and Contemporary Architecture |
| ART HIS 167 | Topics in the History of Modern Latin American and Latinx Art |
| CHC/LAT 110 | Topics in Chicano Literature and Culture |
| CHC/LAT 129 | Special Topics in Literature, Arts, Media, Culture |
| CHC/LAT 139 | Special Topics in Chicano/Latino History |
| CHC/LAT 158 | Feminisms of Color |
| CHC/LAT 183 | Multicultural Education in K-12 Schools |
| ENGLISH 101W | Undergraduate Seminar in Critical Writing: Topics in Literary History |
| ENGLISH 105 | Multicultural Topics in Literatures in English |
| FLM&MDA 130 | Multicultural Topics in the Media |
| FLM&MDA 145 | Topics in Popular Culture and Media |
| FLM&MDA 160 | National/Regional Cinemas and Media |
| FLM&MDA 185 | Topics in Television and New Media |
| GEN&SEX 171A | Sex and Conquest in Latin America |
| GEN&SEX 172 | Gender and Ethnicity: Chicana/Latina Feminisms in the US |
| GEN&SEX 189 | Topics in Gender, Feminism, and Interdisciplinary Studies |
| HISTORY 148B | Topics in Multicultural U.S. History |
| HISTORY 151C | Latinas in the Twentieth Century U.S. |
| HISTORY 151D | Latina/Latino Pop: Latina/Latino Popular Culture |
| HISTORY 160 | Sex and Conquest in Latin America |
| HISTORY 164A | Caribbean History: Colonization to Emancipation |
| HISTORY 166 | U.S. Intervention in Latin America |
| HISTORY 166B | Revolution and Reaction in Cold War Latin America |
| HISTORY 166C | Cuban Society and Revolution |
| HISTORY 166D | Revolution in Latin America |
| INTL ST 130 | Transnational Gangs |
| REL STD 150 | Religion in the Americas |
| SPANISH 101B | Introductory Studies to Latin American Literature and Culture |
| SPANISH 110B | Topics in Latin American Literature and Cultures |
| SPANISH 110C | U.S. Latino Literature and Cultures |
| SPANISH 130C | Topics in Latin American Literature and Culture of the 20th Century |
| SPANISH 140 | Topics in Chicano Literature and Culture |
| SPANISH 160 | Topics in Luso-Hispanic Film Studies |
| SPANISH 185 | Topics in Peninsular Literature and Culture |
| SPANISH 186 | Topics in Latin American Literature and Culture |
| HISTORY 169 | Topics in Latin American History |
| HISTORY 182 | Special Studies in Intellectual-Cultural History |
| HISTORY 190 | Colloquium |
Africa (Nation, Culture) and Its Diaspora
Examines Africa as a diverse geographical and political expression, including its historical, political, and cultural formation locally, regionally, and globally.
| AFAM 111A | Modern African American Art |
| AFAM 111B | Contemporary African American Art |
| AFAM 112B | African American Literature 1900-Present |
| AFAM 128 | Topics in Gender/Sexuality |
| AFAM 134A | Caribbean History: Colonization to Emancipation |
| AFAM 134B | Caribbean History: Emancipation to Independence |
| AFAM 137 | History of the African Diaspora |
| AFAM 138 | Topics in African American History |
| AFAM 143 | Topics in African American Music |
| AFAM 144 | Topics in Expressive Forms |
| AFAM 145 | African Americans and Photography |
| AFAM 152 | African American Politics |
| AFAM 153 | African American Psychology |
| AFAM 154 | African American Social Formations |
| AFAM 155 | Intercultural Studies |
| AFAM 156 | African Societies and Politics |
| AFAM 157 | Critical Race Theory |
| AFAM 159 | Prisons and Public Education |
| AFAM 162W | The Black Protest Tradition |
| AFAM 163 | Seminar in African American Studies |
| ART HIS 164A | Modern African American Art |
| ART HIS 164B | Contemporary African American Art |
| ENGLISH 102D | Topics in 20th-Century Literature |
| ENGLISH 105 | Multicultural Topics in Literatures in English |
| FLM&MDA 130 | Multicultural Topics in the Media |
| FLM&MDA 145 | Topics in Popular Culture and Media |
| GEN&SEX 174 | Topics in Gender, Feminism, and the Arts |
| GEN&SEX 182 | Topics in Gender, Feminism and Economics |
| GEN&SEX 184 | Topics in Gender, Feminism, and Political Science |
| GEN&SEX 189 | Topics in Gender, Feminism, and Interdisciplinary Studies |
| HISTORY 100W | Writing About History |
| HISTORY 114 | Topics in Modern European History |
| HISTORY 134A | Africa: Societies and Cultures |
| HISTORY 134C | Topics in the History of Africa |
| HISTORY 134D | Topics in South African History |
| HISTORY 150 | Topics in African American History |
| HISTORY 164B | Caribbean History: Emancipation to Independence |
Asia (Nation, Culture) and Its Diaspora
Examines Asia as a diverse geographical and political expression, including its historical and cultural formation locally, regionally, and globally.
| ANTHRO 163A | Peoples of the Pacific |
| ANTHRO 169 | Special Topics in Area Studies |
| ART HIS 150 | Studies in Asian Art |
| ART HIS 151B | Later Imperial China |
| ART HIS 151C | Modern China |
| ART HIS 155A | Ancient India |
| ART HIS 155B | Medieval India |
| ART HIS 155D | Topics in the Art and Architecture of India |
| ART HIS 162C | Contemporary Japan |
| ASIANAM 100W | Research Methodologies for Asian American Studies |
| ASIANAM 110 | Asian American Writers |
| ASIANAM 111 | Asian American History |
| ASIANAM 114 | Topics in Asian American Film and Video |
| ASIANAM 116 | Asian Americans and Popular Culture |
| ASIANAM 130 | Undocumented Immigrant Experiences |
| ASIANAM 137 | Asian American Labor |
| ASIANAM 144 | The Politics of Protest |
| ASIANAM 150 | Special Topics in Asian American Studies |
| ASIANAM 151C | Korean American Studies |
| ASIANAM 151D | Vietnamese American Studies |
| ASIANAM 151F | South Asian American Studies |
| ASIANAM 151K | Filipina/Filipino American Studies |
| ASIANAM 162 | Asian American Women |
| ASIANAM 164 | Topics in Intersectionality |
| ASIANAM 166 | Race and Citizenship |
| ASIANAM 168 | Politics of Animal Rights |
| EAS 110 | Topics in Chinese Literature and Society |
| EAS 116 | Topics in East Asian Religions |
| EAS 120 | Topics in Japanese Literature and Society |
| EAS 130 | Topics in Korean Society and Culture |
| EAS 140 | Topics in Korean Literature and Society |
| EAS 150 | Topics in East Asian Literature in Translation |
| EAS 160 | Topics in East Asian Cinema |
| EAS 170 | Topics in Gender in East Asia |
| ENGLISH 105 | Multicultural Topics in Literatures in English |
| FLM&MDA 130 | Multicultural Topics in the Media |
| FLM&MDA 145 | Topics in Popular Culture and Media |
| FLM&MDA 160 | National/Regional Cinemas and Media |
| GEN&SEX 170 | Topics in Gender, Feminism, Literature, and Language |
| GEN&SEX 171 | Topics in Gender, Feminism, and History |
| GEN&SEX 189 | Topics in Gender, Feminism, and Interdisciplinary Studies |
| HISTORY 152 | Topics in Asian-American History |
| HISTORY 171D | Chinese History to 1800 |
| HISTORY 171E | Chinese History: 1800-1949 |
| HISTORY 171G | Topics in the History of China |
| HISTORY 172G | Topics in the History of Japan |
| HISTORY 173G | Topics in the History of Korea |
| HISTORY 174G | Topics in the History of South Asia |
| REL STD 120 | Topics in Asian Religious Traditions |
Europe and Its Former Colonies
Examines Europe and its former colonies as a diverse geographical and political expression, including its historical and cultural formation locally, regionally, and globally.
| ART HIS 114 | Studies in Western Medieval Art |
| ART HIS 121 | Studies in Southern Renaissance Art |
| ART HIS 125 | Studies in Southern Baroque Art |
| ART HIS 134C | Modern European Art: From Impressionism to the Fauves |
| ART HIS 134D | Modern European Art: From Cubism to Surrealism |
| ART HIS 134E | Topics in Modern European Art |
| ART HIS 140A | History of Contemporary Art |
| ART HIS 145A | Studies in Modern Architecture |
| ART HIS 165A | Early American Art |
| CLASSIC 160 | Topics in Classical Literature in English Translation |
| CLASSIC 170 | Topics in Classical Civilization |
| CLASSIC 176 | International Studies and the Classics |
| COM LIT 100A | Nations, Regions, and Beyond |
| COM LIT 123 | Literatures in Dialogue |
| ENGLISH 102A | Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Literature |
| ENGLISH 102B | Topics in Restoration and 18th-Century Literature |
| ENGLISH 102C | Topics in Romantic and 19th-Century Literature |
| ENGLISH 102D | Topics in 20th-Century Literature |
| ENGLISH 106 | Advanced Seminar: Topics in English Literature |
| EURO ST 100C | Topics in European Thought, Culture, and Society |
| EURO ST 101A | European Studies Core I - Early Europe (Pre-1789) |
| EURO ST 101B | European Studies Core II: Modern Europe (Post-1789) |
| EURO ST 102 | Topics in Early European History and Culture: Pre-1789 |
| EURO ST 103 | Topics in Modern European History and Culture: Post-1789 |
| FRENCH 117 | Topics in 17th-Century French Literature |
| FRENCH 118 | Topics in 18th-Century French Literature |
| FRENCH 119 | Topics in 19th-Century French Literature |
| FRENCH 120 | Topics in 20th-Century French and Francophone Literature |
| FRENCH 139W | Literature and Society |
| FRENCH 150 | Topics in French Literature and Culture |
| FRENCH 160 | French Cinema |
| FRENCH 171 | Politics and Literature |
| GEN&SEX 171 | Topics in Gender, Feminism, and History |
| GEN&SEX 174 | Topics in Gender, Feminism, and the Arts |
| GERMAN 102 | Topics in German Culture and Society |
| GERMAN 150 | German Literature and Culture in Translation |
| GERMAN 160 | German Cinema |
| HISTORY 112D | Topics in Early Modern Europe |
| HISTORY 114 | Topics in Modern European History |
| HISTORY 120D | War and Empire: France and the World in the 20th Century |
| HISTORY 123D | Topics in Spanish History |
| HISTORY 124B | Twentieth-Century Russia |
| HISTORY 126B | The Era of World War II: 1933-45 |
| HISTORY 128C | Topics in the History of Women in Europe |
| HISTORY 130C | Topics in the Jewish History |
| HISTORY 135A | The Scientific Revolution |
| ITALIAN 150 | Topics in Italian Literature and Culture |
| REL STD 100 | Topics in the Study of Religion |
| REL STD 103 | Topics in the Philosophy of Religion |
| REL STD 130 | Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Religious Traditions |
| RUSSIAN 150 | Topics in Russian Literature |
| SPANISH 121 | Topics in Golden Age Literature and Culture |
| SPANISH 122 | Topics in 18th and 19th Century Spanish Literature and Culture |
| SPANISH 123 | Topics in 20th and 21st Century Spanish Literature and Culture |
| SPANISH 185 | Topics in Peninsular Literature and Culture |
Global Middle East
Examines the people and cultures of North Africa and the Arab world, Turkey and Iran, as well as their relationship with other regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the broader Muslim diaspora in Europe and the Americas.
| ANTHRO 125Z | Arabs and Muslims in the US |
| ANTHRO 147 | Egyptomania |
| ART HIS 100 | Studies in Ancient Art |
| CLASSIC 140 | Classics and History: The Ancient World |
| CLASSIC 170 | Topics in Classical Civilization |
| COM LIT 100A | Nations, Regions, and Beyond |
| COM LIT 143 | Literature, Arts, and Media |
| COM LIT 150 | Literature in Translation |
| ENGLISH 105 | Multicultural Topics in Literatures in English |
| FLM&MDA 160 | National/Regional Cinemas and Media |
| GEN&SEX 155 | Topics in Gender and Sexuality Studies |
| GEN&SEX 171 | Topics in Gender, Feminism, and History |
| HISTORY 130C | Topics in the Jewish History |
| HISTORY 130F | Jews and Power |
| HISTORY 131A | History of Zoroastrianism |
| HISTORY 131B | Ancient Persia |
| HISTORY 131C | Medieval Persia |
| HISTORY 131D | Modern Iran |
| HISTORY 132B | The Emergence of the Modern Middle East |
| HISTORY 132C | Women and Gender in the Middle East |
| HISTORY 132E | Armenians and Armenia in Modern World History |
| HISTORY 132H | Topics in Middle Eastern History |
| INTL ST 161A | Political Islam |
| INTL ST 165 | Introduction to Contemporary Middle East Politics |
| INTL ST 179 | Special Topics: Geographic Focus in International Studies |
| PERSIAN 150 | Topics in Advanced Persian Culture |
| PERSIAN 165A | Modern Iran: Cinema and the City |
| REL STD 130 | Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Religious Traditions |
Atlantic Rim
Explores the movement of people and cultures in relationship to the historical and contemporary experience of societies that are adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, including, among others, west Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, and western and northern Europe, as well as the British archipelago.
| AFAM 111A | Modern African American Art |
| AFAM 134A | Caribbean History: Colonization to Emancipation |
| AFAM 134B | Caribbean History: Emancipation to Independence |
| AFAM 138 | Topics in African American History |
| ANTHRO 125X | Transnational Migration |
| ART HIS 164A | Modern African American Art |
| ART HIS 165B | Nineteenth Century American Art |
| ART HIS 165C | Modern American Art |
| CHC/LAT 139 | Special Topics in Chicano/Latino History |
| CHC/LAT 161 | Transnational Migration |
| CLASSIC 160 | Topics in Classical Literature in English Translation |
| ENGLISH 101W | Undergraduate Seminar in Critical Writing: Topics in Literary History |
| ENGLISH 102B | Topics in Restoration and 18th-Century Literature |
| ENGLISH 102C | Topics in Romantic and 19th-Century Literature |
| ENGLISH 102D | Topics in 20th-Century Literature |
| ENGLISH 103 | Topics in Literature, Theory, and Criticism |
| ENGLISH 105 | Multicultural Topics in Literatures in English |
| FRENCH 150 | Topics in French Literature and Culture |
| FRENCH 160 | French Cinema |
| FRENCH 170 | Topics in History and Literature |
| GEN&SEX 155 | Topics in Gender and Sexuality Studies |
| HISTORY 144G | Topics in American Cultural and Intellectual History |
| HISTORY 150 | Topics in African American History |
| SPANISH 110B | Topics in Latin American Literature and Cultures |
Pacific Rim
Explores the movement of people and cultures in relationship to the historical and contemporary experience of societies that are adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, including, among others, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, the United States, Central and South America, and Malaysia.
| HISTORY 142A | California Dreaming: Conquest, Conflict, and Globalization in the Golden State |
| COM LIT 121 | Narrative, Pattern, and Text |
| COM LIT 150 | Literature in Translation |
| ANTHRO 169 | Special Topics in Area Studies |
| HISTORY 183 | Special Studies in International History |
| COM LIT 105 | Topics in Comparative Multiculturalism |
| ART HIS 145C | Topics in the History of Modern and Contemporary Architecture |
| COM LIT 132 | Discourse, Ideologies, and Politics |
| COM LIT 102W | Comparative Studies in Literature and Theory |
| ART HIS 145C | Topics in the History of Modern and Contemporary Architecture |
| ART HIS 165D | Topics in American Art |
| ANTHRO 163A | Peoples of the Pacific |
| INTL ST 158B | Peoples of the Pacific |
| FLM&MDA 101B | History of Film II: The Studio Era |
| HISTORY 190 | Colloquium |
Inter-Area Studies
Includes comparative studies of the geographical regions outlined in the above six emphases, for instance, the analysis of Africans in Asia, or the cultural, historical, and political connections between the Atlantic and the Pacific Rim.
| ANTHRO 125X | Transnational Migration |
| ANTHRO 134A | Medical Anthropology |
| ART HIS 145A | Studies in Modern Architecture |
| ART HIS 145B | Studies in Architecture after 1945 |
| ART HIS 150 | Studies in Asian Art |
| ASIANAM 150 | Special Topics in Asian American Studies |
| CHC/LAT 176 | Race, Gender, and Science |
| CLASSIC 140 | Classics and History: The Ancient World |
| COM LIT 102W | Comparative Studies in Literature and Theory |
| COM LIT 107 | Colonialisms and Postcolonialisms |
| COM LIT 150 | Literature in Translation |
| ENGLISH 102D | Topics in 20th-Century Literature |
| ENGLISH 105 | Multicultural Topics in Literatures in English |
| FLM&MDA 110 | Film and Media Theory |
| FLM&MDA 130 | Multicultural Topics in the Media |
| FLM&MDA 145 | Topics in Popular Culture and Media |
| FLM&MDA 161 | Global/Transnational Cinemas and Media |
| GEN&SEX 110A | Gender, State, and Nation |
| GEN&SEX 110D | The Politics of Health and Medicine |
| GEN&SEX 167A | Militarism and Gender |
| GEN&SEX 170 | Topics in Gender, Feminism, Literature, and Language |
| GERMAN 150 | German Literature and Culture in Translation |
| HISTORY 100W | Writing About History |
| HISTORY 114 | Topics in Modern European History |
| HISTORY 132E | Armenians and Armenia in Modern World History |
| HISTORY 182 | Special Studies in Intellectual-Cultural History |
| INTL ST/UPPP 115 | Global Poverty and Inequality in the 21st Century |
| INTL ST 130 | Transnational Gangs |
| INTL ST 145A/POL SCI 172A | International Law |
| POL SCI 142D | U.S. Foreign Policy I: Globalism and Cold War |
| REL STD 103 | Topics in the Philosophy of Religion |
Students may also design their own emphasis by combining two or more regional emphases in a non-traditional fashion. For instance, a student may wish to study what is known as “Creole” (oral) literatures, found in multiple locations in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Students are encouraged to study abroad, and may be able to satisfy a significant portion of their major requirements abroad. For the maximum number of courses allowed and other pertinent details, visit the Global Cultures website.
All courses taken abroad must be approved. Course approval typically involves the following: (1) presentation of syllabi and other pertinent course materials (term papers, exams, etc.) from the foreign host university, and (2) submission of a UCI Humanities study abroad petition form (available online, and to be completed after student’s return to UCI) to the Director of the Global Cultures program, and to the Office of Undergraduate Study. Students are advised to consult with the Humanities Office of Undergraduate Study (HIB 143) and the Director of the Global Cultures program both before and after their stay abroad. NOTE: See also the residence requirement in the major and minor.
The major prepares students particularly well for careers in all fields in which analysis, judgment, argument, and a wide (global) rather than narrow perspective are important. The Global Cultures major equips students with a knowledge that is critical to understanding the complexities of the diverse world in which we live.
The following careers are especially well-suited for Global Cultures majors: business (national as well as international), law, management, education (primary and secondary teaching), politics, public policy, academia, print media, television, foreign service, tourism, travel industry, and graduate studies in a wide variety of fields (business, law, education, public policy, and others).
The UCI Division of Career Pathways provides services to students and alumni including career counseling, information about job opportunities, a career library, and workshops on résumé preparation, job search, and interview techniques.