2026-2027 Course Catalog

Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/global-studies-balas/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Global Studies

The BALAS in Global Studies allows students to develop, hone, and put into practice their interests in global issues, processes, and societies. Students will gain interdisciplinary research, writing, and critical thinking skills, language and cultural competency, and will work with our advisors to craft a major plan of study that meets their needs and prepares them for the next steps after graduation. Information on courses and the major plan of study can be found on our academic program page.

In addition to the major, Global Studies offers the following certificates and minors which can complement your degree:

Minor in Global Studies

Minor in Global Markets and Society

Certificate in International Development Studies

Certificate in Global Health

Certificate in Global Social Sciences Research

5 Year BALAS/MA in Global Studies and European Union Studies

Global Studies, with the European Union Center, offers a 5-year BALAS /MA degree program in Global Studies and the Master of Arts in European Union Studies (MAEUS). In order to be admitted to this degree program, students apply through a joint application process to their BALAS-granting program and the European Union Center during their third year of studies. Requirements for this degree program are identical to those for the stand-alone BALAS and for the stand-alone MAEUS. Students will receive both degrees when the requirements are met for the degrees; the BALAS and MA degrees will be conferred separately and  independently. More detailed information may be obtained from department and EUC offices.

The minimum total number of hours required for graduation from the BALAS/MA program is 152.  Up to 12 hours not required for the BALAS (120 hours) taken during the fourth year can be used to meet the requirements for the MS (32 hours).  Upon completion of BALAS requirements, students receive a Bachelors degree and may continue in the MS program with credit for up to 12 hours taken as an undergraduate. More detailed information may be obtained from the departmental office.

5 year BALAS/MS in Global Studies

\ Global Studies, with the Center for Global Studies, offers a 5-year BALAS/MS degree program in Global Studies.  In order to be admitted to this degree program, students apply through a joint application process to their BALAS-granting program and the Center for Global Studies during their third year of studies.  Requirements for this degree program are identical to those for the stand-alone BALAS and for the stand-alone MS. Students will receive both degrees when the requirements are met for the degrees; the BALAS and MS degrees will be conferred separately and  independently. More detailed information may be obtained from Global Studies and the Center for Global Studies offices.

The minimum total number of hours required for graduation from the BALAS/MS program is 152.  Up to 12 hours not required for the BALAS (120 hours) taken during the fourth year can be used to meet the requirements for the MS (32 hours).  Upon completion of BALAS requirements, students receive a Bachelors degree and may continue in the MS program with credit for up to 12 hours taken as an undergraduate.  More detailed information may be obtained from the departmental office.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Global Studies

A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the Global Studies academic advisor before the end of the fourth semester (60 hours) and prior to the required study abroad. Please see your advisor.

Departmental distinction: The department may award distinction, high distinction, or highest distinction to any Global Studies major whose overall and major grade point averages are 3.25 or higher, who successfully completes 3 hours of GLBL 494 or other approved research methods course and who completes a distinction research project. See the departmental academic advisor for details.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

Minimum hours required major and supporting course work: normally equates to 51-55 hours and includes a semester-long full-time study abroad program. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

University Requirements

Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Composition I | | 4-6 | | Advanced Composition | | 3 | | Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 | | Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 | | Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 | | fulfilled by GLBL 100 and any other course approved as Social & Behavioral Sciences | | | | Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | fulfilled by GLBL 100 | | | | Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 | | Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required) | | 0-20 |

Major Requirements

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Orientation and Professional Development | | | | LAS 101 | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 | | OR | | | | LAS 100 & LAS 101 | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 | | OR | | | | LAS 102 | Transfer Advantage | 1 | | Total Hours | | 1 or 3 |

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Major Requirements and Electives | | | | Interdisciplinary Foundations Requirements | | | | GLBL 100 | Intro to Global Studies | 3 | | Global Studies Seminars. Select three sections from GLBL 296 OR one GLBL 298 section and one GLBL 296 section | | 3-7 | | Social Science Core Courses (select one course from four disciplines) | | 12 | | Anthropology: ANTH 230, ANTH 268, ANTH 270 | | | | Economics: ECON 202, ECON 420, ECON 450 | | | | Geography: GGIS 204, GGIS 210, GGIS 221 | | | | Global Studies: GLBL 200 | | | | History: HIST 258, HIST 259, HIST 274 | | | | Linguistics: LING 222 | | | | Political Science: PS 241, PS 280/PS 281, PS 282 | | | | Sociology: SOC 226, SOC 270, SOC 350, SOC 364 | | | | Language, Culture Studies and Study Abroad Requirements | | | | Advanced Language Coursework (select two). Select courses in a language other than your primary language(s). | | 6 | | Arabic: ARAB 405, ARAB 406 | | | | Chinese: CHIN 305, CHIN 306 | | | | French: FR 205, FR 207, FR 211, FR 212, FR 313, FR 314, FR 413 | | | | German: GER 211, GER 212, GER 320 | | | | Hebrew: HEBR 405, HEBR 406 | | | | Hindi: HNDI 405, HNDI 406 | | | | Italian: ITAL 200, ITAL 210, ITAL 220, ITAL 310, ITAL 380 | | | | Japanese: JAPN 305, JAPN 306 | | | | Korean: KOR 305, KOR 306 | | | | Persian: PERS 453, PERS 454 | | | | Portuguese: PORT 402, PORT 403 | | | | Quechua: LAST 445 | | | | Russian: RUSS 301, RUSS 302 | | | | Spanish: SPAN 200, SPAN 204, SPAN 208, SPAN 228 | | | | Swahili: SWAH 405, SWAH 406 | | | | Turkish: TURK 405, TURK 406 | | | | Wolof: WLOF 405, WLOF 406 | | | | Regional Area Studies. 200- to 400-level courses which complement the language requirement must include work in at least two disciplinary departments. Area Studies and Language must be geographically related and correspond to language and study abroad location. | | 9 | | One Semester (Fall or Spring) Study Abroad. Students study a variety of subjects in an approved study abroad program that furthers their language and cultural knowledge or their cultural and thematic area knowledge. Students must be enrolled full-time to receive credit toward this requirement. | | | | Thematic Area Requirements | | | | Students choose an approved thematic area and, in consultation with a Global Studies advisor, construct an appropriate customized curriculum of a minimum of 18 hours. Students cannot include more than 3 hours of 100-level work and must complete a minimum of 9 hours of 300- and 400-level coursework. Courses must be taken from more than one department. Approved thematic areas are: | | 18 | | A. Cultures in Contact | | | | B.  Wealth and Poverty in a Globalized World | | | | C.  Human Rights | | | | D.  Governance, Conflict and Resolution | | | | E.  Knowledge, Communication and Information Systems | | | | F.  Environment, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility | | | | G.  Global Health | | | | Optional Senior Capstone. Students do an individual research project (GLBL 200, GLBL 494, LAS 494, and, optionally, GLBL 495) based on their Thematic Area. | | | | Minimum Major Hours | | 51-55 | | Total Hours | | 120 |

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Global Studies

Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

Total Hours: 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Global Studies

Global Studies majors will be able to:

1. Discover how complex, interdependent global systems (natural, environmental, social, cultural, economic, and political) affect and are affected by the local identities and ethical choices of individuals and institutions.

2. Develop new skills in in how to research these interconnections through data collection, analysis, building familiarity with academic literature, and writing.

3. Apply knowledge to promote inquiry, discover solutions, and generate new ideas and creative works, and develop the capacity to conduct independent research in graduate and professional environments.

4. Gain social awareness and cultural understanding through intensive experiential, cross-cultural coursework, advanced language study, and study abroad.

5. Acquire effective leadership and community engagement capacities by developing the ability to make deliberate and independent choices about intellectual and professional trajectories. To do so, students will combine coursework and experiential learning with leadership opportunities (such as the Global Studies Leaders), along with fieldwork, RSO engagement, a semester abroad, volunteer opportunities, and internships with governmental and non-governmental organizations.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Global Studies

Global Studies

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