About Global Studies

About Global Studies

As a global studies student, you don’t need to wait until you graduate to be engaged with real-world issues. Starting with Introduction to Global Studies (GST 101), you will study how to be a “global citizen” through involvement in community projects, locally and internationally. You will study “what works” to engage in social change (GST 202), and learn to conduct research in an ethical and productive manner (GST 303). Global Studies students gain experience by finding their unique passions, immersing themselves in local communities, studying abroad, learning about world languages and cultures, and conducting action research projects.

Global studies students are able to bridge divides, bring a critical perspective, and act collaboratively to impact a converging world.

The Department of Global Studies at Providence College is committed to developing critical awareness among learners, so we can question historical and social positions, and to view the world through a decolonizing lens. The active and engaged approach to teaching and learning invites us to think about systems of power and the large-scale socioeconomic and political implications that our actions have across national boundaries. When this happens, students are able to recognize that societies can be transformed and understand the kind of agency we all can exercise to enact positive change globally. The Global Studies team at Providence College is committed to a student-centered approach to active learning. The Department emphasizes teaching and learning that involves students in collaborative learning and social activism. This approach is meant to generate self-awareness and lead to mutual action, utilizing experiential methods such as community-based learning, global engagement, and action research. Community partners serve as mentors and co-educators in this pursuit. Through this reciprocal process, we strive to create a vibrant learning community—inside and outside the classroom.

Mission

Global Studies at Providence College is committed to the idea that a better and more just world is possible. It offers a transdisciplinarity exploration of globalization and its effects upon communities, environmental sustainability, and the dignity of all living things. By emphasizing collaborative learning, participatory research, community engagement, activism, and cross-cultural competency, Global Studies cultivates global citizens who think critically and are equipped to respond to the challenges of a diverse, complex, and globalized world.

What is Global Studies?

Expanding Learning Horizons

Students interested in learning about global societies and cultures, engaging with international markets and institutions, and finding ways to explore our rapidly changing world will find the Global Studies major an inspiring area of study. A winner of the distinguished Sen. Paul Simon Spotlight Award for Campus Internationalization from NAFSA, the Global Studies Department has a commitment to student engagement, global awareness, cross-cultural immersion, and real-world problem-solving.

Global Studies majors and minors graduate with the potential to imagine the world as it might be and make positive contributions. Whether they pursue careers in education, international business, politics, media, foreign affairs, or nonprofit organizations, our alumni are well-equipped to make a positive impact on the social, political, and economic institutions that shape our world.