HIST 102 Is This the World We Created? Introduction to Global Studies

Teenagers in Taiwan listen to Taylor Swift. Villagers in Rwanda view Ronaldo's Nike commercials. Mexican migrants play marimba in Brooklyn. From the tallest urban skylines to the most remote Pacific islands, we all live in a globalized world - a world in which languages, cultures, environments and economies are more interconnected than ever before. But how did our world get this way, and what does it mean for our present and future? In this course, students will approach those questions through an introduction to Global Studies, an interdisciplinary approach to the study of global history, culture, politics, and society. The goal of our class this semester is to learn how the world has changed both before and during the contemporary period of globalization (ca. 1970-present). We will examine globalization from four perspectives: the history of globalization, global languages and cultures, global societies and politics, and contemporary global issues. Throughout the class, we will pay particular attention to the central role of the Catholic Church - a global institution since its inception - in both advancing globalization and responding to the most pressing global issues. COURSE EQUIVALENTS: GS 101, SOC 111

Cross Listed Courses

GS 101 & HIST 102 & SOC 111