Critical Global Studies Major

Critical Global Studies invites students through interdisciplinary coursework to explore issues of power, difference, knowledge politics, and social justice concerns. By completing core course work, study abroad and a justice practicum, and language study, Critical Global Studies majors critically examine in depth cultures, indigenous communities, social movements, and nations in ways that challenge modern discourse.

“Critical” refers to various analytical tools and interdisciplinary theories students use to critique Eurocentric and other ethnocentric views, question universalist claims, and work effectively with multiple methodologies, practices, and epistemologies. “Global Studies” addresses global inequalities in multiple areas, such as the environment, public health, poverty, education, women’s issues, class inequality, racism, heteronormativity, indigenous issues, cultural domination, and ongoing colonization in ways that work towards exposing and ending social inequalities and other injustices. Ultimately critical global awareness provides a grounding for productive solutions to these issues, fundamentally transforming oppressive socio-political, cultural, environmental, and economic conditions, and individual and collective emancipation.

Majors in Critical Global Studies either develop a topical or regional specialization. As an outcome of study in Critical Global Studies, students develop skills to recognize the complex ethics and politics of construing meaning and building social relationships across differences. By linking classroom critical training with experiential learning locally in the U.S. and abroad, students will be prepared for careers in social justice movements, education, sustainable development and human development, social work or human welfare, labor organizing, grassroots and community-based or non-profit organizations, solidarity economics, human rights organizations, law, or public service. The Critical Global Studies major also prepares students for graduate study in international studies, law, education, history, cultural studies, cultural practice, public administration, social work, and other fields.

Major Advisers: L. Tongun

Major Requirements

Requirements for the major in Critical Global Studies include at least 10 courses, demonstration of proficiency in a foreign language, and at least one semester of Study Abroad  .

Required Courses

Students will choose either one topic or one particular geographic region for emphasis in their CGS coursework. The topical areas that students may choose include: Indigenous Studies; the Third World/Global South; or Global Studies. Particular geograhic regions that students may choose include: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, or the Middle East.

During first two years:

• CGS 010 PZ -Introduction to CGS  
• CGS 050 PZ -Power and Social Change  
• CGS 060 PZ -Interdis Knwldg & Global Justice  

Prior to the Senior Seminar:

• One Social Justice Practicum course chosen in consultation with a CGS advisor. Courses that would satisfy this requirement may be chosen in one of these ways:
  • One Social Responsibility Praxis or other internship-based course where the student works with a community-based social change organization, OR
  • One course completed on a Study Abroad program or as a Study Abroad ISP that includes work for a community-based social change organization.
• One course in Indigenous Studies (e.g. ANTH 012 PZ -Native Americans & Environments , ANTH 127 SC -Settler Colonialism , ARHI 135 PZ -Art of the United States , HIST 146 SC , CGS 125 PZ -African Politics , CGS 075 PZ -Intro to Postcolonial Studies , SPAN 139 SC -Plants, Culture, Magic , or a course chosen inconsultation with your advisor)
• One course introducing an intersectional analysis of three or more of the following vectors of oppression: race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and citizenship/nationality.
• At least three upper division (above 100) courses covering your selected topic or region (see above for options)

Senior year:

• CGS 190 PZ -Senior Seminar  

Other Requirements:

Language

To satisfy the language requirement, any of the following methods may be used:

• Two years of college or university-level classroom language instruction.
• Proficiency by immersion, normally completed in a Pitzer Study Abroad program or other language-intensive study abroad program approved by thefield group. (See adviser or Office of International Programs for list of approved programs.)
• Demonstration of competence at the equivalent level of two years of college or university-level classroom instruction by successfully completing an oral or written examination administered by a qualified language instructor.

Study Abroad

Students are expected to participate in a semester-long program of study abroad relevant to their chosen regional emphasis. Students should consult both with the Director of International Programs to choose an appropriate program and with their advisers to select courses that will prepare them for this experience. It is required that students planning to study in a particular study abroad program take CGS 060 PZ  and a regional course designed to prepare them for study in that region. The regional course may fulfill one of the regional emphasis courses described below.