Major in Global Cultural Studies

Requirements for the Major

The Global Cultural Studies Major in the Program in Literature investigates the forms of life and culture produced in today’s interconnected, globalized world. Engagement in interdisciplinary humanities disciplines builds a distinct knowledge essential for understanding our complex contemporary social environment. Courses in literary studies, critical theory, gender studies and queer theory, philosophy, political theory, film, visual culture, and new media form the foundation for such inquiry. Our major equips students with a broad knowledge base and analytical skills preparing them for leadership roles in the twenty-first century. Graduates of the major have pursued unique careers in law, medicine, public policy, teaching, journalism, publishing, and the creative cultural industries. Many have advanced to top graduate programs in the humanities.

10 Courses

  • LIT201 Intro to Global Cultural Studies
  • LIT 301S Theory Today: Introduction to the Study of Literature
  • 4 courses taught by faculty who have primary, secondary or joint appointments in Literature.*
  • 3 electives from humanities fields, with DUS review and approval
  • Senior culminating experience completed in the senior year in one of the following three formats. The instructor/supervisor of the course/project chosen from the three options below must be a faculty member with a Literature appointment.
    • LIT 393 Research Independent Study, producing a significant research paper of 15-20 pages subject to review by both the study supervisor and DUS, OR
    • Graduate-level Course Numbered 500-699, OR
    • Completed Honors Thesis Track, including both completed seminars LIT 495 and 496, along with a successful panel-reviewed defense
Requests for enrollment to our Honors Thesis Track are assessed by our committee-reviewed application process. Applicants for the Global Cultural Studies Honors Thesis must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, with a GPA of 3.2 or higher in the Global Cultural Studies Major. Applicants should ideally have completed two or more classes with faculty holding appointments in Literature in order for us to assess the applicant’s readiness for the work. Please note that completion of all components of our honors thesis track is required to satisfy the Senior Culminating Experience Requirement. These components include both seminars LIT 495 Honors Thesis I and LIT 496 Honors Thesis II, along with a successful panel-reviewed defense resulting in a final grade of B+ or higher. Without completion of the entire honors thesis track components as a whole, neither LIT 495 nor LIT 496 will count separately as one of the ten courses required for our major.
 

*Only courses taught by faculty who have primary, secondary or joint appointments in Literature will count toward our Major, Minor, or Film and Media Concentration, unless DUS approved.

ALL courses MUST have a letter grade to count toward any major/minor requirements in our program.