We use cookies on this site to enhance your experience.
By selecting “Accept” and continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies.
Concentrations
Adapt your Global Studies degree to fit your interests, and enhance your studies by adding a Concentration, Option or Minor. Look through the possibilities below to see what interests you, then run a Whatif Scenario on MyDegree (instructions are on the link) to see how your current courses contribute and what is required to progress. When you're ready, you can delcare Program Changes using this form.
Concentrations
Global Studies majors (either single or combined) may pursue a concentration (and only one) as part of their degree. A concentration consists of 3.0 credits, including 0.5 credit from required/core courses and 2.5 credits from elective courses. To graduate with any of these concentrations, students are required to achieve an average GPA of at least 7.0 (B-) in their major. All GS majors are eligible to apply beginning in Year 2 and must complete the appropriate steps for program selection to declare the concentration as part of their major. After your eligibility has been confirmed, the concentration will be added to your program.
From refugee flows, to ‘reverse development,’ to outright state failure, the consequences of contemporary armed conflict are profound and far-reaching. As an interdisciplinary field, peace and conflict studies seeks to understand the complex and interconnected nature of contemporary conflict. It also seeks to find ways to prevent armed violence, mitigate its worst manifestations, and rebuild in its aftermath.
Acknowledging that both peace and conflict are profoundly impacted by complex cultural practices and understandings, and by uneven levels of socio-economic development, our course offerings – from “Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution in Dangerous Times,” to “Disarming Conflicts,” to “War, Memory, and Popular Culture” (among others) – aim to provide you with a deeper understanding of contemporary armed conflict and what can be done about it.
Required Courses (0.5 credit)
- GS231 - War, Culture and Conflict
- GS232 - Peace and Conflict Transformation: An Introduction
Electives (2.5 credits)
- GS331 - Contemporary Case Studies in Peace and Conflict
- GS323/RE323 - Global Migrations, Refugees and Diasporas
- GS332/RE321 - Gandhi: Colonialism, Resistance, and Controversies
- GS333 - War, Memory and Popular Culture
- GS335 - Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution in Dangerous Times
- GS337 - Peace Education
- GS355/AN355/RE355 - Indigenous Peoples in Global Context
- GS366/RE366 - Religion and Violence
- GS422 - Dialogue and Disagreement in a Polarized Age
- GS431 - Narratives Of/About Violence
- GS434 - Armed Conflict and International Humanitarian Law
- GS435 - Disarming Conflicts
- GS436 - Conflicts in African States
- GS453 - Human Rights in Global Context
What are the causes and responses to global inequality and poverty? The Global Studies Development and Sustainability concentration answers this question by examining the history, theories, policies, and practices of development, especially with regard to the Global South. For many decades, countries and international organizations in the Global North were the main drivers of global development, but in the last few years actors in the Global South have also been emerging as important actors. Our interdisciplinary concentration will give you a greater understanding of the complex relations among the world’s powerful countries, multilateral organizations, governments in the Global South, and the world most vulnerable populations. Equipped with multiple perspectives, this program balances theory with practical case studies. It will be an ideal training ground if you wish to work with government, national or international NGOs, journalism, or policy development.
Required Courses (0.5 credit)
- GS211 - Global Perspectives on Development
- GS212 - Development and Sustainability
Electives (2.5 credits)
- AN345 - Life after Socialism
- GS312 - Special Topics in International Development
- GS342 - Global, Social Movements and Advocacy
- GS351 - Nature, Culture and Development
- GS352 - UN Sustainable Development Goals
- GS353 - Education and International Development
- GS355 - Indigenous Peoples in Global Context
- GS361 - Disasters, Vulnerability, Resilience
- GS411 - Global Justice
- GS413 - Globalization Unhinged
- GS425 - The Global Lives of Natural Resources
- GS453 - Human Rights in Global Context
- GS461 - Global Humanitarianism
- IP300 - Integrative Seminar in International Policy
- SY213 - Sociology of Globalization
- SY338 - Women and Development
- WS306 - Women and Social Justice
How do we, as humans, come to know ourselves as social and cultural beings? The Culture and Identity concentration examines this question from a variety of analytical perspectives. Culture is not simply an “add-on” to an individual’s identity but is as vital as politics and economics to who and what we are. Culture shapes the kind of beings that we become and the social and political institutions that govern the world we inhabit.
The Culture and Identity concentration explores not only what is common to human beings across the world, but also how communities differ from one another. However, each of us is embedded in many cultural communities. Indeed, our experiences are intersected by race, class, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and citizenship.
What happens when communities’ visions of the world diverge and conflict? The propagation of global ideals such as secularism, democracy, free markets, and the liberal conception of human rights makes this question particularly important because not all communities subscribe to these ideals, or subscribe to them in the same way. The Culture and Identity concentration encourages students to locate themselves personally and intellectually when engaging with these debates. This means analyzing how culture is intimately shaped by relations of power – relations that are embedded in our governmental institutions and in everyday life. For example, what does it mean to live in the contemporary moment in the shadow of imperialism and colonialism?
Core Courses (0.5 credit)
(drawn from any of the following courses)
- GS220 - Being Human: Cultural Analysis in a Global Age
- GS221 - Globalization and Cultures: The Cosmopolitan Village?
- GS223/RE206 - World Religions in Global Perspective
Electives (2.5 credits)
- RE211/AN211 - Indigenous Religions
- RE227 - Religions and Cultures of the Middle East
- AN345 - Life after Socialism
- AN348 - Space, Place and Culture
- GS305 - Individualism and Community
- GS321 - Special Topics in Culture and Globalization
- GS323 - Global Migrations, Refugees and Diasporas
- GS327 - Tourists, Tourism and the Globe
- GS332/RE321 - Gandhi: Colonialism, Resistance and Controversies
- GS333 - War, Memory and Popular Culture
- GS355 - Indigenous Peoples in Global Context
- GS357 - Gender and Sexualities in Global Context
- GS366/RE366 - Religion and Violence
- GS421 - Ethical Encounters
- GS422 - Dialogue and Disagreement in a Polarized Age
- GS425 - The Global Lives of Natural Resources
- GS431 - Narratives Of/About Violence
- GS451 - City Worlds
Options and Minors
There are also many other ways to enhance your degree through Options and Minors at Laurier. Participate in our Social Entrepreneurship Option or look around and find the one that's right for you!