Honours BA Global Studies with Concentrations

Global Studies majors (either single or combined) may pursue one concentration in the department's three thematic areas of study (peace and conflict studies; international development studies; globalization and culture).

Concentration consists of 3.0 credits, including 1.0 credit from required courses (or from a short list of ‘core' courses in the case of the Concentration in Globalization and Culture) and 2.0 credits from elective courses.

To graduate with a concentration, students are required to achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 7.0 (B-) in the GS major, including all courses contributing to the requirements of the concentration. All GS majors are eligible to apply for any of the concentrations beginning in Year 2 of their program. Students wishing to have any one of the concentrations added to their honours major must complete and submit the appropriate program selection form. After a student's eligibility has been confirmed, the concentration will be added to their program.

Co-op

Students admitted into Global Studies with Concentrations with Co-op accumulate 12 months of experience by completing three 4-month work terms. Both work and academic terms are full-time and follow a formalized sequence. The time spent in the workplace comprises at least 30% of the time spent in academic study. Co-op work terms are approximately the length of each study term. Students are exposed to the work environment during more than one season of the year and their co-op programs begin and end on an academic term.

Students admitted to Global Studies Co-op will have their first (W1) of three 4-month work terms in the Fall of the third year following 3A. The second work term (W2) will take place in the Spring of the third year; the third work term (W3) will take place in the Winter of the fourth year. Following the third work term, students will take full-time courses in the spring term of their fourth academic year to complete their academic requirements. The complete schedule is as follows:

Year 1: 1A (Fall), 1B (Winter)
Year 2: 2A (Fall), 2B (Winter), 3A (Spring)
Year 3: W1 (Fall), 3B (Winter), W2 (Spring)
Year 4: 4A (Fall), W3 (Winter), 4B (Spring)

Co-op students follow the same academic program as regular students. Because of the alternating pattern of work and study terms, there may be some differences in the scheduling of individual courses.

In addition to the 20.0 credits required by their program, co-op students must complete the following requirements to graduate with the Co- operative Education designation:

  • Three work terms, normally completed over four-month blocks
  • COOP-000 Fundamentals of Co-operative Education course. Participants complete the COOP-000 Fundamentals of Co-operative Education course, a pass/fail half-credit course that introduces students to the requirements, processes and essential topics of co-operative education.
  • Three pass/fail companion half-credit courses, awarded upon successful completion of work term requirements for each four-month work term, beginning with COOP-001 Co-operative Education Work Term 1; then COOP-002; and finally COOP- 003.

    Employers provide job descriptions, and the Department of Co-operative Education approves those jobs that provide a suitable learning environment and engage the student in productive work. Students apply to employers with whom they are interested in working and participate in a competitive recruitment process. Although the university cannot guarantee that students will obtain employment, staff members in the Co-op Office strive to make suitable employment available to co-op students.

    Employers supervise their students and evaluate their workplace performance. Co-op staff members monitor each student's progress during the work term. The co-op curriculum supports student learning goals, personal evaluation and reflection; students are required to set goals each term and write work term reports. Employers compensate students for the work they perform.

    Participants pay a co-op fee in each of four academic terms, as detailed in the fee schedule on the co-op website.

    To obtain the co-op designation, students must complete all the requirements of both their academic program and the co-op program. For a complete description of the academic program, refer to the academic requirements of the departments offering honours programs.

    Students completing the program will have the notation "Co-operative Education" appended to their transcript and noted on their degree. Students receive a half-credit for the co-op fundamentals course and for each work term. Co-op credits are in addition to a student’s academic program and are not included in a student’s overall GPA or in their credit count for degree completion.

    Application Procedure

    Students apply to the Global Studies Co-op program at the beginning of their second year. The deadline for applying for admission is the date stipulated on the Laurier website. Students on study permits may apply to co-op programs at Laurier. Enrolment in co-op is limited, and the admission process is competitive.

    Application procedure includes:

    i. completion of an online application
    ii. full-time registration in Honours BA Global Studies
    iii. submission of a résumé
    iv. an admission interview

    In order to qualify for an admission interview, applicants must obtain a minimum GPA of 7.00 overall as of the fall of Year 2. Selection of candidates is based on their academic record, performance during the interview, recent work experience, and recent volunteer service and extracurricular activities.

    The only entry point for the Global Studies co-op is at the beginning of the fall term in second year. Students who have withdrawn or been removed from their academic program are not eligible to continue in co-op, even if they are later reinstated into that program.

    For further information, contact the Department of Co-operative Education at the address provided in the previous section.
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    Globalization and Culture

    The Concentration in Globalization and Culture provides GS majors with a thematic specialization in the field of globalization and culture. Completion will result in a "Globalization and Culture Concentration" on student transcripts.

    Core Courses (1.0 credit from any two of the following four courses):
    GS220/RE221 - Being Human in a Global Age
    GS221 - The Cosmopolitan Village?
    GS222 - Contemporary Western Societies
    GS223/RE206 - World Religions in Global Perspective

    Electives (2.0 credits):
    AN345 - Life after Socialism
    AN348 - Space, Place and Culture
    GS305 - The Individualized World
    GS321 - Special Topics in Culture and Globalization
    GS323/RE323 - Global Migrations, Refugees and Diasporas
    GS325 - Religion, Culture and Society
    GS327 - Tourists, Tourism and the Globe
    GS332/RE321 - Gandhi: Non-Violence and the Struggle for Freedom
    GS333 - War, Memory and Popular Culture
    GS353 - Education and International Development
    GS355/AN355/RE355 - Indigenous Peoples in Global Context
    GS357 - Gender and Sexualities in Global Context
    GS366/
    RE366 - Religion and Violence
    GS421 - Ethical Encounters
    GS422 - Dialogue and Critique in an Age of Terror
    GS431 - Narratives Of/About Violence
    GS451 - City Worlds
    RE211/AN211 - Indigenous Religions
    RE227 - Religions and Cultures of the Middle East
    MZ300 - Special Topics in Muslim Studies

     
    International Development Studies

    The Concentration in International Development Studies provides GS majors with a thematic specialization in the field of international development studies. Completion will result in an "International Development Studies Concentration" on student transcripts.

    Required Courses (1.0 credit):
    GS211 - Introduction to International Development
    GS212 - Issues in International Development

    Electives (2.0 credits):
    AN345 - Life after Socialism
    GS311 - The Global Economy
    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/AN355/RE355 - 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: Between Gift and Power
    IP300 - Integrative Seminar in International Policy
    WS306 - Women and Social Justice

     
    Peace and Conflict Studies

    The Concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies provides GS majors with a thematic specialization in the field of peace and conflict studies. Completion will result in a "Peace and Conflict Studies Concentration" on student transcripts.

    Required Courses (1.0 credit):
    GS231 - War, Culture and Conflict
    GS232 - Peace and Conflict Transformation: An Introduction

    Electives (2.0 credits):
    GS331 - Contemporary Case Studies in Peace and Conflict
    GS323/RE323 - Global Migrations, Refugees and Diasporas
    GS332/RE321 - Gandhi: Non-Violence and the Struggle for Freedom
    GS333 - War, Memory and Popular Culture
    GS335 - Peacebuilding in the Shadow of War
    GS337 - Peace Education
    GS355/AN355/RE355 - Indigenous Peoples in Global Context
    GS366/RE366 - Religion and Violence
    GS422 - Dialogue and Critique in an Age of Terror
    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