Associate of Arts in Global and International Studies

We live in a world that seems to become “smaller” at an accelerated pace. The rise in global trade, rapid advances in technology, unprecedented degrees of intercultural communication and international travel, a growing body of international law, the growing number of global non-state actors, and the seriousness of many transnational problems have been creating an increasingly connected world. This process of globalization has transformed our planet, creating new opportunities and many new challenges. The mission of the Global and International Studies program is to enable students to understand how globalization continues to evolve, and to provide an academic background that prepares them for today’s many career fields that require a global perspective. Reflecting the complexity of today’s world, Global Studies is an interdisciplinary major. It integrates the following disciplines:

• History, allowing us to learn about the evolution of our global civilizations;
• Anthropology and Sociology, to study the evolution of societies, societal characteristics, and changes;
• Communication, to study communication between cultures and nations;
• Philosophy, to help us understand fundamental concepts such as our values and the philosophy of religions;
• Political Science, to understand the role of nation-states, international organizations, international law, and private organizations in the globalization process
• Economics and business to study the growth of trade and its effects
• Environmental Studies to explore the many ecological problems related to economic growth and the dramatic rise in global population.
• Foreign languages help us understand other people and communicate more effectively across national barriers.

The world seems to become “smaller” at an accelerated pace. Rise in global trade, rapid advances in technology, communication and international travel, a growing body of international law, and transnational environmental problems have been creating an increasingly connected world. This process has become known as "globalization."

The Global and International Studies major helps students develop an understanding of how globalization continues to evolve. It also aims to provide an academic background that prepares students to enter today’s many career fields, which require knowledge of global problems, connections, actors, and processes. Examples of possible career fields include: careers in diplomacy and/ or with an international organization, careers with many types of non-governmental organizations, careers in the economics/ business field, and in the fields of journalism, research, and teaching. Many other fields, such as engineering, and health, also benefit from a global perspective.

Global Studies is an interdisciplinary major that draws from a variety of academic disciplines. These disciplines include, but are not limited to: Political Science, History, Communication, Economics, Business, Sociology, and Environmental Studies. Combining these diverse disciplines into one interdisciplinary, colorful major - in order to understand the complex, rapidly unfolding process of globalization - is the objective of our program.

SBCC offers a Transfer Agreement Guarantee (TAG). A TAG is a contractual agreement between the student, SBCC, and specific four-year colleges or universities. This includes six University of California ( *UC) institutions, six California State Institutions (CSU), seven California private institutions, nine out-of-state institutions, as well as Honors Transfer Agreements with ten institutions and 8 CSUs without campus impaction. Students must enroll in the TAG program and work with a TAG advisor. Please click here to learn more on the TAG program website.