# Global and International Studies (Associate of Arts (AA))

Santa Barbara City College · 2026-2027 Catalog · Department: Political Science, Economics, Global Studies, and Law and Society

Source: https://catalog.sbcc.edu/academic-departments/political-science-economics/global-studies-aa/

### Overview

We live in a world that seems to become “smaller” at an accelerated pace. Rise in global trade, rapid advances in technology, unprecedented degrees of inter-cultural 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 which 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 to help us understand other people and communicate more effectively across national barriers.

Combining these academic disciplines into one interdisciplinary, colorful major -- in order to understand the rapidly unfolding process of globalization -- is the objective of our program.

### Requirements

**Associate Degree Graduation Requirements**

Complete all of the following:

1.  All Major Requirements listed below with a “C” or better or “P” in each course (at least 20% of the major requirements must be completed through SBCC).
2.  One of the following General Education options:
    1.  OPTION 1: SBCC General Education pattern OR
    2.  OPTION 2: Cal-GETC pattern
3.  A minimum of 60 semester units of degree-applicable college credit (SBCC courses numbered 100 and higher and C1000 and higher).
4.  Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher in degree-applicable coursework.
5.  A minimum of 12 units through SBCC.

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Major Requirements** | |  |
| **Required Core** | | 9-10 |
| ↳ GLST 101 | Introduction to Global Studies |  |
| ↳ GLST 102 | Global Problems |  |
| ↳ POLS 121 | International Politics |  |
| or ↳ POLS 121H | International Politics, Honors |  |
| or ↳ POLS 131 | Comparative Politics |  |
| **List A - Complete three courses from the following Electives, from different disciplines:** | | 9-15 |
| ↳ ANTH 103 | Introduction To Cultural Anthropology |  |
| ↳ ANTH 109 | Comparative World Cultures |  |
| ↳ ART 108 | History of Asian Art |  |
| ↳ ART 110 | History of Women in Art |  |
| ↳ ART 111 | Arts of Africa, Oceania, and Indigenous America, Beginnings to Present |  |
| ↳ ART 215 | Survey Of Non-Western Art |  |
| ↳ ART 216 | Survey Of Islamic Art And Architecture |  |
| ↳ ARTH C1200 | Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary |  |
| or ↳ ARTH C1200H | Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary - Honors |  |
| ↳ COMM 151 | Intercultural Communication |  |
| ↳ ECON C2001 | Principles of Microeconomics |  |
| or ↳ ECON C2001H | Principles of Microeconomics - Honors |  |
| or ↳ ECON C2002 | Principles of Macroeconomics |  |
| or ↳ ECON C2002H | Principles of Macroeconomics - Honors |  |
| ↳ IBUS 102 | Introduction to International Business |  |
| ↳ ENG 232 | World Literature: 17th Century to Present |  |
| ↳ ENVS 110 | Humans And The Biological Environment |  |
| ↳ ERTH 141/GEOG 101 | Physical Geography |  |
| ↳ GEOG 102 | Human Geography |  |
| ↳ GEOG 105/ERTH 142 | Economic Geography |  |
| ↳ HIST 104 | History of Western Civilization |  |
| or ↳ HIST 113H | History Of Western Civilization: 1600 To Present, Honors |  |
| ↳ HIST 107 | World Civilization, Beginnings to 1550 |  |
| ↳ HIST 108 | World Civilization, 1550 to Present |  |
| ↳ HIST 110 | History of American Women |  |
| or ↳ HIST 110H | History Of American Women (Honors) |  |
| ↳ HIST/ENVS 112 | American Environmental History |  |
| ↳ HIST 120 | Modern Europe |  |
| ↳ HIST 133 | History of Latin America |  |
| ↳ HIST 134 | History Of Latin America: 1800'S To Modern Period |  |
| ↳ HIST 138 | History of the Modern Middle East |  |
| ↳ HIST C1002 | United States History since 1865 |  |
| or ↳ HIST C1002H | History Of The U.S. Since 1865 - Honors |  |
| ↳ MUS 118 | World Music |  |
| ↳ PHIL 102 | Comparative World Religions |  |
| ↳ POLS 121 | International Politics 2 |  |
| or ↳ POLS 121H | International Politics, Honors |  |
| ↳ POLS 122 | International Organizations: Global and Regional Governance |  |
| ↳ POLS 131 | Comparative Politics 2 |  |
| ↳ SOC 101 | Introduction To Sociology |  |
| or ↳ SOC 101H | Introduction to Sociology, Honors |  |
| ↳ SOC 109 | Social Problems |  |
| ↳ SOC 115 | Introduction To Social Research |  |
| or ↳ PSY 200 | Research Methods and Experimental Design in Psychology |  |
| ↳ STAT C1000 | Introduction to Statistics |  |
| or ↳ PSY 150 | Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences |  |
| or ↳ SOC 125 | Introduction to Statistics in Sociology |  |
| **Any foreign language courses offered at SBCC, i.e., language acquisition courses (101, 102, 103, 104)** | |  |
| **Total Units** | | **18.00-25.00** |

1. It is highly recommended that students intending transfer select their courses in consultation with an academic counselor to ensure that they meet the requirements of four-year institutions.
2. POLS 121 or 121H or 131 may count toward the Electives requirement if not previously used to satisfy Core Requirements (listed above).

### Learning Outcomes

1.  Describe key developments in the ongoing process of globalization
2.  Analyze the concept of global interdependence with reference to various characteristics of globalization and to specific global problems
3.  Connect concepts related to political, economic, cultural and ecological globalization with events discussed in contemporary news

### Recommended Sequence

Make an appointment with your SBCC academic counselor through Starfish to create a Student Education Plan that reflects a recommended course sequence for this program that is tailored to your individual needs.

How to schedule an Academic Counseling appointment.