Global and Intercultural Studies

In a world of instant communication and the relationships that implies, an understanding of how that world works becomes useful when one is called on to managing those relationships. Much of that understanding is technical in that the natural features and characteristics of the world and its regions are defined and generally accepted. The institutions that govern the relationships among these regions, while always in flux, can still be understood in broad terms such as trade, shared resources and other formal interactions such as aid, international accords and security. But much of a good understanding of the world hinges on matters that are more equivocal. Works of the humanities, religion, culture and long-standing traditions shape the ways people engage in the relationships that formally define global interaction. For this reason, this program collects courses from multiple disciplines into three groupings from which one can build a sequence of courses that both covers the essential skills necessary to advance a more global outlook as well as allows for a more targeted exploration of global influences. This makes it possible for participants to explore their personal interests on a global scale and in more depth.