University Senate approves Global Studies program
Kean University and its many international flags located in CAS. Credit: Lena Zhu
By Lena Zhu | Published March 1, 2018
The Center of Interdisciplinary Studies’ B.A Global Studies program was approved by the Kean University Faculty Senate at the Jan. 30 meeting.
The B.A. Global Studies program is set to start in the 2018 Fall semester. The program requires 120 credits to complete, as opposed to the 124 credits that are required for most majors at Kean.
“Many programs in NJ and around the country are moving towards a 120 credit model to help improve retention and four year graduation rates,” Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies Dr. Sarah Compion states in an email. “We believe that Global Studies students will be able to meet the 120 credit expectation easily and realistically in four years, thus saving [students] time and money.”
The Global Studies program divides into two major areas of concentration: geographic and phonetic.
If students choose the geographic option, they will be able to decide from a wide variety of sections Kean University already offers. These include Latin American studies, Africana studies, or Asian Studies, among many others.
On the other hand, a concentration on phonetics will allow students to study and learn more about Jewish World Affairs, Women’s and Gender Studies, or even Environmental Sustainability.
Compion and her team developed this program to meet the needs of employers seeking graduates with the knowledge of global and international affairs. The application of worldly knowledge and awareness will help all types of careers through all platforms, she said.
Job markets are now looking “for university graduates who are knowledgeable about cultures, languages and professional practices of countries outside their own borders…[those] who have international experience, adaptable skills, and versatile cultural capacity,” said Compion in an email. “Those who have these worldly experiences and traits are more likely to find jobs in all markets in the future.”
This, she said, is the inspiration for the Global Studies program.
Global studies degrees prepares students for jobs in various areas such as foreign service, communication, or even government, among many others.
These careers deal with global issues and affairs on a daily basis. Achieving the level of knowledge accompanied by the courses at Kean will help students make the world a better place.
“I, and the College of Liberal Arts, are excited about the new Global Studies major,” said Dr. Jonathan Mercantini, Acting dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “I think students would be wise to look at the Global Studies program and see if it would be a good major, second major, or even a minor for them.”
The program will need one final approval from the Board of Trustees on March 5, 2018, according to Compion.
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