2008 Woodie Awards
RSSGlobal studies crosses disciplines
By Matt Stayman
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: News
A new major in global studies is being offered to undergraduate students.
The major is a part of the Globalization and Social Change Initiative established last year as an effort to revamp Lehigh's approach to the teaching and research of globalization issues.
Journalism Professor Jack Lule was chosen to head the initiative. He is now teaching the introductory course in global studies.
Classes within the major will spread throughout the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Economics and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science in order to give students an interdisciplinary understanding of globalization. Departments to offer classes within the major include political science, anthropology, economics, and communications, Lule said.
A minor in global studies is also an option, Lule said.
Students pursuing the major will be encouraged to focus on a specific geographic area and take corresponding language courses, Lule said. In addition, students will be required to study abroad.
"It's really an interesting major," he said. "It's already started to draw international attention."
Three new faculty searches within the College of Arts and Sciences linked to the initiative are underway, two in the department of sociology and anthropology and one in the department of journalism and communication. The new faculty will serve important roles within their departments as well as towards meeting the goals of the initiative, he said.
"We got very nice support from the dean and provost," Lule said. "It was nice to be able to link up our needs with the needs of the department."
Arts college Dean Anne Meltzer said more searches are likely in the future.
"As we move forward, we'll be looking for more faculty who can help us to move forward in accomplishing our goals," Meltzer said.
A graduate program could be in place within the next five or six years, Lule said.
The Globalization and Social Change Initiative, although only recently established, has been in the works for years. Meltzer gives credit to former department of psychology chair Barbara Malt for leading the effort to give greater attention to globalization at Lehigh. Malt led the faculty groups that made the initiative possible for almost four years, Meltzer said.
The major is a part of the Globalization and Social Change Initiative established last year as an effort to revamp Lehigh's approach to the teaching and research of globalization issues.
Journalism Professor Jack Lule was chosen to head the initiative. He is now teaching the introductory course in global studies.
Classes within the major will spread throughout the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Economics and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science in order to give students an interdisciplinary understanding of globalization. Departments to offer classes within the major include political science, anthropology, economics, and communications, Lule said.
A minor in global studies is also an option, Lule said.
Students pursuing the major will be encouraged to focus on a specific geographic area and take corresponding language courses, Lule said. In addition, students will be required to study abroad.
"It's really an interesting major," he said. "It's already started to draw international attention."
Three new faculty searches within the College of Arts and Sciences linked to the initiative are underway, two in the department of sociology and anthropology and one in the department of journalism and communication. The new faculty will serve important roles within their departments as well as towards meeting the goals of the initiative, he said.
"We got very nice support from the dean and provost," Lule said. "It was nice to be able to link up our needs with the needs of the department."
Arts college Dean Anne Meltzer said more searches are likely in the future.
"As we move forward, we'll be looking for more faculty who can help us to move forward in accomplishing our goals," Meltzer said.
A graduate program could be in place within the next five or six years, Lule said.
The Globalization and Social Change Initiative, although only recently established, has been in the works for years. Meltzer gives credit to former department of psychology chair Barbara Malt for leading the effort to give greater attention to globalization at Lehigh. Malt led the faculty groups that made the initiative possible for almost four years, Meltzer said.
