FAQs

Major Requirements | Enrollment | Study Abroad / Internships / Grad School | Courses | Miscellaneous

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

What classes do I need for the Global Studies major?
You can find information about requirements for the Global Studies major on the Major Worksheet, available on "Current Students" tab.

How do I get into the Global Studies major?

• Complete all non-language preparation courses, and one modern foreign language equivalent to UCLA level 3. Remaining language courses may be completed while you have major standing.
• All preparation courses for the major must be taken for a letter grade.
• The UC GPA for all preps must be a minimum of 3.25. (transfer students typically won't have a UC CPA)
• The minimum grade for Global Studies 1 is a B.
• Apply to the Global Studies major during the fall of your junior year, at the latest. Prep courses toward the major must be completed by the end of the fall quarter you apply (that is, they can still be in progress when applying to the major).

What are the GPA requirements to enter the major?
The Global Studies major requires a minimum UC GPA of  3.25 for the preparation courses.  The minimum grade for Global Studies 1 is a B. There is no minimum grade requirement for the other prep courses as long as you get above an 'F' and the overall prep GPA is above a 3.25

What are the ways in which I can fulfill the language requirement?

You can fulfill the language requirement by:

• Taking a UCLA equivalent course of 2 years of any modern language OR
• Taking a language placement test at UCLA’s appropriate language departments (requirement can be fulfilled in part on in total by the test) OR
• Being a native speaker who is born in a non-English speaking country (subject to approval)

Can I minor in Global Studies?
Yes. The Global Studies minor does not require an application. As soon as you have completed the preps for the major, with a minimum prep GPA of 2.0, contact our office and ask to be declared a Global Studies minor.

Can I get a Minor in addition to my Global Studies major?
Sure, we encourage students to consider minoring in minors of interest that fall under International and Area Studies, such as Southeast Asian Studies, South Asian Studies, or African and Middle Eastern Studies. Please browse the Interdepartmental Programs website for more information.

Which themes does the Global Studies cover?
Global Studies covers three thematic pillars of globalization:

1. Culture & Society
2. Governance & Conflict
3. Markets

Both the major and the minor require courses based upon these thematic pillars in order to complete the preps as well as the full major and minor.

Can I use courses for Global Studies and another major or minor?
The maximum upper division courses that can count for the Global Studies major and another major is five, per the College’s rule. The maximum for the Global Studies minor with and other major or minor is two. It should be noted that different departments may have different overlap restrictions, so between Global Studies and the other major or minor, the department with fewer allowed overlaps is the restriction that is enforced.

Can I double major in Global Studies and another major?
The College's rule is that no more than 5 upper division courses may be common to both majors.   Courses used for preparation requirements are not counted in this overlap. 

In order to double major, you first need to have taken all the preparation courses for both majors plus two upper division courses in each major. For additional information please visit the College of Letters and Science Website.

What are the GPA requirements once I’m a declared major?
Note that the Global Studies major requires a minimum GPA of 2.00 for all upper division courses combined for the major, not a particular grade in any one course.

ENROLLMENT

How do I get into a "majors only" class?
You need to be a declared major to take these courses, except during the Summer sessions, which generally are not restricted to majors

Can I repeat a course if I got a C?
No, you can only repeat if you receive a 'C-' or below.  The newer grade will replace that of the previous one in your GPA (as long as you haven't exceeded the 16 unit repeat limit).  You are not required to do so, however. For additional information please visit the College of Letters and Science Website.

How do I get a PTE?
PTE stands for "Permission to Enroll." PTE's are not given out in this office.  Please contact the professor to inquire about a PTE #.

What is a 199 (Independent Study) course and is it possible to have it apply toward Global Studies?
199 are independent studies courses in which you work directly with a professor on a course of study agreed upon by both of you. If you take a 199, you can  have it count toward an upper division thematic pillar for Global Studies, depending on the focus of the study. The department the 199 is listed under doesn't matter. However, the topic must be related to the courses that are already applicable to the major.  Before enrolling to a 199, file a preliminary petition with our office to see if the topic of your paper is applicable to the major.  Once approved, create a “Contract Course” through MyUCLA. Official approval of the 199 course, however, will be based on the final paper. Please note that a 199 is separate from Global Studies 199A and 199B, which are required courses for the Global Studies major taken senior year, during which students work under individual faculty advisors to research and write original theses.

Is it possible to apply courses not already approved towards Global Studies?
For courses not already approved for Global Studies, you must petition to see if they can be applied. Courses that are not on the worksheet for the major or minor but are listed in the quarterly Additional Courselist have been preapproved to count toward Global Studies, and can be applied to the DAR upon enrollment with an e-mail to our office.

For more information about the additional courselist, as well as a link to the petition form for courses that are not listed on the additional courselist, check "Current Students" tab.

Can I take any courses P/NP to count towards Global Studies?
All courses for Global Studies, including preparation courses, must be taken for a letter grade, regardless if they are taken at UCLA or elsewhere.  While grades for non-UC courses do not get figured into the UCLA GPA, the grade will appear on the institution's transcript. If you choose to take a course P/NP, you can still get unit credit towards your degree, but won't count for your major. For more information, see the "Transfer Credit & Study Abroad Credit" link from the Global Studies homepage.

How do I remove an incomplete once I finish the work?
Once the instructor receives your completed work by the end of  your next enrolled term, he/she will complete the paperwork with the department.

The Incomplete notation is still on my transcripts even after I finished the assigned work.
An Incomplete grade will never be replaced or removed from your DPR. The new grade will appear on your DPR  the quarter the coursework was completed.

STUDY ABROAD/INTERNSHIPS/GRAD SCHOOL

I want to study abroad, can I have courses apply towards the major?
Yes, this will of course depend on where you study abroad and if the courses you take are applicable to Global Studies. All courses must be pre-approved, but final approval is determined by the Global Studies chair via a petition, available on the website: //www.international.ucla.edu/idps/globalstudies/ (once you come back from abroad and courses have posted to your DPR). The number of courses you take abroad will depend on how long you intent to study abroad for. Visit the International Education Office for study abroad programs.

I’m thinking of applying to graduate or professional school. What should I do?
The Global Studies program does not have a graduate program in Global Studies at UCLA.

You might want to inquire about the programs offered through the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research or the UCLA Political Science Department.

How do I get information on scholarships, internships, and jobs
You can obtain more information about these right on the Global Studies website.

For Internships and Jobs opportunities, you may contact or meet with an adviser from the Career Center or the Center for Community Learning. or visit our Internship Page

For Scholarship information, please contact the Scholarship Resource Center.

UCLA Faculty Research Interests Page

COURSES

Is there an order to the classes?
All pre-requisite courses must be taken before you can officially enter into the major. Many classes also have prerequisites, so please check with the department or consult the current schedule of classes for prerequisites.

There are two sequences to keep in mind for Global Studies. The major and minor both require Global Studies 1, which is pre-requisite to Global Studies 102, 103, and 104. Students majoring in Global Studies must complete this sequence by the end of their junior year; students minoring in Global Studies must complete this sequence by the end of their final year. For students majoring in Global Studies, they must also complete the summer travel study program (Global Studies 110A and 110B) after this initial sequence, before continuing on to the final year sequence for the major.

The second sequence of courses applies to Global Studies majors only. During their final year, they must complete a sequence of Global Studies 191 and 194 in the fall, 199A in the winter, and 199B in the spring. (199A and 199B must be taken in separate quarters in that order, but the quarter that 199A is taken can change depending on the student’s circumstances. For example, a student can start 199A in the spring and complete 199B during the summer.)

I took a class at a Community College, will it transfer to UCLA?
The courses usually transfer and will show on your transcripts. However, if they have not been posted, you need to make sure your community college sent the transcripts to UCLA admissions. If the course is posted but not applying, contact our office.

Can I start major classes before I am officially accepted into the major?
Yes, you may take any approved courses towards the Global Studies major, as long as it is not restricted and you meet the required prerequisites.

How do I read my DAR?
You can access your DAR from myucla. If you need assistance understanding it, see a College counselor or your major’s counselor for assistance.

Can I get credit for my AP courses?
It depends on the class and the score you received. Please refer to the Admissions website for more information, and click on Credit from Advanced Placement Exams if you have additional questions, please contact our office

MISCELLANEOUS

Questions that go beyond your major (e.g., max units, adding, dropping classes, incompletes, pass/no pass units, GEs, minimum progress, expected cumulative progress, academic probation, graduating in absentia, academic residence, repeating courses, etc.) should be addressed to your college counseling unit. Visit the College of Letters and Science FAQ's webpage for assistance here.

Is there Departmental Honors for Global Studies?
Outstanding Global Studies majors are eligible to receive department honors. To qualify for graduation with departmental honors, students must (1) complete all requirements for the major, (2) have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or better in upper division courses in the major and an overall GPA of 3.25 or better, and (3) complete Glbl St 199B with a grade of A– or better on the resulting thesis.

To qualify for graduation with departmental highest honors, students must (1) complete all requirements for the major, (2) have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or better in upper division courses in the major and an overall GPA of 3.50 or better, and (3) complete Glbl St 199B with a grade of A or better on the resulting thesis.

Any departmental honors designation will be automatically awarded upon graduation. No application is necessary.

What are your office hours? Where are you located?
Our office hours are 9:30am-11:30am and 1:30-4, M-R and 9:30-11-30 on Fridays. We are located in 10240 and 10247 Bunche Hall.

How do I locate one of my professors?
Please go to the UCLA directory:  www.directory.ucla.edu

Which professors do you recommend?
The best way to learn about professors is by talking to students who have already taken a particular professor's course. There is also www.bruinwalk.com for student feedback.

You can also obtain more information on a professor's background on the Faculty link of the Global Studies homepage or by going to the department homepage of the faculty member or the International Institute Centers.