The declaration of your major is the most important step in your undergraduate education. Global Studies is an interdisciplinary major that offers a comprehensive framework for studying and understanding structures, processes, and interactions of globalization across multiple scales. As the pages describing the Major and Minor explain, GLBS 250 (SOCI 250) Introduction to Global Studies is the required prerequisite course. For the major you will declare one of three possible concentrations: Global Politics and Economy Concentration, Global Society and Culture Concentration, or Language, Politics and Culture Concentration. To complete the major you will take seven courses from our list of approved courses, the combinations of which will vary depending on your concentration. You will also take two regional studies courses and one methods/foreign language course.

On the form below you can declare Global Studies as your major (or minor). The major remains rooted in interdisciplinary but is administratively housed in the Department of Sociology. You may declare your major in Global Studies either online or in person at the Sociology Department main office in 901 McClung Tower.

You are encouraged to schedule an appointment with your advisor regularly to plan a course of study and discuss longer-term study and career plans.

• Global Studies majors are assigned to Emilie Wise, the College of Arts & Science advisor for Sociology and Global Studies. She was an undergraduate Global Studies major at another university and is well equipped to handle a wide array of advising questions and tasks. Her office is 131 Alumni Memorial Building, and can be contacted at easlinge@utk.edu.
• The primary faculty mentor for Global Studies majors is the Director, currently Dr. Paul Gellert. Dr. Gellert has extensive experience living, teaching and conducting research overseas in Indonesia and also the Netherlands and Japan. He has received Fulbright fellowships both as a graduate student and more recently as a faculty member. You are encouraged to discuss with him about not only courses but study abroad, fellowship opportunities, career plans, etc.
• If you would like a different faculty mentor – for example, a professor in another department who is affiliated with the interdisciplinary Global Studies major – we can also accommodate that request.

For further questions about declaring a major or about the Global Studies program, please contact the current Director of Global Studies, Paul Gellert, at pgellert@utk.edu.