FAQs

What if my advisor has gone away for the year or the semester?
The automatic default by the registrar is to assign you to the director. Because of this, the advisor often has in excess of 60 advisees. If you would like individual attention, it is a good idea in the spring semester to ask your advisor if they are on leave in the following year. Your advisor may help you identify someone who would be a likely follow-up advisor.

How do I change my advisor?
The goal in Global Studies is to match you with an advisor with a similar field or area interest. This only works if you take initiative. If your interests have changed, if your advisor has left, or if you have developed a closer relationship with a faculty member through a class, please send by email a request to the director of the program to change your advisor. Indicate who you would like as your new advisor and why. Provide alternatives if possible. The director will contact the person on your behalf and report back to you if the person is able to take you on. Sometimes a faculty member already has too many advisees and you may have to go to a second choice. We will work to find a good match – but it is still up to you to build the relationship.

Have you ever thought of taking your advisor to lunch when you have a long list of questions? It is free – sign it to the Dean of Student’s office on a dining hall slip. Faculty like to eat!

I changed my advisor temporarily while the faculty member was on leave but my schedule still shows the temporary person. What do I do?
There is no automatic reverse on the registrar’s advising list. The Registrar’s office is patient enough with us in selecting your own advisor as most departments rely on the simpler but less satisfying A-M and N-Z distribution. Send an email to the director as in the FAQ above on changing your advisor and we will work to get you back with your original choice.

What is a concentration and why does it exist?
There are two types of concentrations: thematic and area concentrations.

We require a concentration to encourage you to deepen your expertise in a given culture/places or them interest; a relevant double major or minor accomplishes the same end.

Must I have a concentration?
Yes, majors must complete a concentration within the major UNLESS they have a double major or minor in:

What are the thematic GS concentrations focused on?

International Relations/Foreign Policy: International Relations is the study of conflict and cooperation between states and other political actors in our current international environment in which there is no higher authority to regulate international behavior.  It focuses on the interactions among states (and between states and international institutions), transnational business enterprises, non-state political actors, and on the tensions between state sovereignty and the forces of globalization.  The core courses within the government department focus on how states and other political actors interact with each other either through security competition, international laws and institutions, or global markets.  Interdisciplinary courses that complement this focus include international economics courses focusing on interactions between national economies or with international economic institutions, diplomatic and military history courses, international environmental policy courses that focus on institutions and negotiations, or other classes that focus on institutions and negotiations, or other classes that focus on how political actors compete and cooperate with each other across borders. Alums have gone onto positions in the State Department, Congressional Offices, Time magazine and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

International Economic Policy: International Economic Policy analyzes the flows of goods, services, capital and labor across borders.  It develops an understanding and appreciation for economic interactions based on policies developed by sovereign states and multilateral organizations as opposed to interactions among consumers and among firms within a country.  It concerns itself with how production and investment is distributed across borders, global allocation of resources, and patterns of income distribution.  As countries become more closely linked through economic ties, it analyzes the policies that nations and global institutions implement to address questions of fairness and stable growth.  International Economic Policy courses treat international economic interactions among countries as well as regional explorations, e.g. of Europe, the Americas, Africa or Asia.  In addition to upper level economics courses, work in government that focuses on economic institutions and policy coordination, in anthropology analyzing cultural aspects of allocation and trade, in history chronicling global flows contribute to an understanding of international economic policy.  The study of international economic policy leads to fields in international business and positions at policy think tanks such as the Peterson Institute for International Economics, IBM and the Poverty Action Lab.

Development Studies: Courses in Development Studies consider theories, issues and policies in the process of development.  Students engage in the political, economic, historical and cultural study of improving the human condition in poor and middle income countries of the world.  Development courses provided a comparative perspective on the long-term social, political, and economic changes that have accompanied industrialization and the growth in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.  Central concerns of Development Studies include understandings how processes of change impacts the distribution of wealth and opportunity both within and between nations as well as the environmental sustainability of growth over time. Alums have gone from Development Studies to positions at regional think tanks such as the InterAmerican Dialogue, the ONE campaign and the Peace Corps.

Human Rights & Social Justice: The study of Human Rights & Social Justice draws on multiple disciplines and perspectives to consider questions of freedom, peace, protection of the dignity and rights of human beings around the world.  Thematic courses address human rights or social justice issues in terms of the historical or contemporary experiences of specific populations or identities; they address particular kinds of human rights or social justice struggles, movements, discourses and engage the development of policy and/or popular responses to address human rights or social justice concerns.  This concentration considers the modes through which people around the world experience and respond to human rights abuses and other injustices as well as the conditions which obstruct or enable action (by groups or states) to pursue human rights and social justice.  Global Studies students of Human Rights & Social Justice are especially encouraged to take advantage of the residence of Colby’s Oak fellow in International Human Rights each fall (check out the OAK Institute page on Colby’s website for more information). Alums have worked for NGOs such as Oxfam and Accion.

You can also petition to design your own concentration. Please see the form here.

• Asia
• Europe and Russia
• Africa
• Latin America
• The Middle East

What counts into my global studies major GPA?
All courses that are requirements for the major, plus any additional courses you might take above the basic requirements counts toward your major GPA.  That is, you can’t select which ones you want to count in calculating your final GPA in your senior year.

What if I have a double major such as French — does the additional literature course I take for my French major also count into my global studies GPA?
Yes.  It would be unfair to pick and choose, so they all count.

What GPA in the major is needed for Distinction at Graduation?
3.5

What GPA in the major is necessary to be eligible to apply to write an honors thesis?
3.5

What GPA in the major is necessary to graduate at all?
2.0

What GPA is necessary for study abroad?
2.7;  one may normally petition with a 2.5, but there is no guarantee of approval.

What is the Honors Program in the Global Studies major?
An honors program is available in which the student can pursue a year-long independent research project that also fulfills the seminar requirement; successful completion of this project may entitle the student to graduate “With Honors in Global Studies.”

If I want to write an honors thesis, when should I start thinking about it?
In your sophomore year.  No kidding.  An honors thesis should be the culmination of all your work over time.  You need to have taken the courses that would support advanced work in your chosen field.  If you have general ideas as to your topic, you can ideally do some preliminary work during your junior study abroad.  Be in contact with your intended advisor about possible ideas; topics rarely emerge in their first round.

How do I proceed in pursuing the Honors Program?
To be eligible, you must have a grade point average of 3.5 or better in the major at the time of graduation and should submit a statement of intent to the program director by May 1st of the junior year.  This is to allow you to begin reading and narrowing the topic in the following summer.  In the fall, you will register for a semester-long workshop on writing honors proposals.  The final deadline for submission of a completed honors thesis proposal is the first Friday in October. See the Global Studies Handbook (online) for further information about procedures, including mid-year evaluation and deadline for completion of the thesis.  For more information, visit the Honors Program Policy Guidelines.

Is there funding for senior projects and honors theses?
Yes. Thanks to the generosity of alumni David P. Hunt there are funds available to support research during January of the senior year.  This research normally takes place overseas, but you might use it to support archival work or interviews in a city such as  DC.  You must submit a proposal by the third Friday in September. You may also apply for up to $500 from the Dean of Faculty’s special student projects fund to support independent research. This, for example, might support a research trip to DC (crashing on recent alums couches) to generate material or conduct interviews for your project.

Does GS have funding for internships?
No, GS does not have separate funding for internships. Thus, you are encouraged to consult Davis Connects and the Goldfarb Center Funding sources. You can also look at funding for internships within other departments that you are a part of through other majors or minors. Talk to your professors! They will be able to direct you to the relevant resources.

For work in Latin America, you should also become familiar with the Walker Grants administered through Latin America Studies; for work in Asia, the East Asia program has funding through the Freeman grants.

Additionally, the OAK Institute for Human Rights provides funding for summer internships related to human rights (many things may full under this category).

How do I fulfill my language requirement?
You must take two courses beyond the 127 level; this will most frequently be 128 and 131 or 135 for Spanish, French, or German, or 321 for Chinese and Japanese.

What if I am studying a language not offered at Colby such as Nepali, Korean or Hebrew?
If you continue this study independently you may inquire through the director about certification through a test such as that offered at Harvard. It will be incumbent upon you to prove that you have passed through the equivalent of a 131 Colby level class. You may also reach the intermediate level in your study abroad or a summer course.

I came to Colby and began in Spanish 135. Do I have to take another language course?
We are interested in assuring that you have a basic level of functional fluency. If you began at an advanced level we would count the first course or courses at or above 131. That is, if you only take 135 or only take 231, this course will count into your GPA for the GS major and it will satisfy your language requirement.

Should I take more than one language?
In our globalizing world, this is a good idea if you have the time! If you think you are going to be in a career competing, for example, with Europeans, they may have more than two languages.

If I have a Culture & Places concentration, do I have to study a language of a nation in that region?
Students must develop language skills relevant to their regional specialization.

Do upper level literature courses count towards Culture & Places studies?
Absolutely – this is a great way to learn about a culture. See the list of courses on the GS website to see how each course can count towards your major.

What senior seminar will fulfill my concentration?
This will vary each year.  Remember that the seminar need not be entirely dedicated to your concentration field.  For example, one could have a concentration in Europe but still take the senior seminar in International Environmental Economics if the seminar paper was written on a topic with a substantially European perspective.  Senior seminars in languages will satisfy those doing an area concentration or double count for those with a double major.  For example, if you are a double major with French Studies or an GS major with a European concentration, the French senior seminar counts toward your global studies senior requirement.

Can I use an independent study (GS 491)  to fulfill my senior seminar requirement?
Absolutely-but not without permission of the faculty member you would like to supervise your work.  It is best if you email the likely supervisor over the summer before your senior year or stop by in the first days of the fall semester — even if you hope to write the paper in the spring.  The paper must be for 4 credits (or be a 2 credit independent combined with a 4 credit course); the length is up to the instructor but a rule of thumb is about 40-60 pages.  The ideal supervisor is someone with whom you have completed prior course work.  You should approach the potential supervisor with an independent study topic;  better yet a 1-2 page proposal with bibliography is always impressive!

What is the 2 credit add-on option?
To increase the number of possible courses to fulfill your senior requirement, we allow you to attach a 2 credit independent study to a seminar-like class (one where there is active participation and student responsibility for work).  This is done ONLY at the discretion of the instructor.  Please consult with your instructor and the director of the IS program if you are considering this option.  You would sign up for the 3-4 credit class plus two credits of GS491.  Economics majors writing their EC391 in the senior year may use the EC 391 if associated with a seminar like class (such as Economics of Globalization or Latin American Economic Policy.)

Can I do my senior seminar or my independent paper in my junior year?
Normally, no.  The intent is for this to be a culminating experience.  It is hard to culminate when you still have a year to go.  However, there may be extenuating circumstances.  For example, you want to write on the Middle East and Prof. Denoeux is on sabbatical your senior year.  You may request in writing to the GS director a waiver of the requirement that the project take place in your senior year.  Likewise, you may be intensely interested in Latin American politics and Prof.  Mayka’s senior seminar is the perfect capstone — but she is going on leave your senior year.  Again, petition.  You can see that it is useful to look ahead and ask your favorite professor whether he or she will be offering the course you intend to use as your senior requirement in your senior year.