Global Cultural Studies | Program & Catalog

Global Cultural Studies focuses on the interconnected elements of diverse world cultures, such as their social relations, power structures, mass media, rituals, health practices, languages, literature, art, and history.

The Global Cultural Studies faculty are experts in multiple disciplines, including Anthropology, Archaeology, Art History, Asian Studies, Chinese, French, German, History, Japanese, PHEAL, Philosophy, Russian, Spanish, Theatre, and other areas. Throughout their coursework, Global Cultural Studies students develop skills in close reading, pattern detection, critical analysis, and original thinking, with an emphasis on promoting cross-cultural understanding.

Career Opportunities in Global Cultural Studies

Given today's diverse and interconnected world, Global Cultural Studies provides students with excellent preparation for careers in education, business, health, social services, law, the arts, and more.

Requirements for the Global Cultural Studies Major (36 Semester Hours)

Core courses (8 semester hours)

GCS 105 Introduction to Global Cultural Studies (4)
GCS 499W Senior Seminar in Global Cultural Studies (4) (or departmentally-approved substitution)*

Anthropology (4 semester hours)

Take 4 semester hours with an ANTH prefix.

ANTH 231 Native North American Cultures (4)
ANTH 232 Peoples and Cultures of Africa (4)
ANTH 235 Cultures of Mexico and Ecuador (4)
ANTH 258 Selected Area Studies (4)
ANTH 335 Visual Anthropology (4)
ANTH 344 Medical Anthropology (4)
ANTH 346 Technology and Society (4)
ANTH 351 Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights, and the Environment (4)
ANTH 356 Language and Culture (4)
ANTH 394 Internship in Anthropology (4)
ANTH 399 Topics in Anthropology (1-4)
ANTH 429 Topics in Anthropology (1-4)
ANTH 490 Independent Study (2 or 4)

Cultural Electives, Part A (16 semester hours)

Take 16 semester hours from the following approved list of electives that focus on different cultures around the world, including the United States.

ANTH 231 Native North American Cultures (4)
ANTH 232 Peoples and Cultures of Africa (4)
ANTH 235 Cultures of Mexico and Ecuador (4)
ANTH 258 Selected Area Studies (4)
ANTH 335 Visual Anthropology (4)
ANTH 344 Medical Anthropology (4)
ANTH 351 Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights, and the Environment (4)
ANTH 356 Language and Culture (4)
ANTH 394 Internship in Anthropology (4)
ANTH 399 Topics in Anthropology (1-4)
ANTH 429 Topics in Anthropology (1-4)
ANTH 490 Independent Study (2 or 4)
ARCH 237 Introduction to Global Archaeology (4)
ARCH 337 Archaeological Theories and Methods (4)
ARTH 243 Contemporary Art: 1970-present (4)
ARTH 263 Baroque and Neoclassical Visual Culture (4)
ARTH 267 Renaissance Visual Culture (4)
ASIA 201 Gateway to East Asian Studies (4)
ASIA 210 Making and Playing of Traditional Musical Instruments (4)
ASIA 352 Field Study in Asia (4)
CCM 258 Gender and Mass Communication in Asia (4)
CCM 288 Introducing Asia to the World (4)
CCM 301 Asian Visual and Creative Culture (4)
CCM 310 Asian Social Media in a Global Context: Critique and Design (4)
CHNSE 254 Folklore and Identity (4)
CHNSE 352 Rites of Passage in Chinese Societies (4)
CLAS 252 Poetics of Magic, Magic of Poetry
FREN 275 African Cinema (4)
FREN 285W Gender and Sexuality in African Literature and Cinema (4)
FREN 331W French Composition and Discussion (4)
FREN 336 France and the Other (4)
FREN 337 French and Francophone Studies II (4)
FREN 340 Readings in French Literature (4)
FREN 341 Oral Tradition and Performance in African Literature (4)
FREN 430 Civilization and Its Critics (4)
FREN 432 Language in Society (4)
FREN 439 Advanced Topics in French Literature (4)
GERM 241 German Cinema and Visual Culture (4)
GERM 333 Contemporary German Culture (4)
GERM 432 Media in Context: Literature, Film and Art (4)
HIST 233 Asian Empires on the Silk Road (4)
HIST 256 Colonial Latin America (4)
HIST 270 Cinema in the Middle East (4)
IDS 205 Chemawa Indian School Partnership Program (2)
IDS 396 Chemawa Indian School Partnership Program Internship (2 or 4)
JAPN 201W Modern Japanese Society and Culture (4)
JAPN 314W Japanese Literature in Translation (4)
JAPN 340 The Japanese Cinema (4)
PHEAL 120 Global Health through Film (4)
PHIL 112/113W Philosophy and Religion (4)
PHIL 370W Philosophy of Language (4)
RUSS 233W Russian Culture: Russian Ways and Views of Russia (4)
RUSS 235 Russian and Soviet Cinema (4)
RUSS 320W The Nineteenth-Century Russian Novel (4)
RUSS 325 Topics in Russian Literature (4)
RUSS 333 Russian Civilization and Culture (4)
SPAN 331W Spanish Composition and Discussion (4)
SPAN 332 Spanish Conversation and Culture (4)
SPAN 333 Hispanic Civilization (4)
SPAN 335 Cultural Institutions of Spain (4)
SPAN 352 Peninsular Literature I: Medieval, Early Modern, and American Colonial (4)
SPAN 353 Peninsular Literature II: Modern and Contemporary (4)
SPAN 355 Latin American Literature I: Conquest to Independence (4)
SPAN 356 Latin American Literature II: Modernismo to the Present (4)
SPAN 365 Spanish Translation (4)
SPAN 380 Latin American Cinema (4)
SPAN 399 Topics in Spanish (1-4)
SPAN 427 Topics in Latin American Literature (4)
SPAN 428 Contemporary Mexican Literature (4)
SPAN 430 History of Hispanic Thought (4)
SPAN 431 Contemporary Novel and Short Story of Latin America (4)
SPAN 435 Contemporary Latin American Women Writers (4)
SPAN 438 Contemporary Spanish Women Writers (4)
SPAN 445 Topics in Medieval and Early Modern Spanish Literature (4)
SPAN 446 Topics in Modern and Contemporary Peninsular Literature (4)
THTR 212 Global Fashion History (4)

Cultural Electives, Part B (8 semester hours)

Take two classes (8 semester hours) that meet the following conditions: .

Most importantly, these two classes must have a prefix of CHNSE, FREN, GERM, JAPN, RUSS, or SPAN.
Both classes may be from the same prefix, or may be different;
Classes may be taught in any language, including English;
Classes listed under Cultural Electives, Part A, may also be used to satisfy this requirement, but the same course cannot be used for both requirements (a minimum of 36 semester hours are required for the major);
Classes may be at any level, but cannot include courses used to satisfy the Non-English Language General Education requirement: that is, 131/132 language classes cannot be used to satisfy GCS major or minor requirements unless they are courses in a student's second non-English language;
This requirement cannot be satisfied through AP/IB credit or any form of language proficiency exam or exemption.

Stipulations

Students majoring in Global Cultural Studies cannot count for GCS major credit more than four classes from any single course prefix other than ANTH or GCS; there is no limit on ANTH or GCS courses.

The GCS major values training in areas of transregional and global connection. Thus, students are required to take one course from at least three of the following world region categories: 1) North America or Europe, 2) Central or South America, 3) Africa, 4) Asia, 5) Middle East, or 6) Global (students are allowed to take 2 of these 3 courses from the Global category). Students can choose these three regional classes from any category in the major (Core, Anthropology, Cultural Electives). No classes can count in more than one category in the major. Classes, supervised research, or internship work done during study abroad may qualify for GCS credit, but must be approved by the GCS chair. With GCS chair approval, "Special Topics" and other courses at Willamette may also count for GCS credit and will at that time be assigned to the proper regional category.

Students must take eight credits at the 300-level or above. These 300/400-level classes can be from Anthropology or Cultural Electives A or B, but not Senior Capstone.

Requirements for the Global Cultural Studies Minor (20 Semester Hours)

Core courses

GCS 105 Introduction to Global Cultural Studies (4)
One course from the Anthropology Category (see major above) (4)
Three additional courses from any category in the GCS major: Core, Anthropology, Cultural Electives A or B (see major above) (12)

Stipulations

Students minoring in Global Cultural Studies are required to take one course from at least two of the following world region categories: 1) North America or Europe, 2) Central or South America, 3) Africa, 4) Asia, 5) Middle East, or 6) Global (students are allowed to take both courses from the Global category). Students can choose these two regional classes from any category in the minor. Classes, supervised research, or internship work done during study abroad may qualify for GCS credit, but must be approved by the GCS chair. With GCS chair approval, "Special Topics" and other courses at Willamette may also count for GCS credit and will at that time be assigned to the proper regional category.

Indicators of Achievement

The major in the Department of Global Culture Studies is designed around four curricular goals.

The Student Learning Outcomes of the Global Cultural Studies Department Include

Expand intercultural competence through multiple learning approaches, including language training, literary analysis, and social-science research.
Explain complex social relations with regard to factors such as gender, equality, race, nationality, socioeconomic status, religion, age and more, between and among peoples from diverse parts of the world.
Critically evaluate texts in a broad sense, such as artistic verbal, written, and visual texts, academic publications, and news sources.
Understand contemporary issues and power dynamics among diverse people, such as issues related to cultural representation and appropriation, intellectual property, reparations, migration, repatriation, and more.

Faculty

Ana Montero, Professor of Global Cultural Studies
Peter Wogan, Professor of Anthropology and Global Cultural Studies
Sarah Clovis Bishop, Associate Professor of Russian
Natalie Brenner, ,
Amadou Fofana, Professor of French and Francophone Studies; French Department Chair,
Maguelonne Ival, ,
Rebecca Mehr, ,
Joyce V. Millen, Associate Professor of Anthropology, African Studies and Public Health ,
Juwen Zhang, Professor of Chinese Studies
Aili Zheng, Professor of German

Affiliated Faculty

Maria Blanco-Arnejo, Professor of Spanish,
Bobby Brewer-Wallin, Professor of Theatre
Ricardo De Mambro Santos , Professor, Department of Art History, Department Chair
Miho Fujiwara, Professor of Japanese
Cecily McCaffrey, Associate Professor of History
April Overstreet, Associate Professor of Spanish
Scott Pike, Professor of Environmental Science and Archaeology, Environmental Science
Saghar Sadeghian, Associate Professor of History, Sabbatical Leave-Fall 2023 semester
Abigail Susik, Associate Professor of Art History
Ivan Welty, Professor of Philosophy
Huike Wen, Professor

Emeritus Faculty

Rebecca J. Dobkins, Professor of Anthropology, Curator of Native American Art - Hallie Ford Museum of Art
Pamela A. Moro, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology

Administrative Assistant

Pamela Smith, CAS Admin Supervisor

Course Listings

GCS 105 Introduction to Global Cultural Studies (4)

This course provides a broad introduction to the comparative study of peoples, cultures, and languages from major regions of the world. Topical themes may include language and culture; ritual and religion; power and hegemony; race and racism; class and inequality; gender and sexuality; local and global environment; health and healing; internal and transnational migration; ethnicity and nationalism; and kinship, family, and marriage. Students will explore varied ways of learning about cultural similarities and differences, as well as local, regional, national, and international interconnections and power dynamics among groups. They will examine how divergent sources of popular and academic literature, news, film, and ethnographic works represent cultures and provide—or do not provide—political-economic context.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Arts and Humanities; Social Sciences; PDE; World Engagement: CV
Offering: Every semester
Instructor: Staff

GCS 199 Topics in Global Cultural Studies (1-4)

A semester-long study of topics in Global Cultural Studies. Topics and emphases will vary according to the instructor. This course may be repeated for credit with different topics. See the New and Topics Courses page on the Registrar’s webpage for descriptions and applicability to majors/minors in other departments.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
Prerequisite: Topic dependent
Offering: Occasionally
Professor: Staff

GCS 250W Narratives of Migration: From Islamic Spain to the US/Mexico Border (4)

By examining translated literary works originally written in Spanish, this transatlantic and transhistorical course will explore the representation of displacement, imperialism, and racism in both medieval Spain and in the contemporary border in northern Mexico. From the expulsion of Jews and Muslims in inquisitorial premodern Spain to the anti-migratory policies in the US in the 21st century, this class will examine political, religious, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural frontiers and how authors have exposed and challenged them at both sides of the ocean in distinctive historical moments. In addition to literature, this course will also study other artistic representations of the border—such as art and films—and their role in the construction of identity in order to provide a starting point for critical exploration, discussion, and activism. Taught in English.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing-centered; Arts & Humanities; PDE
Offering: Alternate years
Professor: Montero

GCS 299 Topics in Global Cultural Studies (1-4)

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
Prerequisite: Topic dependent
Offering: Occasionally
Professor: Staff

GCS 399 Topics in Global Cultural Studies (1-4)

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
Prerequisite: Topic dependent
Offering: Occasionally
Professor: Staff

GCS 429 Topics in Global Cultural Studies (1-4)

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
Prerequisite: Topic dependent
Offering: Occasionally
Professor: Staff

GCS 499W Senior Seminar in Global Cultural Studies (4)

This course serves as the Senior Capstone for majors in Global Cultural Studies, but is also open to minors in Global Cultural Studies and any students interested in the study of world cultures. Students will engage in research on a specific topic related to global cultures. Based on the students’ interests, the instructor will suggest a range of topics, methods, and scholarly literature. Afterwards, students will choose and formulate individual research questions, investigate those questions in-depth, and present their original findings and analyses.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing-centered
Prerequisite: Senior standing or instructor consent
Offering: Annually
Instructor: Staff

ANTH 199 Topics in Anthropology (1-4)

A semester-long study of topics in Anthropology. Topics and emphases will vary according to the instructor. This course may be repeated for credit with different topics. See the New and Topics Courses page on the Registrar’s webpage for descriptions and applicability to majors/minors in other departments.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
Prerequisite: Topic dependent
Offering: Occasionally
Instructor: Staff

ANTH 231 Indigenous Peoples of North America (4)

This course offers a survey of the dynamic, changing cultures of Native North America, from the time of the first peopling of the continent to the present day. The approach emphasizes the diversity of these cultures, as well as the complexity of the relationships between Native American and non-native peoples. Particular attention given to Oregon and the Northwest.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Social Sciences; PDE; World Engagement: CV
Prerequisite: ANTH 150 recommended
Offering: Last offered in Fall 2022
Instructor: Dobkins

ANTH 232 Peoples and Cultures of Africa (4)

This course explores Africa's cultural diversity from an interdisciplinary perspective. To situate specific African groups in their local and global context, the course begins with a study of African geography and history. The bulk of the course is then devoted to the study of present-day Africa, including ethnographic studies on language, literature, social organization, religion, politics and popular culture. The last unit of the class focuses on the causes and consequences of Africa's current upheavals and humanitarian crises.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Social Sciences;PDE; World Engagement: CV
Offering: Fall
Instructor: Millen

ANTH 235 Cultures of Mexico and Ecuador (4)

This course focuses on the cultures of Mexico and Ecuador, with the primary focus on Mexico, including the experience of Mexican-Americans. Topics include ethnicity, gender, class, religion, healing, immigration, and politics. Many of the units are organized around first-person accounts, as read through the lens of anthropological theories.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Social Sciences; World Engagement: CV
Offering: Spring
Instructor: Wogan

ANTH 258 Selected Area Studies (4)

This course enables faculty and students to study a specific geographic or cultural area not normally covered in existing curricula. Anthropological perspectives will be applied to such topics as history, environment, family, religion, popular culture and the arts, and current issues in the area under study. Designation of specific area focus will be made at the time of the course offering. Foci, readings, and assignments will vary with instructor. May be repeated for credit with different area focus.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Social Sciences; World Engagement: CV
Offering: On demand
Instructor: Staff

ANTH 299 Topics in Anthropology (1-4)

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
Prerequisite: Topic dependent
Offering: Occasionally
Instructor: Staff

ANTH 335 Visual Anthropology (4)

This course focuses on a variety of visual texts, from documentary films about non-Western cultures to fictional films made in the U.S. Special emphasis is placed on questions about visual representations of other cultures, and the way audience responses to visual texts reflect cultural values. Students will carry out independent fieldwork projects, in some cases making use of video-recording technologies.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences
Prerequisite: One previous anthropology course; preference given to Anthropology Majors and Minors
Offering: As Appropriate
Instructor: Wogan

ANTH 344 Medical Anthropology (4)

This course introduces students to medical anthropology. By exploring human health, sickness and healing from diverse theoretical and cross-cultural perspectives, students will learn how different peoples around the world conceptualize the human body, explain the causes of disease, manage patients and healers, contend with stress, and articulate the meaning and origin of social suffering. The course has a service learning component.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Social Sciences
Prerequisite: One course in Anthropology and/or consent of instructor
Offering: Annually
Instructor: Millen

ANTH 346 Technology and Society (4)

This course focuses on the social aspects of technology, such as how technology practices, beliefs, and attitudes are shaped by age, class, and (sub-)culture. Most of the primary research will be provided by the students themselves, based on their qualitative investigations of uses and interpretations of technology, including their own. The majority of the data will be taken from the U.S., but we will also examine uses and interpretations of technology in other areas, such as Western Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Possible topics include social patterns and variations in the attribution of human qualities to robots and other technology; reactions to artificial intelligence and surveillance technology, ranging from resistance to indifference and positive embrace; and the sociolinguistic aspects of communication through phones, video-conferencing, and other media.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Social Sciences; World Engagement: Cultural Values
Offering: Annually
Instructor: Wogan

ANTH 351 Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and the Environment (4)

This course focuses upon environmental and human rights issues affecting indigenous peoples worldwide. Using the cross-cultural, comparative and field-based perspectives that distinguish anthropology, this course examines some of the most pressing problems facing the world's indigenous peoples, explores strategies used by these groups in facing human rights and environmental violations, and offers students the opportunity to study about and take action on these issues. Case studies of specific indigenous groups will be drawn from different world areas, including North and South America, Africa, Oceania and Asia.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Social Sciences;PDE; World Engagement: CV
Prerequisite: prior course work in Anthropology or Environmental Studies required
Offering: Last offered in Fall 2022
Instructor: Dobkins

ANTH 356 Language and Culture (4)

This course introduces students to the major issues and methodologies in the study of language in its cultural context. In particular, the course focuses on linguistic questions related to the following: 1) gender; 2) power; 3) ethnic, racial, and national identifies; 4) literacy; 5) poetic, verbal performance; and 6) intercultural communication. Analysis often centers on video and cassette texts from films, conversations, and the students' own fieldwork data.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Social Sciences; World Engagement: CV
Prerequisite: Previous coursework in Anthropology recommended
Offering: Alternate years
Instructor: Wogan

ANTH 394 Internship in Anthropology (1-4)

This course provides an opportunity for practical experience (minimum 12 hours per week) in an off-campus setting related to the study of anthropology and to the student's emerging research and professional interests. The student will be supervised by an on-site professional as well as a faculty member. A paper, journal, and periodic consultations with the faculty member are required. The course does not fulfill the senior experience requirement.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Social Sciences
Prerequisite: The internship is open to advanced majors in anthropology only
Offering: Every semester
Instructor: Staff

ANTH 399 Topics in Anthropology (1-4)

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
Prerequisite: Topic dependent
Offering: Occasionally
Instructor: Staff

ANTH 429 Topics in Anthropology (1-4)

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
Prerequisite: Topic dependent
Offering: Occasionally
Instructor: Staff

ANTH 490 Independent Study (2 or 4)

This course provides the opportunity to conduct a major research project which cannot otherwise be pursued through any existing course in the department's curriculum. Students must have standing in anthropology and will work under faculty supervision. This course cannot replace ANTH 499W Senior Seminar.

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Offering: On demand
Instructor: Staff

ANTH 499W Senior Thesis Seminar (4)

This capstone course is dedicated to the process of research and writing of the senior thesis for Archaeology majors. It consists of weekly meetings in which students discuss readings about current topics in archaeology as well as interpretive issues directly related to their specific thesis projects. The course includes in-class workshops related to library research, writing, citation, illustration, and, if needed, specific methods such as photography, technical drawing, or pXRF analysis. Students are required to meet specific deadlines for partial drafts of their thesis, which will be read and critiqued by the thesis advisor(s). At the end of the course, the students are also required to make a formal presentation of the most significant aspects of their research.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing-centered; Social Sciences
Prerequisite: Senior standing in Anthropology or by permission
Offering: Occasionally
Instructor: Nicorgski

ANTH 499H Senior Honors Seminar (4)

Senior Honors Seminar provides anthropology majors the option of extending their required ANTH 499W Senior Research Methods Seminar for a full year in order to complete a more ambitious and rigorous senior project utilizing ethnographic methods. Enrollment is by application only, and accepted students will be expected to attend an additional semester of ANTH 499W Senior Research Methods Seminar to receive guidance and to provide peer mentoring for other anthropology majors.

Prerequisite: ANTH 499W
Offering: By Application
Instructor: Dobkins, Millen, Wogan