Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
INTLD005.
Course Title (CB02)
Contemporary Global Issues
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Course Description
This is an interdisciplinary introduction to contemporary global problems and issues, with an emphasis on cultural events that impact all of our lives. Students will learn to explore, analyze, and identify local solutions to global issues and problems, through the lens of intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural perspectives. The impact of race, ethnicity, and inequality in world affairs, the processes of economic development and globalization, the environmental impacts of human activities, and people's experiences of war and peace will be analyzed. Consideration of various cultural points of view on processes of interdependent changes in our lives at global, regional, national, and local levels will be encouraged.
Faculty Requirements
Discipline 1
[Interdisciplinary Studies]
FSA
[FHDA FSA - INTERNATIONAL STUDIES]
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is UC and CSU transferable and is °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE, CSU GE, and IGETC. It belongs to the Global Studies A.A. degree. This course is an interdisciplinary introduction to contemporary global problems and issues, with emphasis on cultural events that impact all of our lives.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
2GES°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE - Environment Sustainability and Global CitizenshipApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGDYCSU GE Area D - Social SciencesApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG4XIGETC Area 4 - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
GLSTGlobal StudiesApprovedC-ID GLST 102

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Discussion and problem-solving performed in class

Discussion of assigned reading

Homework and extended projects

Lecture and visual aids

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Ìý

Assignments

  1. Assigned readings and media that demonstrate ofÌýanalyzingÌýcultural, political, social, economic, and environmental dimensions of global issues and problems.
  2. Research presentationsÌýthat reinforce of criticizingÌýthe formal and informal structures which dominate global interactions, including the World Bank, IMF, WTO, as well as informal structures such as the drug trade, human trafficking, and flows of people who are both immigrants and refugee, and provide solutions.Ìý
  3. Essay assessments or written exams that analyze major global issues in various critical perspectives, with special attention to contexts established by population, culture, religion, status of women, child soldiers, status of refugees, human trafficking, modern day slavery, gender,Ìýclimate change, deforestation, threats to biodiversity,Ìýpollution, and outlining alternative approaches.
  4. Discussion groups, online discussions, group projects or activities that demonstrate ofÌýanalyzingÌýmajor global issues in various critical perspectives, with special attention to contexts established by population, culture, religion, status of women, child soldiers, status of refugees, human trafficking, modern day slavery, gender,Ìýclimate change, deforestation, threats to biodiversity, pollution, andÌýoutlining alternative approaches.Ìý

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Assessment of participation in class discussions of assigned readings based on frequency and appropriateness of commentsÌýwill be evaluated on the basis of analyzing population, cultural, political, social, economic, and environmental dimensions of global issues and problems.
  2. Essays evaluated on the basis of appropriate use of information from assigned readings in a logically consistent argumentÌýof critiquingÌýthe formal and informal structures which dominate global interactions, including the World Bank, IMF, WTO, as well as informal structures such as the drug trade, human trafficking, and flows of people who are both immigrants and refugees.
  3. Evaluation of presentations of group projects, and the research materials submitted to support the group project presentations, based on the criteria on the assignment sheetÌýofÌýanalyzingÌýcultural, political, social and economic dimensions of global issues and problems.
  4. Final exam/project/paperÌýwill be evaluated on the basis of critiquingÌýthe formal and informal structures which dominate global interactions, including the World Bank, IMF, WTO, as well as informal structures such as the drug trade, human trafficking, and flows of people who are both immigrants and refugees,Ìýand outlining alternative approaches.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials:Ìý
  • None
Essential College Facilities:
  • None

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Seitz, John L., and Kristen Hite.Global Issues: An IntroductionWiley-Blackwell2021/6th Edition978-1119538509
Sernau, Scott.Global Problems: The Search for Equity, Peace, and SustainabilityWaveland Press, Inc.2022/4th Edition978-1478647225
Snarr, Michael T., and Neil D. Snarr (eds.).Introducing Global IssuesLynne Rienner Publishers, Inc.2021978-1626379671
Harf, James E., and Mark Owen Lombardi (eds.).Clashing Views on Global IssuesMcGraw-Hill Education2019/10th Edition978-1260206227

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

None.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Explore global studies in historical context as an academic discipline by identifying the origins of contemporary global economic, social and political systems, and the processes that perpetuate the current world order.
  • Examine a variety of paradigms and hypotheses about how the world works/fails to work especially considering basic human rights (Food, Water, Health, Energy).
  • Analyze major global issues, and discuss approaches to solving specific problems, in various critical perspectives, with special attention to contexts established by population, culture, religion, status of women, child soldiers, status of refugees, human trafficking, modern day slavery, gender, climate change, deforestation, threats to biodiversity, and pollution.
  • Research and evaluate global issues to understand public policy and decision-making.
  • Analyze and evaluate critically the roles of technology in framing and disseminating information, with attention on using the web and social media to find reliable information about world events.
  • Investigate the ways in which changes in many types of technology (communication, transportation, military, agricultural, medical, and genetic) have impacted human lives and the ways in which the world's people interact with each other and with the Earth.
  • Examine the interconnected nature of life in a globalized world with perspectives on changes in the natural world impacting life.

CSLOs

  • Analyze cultural, political, social, economic and environmental dimensions of global issues and problems.

  • Critique the formal and informal structures which dominate global interactions, including the World Bank, IMF, WTO, as well as informal structures such as the drug trade, human trafficking, and flows of people who are both immigrants and refugees.

Outline

  1. Explore global studies in historical context as an academic discipline by identifying the origins of contemporary global economic, social and political systems, and the processes that

    perpetuate the current world order.
    1. Earliest works on global events, such as the Silk Road, Dutch East and West Indies Corporations.
    2. Interdisciplinary methods and hypotheses; interactions of anthropology, economics, history, political science, sociology, and environmental studies.
    3. Periodization of world systems, with particular attention to the post-WW II order and the definition of the United States as the hegemon.
    4. Development of global institutions, including the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization.
  2. Examine a variety of paradigms and hypotheses about how the world works/fails to work especially considering basic human rights (Food, Water, Health, Energy).
    1. Neoliberal orthodoxy and the dominance of the U.S. in defining how the world ought to work in the post-World War II era.
    2. DistinguishÌýneoconservative and neoliberal ideologies, and unilateral versus multilateral behaviors in global affairs.
    3. Critical perspectives, including but not limited to world-systems theory, dependency theory, underdevelopment, human rights, and basic human needs.
    4. Theories from the contemporary Third World and alternative development communities, such as those from participatory development and environmental sustainability perspectives.
  3. Analyze major global issues,Ìýand discuss approaches to solving specific problems, in various critical perspectives, with special attention to contexts established by population, culture, religion, status of women, child soldiers, status of refugees, human trafficking, modern day slavery, gender,Ìýclimate change, deforestation, threats to biodiversity, and pollution.Ìý
    1. Microfinance for women as an alternative to macro level development strategies.
    2. Clash of civilizations or clash of beliefs, values, religions, culturesÌýand approaches to solving it.Ìý
    3. Evaluate the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights culturally biasedÌýand approaches to solving them.
    4. The behavior of the U.S. lessens the risk of terrorism and or to add to those risks and approaches to solving it.Ìý
    5. The environmental consequences of world trade, wars and conflicts, and an industrial system reliant on combustion of fossil fuels and approachesÌýto solving them.Ìý
    6. Analyze the environmental consequences of climate change, deforestation, threats to biodiversity and pollutionÌýand approaches to solving them.
    7. Study of global population, including the evolution of population growth and future predictions, demographic trends, and migration.ÌýÌý
  4. Research and evaluate global issues to understand public policy and decision-making.
    1. Analyze public policies in different types of regimes.
    2. Evaluate the diversity among states of the world in terms of systems of decision-making and meeting standards of 'good governance'.
    3. DiscussÌýwhetherÌýpoor states stay poor because of corruptÌýleadershipÌýor lack of good governanceÌýorÌýthe need for a different type of government.
    4. The role international organizations and treaties play, such as the United Nations, the Kyoto Treaty, the Rio Accord, and the International Criminal Court.
    5. Discuss the extent civil societyÌýand individuals in movements and networks,Ìýsuch asÌýthe anti-globalization movement and environmental activistsÌýin Greenpeace, shape the decisions of elites.
    6. Discuss how the global carryingÌýcapacity and limits of various ecological systems present constraints on public policy decisions, such as the pace of economic growth, the costs of environmental protection, the development of technology to deal with pollution, the decision to go to war, and policies to limit the size of a population.Ìý
  5. Analyze and evaluate critically the roles of technology in framing and disseminating information, with attention on using the web and social media to find reliable information about world events.
    1. Examine how large the web site of the United Nations is, and to how many thousands of nongovernmental organizations it is linked
    2. Analyze the web pages on multiple platforms, and the tweets, of such global organizations as multinational corporations, U.S. government agencies (including the CIA), and protest organizations, and learn to identify useful information, RegardlessÌýof the ways in which that information is packaged.
    3. Trace the source of a web page to the organization that actually pays to keep the pages up on the internet, while separating the images from the power behind those images.
    4. Accumulate a number of favorite social media or web sites with notations on the strengths and weaknesses of the sites to keep aware of events in the world even after the class.
  6. Investigate the ways in which changes in many types of technology (communication, transportation, military, agricultural, medical, and genetic) have impacted human lives and the ways in which the world's people interact with each other and with the Earth.
    1. Analyze global impacts of current communications technologies to link people in their social, economic, and political lives.
    2. Discuss technological impacts on human life, in terms of human trafficking, trafficking in body parts, and genetic innovations in life sciences.
    3. Critically examine the interactions of technology on conflict and security, including consideration of global crime and terrorism, as well as unified efforts to combat such operations.
    4. Examine the ways in which technological innovations have increased the interdependence of people, organizations, and governments on local, national, regional, and global levels, and the abilities to address global problems in coordinated ways.
  7. Examine the interconnected nature of life in a globalized world with perspectives on changes in the natural world impacting life.
    1. The negative effects of globalization on the environment such as increasing transport of goods, economic specialization, decreased biodiversity, deforestation, climate change, and the pollution of water, air and soil.
    2. Study of food shortages, and changes in food production over time.
    3. Study of water access and availability, questions related to sanitation, and safety and conflict.
    4. Evaluate global health problems such as pandemics and their prevention, and or health care including availability and problems with provision of health care.
    5. Analyze energy needs, consumption and conservation, renewable and nonrenewable resources.
    6. Discuss Countries’ environmental protection on revenue, renewable and non-renewable energy, economic growth, urbanization, and commerce.
    7. Analyze the factors of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions on international commerce, technical development, and industrialization.
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