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Degrees
Any major at Beloit could lead to a career in public service or around the world.
The following are the departments and programs affiliated with the School of Global & Public Service.
School of Global & Public Service
There are many ways to be a force for positive and humane change, whether in the public, private, or non-profit sectors. The School of Global & Public Service will help you map a path toward a career where you can impact your local and global communities by effecting meaningful change.
Majors
- Ten and one-half departmental units (at least 6 of which must be Beloit College units):
- The three foundational introductory courses (100, 110, and 120), which should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
- A specific intermediate course: Anthropology 201.
- Three additional courses from the essentials category (200-250). One intermediate-level non-English language course (Chinese 115, French 210, Japanese 115, Russian 115A, Spanish 210), or higher-level courses taught in those languages may be applied to an essentials requirement.
- Anthropology 380 (.5) (Senior Capstone).
- The remaining 3 units may be satisfied by elective anthropology courses chosen in consultation with the advisor, 1 of which must be from the 300 level.
- Supporting courses: No single set of courses is relevant to every anthropology major; however, students with specialized interests in certain areas within anthropology may be advised to complete relevant courses in the humanities, natural sciences, and/or other social sciences. Courses in statistics, competence in a field relevant language, and proficiency in computer-based data analysis are urged. Interdisciplinary minors in museum studies and area studies are especially relevant to a major in anthropology. Students interested in graduate work in anthropology should pay special attention to these recommendations as well as complete an honors thesis in their senior year.
- Writing/communication requirement: Communication within the discipline of anthropology occurs through writing, photography and filmmaking, oral reports, multimedia productions, and the creation of posters that convey information.
- Anthropological writing includes a wide variety of styles and genres, including expository essays, laboratory reports, research results, ethnographic note-taking, cultural description, and creative fiction. A certain amount of reflexivity is expected in all anthropological writing; that is, the writer must communicate to the reader an awareness of the ways in which writing itself constructs and conveys the message or information. Writing of various sorts is built into the anthropology major. Foundational courses (100, 110, 120) introduce students to the diversity among anthropological subfields and the writing styles that accompany each. Anthropology 100 requires essay writing, and students learn the style of laboratory reports in 120. Each component of the intermediate and foundational courses requires students to write in a style appropriate to the discipline and incorporate theoretical analysis. The elective courses require students to think, analyze, synthesize, and present their results in writing. A number of courses also require that students present the results of their work orally. Students who intend to go to graduate school are strongly encouraged to complete an honors thesis.
- Critical Identity Studies 101.
- Doing Community Requirement (.5 or 1 unit): Chosen from PRAX 110 or 205 or Critical Identity Studies 350. This requirement gives students the tools they need to build and transform communities of which they are a part.
- Methods course: 1 unit chosen from Critical Identity Studies 201, 203, or 205.
- Global requirement (choose one of the three options):
- 1 unit of Beloit College coursework or a study abroad experience that explores some aspect of identity formation, structures of inequality, or processes of power and resistance through international/global contexts.
- 2 units of language study.
- Proficiency in a language other than English.
We strongly encourage language acquisition as a crucial skill for developing cross-cultural understanding.
- Two units of advanced theory coursework, at least one of which must be chosen from Critical Identity Studies core courses (301, 309, 311, 312, 315, 320, 325, 330). Other advanced theory courses are crosslisted with CRIS at the 300-level or designated by the chair of critical identity studies.
- Capstone course or experience (.5 or 1)
- Additional units of Critical Identity Studies courses that add up to at least 10 units in total.
- No more than 3 courses crosslisted with Critical Identity Studies 140, 141, or 142 may apply to the major.
- Students with a GPA 3.6 or above in courses in the major may apply in the fall of the senior year for honors. Honors are awarded based on the development and public presentation of an outstanding senior project that builds or transforms community.
The major embodies a scholar-practitioner model in the liberal arts tradition, with the purpose of providing students with a sequence of intellectual, ethical, and practical experiences that lead to a broad, integrated knowledge of youth and education. This knowledge is realized in the practical ability to work effectively with children, adolescents, and adults in schools and other social settings.
Teacher education at Beloit is fully integrated into an academically rigorous major that stresses experiential and interdisciplinary learning, a respect for difference, and critical global perspectives on education and youth issues. The department’s teacher licensing programs are fully accredited by Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction.
*Asterisked courses are required for student teaching.
- Four units from Education and Youth Studies 102, 151, 164, 201.
- Two units from Education and Youth Studies 246, 255*, 256*, 265*, 266*, 276 (may be taken twice), 390.
- Two units from Education and Youth Studies 300*, 306, PRAX 200 (internship in education and youth-related setting, under the supervision of Education and Youth Studies faculty and site-based personnel).
- Capstone: Education and Youth Studies 382.
Students who begin the major with French 100 will construct a major program in consultation with their advisor; this program will not exceed 11 units within the department nor more than 14 units total.
- Eight departmental units (100-level and above), including French 210 and 215.
- Supporting courses (4 units). Choose one of the three options available:
- Four courses chosen from appropriate offerings in anthropology (especially Anthropology 100 and 209), media studies, history; English, philosophy, or political science. A course in Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish literature is recommended.
- Students with double majors may use required courses in the other majors to count as supporting courses toward a major in French.
- Students may submit a proposal to the major advisor for an individual plan of courses for meeting the requirement of 4 supporting courses.
- Majors normally spend one semester in a country in which French is the common idiom. With the consent of the advisor, some courses completed abroad may be used to count toward the major.
- Majors are encouraged to live at least one semester in the French House.
- Writing/communication: Courses in modern foreign languages offer students opportunities to become competent in four language skills–speaking, listening, reading, and writing. All four linguistic areas are important. The department of modern languages and literatures meets the college’s writing requirement by having students move from structured writing that reinforces the material learned in language classes–grammar points and vocabulary–to less guided writing in advanced classes where students use language creatively to analyze, describe, narrate, synthesize, persuade, etc.
- Ten units:
- Two units of History 150, completed in the first and second year.
- One unit of history lab. Lab courses include History 190, 293, 294, 295. History 190 is strongly recommended for students in their first and second year.
- A historical breadth requirement involving coursework engaging history across chronological and geographical fields. In consultation with their advisors, students must construct a plan to develop historical breadth.
- A historical depth requirement involving at least 3 units at the 100- or 200-level within a particular period and geographical field. One unit from outside the department may count toward this requirement with departmental approval. Students are encouraged to continue the development of historical depth through writing a research paper in their depth field in a 300-level seminar.
- Two units at the 300-level involving significant historical research-based writing. History 395, 396, and 397 do not satisfy this requirement. History 390 or courses from outside the department may fulfill the requirement if approved in advance by the department. One unit from off-campus programs, such as the ACM Newberry Library Program, may count toward this requirement.
- Writing/communication requirement: Reading and writing are the primary tools of historical inquiry, and while historians may evaluate oral and material sources as they set out to discover the past, the normal means by which they communicate their discoveries to a wider audience is through essay writing and the formal research paper. It is our conviction that mastering the art of the historical essay benefits all of our students because the skills required are at the heart of what it means to think critically. Students fulfill the writing/communication requirement through the incremental development of writing skills through the curriculum. Thus, students must complete 1 W departmental unit at the 100-, 200-, and 300-level.
- Students intending to pursue graduate study in history should achieve competence in at least one additional language beyond English.
- Five units of political science:
- Political Science 160.
- Four courses with an international relations/comparative politics emphasis chosen in consultation with the advisor. Examples are: Political Science 130, 236, 237, 246, 248, 249, 250, 251, 255, 261, 262, 265, 270, 272, 273, 275, 295, 330, and 386. Other courses may count following consultation with the advisor, such as courses taken while studying abroad. At least 3 must be above the 100 level. See political science for descriptions.
- Economics 199 and 1 upper-level internationally oriented economics course. Economics courses with an international emphasis are: 203, 204, 205, 206, 209, and 235. Other courses may count following consultation with the advisor, such as courses taken while studying abroad. See economics for descriptions.
- Four units in one modern language or 2 units beyond intermediate courses in any modern language (except the student’s first language).
- Three internationally oriented courses approved by the advisor, at least 2 of which must be from departments other than the ones used to meet the requirements listed above. Courses taken abroad often count toward this requirement. Examples of internationally oriented courses include, but are not limited to: Anthropology 100, 375*; Biology 215; History 150*, 310*; Interdisciplinary Studies 249, 255, 272; Mathematics 103; Psychology 265; Critical Identity Studies 101, 221.
- Courses with asterisks may apply when topic is appropriate.
- Interdisciplinary Studies 375. A 300-level political science course may be substituted when appropriate, with the permission of the instructor and the student’s major advisor.
- Students are highly encouraged to develop an area or thematic emphasis in their course of study.
- It is highly recommended that a student spend a term studying abroad or do an internationally oriented field term or internship.
- Writing/communication requirement: International relations majors are expected to be proficient in multiple modes of writing, including the analysis, proposal, and advocacy of practical policies and the synthesis and effective presentation of research findings. Students are required to complete Interdisciplinary Studies 375 (International Relations Senior Seminar) to fulfill the major writing requirement or a 300-level political science course may be substituted when appropriate, with the permission of the instructor and the student’s major advisor.
- Courses acceptable for U.S. and international students differ. Please consult with the advisor.
- Nine departmental units:
- Six units of Japanese language taken from the following: 105, 110, 115, 200, 205, 215, 220, 225.
- Japanese 230.
- Two units of Asian literature or culture in translation: 240, 260, or 280. A student may fulfill 1 of these credits with a Chinese literature or culture course: Chinese 250, 255, 260, 280.
- Three supporting courses:
- One unit of introductory Japanese history: History 210.
- Two other supporting courses, 1 of which must be chosen from the following group of courses that focus on Japan: Anthropology 375*; Art History 250*; Comparative Literature 230*; History 150*, 210*, 310*, 386*; Interdisciplinary Studies 288*; Political Science 236, 295*; or any one-time offering or topics course that deals primarily with Japan.
- Courses with asterisks only apply if Japan is covered.
- One of the supporting courses may be chosen from the following group of courses that focus on East Asia: Anthropology 375”; Art History 250*; Comparative Literature 230*; Economics 206; History 150*, 210*, 294, 310*; Philosophy 250; Political Science 295*, 330*, 386; Religious Studies 200*, 240, 250*; or any one-time offering or topics course that deals primarily with East Asia.
- Courses with asterisks only apply if East Asia is covered.
- Double majors are encouraged, and in such cases required courses in other majors that have Japanese or East Asian content are acceptable as supporting courses toward a major in Japanese.
- Note: Students are strongly encouraged to take at least 1 supporting course that deals primarily with modern Japan. Courses taken in a study abroad program may substitute for required classes, with the approval of the advisor.
- Asian Studies 351 (.5 unit).
- Majors are strongly urged to spend at least one semester abroad at Akita International University, Kansai Gaidai University, or Rikkyo University. With the consent of the advisor, some courses completed abroad may be used toward the major.
- Students may also apply credit earned through Beloit College’s Center for Language Studies toward their six units of Japanese language required for the major.
- Majors are strongly encouraged to live for at least one semester in Japan.
- Native speakers of Japanese may not major in Japanese; however, they may receive credit as teaching assistants.
- Writing/communication: Courses in modern foreign languages offer students opportunities to become competent in four language skills–speaking, listening, reading, and writing. All four linguistic areas are important. The department of modern languages and literatures meets the college’s writing requirement by having students move from structured writing that reinforces the material learned in language classes–grammar points and vocabulary–to less guided writing in advanced classes where students use language creatively to analyze, describe, narrate, synthesize, persuade, etc.
- Nine departmental units (5 of which must be taken at Beloit College):
- At least l unit from each of the four subfields:
- U.S. politics: 110, 215, 216, 221, 225.
- Comparative politics: 130, 236, 237, 248, 249, 250, 251, 255, 261, 265, 270, 272, 273.
- International relations: 160, 237, 246, 250, 255, 262, 270, 273, 275.
- Political theory: 180, 280, 285, 287.
- One unit from Political Science 310, 330, 380, 386, or Interdisciplinary Studies 375.
- Four additional units in political science.
- No more than 3 units at the 100-level may count toward the major.
- At least l unit from each of the four subfields:
- Supporting courses (4 units):
- One unit in economics.
- One unit in history.
- Two units from Philosophy 100 (logic), any (non-native) language, or any statistics (including Political Science 201 if taken as a 10th political science unit).
- An experiential learning activity that might include an internship, off-campus study semester, honors project, or research special projects, as approved by the advisor.
- Students are strongly encouraged to develop an area of thematic emphasis in their course of study.
- Writing/communication requirement: Political science majors are expected to be proficient in multiple modes of writing, including the different kinds of work involved in research oriented projects, close textual exegesis, policy analysis, and other forms of writing related to applied politics, such as position papers and reports. Our curriculum is structured with an eye toward introducing students to each of these forms of writing, and graduating seniors should have encountered each of them in fulfilling their major requirements. In addition, our capstone seminars (300-level courses) seek to provide students with a sustained research and writing project.
Up to 3 units of credit in psychology may be taken at another institution and applied toward psychology requirements with permission of department.
- Ten departmental units (at least 7 of which must be taken at Beloit):
- Core courses (3 units): Psychology 100, 161, and 162.
- Developmental psychology: 1 unit from Psychology 210, 215, or 225.
- Experimental psychology: 1 unit from Psychology 230, 235, or 240.
- Personality and abnormal psychology: 1 unit from Psychology 250 or 252.
- Social and cultural psychology: 1 unit from Psychology 260 or 265.
- Capstone courses and experiences: 2 units from Psychology 300-385.
- One additional elective unit in psychology.
- Supporting courses (2 units): Chosen in consultation with the major advisor, 2 units of coursework outside the department that address concepts, issues, and/or methods relevant to psychologists and the student’s academic and career goals. No more than 1 unit can be completed before the major has been declared.
- Writing/communication requirement: The department of psychology recognizes the importance of oral and written communication and helps its students develop these skills within a disciplinary context. Students in psychology courses learn to read and interpret the results of psychological studies. They also learn to report the results of psychological studies, orally and in written form.
- Nine departmental units:
- Sociology 100, 200, 205, and 211.
- Five elective units in sociology, chosen in consultation with the major advisor.
- Supporting courses (2 units):
- Two courses chosen in consultation with an advisor. We strongly recommend that at least 1 of the supporting courses has significant multicultural/international content.
- Writing/communication requirement: Sociology courses designated as W specifically promote the development of writing skills to aid the student in explication and expression of sociological ideas and practice. These courses incorporate writing as a principal means of learning and critically engaging the curriculum. Writing in this genre may encompass summary and critical response papers, research proposals, term papers, essay examinations, and papers for professional presentation.
These courses may devote significant attention to developing written presentation skills in the genre of academic sociology, potentially including the professional discussion of substantive issues, theory, presentation of research methods, and empirical findings, or any combination of the above. These courses may also focus on writing to construct and express concepts and praxis consistent with sociological epistemology. They are courses in which students write regularly on the study and/or research materials in order to master the substance, theory, and/or method of the discipline.
Students who begin the major with Spanish 100 will construct a major program in consultation with their advisor; this program will not require more than 10 units within the department nor more than 15 units total.
- Nine departmental units (above 100). No more than two courses in translation may count toward the major:
- Spanish 105 or 107, 110, 210 or 214, 215, 240.
- Three units from 230, 251, 270, 271, 280, 282, 283, 295.
- One unit of Spanish 320, 321.
- Additional Spanish units to add to 9 units.
- Supporting courses (4 units). Choose one of the three options available:
- Choose 4 courses from English/Comparative Literature 190, 261; Education and Youth Studies EDYS 276 (Bilingual Education); Political Science 272. An elementary knowledge of Latin is encouraged.
- Use 4 courses from a second major toward a major in Spanish.
- Submit a proposal to the major advisor for an individual plan of courses for meeting the requirement of 4 supporting courses.
- Majors normally study at least one semester abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. With prior consent of the advisor, some courses completed abroad may be used to count toward the major.
- Majors are encouraged to live at least one semester in the Spanish House.
- Writing/communication: Courses in modern foreign languages offer students opportunities to become competent in four language skills–speaking, listening, reading, and writing. All four linguistic areas are important. The department of modern languages and literatures meets the college’s writing requirement by having students move from structured writing that reinforces the material learned in language classes–grammar points and vocabulary–to less guided writing in advanced classes where students use language creatively to analyze, describe, narrate, synthesize, persuade, etc.
Minors
- Six departmental units (at least 4 of which must be Beloit College units):
- Two foundational courses chosen from Anthropology 100, 110, or 120.
- One course from the essentials category (200-250).
- Three elective anthropology courses, chosen in consultation with the advisor, 1 of which must be at the 300-level (only one special project may count here).
- Critical Identity Studies 101.
- Doing Community Requirement (.5 or 1 unit): Chosen from PRAX 110 or 205, or Critical Identity Studies 350. This requirement gives students the tools they need to build and transform communities of which they are a part.
- Methods course (1 unit): Critical Identity Studies 201 or 205.
- One unit of advanced theory coursework chosen from Critical Identity Studies core courses (301, 309, 311, 312, 315, 320, 325, 330).
- Additional units of critical identity studies coursework that add up to at least 6 units in total.
- No more than 2 courses crosslisted with Critical Identity Studies 140, 141, or 142 may apply to the minor.
*Asterisked courses are required for student teaching.
- Two units from Education and Youth Studies 102, 151, 164, 201.
- Two units from Education and Youth Studies 246, 255*, 256*, 265*, 266*, 276, 390.
- One unit from Education and Youth Studies 300, 306.
- Six departmental units in French at the 100 level or above.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may apply 2 units of language credit earned while studying abroad toward the minor.
- No more than 2 units of college transfer credit may apply toward the minor.
- At least 4 of the units counted toward the minor must be taken at Beloit College. Exceptions must be approved by the department.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may count 2 units of literature in translation toward the minor.
- Two units at the 100-level. History 190 is strongly recommended.
- Three units at the 200-level.
- One unit at the 300-level, not including 395, 396, 397. History 390 will fulfill this requirement only by prior arrangement with the advisor.
- Six departmental units in Japanese at the 105 level or above.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may apply 2 units of language credit earned while studying abroad toward the minor.
- No more than 2 units of college transfer credit may apply toward the minor.
- At least 4 of the language units counted toward the minor must be taken at Beloit College. Exceptions must be approved by the department.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may count 1 unit of literature in translation toward the minor.
Normally, no courses used to satisfy a major concentration may count toward the requirements of the law and justice minor.
- Four units from at least two of the following departments or programs:
- Economics 220, 271 (when content is appropriate).
- History 150 (when content is appropriate), 310 (when content is appropriate).
- Interdisciplinary Studies 239.
- Philosophy 221, 224, 243, 280, 285.
- Political Science 221, 225, 237, 251, 255, 262, 280, 285, 380.
- Psychology 239.
- Sociology 231, 256, 261, 281.
- Completion of an internship in a setting related to law and justice. This capstone experience carries at least 1 unit of credit, is arranged in consultation with the minor advisor, and must be completed in one of the student’s last three semesters.
- Six units of political science, with no more than 3 at the 100-level.
- Six departmental units in Spanish at the 100 level or above. (Limited to one course in translation.)
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may apply 2 units of language credit earned while studying abroad toward the minor.
- No more than 2 units of college transfer credit may apply toward the minor.
- At least 4 of the language units counted toward the minor must be taken at Beloit College. Exceptions must be approved by the department.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may count 1 unit of literature in translation toward the minor.
Programs
Students interested in a legal career may prepare for by completing any major. See the Pre-Law Preparation Advising page for more information.
The education and youth studies department offers a variety of teaching certifications for students who are interested in teaching in K-12 classrooms. Certified students receive a Wisconsin teaching license that can also be transferred to about 40 other U.S. states.
The department also has a non-licensing track for students interested in pursuing a broad range of interests related to education and youth studies.
Graduates from the EDYS program pursue careers in teaching, school counseling or psychology, social work, occupational therapy, international education, higher education administration, human resources, environmental education, social justice advocacy, youth development programs, and more.
Additional Information
The EDYS department–in cooperation with the Office of the Provost, has the responsibility and authority to develop, administer, evaluate, and revise Beloit College’s educator preparation program.
For details about certification requirements for all programs, students should consult the department’s handbook and the department website. Because of frequent changes in state rules and regulations relating to teacher licensure, teacher certification requirements are no longer published in the Beloit College catalog. In order to be certified for licensure as a middle/secondary teacher, or as a K-12 art, theater, or foreign language teacher, students must complete a second academic major. In order to be certified for licensure as an elementary/middle teacher, students must complete an academic minor.
Beloit College, through the department of education and youth studies, is authorized by the Department of Public Instruction in Wisconsin to certify graduates for initial educator licensure in the following areas:
- Elementary and middle school (grades K-9)
- Middle and high school (grades 6-12)
- Art (grades K-12)
- Theatre (grades K-12)
- Foreign language (grades K-12)
The state of Wisconsin has several additional requirements for licensure, including additional general education courses and passing examinations of basic skills and content knowledge, a test of reading pedagogy for elementary certifiers, and a performance assessment during student teaching. The cost of these assessments is the responsibility of students. Student teaching includes one school-district semester of full-time work in one or more classrooms at the appropriate level(s).
Specific, up-to-date information on teacher certification can be found on the department website or the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website.
- Participation in fieldwork courses, overseas experience, and foreign language is strongly recommended.
- Students who have earned (post matriculation) at least 1 unit of language credit at the required level in a course or language not listed, including ancient languages, may petition the department to have that course counted.