Global Education Requirement FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about the Global Education Requirement
Q: What is the purpose of the Global Education Requirement?
A: Global Education gives students with declared majors in College Social and Behavioral Sciences a sense of contemporary comparative cultures in an increasingly global social world.
Q: When should I officially declare my Global Education Option (i.e. complete the GER option declaration form)?
A: You must declare your GER option at the same time you complete your change of major form officially declaring a major in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Q: Do students who are working towards becoming a major in Communication or Journalism have to choose a Global Education Option?
A: No, but when they are officially accepted into Communication or Journalism, they must declare their option. However, it is wise to understand the Global Education Requirement, consider an option and begin completing appropriate courses that can be used to satisfy the requirement. Students should read the College of Behavioral Sciences Advising Handbook and talk to an advisor in the Pre-major Advising Office for more information.
Q: What is the best way to get started on the Global Education Requirement?
A: First, decide what option you will choose when you declare your major in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Think about which foreign language you would like to study or what area of the world interests you. Look at the different options and decide which one is best suited for you. After that, you can start taking some coursework to complete your option.
Q: Can students change their Global Education option as their academic interests change?
A: Yes, they can change it at any time by completing a new Option Declaration Form in the Advising Office, Machmer E-20.
Q: Can students from other Arts and Sciences colleges opt for the Global Education Requirement instead of 4 semesters of foreign language?
A: No, the Global Education Requirement is only for students whose primary major is in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students with majors in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts or the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics must complete their own college’s requirements.
Q: If a student is a double major, do all college requirements in each college have to be completed?
A: All students must complete the college requirements for their primary major. If the secondary major is in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Global Education Requirement does not need to be fulfilled; however, if a student is in the double-degree program, meaning that s/he is working toward two different degrees resulting in at least 150 credits, the college requirements for each college must be completed. Additionally, students with a primary or secondary major in Humanities and Fine Arts must complete all of the HFA college requirements.
Q: If the student has taken 2 semesters of foreign language elsewhere, can those semesters be counted toward the Global Education Requirement?
A: Yes, if those courses were taken for college-level credit and are accepted by the university (it is the student’s responsibility to have grades transferred from other schools to the university). Students who have taken 4 or more years of language in high school or are native speakers of certain languages may take a language test at UMass Amherst to see if they can be awarded credit for 230 and 240 level language courses.
Q: Can a student take more than 6 credits of foreign language under the Regional Studies Option?
A: Yes, under the Regional Studies Option a student can take either 6, 9, 12 or 15 credits of foreign language; 6 credits must be in one language, but the remaining 9 credits can be taken in any combination of additional courses in the same language, courses in a different foreign language within the regional area, or cultural courses from the regional course list.
Q: Can upper-level (300 or above) literature or cultural courses that are taught in a foreign language count towards fulfilling a Regional Studies Option, even though they are not on the Approved Course List?
A: Yes, any course taught in a foreign language that is part of your chosen regional area can be used, even though they are not explicitly listed on the Approved Course List.
Examples:
Spanish 320 - Literature of Spain I can be used for either the Latin American Region or the Southern European Region.
Hebrew 361 - Modern Hebrew Literature I can be used for the Middle Eastern Region.
French 388- Francophone Civilization Outside of France can be used for the Southern European Region or the African Region.
Q: Can a student “double-dip” by fulfilling Global Education requirements along with major or General Education requirements?
A: The only option that allows “double-dipping” is the Certificate Option. Students who complete an approved Certificate Program may use that program to meet their Global Education Requirement, and courses used for the Certificate may also be used for General Education or major requirements. For all other options, courses taken to satisfy the Global Education Requirement must be in addition to courses that meet General Education or major requirements. The Associate Dean will consider special arrangements on a case-by-case basis, particularly for transfer students. Students should make an appointment with the Associate Dean in Machmer E-24 to explore this possibility. Courses taken to satisfy the Global Education Requirement may also be used toward a student’s minor (if the department approves the list of courses) and may be used to fulfill a certificate's requirements.
Q: Can Global Education courses be taken pass/fail?
A: No. All courses used to satisfy the Global Education Requirement must be taken for a letter grade.
Q: What happens if a student does not complete a Global Education Option Declaration Form?
A: The College has no way of knowing if the student has completed the requirement, cannot track the student's progress in completing the requirement, or clear the student for graduation. Because of this, students who do not complete an Option Declaration Form will have an option selected for them by the Associate Dean. The selected option can be changed by students at any time be completing the Option Declaration Form.
Q: Is the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Global Education requirement the same or related to the University's General Education Global Diversity requirement?
A: No, the College requirement and the University General Education requirement are completely different. Both must be satisfied by completion of different courses.
Other questions regarding the Global Education Requirement should be directed to: Richard Wikander, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Advising, E-24 Machmer Hall, 413.545.2192, or to Valerie Wentzel, Coordinator of Global Education Advising, E-20 Machmer Hall, 413.577.1058.
