The Department of Global Studies offers a range of programs exploring globalization and cross-cultural connections. Students in the department pursue majors and minors in Global Studies, French, Italian, and Comparative Literature, developing international experiences and perspectives as well as advanced language skills that prepare them to build careers in a wide range of social and professional setting in the United States and abroad.

The Global Studies program offers students a unique blend of courses across disciplines, in preparation for a career abroad or within the U.S. that crosses borders and cultures. Majors choose one of five tracks for the interdisciplinary program, specializing in Global Communications, Global Health, Global Management, Global Security, or Global Sustainability. Each track emphasizes the acquisition of leadership, management, and communication skills with an in-depth understanding of a particular set of global issues.

French is the official language of twenty-nine countries and spoken by more than 300 million people around the globe, the second-most used official language after English. Students in the French program examine French language and culture in a global context. Majors and minors develop advanced linguistic competency while developing the cultural training necessary to work or travel in the Francophone world and explore culture and society in a language that is central to art, business, and international relations.

Italian is a beautiful language of global communication, business, technology, and the arts. More than 1,000 Italian companies operate in the United States and more than 7,000 American companies operate in Italy; countless artistic masterpieces have also been produced in Italian, so speaking and understanding Italian can be a valuable asset for both your career and for pleasure and enrichment. Majors and minors learn to speak, read, and write Italian while becoming familiar with Italy's cultural history and Italian influence across the globe.

Comparative Literature is the study of literature and other art forms across national and linguistic borders. Students of Comparative Literature not only explore and analyze writing across history and around the globe, but they develop a global and cross-cultural perspective on human expression and the critical thinking and interpretive skills necessary for the kind of intercultural and transnational work vital to the 21st century workplace.

Programs

Comparative Literature Courses

French Courses

Global Studies Courses

Italian Courses

NameRankDegreeSchoolGraduate FacultyEmeritus Faculty
Anita Alkhas Associate Professor PhD Michigan State University Yes No
Eric Anderson Teaching Faculty III MA No No
Lawrence Baldassaro Professor Emeritus PhD Yes Yes
Christopher Celi Teaching Faculty III MA University of Wisconsin-Madison No No
Sarah Davies Cordova Professor PhD University of California-Los Angeles Yes No
Alison Ferrentino Teaching Faculty III MA University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee No No
Mary laquinta Teaching Faculty III MA University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee No No
Simonetta Milli Konewko Associate Professor PhD University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Yes No
Larry Kuiper Associate Professor PhD Michigan State University Yes No
James Mileham Associate Professor Emeritus PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison Yes Yes
Drago Momcilovic Senior Lecturer PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison Yes No
Robin Pickering-Iazzi Professor PhD University of Washington Yes Yes
Kristin Pitt Associate Professor PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison Yes No
Aragorn Quinn Associate Professor PhD Stanford University Yes No
Nicolas Russell Associate Professor PhD University of Virginia Yes No
Caroline Seymour-Jorn Professor PhD University of Chicago Yes No
Lucia Soldati Teaching Faculty III No No
Madeleine Velguth Professor Emerita PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison Yes Yes
Gabrielle Verdier Professor Emerita PhD Yale University Yes Yes
Demetrius Williams Associate Professor ThD Harvard Divinity School Yes No
Jian Xu Associate Professor PhD University of Iowa Yes No