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The Global Honors curriculum is highly interdisciplinary. Research and experiential learning projects are driven by compelling questions that require rich diversity in academic background as well as lived experience. With an emphasis on depth and rigor of research, students develop considerable expertise within areas that might be somewhat familiar to their major, and are able to stretch their thinking and studies to include new academic territory.
Our students tackle the challenges and rewards of this holistic experience as part of a close-knit cohort. They come to trust in one another's support in a way that isn't easy to reproduce in a conventional classroom setting. However, they also enjoy a highly individual learning process, drawing their own conclusions based upon personal areas of interest, experience, and aspiration.
Courses taken will vary depending on a student's specific academic pathway in the Global Honors Program.
Global Honors Courses
T GH 203 Themes in Global Honors (5 credits) Social Sciences (SSc)
Explores connections between the local and global, and between the individual, the community, and the world, through a given theme. Draws on broad interdisciplinary and international perspectives. Provides information on study abroad and service-learning opportunities, as well as expectations of the Global Honors Program.
Note: This is partly intended as a sophomore level introduction to the Global Honors curriculum. Upon completing T GH 203, students may proceed directly to T GH 301 or T GH 302.
Offered: AUTUMN, SPRING
T GH 300 Re-Orienting the Global (2 credits) Social Sciences (SSc)
Provides historically grounded introduction to such concepts as cultural imperialism, colonialism, post colonialism, capitalism, and globalization. Examines relevance of concepts in current global affairs. Provides information on study abroad and service-learning opportunities, as well as expectations of the Global Honors Program.
Note: This is partly intended as a junior level introduction to the Global Honors curriculum, but juniors may consider TGH 203 too. Upon completing T GH 300, students may proceed directly to T GH 301 or T GH 302.
Not offered in 2024-25
T GH 301 Global Interactions (5 credits) Social Sciences (SSc)
Examines the major intellectual and political movements that marked the human experience in the 20th century. Examines nationalism, fascism, and other political philosophies, as well as governments' relationships to the natural environment and to one another.
Offered: AUTUMN, WINTER
T GH 302 Global Imaginations (5 credits) Arts and Humanities (A&H)
Accommodates the study of major themes, concepts, trends or techniques that permeate world literature, visual arts, music, dance, theatre and other forms of creative expression. The specific art forms and issues examined vary. Also considers marginalized forms of aesthetic expression that have generated cross-cultural debate about modern concepts of "art" and their relation to diverse forms of meaning and value.
Offered: WINTER, SPRING
T GH 303 Global Challenges (5 credits) Social Sciences (SSc)
Examines major challenges facing the world in the 21st century. Covers contemporary issues such as economic development, poverty and the distribution of resources and ecological concerns.
Offered: AUTUMN
T GH 304 Global Science (5 credits) Natural Science (NSc)
Builds scientific literacy and data skills through reading and inquiry into natural science topics of global relevance. Uses a global framework to evaluate peer-reviewed scientific research in a broader context. Emphasizes interdisciplinarity in understanding scientific approaches, conducting independent inquiry, and identifying solutions to global challenges.
Offered: SPRING
For students completing the Minor in Global Engagement or Global Honors Distinction, a capstone advised by a faculty member in a global topic of the student’s choice must be completed during their final year in the Global Honors Program. All capstones must receive a final grade of 3.3 GPA or higher to fulfill the requirement for graduation with Global Honors distinction. Theses graded 3.7 and above will be automatically considered for inclusion in the UWT Digital Commons.
For those pursuing a Global Honors Certificate, a capstone paper is not required. Students will instead submit a poster presentation to the IIGE Global Engagement Conference.
T GH 490 Research Methods Seminar (2 credits)
Offered: AUTUMN
This is the first class students will take to prepare for their Global Honors capstone. T GH 490 is the prerequisite students must complete before they embark on their capstone experience. The specific aims of T GH 490 are:
- Prepare students to formulate a capstone question and proposal that guides their capstone thesis or reflection essay
- Establish a faculty adviser that can oversee the completion of the project
- Create an annotated bibliography for their work
- Learn to present their ideas and research to a diverse audience
- Develop a plan for the remainder of their research and writing process
Class sessions include discussion, peer reviewing, individual work, and presentations.
T GH 491: Thesis Symposium (1 credit) (Credit/No Credit)
Offered: SPRING
This class is designed to prepare students to present at the Global Honors Colloquium and is taken in concurrent with their capstone experience. Each class meeting will emphasize a different skill in the writing and presentation process; therefore, attendance is critical. Students will also be expected to submit capstone writing drafts as well as short presentations throughout the quarter, including at conference rehearsals.
T GH 491 is a student-driven class, so success of the experience depends on the student’s work ethic and level of preparedness. Peer feedback is a central part of the course. A cumulative grade of 3.3 or higher is necessary to earn credit for the class.
GRADING: will be CR – NC.
Required for CR are:
- GPA of 3.3 or higher
- Attendance at all sessions and rehearsals as noted in the syllabus
- Classwork including thesis/project drafts and mini presentations
Capstone Pathways
Students will choose one of the following three options for their Global Honors capstone.
T GH 494 Thesis (5 credits)
Offered: WINTER
T GH 494 is an independent study credit in which students work alongside their faculty adviser to write their capstone thesis.
The Global Honors capstone thesis is an essay between 20-25 pages (not including images, graphs, title pages, or references) based on research and analysis. It focuses on an aspect of globalization, that is, it must address an interdependent process that is of global relevance and is completed under the guidance of a faculty supervisor.
The thesis requirement is considered complete once students have:
- Given a public presentation of their work at the annual IIGE Global Engagement Conference
- Earned at least a 3.3 grade on the paper
- Obtained final approval signatures from their faculty adviser and the Executive Director or Associate Vice Chancellor of the Global Honors Program
- Turned in the final, signed, and bound copy of the thesis to the Global Honors office.
T GH 495: Reflection Essay (1-5 credits)
Offered: WINTER
After completing a study-abroad experience, students who choose not to write a thesis can register for TGH 495 and write a paper of at least 10 pages which integrates reflections on the following:
- The study-abroad experience
- One or more major ideas from T GH 203, 300, 301, 302 or 303
- Personal assessment of one's progress in understanding and implementing the goal of global citizenship
This paper is thus a reflection on key experiences in Global Honors. For the reflection paper, the idea is to find a common thread that integrates the areas identified above. As with the T GH 494 Thesis option above, the reflection essay is completed under the supervision of a faculty adviser.
T GH 496: Experiential Learning (5 credits)
Offered: WINTER
Experiential Learning in Global Honors, such as an internship, provides students with the opportunity to complete an internship or engage in community service to fulfill the capstone requirement. The purpose of this capstone is to promote global citizenship and engagement with the community, emphasizing connections between local and global, while providing valuable practical and professional experience. Experiential learnings must meet the minimum hour requirement of 15 hours/week.
Experiential Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Analyze contextual factors such as international history, culture, and contemporary challenges relevant to a local, international and/or immigrant population
- Demonstrate understanding of connections between local and global populations and communities
- Demonstrate understanding of your personal role as global citizen
- Identify avenues for community development and social responsibility
- Analyze organizational structure and professional environment
All Global Honors students pursuing the Minor in Global Engagement and/or Global Honors Distinction are required to present their capstone work at the IIGE's annual Global Engagement Conference.
Held in May in William Phillip Hall, students present their work to an audience made up of the Global Honors cohort, faculty, and other members of the UW Tacoma campus and community. Presentations last between 7-10 minutes with time for the audience to ask questions. Students come prepared with either a video, slide deck, and/or poster to accompany their presentation.
T GH 491 is meant to help prepare students for their Global Engagement Conference presentation to ensure they are meeting all the Global Honors requirements. For those pursuing a Global Honors certificate, a presentation is not required. Instead, students will submit a poster detailing a globally themed topic of interest.
Fall Quarter 2024
T GH 203: Themes in Global Honors
- Anne Taufen, T/Th 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
T GH 301 Global Interactions
- Gordon Barnes Jr., M/W 3:40 p.m. to 5:40 p.m.
T GH 303 Global Challenges
- Tom Koontz, T/Th 10:10 a.m. to 12:10 a.m.
T GH 490: Research Methods
- Ben Meiches, F 10:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.
Winter Quarter 2025
T GH 301: Global Interactions
- Margaret Griesse, M/W 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
T GH 302: Global Imaginations
- Ji-Hyun Ahn, Hybrid Class. Tuesdays in person 3:40 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. Thursdays asynchronous online.
Spring Quarter 2025
T GH 203: Themes in Global Honors
- James Breen, T/Th 3:40 p.m. to 5:40 p.m.
T GH 302: Global Imaginations
- Tyler Budge, T/Th 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
T GH 304: Global Science
- Leighann Chaffee, Hybrid Class. M/W in person 9:30-10:50am; Fridays asynchronous online
T GH 491: Thesis Symposium
- Ben Meiches, W 11:00 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
