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Global South Studies

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Global South Studies provides an understanding of the changing economies and politics of the Global South and its relationships to the West.

The mission of Global South Studies is threefold:

  1. To introduce statements to the concept of the "Global South," as well as the "Third World," and interrogate their origins in political struggle and cultural production.
  2. To introduce students to the various historical, cultural, political, and economic perspectives on the Global South and its relationship with the Global North. 
  3. To teach students the stories, concerns, and issues of Global South communities. 

 

People

Program Director

Matthew Vitz
Associate Professor, Department of History
Director, Global South Studies (AY 24-25)

Program Coordinator and Academic Advisor
Cristina Guerrero
Arts and Humanities Building, 6th floor
globalsouth@ucsd.edu

 

UC San Diego Undergraduate Students:

Submit all inquiries via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).

To schedule a one-on-one advising appointment, email globalsouth@ucsd.edu  with your name, PID, available days and times, and reason for an appointment.

Affiliated Faculty and Lecturers

 In Memoriam

Major

Global South Studies Major

Students interested in Global South Studies may focus on a theme, problem, or geo-historical area. A Global South Studies program of study must be interdisciplinary, with courses from at least 3 different departments. For background information, read the Global South Studies learning outcomes (PDF). 

Requirements

  • 3 lower-division courses from the Global South Studies sequence (GSS 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26 or 27).
    • Please note that GSS courses are equivalent to the former TWS courses with the same numbers effective Fall 2021.
    • Eleanor Roosevelt College students may substitute up to 2 courses, Making of the Modern World (MMW) 13 and 14, for 2 of the 3-course lower-division sequence, but must take at least 1 course in the GSS 20-26 sequence.
  • 12 upper-division courses.
  • Students must choose course offerings from at least 3 disciplines/departments.
  • Courses must be taken for a letter grade except for when P/NP was accepted during COVID in Fall 2020, Winter 2021, and Spring 2021.

Download a GSS MAJOR checklist (Fillable PDF)

UC San Diego Academic Planning Worksheet (PDF)

Sample Academic Plans (4 year, 2 year transfer)

The chart below also outlines the requirements.

Lower Division
GSS
GSS / MMW*
GSS / MMW*

 

Upper Division Electives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

 

Minor

Global South Studies Minor

Requirements
  • 2 courses from the lower-division Global South Studies sequence (GSS 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26 or 27). Please note that GSS courses are equivalent to the former TWS courses with the same numbers effective Fall 2021.
  • 5 upper-division courses in disciplines dealing with the Global South. 
  • Courses must be taken for a letter grade except for when P/NP was accepted during COVID in Fall 2020, Winter 2021, and Spring 2021.

Global South Studies faculty members offer courses in the Departments of Anthropology, Communication, Literature, Political Science, Sociology, History, and in the Global South Studies Program. Appropriate courses in other departments may also be counted toward the minor. Students should consult departmental and program listings for Global South area offerings.

The chart below outlines the requirements.

Download a GSS MINOR checklist here (Fillable PDF).

Lower Division
GSS
GSS 

 

Upper Division Electives 
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Course Offerings

Course Offerings

Refer to the official UC San Diego General Catalog for a complete list of approved courses that will count toward a minor in Global South Studies. 

Course offerings are constantly changing. Please refer to the Schedule of Classes for the most up-to-date listing.

(*) Indicates course may be petitioned for credit. Instructions on How to Petition Courses.

Global South Studies (GSS) Courses

Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Quarter Course Instructor
Fall 2025 GSS 20: Intro to Global South Studies (x2) Joy Siapno
Winter 2026

GSS 22: Latin American and Carribbean History and Culture

GSS 25: Middle East: History, Culture, and Politics

GSS 27: Southeast Asian History and Culture

Troy Kokinis

Amanda Batarseh

Joy Siapno
Spring 2026

GSS 20: Intro to Global South Studies

GSS 21: Africa: History, Culture, and Politics

GSS 27: Southeast Asian History and Culture

Joy Siapno

Gabriel Bámgbóṣé

Joy Siapno

Upper Division Elective Courses (can be counted toward GSS major/minor. Relevant courses not listed can be petitioned to count toward the major/minor.)

Fall 2025

ANSC 142. Anthropology of Latin America

ANTH 108. Indigenous Peoples, Extractive Development, and Climate Change

HILA 114. Dictatorships in Latin America

HILA 131. Mexico from Conquest to Modern Nation-Building

HILA 161. History of Women in Latin America

LTAF 120. Literature and Film of Modern Africa

LTEN 189. Twentieth-Century Postcolonial Literatures

LTSP 172. Indigenista Themes in Spanish American Literature

POLI 134D. Selected Topics in Latin American Politics

Winter 2026

ETHN 119. Race in the Americas

HIAF 111. Modern Africa since 1880

HILA 102. Latin America in the Twentieth Century

HILA 121A. History of Brazil through 1889

HISA 120. Race and Empire in South Asia

LTEN 189. Twentieth-Century Postcolonial Literatures

LTSP 134. Literature of the Southern Cone

LTSP 135A. Mexican Literature before 1910

LTAF 120. Literature and Film of Modern Africa

LTAM 110. Latin American Literature in Translation

LTEA 151. Readings in Tagalog Literature and Culture I

SOCI 139. Social Inequality: Class, Race, and Gender

SOCI 188E. Community and Social Change in Africa

ANSC 135. Indigenous Peoples of Latin America

ANSC 166. Film and Culture in Asia

Spring 2026

ETHN 126. Comparative Filipino and Vietnamese American Identities and Communities

ETHN 170. Slavery and the Atlantic World

HIAF 113. Small Wars and the Global Order: Africa and Asia

HILA 101. Nation-State Formation, Ethnicity, and Violence in Latin America

HILA 122. From Colony to Socialist Republic: Cuba

HILA 132. Modern Mexico: From Revolution to Drug War Violence

HINE 116. The Ottoman Empire, Iran and Egypt (1798–1914)

HINE 120. The Middle East in the New Century 

LTSP 175. Feminisms, Gender, and Sexuality in Latin America

LTAM 110. Latin American Literature in Translation

LTAM 111. Comparative Caribbean Discourse

LTEA 100B. Modern Chinese Poetry in Translation

POLI 150A. Politics of Immigration

SOCI 139. Social Inequality: Class, Race, and Gender

SOCI 158. Islam in the Modern World

ANSC 137. Chinese Popular Religion

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for responses to commonly asked questions. If you have further questions, please contact the Global South Studies program through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).

Can I double major in Global South Studies?

Students interested in Global South Studies as a double major must have at least 10 upper-division courses that are unique to each departmental major. Approval from both departments is required for overlaps. Students should consult a Global South Studies faculty member or program advisor for approval of a major program. Learn more about the requirements and process for declaring a double major.

How can I study abroad as a Global South Studies major or minor?

Most convenient, depending on the area, is the University of California's Education Abroad Program, whereby students can gain UC credit for study at foreign universities. This is especially convenient for students who cannot find sufficient courses at UC San Diego pertaining to such regions as the Caribbean and the Indian subcontinent. Moreover, Latin America, Asia, and Africa coursework is available in these regions through the Education Abroad Program and various programs available through other U.S. universities.

Interested in Studying Abroad? Consider UC Education Program, Opportunities Abroad Program or UC San Diego Global Seminars!

I took a course not listed on the course catalog. Can I count it toward my major or minor?

You will need to petition the course to see if it will apply towards your Global South Studies minor.

Instructions on How to Petition Courses