Students

"Global Studies has enabled me to think meaningfully about the direction the world is going, and what we as global citizens can do to change or support that.  In our small, discussion-based classes, I find myself changing my mind and thinking hard about how to make our ideas a reality.  There is often a service-learning component to the courses, which has given me the opportunity to work with a refugee family from the Central African Republic and other refugees at the International Institute of Rhode Island.  It has opened my eyes not only to the daily suffering of human beings across the globe, but also to the beauty that is found in our cultural differences and human commonalities.  We often joke that Global Studies majors all want to "save the world."  I would have to say that is true, manifested in diverse ways from person to person.  Our united passion binds us together very strongly as a community, and almost every day we continue our discussions outside of class, wrestling with the flaws of our world and how best to approach them.  On the whole, Global Studies is characterized by the dedication and energy of its students to improving our world in every way we can."

- Anne Ruelle, Global Studies major, Class of 2013

"The Global Studies program at PC has been more amazing than I could have ever imagined. My favorite aspect of being a Global Studies student is the sense of community found within the major. The faculty allow us to be independent thinkers and do-ers, yet provide guidance every step of the way. My classmates are outstanding listeners and story-tellers, always finding a way to inspire one another. Every classroom feels like a family dinner table, with everyone sharing thoughts and ideas, feeding off of each other's brilliant minds. From the thought provoking articles we are assigned, to the interactive discussions we have in class; from the connection to the local community we have made through our service projects, to the global awareness we have garnered through daily experience, every facet of this major is amazing."

- Magali Garcia-Pletsch, Global Studies major, Class of 2013

"It’s hard for me to express what Global Studies is to me,
because it is so many things. It is a community of diverse people and ideas. It is the push I needed to really step back and examine the systems that surround me; but to also look at my own ideals and thoughts.  It is a group of students and professors that push you to grow in more ways than just being able to take a test and pass. I learn about the things that make our world-go-round and get to examine so many sides of it. We learn the bad and the good, and try to see how we can make it better. We make plans that we put into action. The people in this major are passionate and the conversations and ideas discussed during class often leave the classroom with us, in discussion and thought. I find myself talking to my roommates all the time about what we learn in class, trying to express how important it is. We can joke and say we want to save the world, but many of  us in the major, really believe that one person can make a difference and with each of us bringing a unique standpoint to the table, I believe we could make a change. We start with this through service-learning experiences. I was able to volunteer doing ESL with adults, to tutoring middle school boys, to teaching kindergartners. The experience opportunities are unbelievable. Also, this major makes it accessible to go abroad for either a semester or a year. My abroad experience, so far, has been a huge part of my growth, and without the support of these professors, and students, I could have missed the opportunity to go abroad for the full year. To make things even better, I know that when I get back from being abroad, I’ll have a wonderful group of people to reflect with and will continue to be pushed and grow. The Global Studies community is quite a group of inspiring people! It is most definitely a community and a family that I am proud to be a part of!"

- Kiley Leduc, Global Studies major, Class of 2014  

"The beauty of Global Studies is that the classes and professors provide you with the necessary skills, resources, and passion to create your own definition of what it means to a global citizen. The classrooms look more like round-tables, as the desks almost always get put in a circle before class by the professor for the discussion that effortlessly ensues. The professors themselves often take a less traditional role in the day to day classroom, instead serving more as discussion facilitators, as meaningful discussions with our equally dedicated peers dominate most  class time. Don't let that fool you though, as the professors are all incredible partners that bring a great deal of experience, dedication, and support with them to every class. Each course, professor, and student sheds unique light onto an array of cultures, geographical regions, and issues. Essentially, the Global Studies program, and the community we've developed, give you tools to make the world a better place every single day."

- Collin Anderson, Global Studies major, Class of 2015