Global Studies
Global Studies

Global Environments & Sustainability Major Requirements

The major in Global Environments + Sustainability requires 30 credits, plus two prerequisite courses. Expand the options below to see specific requirements based on expected graduation year. 

If you are interested in the Global Sustainability minor, please go to this webpage.

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Class of 2025 and 2026

 Download a copy of the GSVS Advising Sheet: 

 

PRE-REQUISITES (6 CREDITS) Students may apply before completing the pre-requisites, but they must be completed before graduation. These pre-requisites cannot double count for GSVS core or elective courses, but they may double count for General Education requirements. Not all courses listed below are offered every semester.

  • Global Humanities, History or Culture course, 3 credits (options below)

    • GSGS 2000: Intro to Global Studies (Su25, F25); GSGS 2400: Mass Migration & Global Development (F25, S26); GSGS 2610: Global Systems of Inequality (F25); GSGS 3030: Global Cultural Studies (Su25, F25); GSGS 3100: Critical Conceptions of the Global (F24); GSGS 3118: Space, Place & Global Development (F25); GDS 3114: Science, Technology, Development (S26); GSGS 3559: Art & Politics in Global Perspective (S26); ANTH 2120: The Concept of Culture (S25); ANTH 2160: Culture & the Environment (F25); ANTH 2250: Nationalism, Racism, Multiculturalism (S25); ANTH 2285: Anthropology of Development + Humanitarianism (F24).

  • Global Studies Methods or Quantitative course, 3 credits (options below)

    • GSVS 2050: Sustainable Energy Systems (S25); GSGS 3111: Global Studies Epistemology & Methods; GSGS 3330: Ecological Economics (S26); ECON 3430: Economics of Sustainability & the Environment (F25); GSGS 4200: Applied Research in Global Studies (S26); STAT 2120: Intro to Statistical Analysis; STAT 2020: Stat for Biologists; ECON 2010: Microeconomics; PLAN 2111: GIS for Planners; EVSC 3020: GIS Methods

 

CORE COURSES (15 CREDITS) each course is offered once per academic year

  • GSVS 2150 / ARCH 2150 / COMM 3880: Global Sustainability - Fall only
  • GSVS 2210 / RELG 2210: Religion, Ethics & Global Environments - Spring only
  • GSGS 3330: Ecological Economics - Spring only OR GSVS 3500/ECON 3430: Economics of Sustainability & the Environment - Fall only 
  • GSVS 3310: Sustainability Policy at Home & Abroad - Fall only
  • GSVS 4991: Capstone Research Seminar - Spring only

 

ELECTIVE COURSES (15 CREDITS) See the Jterm/Spring/Summer 2025 approved elective list below!

  • 5 elective courses from the approved list that must include:
    • 3 courses from the “Environment” category (may petition for different distribution)
    • 1 course from the “Equity” category
    • 1 course from the “Economy & Policy” category

LANGUAGE COMPETENCY (3 CREDITS)

  • One course beyond the 2020 level of any language taught at UVA (can be taken in an approved study-abroad program)
  • If a student has reached the 2020 level in one language and does not want to continue that language, they may satisfy the requirement by studying a second language and completing 1010 and 1020 level courses.
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Class of 2027 +

 Download a copy of the GSVS Advising Sheet:

 

PRE-REQUISITES (6 CREDITS) Students may apply before completing the pre-requisites, but they must be completed before graduation. These pre-requisites cannot double count for GSVS core or elective courses, but they may double count for General Education requirements. Not all courses listed below are offered every semester.

  • GSGS 2000: Intro to Global Studies, 3 credits (Summer and Fall 25) 
  • Global Studies Methods or Quantitative course, 3 credits (options below)

    • GSVS 2050: Sustainable Energy Systems (S25); GSGS 3111: Global Studies Epistemology & Methods; GSGS 3330: Ecological Economics (S26); ECON 3430: Economics of Sustainability & the Environment (F25); GSGS 4200: Applied Research in Global Studies (S26); STAT 2120: Intro to Statistical Analysis; STAT 2020: Stat for Biologists; ECON 2010: Microeconomics; PLAN 2111: GIS for Planners; EVSC 3020: GIS Method

 

CORE COURSES (15 CREDITS) each course is offered once per academic year

  • GSVS 2150 / ARCH 2150 / COMM 3880: Global Sustainability - Fall only
  • GSVS 2210 / RELG 2210: Religion, Ethics & Global Environments - Spring only
  • GSGS 3330: Ecological Economics - Spring only (GSGS 3559 in spring 23) OR GSVS 3500/ECON 3430: Economics of Sustainability & the Environment - Fall only (GSVS 3559 previously)
  • GSVS 3310: Sustainability Policy at Home & Abroad - Fall only
  • GSVS 4991: Capstone Research Seminar - Spring only

 

ELECTIVE COURSES (15 CREDITS) See the Jterm/Spring/Summer 2025 approved elective list below!

  • 5 elective courses from the approved list that must include:
    • 3 courses from the “Environment” category (may petition for different distribution)
    • 1 course from the “Equity” category
    • 1 course from the “Economy & Policy” category

LANGUAGE COMPETENCY 

  • Completion/satisfaction of World Language Literacy as detailed in the College Curriculum. Students can meet the World Languages requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses of action:
    • Earn exemption by placing beyond the 2020 level by examination
    • Take 14 credits, or four semesters of a language in the proper sequence typically finishing at the 2020 level
    • After placement, complete the remaining courses in the sequence up to the fourth semester (usually 2020)

 

OTHER

  • Students may count 4 of their major courses (12 credits) taken in other UVA schools as 'inside' the College (per CEPC approval on 12/8/2015)
  • Credits applied toward a major cannot count toward completion of a minor. See rules for College minors here.
  • Within allowable UVA limits and in consultation with track director Prof. Phoebe Crisman, students may do the following:
    • apply before completing the prerequisites
    • double-count up to 3 courses toward the interdisciplinary GSVS major and another UVA major
    • count UVA Transfer Credit toward coursework required for the major
    • count Direct Credits from a UVA Study Abroad program toward the major
    • count UVA-approved Transfer Credit from a Study Abroad program toward the major
    • create an independent study course in Global Studies – Environments + Sustainability
    • receive 1 credit for an internship. See detail here.
** The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found at http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/index.php. 

Contact the Director

Phoebe Crisman

Director of Global Studies; Global Environments + Sustainability (GSVS) Track Director; Professor of Architecture, School of Architecture

crisman@virginia.edu
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