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Introduction to Global Studies

Purpose: to help other instructors teaching the same course

Common Course ID: GBST 100
CSU Instructor Open Textbook Adoption Portrait

Abstract: This open textbook is being utilized in a Global Studies course for undergraduate or graduate students by Elizabeth Nash at CSU San Marcos. The open textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to globalization, helping students understand the social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental systems that shape our interconnected world while preparing them to engage thoughtfully as informed and responsible global citizens. Throughout the course, I alternate between assigned OER chapters and copyrighted readings and videos, and helpful websites that connect the material to current events and give students additional context, examples, and perspectives to deepen their understanding. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was to promote equity by giving all students free, immediate access to high-quality course materials, while also offering content in multiple formats to meet a variety of learning needs. Most student access the open textbook in through library reserves or via direct links and PDFs provided on the Canvas course page.

About the Course

GBST 100: Intro to Global Studies 
Brief Description of course highlights:  Interdisciplinary examination of social, economic, and political change in a global context. Understanding of world views, cultural contexts, and key international institutions as well as the development of skills necessary to live and work in a cross-cultural setting will be stressed. Strong emphasis on learning the techniques necessary to access and analyze varied sources of information about globalization. https://catalog.csusm.edu/content.php?filter%5B27%5D=-1&filter%5B29%5D=100&filter%5Bco  urse_type%5D=1211&filter%5Bkeyword%5D=&filter%5B32%5D=1&filter%5Bcpage%5D=1&cur_ cat_oid=11&expand=&navoid=1977&search_database=Filter#acalog_template_course_filter 

Student population: 
Majors: Political Science, Art, Media & Design, Linguistics, Business, Liberal Studies, Communication, Anthropology, Social Sciences, Media Studies, Psychology, Human Development, Environmental Studies, Criminal & Justice Studies, Kinesiology & Undeclared
Prerequisites: None, this is an introductory course that fulfills several requirements:
- Lower Div GE requirement in Social Science
- Lower Div GE requirement in Interdisc Social Sci
- Interdisciplinary Social Science Requirement

Learning outcomes:  Students successfully completing this course will:

Course Learning Outcomes. 
1. Understand the history, origins and evolution of the global system.
2. Describe the impact of diverse worldviews, cultures, identities and international institutions on global consciousness and global issues.
3. Synthesize a holistic and interdisciplinary explanation of globalization, explaining the arguments for and against globalization.
4. Analyze the changing nature of the challenges facing our world in the post-Cold War era and the varying impacts on global well-being.
5. Develop critical analytical skills and communicate effectively in written work and oral presentations. This involves being able to identify and organize relevant information and to formulate persuasive, coherent and critical arguments.

Program Learning Outcomes: Students who graduate with a B.A. in Global Studies will be able to:
1.Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the political, economic and cultural aspects of globalization and its impacts.

2. Evaluate and communicate the complexity of global issues from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
3. Demonstrate undergraduate-level mastery of a specialized geographic area of global studies.
4.  Evaluate and communicate the ways in which local issues and circumstances are involved with and influence global issues (and vice-versa).

General Education Learning Outcomes. Students who have completed their General Education requirements will be able to…

  1. Describe and/or apply principles and methods that are necessary to understand the physical and natural world.
  2. Compare and contrast relationships within and between human cultures.
  3. Communicate effectively in writing, using conventions appropriate to various contexts and diverse audiences.
  4. Use oral communication to effectively convey meaning to various audiences.
  5. Find, evaluate, and use authoritative and/or scholarly information to comprehend a line of inquiry. 
  6. Think critically and analytically about an issue, idea, or problem, considering alternative perspectives and re-evaluation of one’s own position. 
  7. Apply numerical/mathematical concepts in order to illustrate fundamental concepts within fields of study. 
  8. Describe the importance of living in diverse experiences, thoughts, and identities needed to be effective in working and living in diverse communities and environments. 
  9. Apply knowledge gained from courses in different disciplines to new settings and complex problems. 

Syllabus and/or Sample assignment from the course or the adoption:

OER/Low Cost Adoption

OER/Low Cost Adoption Process

Provide an explanation or what motivated you to use this textbook or OER/Low Cost option. I chose the LibreTexts Social Sciences text for this lower-division GE course to make learning accessible, relevant, and engaging for all students while keeping costs low. Many young adult students aren’t regularly reading the news or engaging with in-depth coverage of global events. In an era shaped by the technology revolution, where information often comes through short clips, headlines, and highlight reels, it can be difficult for them to build a fuller understanding of what is happening in the world. So, I wanted a resource I could customize and supplement with materials that connect global issues to students’ everyday lives—such as how decisions made by the United Nations affect humanitarian crises they see on social media, how conflicts in places like the Middle East influence gas prices and military involvement, how U.S. tariff debates shape the cost of goods and relationships with allies, and how climate change policies will affect their economic opportunities, communities, and long-term future. The textbook’s explanations and relevant examples, paired with videos, current articles and additional readings, emphasize the importance of global citizenship and help students see the value of understanding international systems, institutions, and global decision making.

How did you find and select the open textbook for this course?  Browsed OER sites, read peer reviews, evaluated resources.

Sharing Best Practices:   
1. I would emphasize that cost is often a top factor in whether students enroll in or stay in a course—making affordable materials available can reduce financial stress and support students’ overall balance and mental health. Attending the Faculty Center panel on CALM/Zero-Cost materials opened my eyes even more to how much cost impacts student retention and engagement.
2. It’s also important to listen closely to student experiences and take course evaluations seriously, as students can provide insights on how they interact with materials, which can guide how we can adapt to meet their needs.
3. Staying aware of how technological advancements shape students’ learning preferences is also key, since many benefit from multiple formats like videos, interactive modules, and accessible PDFs/web-based texts.
4. Finally, be willing to experiment and adapt: One of the things I enjoy most is how easy it is to keep the course relevant by swapping texts, videos, and other resources in and out to reflect current events and the issues students care about from semester to semester. OER allows us to—in most cases—customize content, update examples, and integrate materials that make learning relevant and engaging, which can improve student outcomes.

Describe any key challenges you experienced, how they were resolved  and lessons learned. None at this time. Adding items to Library Reserve through Canvas is user-friendly. I only needed support from the Library Reserves team for two chapters.

About the Instructor

Instructor Name - Elizabeth Nash
I am a Political Science and Global Studies lecturer at the CSU San Marcos.
Please provide a link to your university page.
https://www.csusm.edu/profiles/index.html?u=enash

Please describe the courses/course numbers that you teach. I teach U.S. Government & Politics, State Politics, Introduction to Global Studies, Global Governance, & Perspectives in Globalization.  I teach a range of courses in political science and global studies, covering both domestic and international political systems, helping students understand how governments function, how policies are shaped, and how global forces influence local and national contexts. 

Describe your teaching philosophy and any research interests related to your discipline or teaching.  My teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that one of higher education’s most vital roles is to cultivate globally conscious citizens who can think critically, act ethically, and engage meaningfully with the world around them. I design my courses to help students see the deep connections between global systems and local realities—how histories, power dynamics, and policies shape the communities we live in and the choices we make. In doing so, I aim to show that political science and global studies are not abstract disciplines, but powerful lenses through which we make sense of both our personal experiences and broader global challenges.

To support this kind of learning, I focus on creating opportunities for students to actively engage with varied modalities that resonate with different learning styles, helping them take ownership of their learning while developing critical thinking and reflection skills. This student-centered approach is grounded in equity and inclusion, aiming to create classroom spaces where diverse backgrounds are recognized, respected, and empowered. Creating a dynamic learning environment means valuing our differences—not only in how we learn, but in how we listen, communicate, and understand one another. And by emphasizing empathy, active listening, and the value of multiple perspectives, I foster an environment where students collaborate, question, and contribute to a shared intellectual community.

Ultimately, I want them to recognize that their voices matter and that they have the capacity to help shape a more just and informed world. To bring this to life, I draw on my interest in international law—including armed conflict, accountability, human rights, and nuclear security.

About the Resource/Textbook 

Textbook or OER/Low cost Title: 
The primary OER text used in this course is Introduction to Global Studies. Selected chapters were assigned throughout the semester and were interchanged with readings and videos from a set of 15 Open Access resources, including, but not limited to, book chapters, news and opinion articles, interviews, and expert commentaries. 

Brief Description:  Introduction to Global Studies is a free, openly licensed textbook that provides an overview of globalization and how interconnected social, political, economic, and environmental systems shape societies worldwide. It introduces students to key topics such as “global history, political and economic systems, culture, geography, and cross-cultural communication”. The text emphasizes global awareness and civic engagement, helping students understand global issues and their role in an interconnected world. The LibreTexts Social Sciences platform is available in multiple formats, and includes key terms, review questions and supplemental resources to support student learning.

I also integrated Open Access materials to connect core global studies concepts to current events. Students explore core global studies themes such as globalization, governance and international institutions, economic development, technology, migration, conflict, and the global economy. Readings include Kai-Fu Lee’s analysis of how artificial intelligence is reshaping global power dynamics and Paul Collier’s examination of the structural “traps” that hinder development in the world’s poorest countries, alongside contemporary debates on trade and protectionism, strengthening students’ ability to evaluate global political and economic systems. I reinforce this learning through active strategies such as debates, simulations, Four Corners activities, and group discussions, which create opportunities for students to analyze different perspectives and actively participate in the learning process.

Please provide a link to the resource https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Geography_(Human)/Introduction_to_Global_Studi  es_(Bozonelos_et_al.)/zz%3A_Back_Matter/30%3A_Detailed_Licensing. 

Links for the other 15 Open Access resources can be found in the syllabus link provided above.

Authors:  Dino Bozonelos, Charlotte Lee, Austen Thelen, Lauren Blanchard, Steven Cauchon, Masahiro Omae, Elizabeth Walker, and Travis Ritt (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI)).

Student access:   LibreTexts Social Sciences, Library Reserves, academic sites like the Council on Foreign Relations or the CATO Institute, news sites like FOX News or Aljazeera and multimedia websites like YouTube to name a few.

Supplemental resources:  The LibreTexts Social Sciences text includes:
- For students: key terms, chapter summaries, both discussion and multiple-choice review questions, critical thinking questions, suggestions for further exploration
-  For instructors: OER community resources page

Provide the cost savings from that of a traditional textbook. I previously used this text: McCormick, John. Introduction to Global Studies, Third Edition. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2025. The textbook can be viewed as a hardback ($135), paperback ($42.25) or Ebook ($42.25).

License*:  The Bozonelos et al. text by LibreTexts Social Sciences is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution: CC BY-NC 4.0. The other Open Access resources used in this course are copyrighted.

COOLforED is a service of the California State University-MERLOT program.
Partial funding provided by the State of California, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 
Questions? Email cool4ed@calstate.edu