What is Global Studies?

Global Studies is an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the complexities of our world. It recognizes that people's activities and commitments are shaped by their history, culture, religion, economic possibilities, and political realities. In particular, it calls attention to the fact that our world is increasingly interconnected and interdependent in a set of processes often referred to as "globalization." Global studies constantly attempts to locate the "local" cultures, societies, and histories in the context of global forces and global interconnectivity.

Who should take Global Studies?

Are you …

• curious about other cultures?
• eager to acquire the skills that would enable you to work with people who are different from yourself?
• frustrated with the communication barriers between you and people who speak a different language?
• concerned about the injustice of the fact (for example) that close to a billion people in our world survive on less than one dollar a day, or that many have no access to the very basics of human well-being?
• tired of the North American "box" and eager to see what else is out there?
• burdened to share the riches of the love of Christ with people who do not know him?

If these are some of your passions, then our Global Studies program may be just what you're looking for.

Why Global Studies at Briercrest?

Our programs and courses are designed to strengthen your relationship with the Lord, help you develop deep cultural awareness and sensitivity, and prepare you for cross-cultural ministry. You'll also find a community of learning that is centered on faith and the authority of God's Word.

God has commissioned us to the world and its peoples with the good news of His kingdom and His reconciling love. This message is the heartbeat of Briercrest.

From its beginnings in 1935, Briercrest College and Seminary has been committed to equipping God's people for service. More than 20,000 Briercrest alumniare serving in more than 80 countries around the world.

Requirements

Like most Briercrest programs, the BA Global Studies requires 39 credit hours of 300+ course work within the context of a 126 credit hour degree. It requires 42 credit hours of Global Studies requirements (including at least 24 credit hours at the 300+ level), 6 credit hours of cognate modern language requirements, and a significant cross-cultural component.

Students will complete the four-year BA degree Core Curriculum, as well as 6 semesters of Service and Experiential Learning. As part of their graduation requirements, all four-year BA students will also complete the Senior Portfolio (PRT 400).

New students:  apply to the college now  and our admissions advisors will work closely with you throughout the rest of the process.

Current students: contact Academic Services to change programs and/or to be connected with a faculty adviser.

Degree Requirements

(126 credit hours: minimum 39 at 300+ level)

BA Core Curriculum

(66 credit hours)

Required Courses

(15 credit hours)

Electives

(27 credit hours: minimum 18 at 300+ level)

Cognate Requirements

(6 credit hours)

Cross-Cultural Experience

• A significant cross-cultural experience is a requirement for this program. This requirement can be satisfied in one of several ways:

Tim Stabell

tstabell@briercrest.ca
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Tim grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the son of American Baptist missionaries. He gave his life to Christ early in life, and after graduating from the American School of Kinshasa in 1969, he went to Easter College, where he did a BA in Sociology under Tony Campolo at Eastern Baptist College (now Eastern University). It was during his subsequent MAR studies at Westminster Seminary that he felt the Lord was leading him to mission work in the country where he had grown up. On the way there, he met Susan, and they were married in 1982. They have four children, all born during the years that they were working in Congo (1982 to 1996).

After that time in Congo, Tim went on to do a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, completing that degree in 2005. This was the same year that he began teaching at Briercrest, where he is program coordinator (with Alan Guenther) of the Global Studies program. During the summers, he often returns to the Congo where he continues to be involved in teaching and leadership training at various levels.

Alan Guenther

aguenther@briercrest.ca
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Alan Guenther's interest in the history of Islam is based in large measure on the four years he lived in Pakistan from 1988 to 1992 while serving as a missionary with The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM). Upon returning from Pakistan, he pursued academic studies at the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University in Montreal, completing both his graduate degrees there.

The focus of his research has been the historical development of the Muslim community in British India in the late 19th century as well as the interaction of Muslims with Christian missionaries in that time period. His involvement in Mennonite, Plymouth Brethren, and, most recently, Free Methodist churches has also stimulated him to research in their histories and become involved in their historical societies. Since 2005, he has had the opportunity to teach courses not only on the history of Islam, but also on the history of Christianity more broadly at Briercrest College and Seminary in his home province of Saskatchewan.