About the Global Studies RAP

G-RAP draws on insights from disciplines across the humanities and social sciences to give students the theoretical and methodological skills and the knowledge base necessary to understand this complex and rapidly changing world. 

As CU educates the leaders of the future, G-RAP must prepare them to deal with the great issues facing the world - health, peace, prosperity, environmental sustainability - from a basis of cultural and historical understanding as well as a basis of scientific analysis. 

G-RAP promotes engaged learning. in order to grasp the main currents of global studies, the cultural challenges and opportunities, and the ethical values that are at stake, students and faculty or G-RAP are engaged in a variety of ways. Through lively class discussions, numerous co-curricular and extra-curricular events, and projects nurtured in this residential setting, G-RAP students take great pleasure in studying countries and peoples, cultural norms and values, documents and texts. Students develop understanding and compassion for the people in different countries and in diverse communities. The global flux in cultural goods, human capital, and natural resources have given the traditional problems of poverty, hunger, and war greater complexity and urgency. Students at G-RAP learn to compose their thoughts more clearly, communicate them more effectively, and reflect on them more cooperatively so that they can be of use in the world. G-RAP students and faculty recognize the wisdom of past generations and their legacies. They are necessary points of departure for their own thinking.

One benefit of G-RAP is small class sizes. In our courses, the average section size is about sixteen students but does not exceed eighteen students. As a result, most classes are conducted as lively discussions in which students are encouraged and expected to participate. They draw insights from various social sciences and related fields, including political science, anthropology, cultural studies, economics, literature, sociology, philosophy, linguistics, and history. The faculty at G-RAP teach. Our instructors are hired with the understanding that we place a high value on excellent teaching.

G-RAP Fellows are an especially dedicated group of former G-RAP students who are committed to helping first-year students in Arnett Hall adapt to and succeed at CU Boulder. These are upper-class students who have successfully completed the G-RAP program. These peer mentors offer additional support to first-year students both academically and socially, as they help new students connect to the CU campus and community.

One of the greatest challenges first-year students face is time management. Consider that in high school, each week a student is in a structured learning environment lasting about 35 hours per week where they were supervised by their teachers. In college, that number drops to about 16 hours. In those 16 hours, the lectures are typically delivered at a faster pace and the number of hours that a student must spend outside of the lecture greatly increases if the student is going to master the material. In order to succeed in college, first-year students must effectively manage their time outside of class, balance their academic and social life, adapt to new teaching styles and expectations, master outside readings, keep pace with lectures and assignments, plan their academic career to satisfy their degree requirements and begin to prepare for a career path. 

As a G-RAP student, you will have the opportunity to:

Integrate real-world engagement experiences - such a service-learning, study abroad, internships, and field study - with your coursework.

Think critically about how cultural practices such as racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia perpetuate power and inequality.

Explore how to establish more just and equitable societies.

Understand how local issues are influenced by global culture and global issues by local cultures working across a wide range of academic disciplines. 

Strategic Goals of G-RAP

1. Encourage an inclusive environment of a diverse student body of G-RAP through appreciation of our community's intellectual, cultural, and personal diversity as a source of strength.
2. Engage and integrate G-RAP pedagogical and community-building missions.
3. Acquire historical, cultural, and geographical knowledge through the study of contemporary global issues.
4. Develop strong interdisciplinary training, gaining control over key concepts in the social sciences and/or humanities.
5. Foster analytical skills in critical reading and writing and research.

As a social science, art and humanities-based RAP program, Global Studies promotes a wide range of majors and interests. Recently, the Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, James White, wrote an interesting essay (linked below) highlighting the importance of critical thinking, adaptability, and communication skills, which can all be obtained through a degree here in the College of Arts and Sciences. 

There is a bright future for the history major.