Global Societies (Online Version)

A General Education Course

Fall 2017

Instructor Information:
Instructor: Raymond Tutu, Ph.D.
Office: 254 EH Building
Phone: 302-857-6847
Email: rtutu@desu.edu

Course Information:
Course Number: GLOB 395-40 (15134)

Course Description:
This course is designed to raise the students awareness of the growing interdependence of our world.
The world is no longer circumscribed by the boundaries of nations and continents, and students must
learn to appreciate the interconnectedness and plurality of the global community.
As an interdisciplinary course, the instruction will adopt a holistic approach in an effort to incorporate
aspects of all disciplines as they impact human behavior. This is one of the core courses in the
Universitys General Education Program; consequently, it is designed to incorporate all the strands in
the program: multiculturalism, reading, writing, listening, critical thinking and problem solving,
computer and information technology, life-long learning, and of course, globalism.

Scope/Format:
A major goal of this course is to develop a person with an educated and informed perspective on the
world for the Twenty First Century. This should be an individual who can understand those facets of
globalism which transcend time, space and place.

Goals & Objectives:

(1) Students will explore the major global themes such as global geography, and global themes of
the past. Outcome: students will recognize the composition of todays world while appreciating
the emergence of the modern world.
(2) Students will analyze the global themes of the present, the global workplace and marketplace,
and future global trends. Outcome: students will recognize: the impacts of neoliberalism; the
globalization-development relationship; systemic issues from a global perspective; and the
importance of the global sustainability discourse.

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 (3) Students will assess how global patterns are being constantly reorganized by global interactions
and examine the tensions resulting from globalization. Outcome: students will learn and
appreciate beauty in diversity; thus students will demonstrate open-mindedness.
(4) Students will understand the emergence and existence of international organization and analyze
the contributions of organizations such as the United Nations (UN), United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) etc to global peace and development. Outcome: Students
will be able to demonstrate applicability and usefulness of diverse global organizations to specific
global challenges.

Required Text:

Osei, Akwasi & F. Odun Balogun, eds., Global Societies: An Introduction. Second Edition, Boston
MA: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2007 (the E-version- purchase at the Bookstore or at the
publishers website)

Supplementary Text(s):

There will also be supplementary reading from other sources (See BLACKBOARD). These will include,
but not limited to, readings from the following books:

1. Dicken, Peter, Global Shift: Mapping the Changing Contours of the World Economy. Sixth Edition,
New York: The Guilford Press, 2011.
2. Castle, Stephen and Mark Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the
Modern World. Fourth Edition, New York: The Guilford Press, 2009.
3. Martine et al, eds, The New Global Frontier: Urbanization, Poverty and Environment in the 21st
Century. First Edition, London: Earthscan, 2008.

Note: Students are not required to purchase any of the supplementary text.

Requirements and Evaluation:

Quizzes: There will be a total of four quizzes this semester. There will not be an opportunity for a
make-up quiz. See the schedule (page4-5) for due dates for each quiz.

World News Posts: Student are expected to post a bi-weekly major world news item (See schedule for
due dates page 4-5). Students will have to post the new items latest by 8 p.m. ET on the due date. This
assignment entails the following:
Discussion Prompt
Post and discuss a bi-weekly major world news item (250-300 words). In your initial post, be
sure to do the following:
Include a brief, concise summary of the item
Provide your overall impression of the item
Discuss the items global perspective and impact on the world
Identify any bias in the item
Explain whether the article was accurate or inaccurate and why

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 Requirements
After you have completed your response, take the time to read and respond to at least two other
student posts. Your response should be at least 50 to 100 words in length and contain substantial
input to further the class discussion.

There are no make-up opportunities for missed posts and response posts

My Major and Globalization: Student will be asked to write a paper regarding aspects (themes,
concepts, theories, laws etc.) of subjects/majors which have global thinking at their core and/or
periphery. Detailed instructions on this assignment is under Module 9 on Blackboard.

Examinations: There will be two examinations that will cover reading materials. There will be a mid-
semester examination, and a final examination (see the schedule in the syllabus for dates page 4-5). I
will NOT provide a make-up examination or retake opportunities.

Grading policy:

Your final grade will be based on the following calculation:

My Major and Globalization 20 percent
Quizzes 20 percent
World New Posts 20 percent
Mid-semester Exam 20 percent
Final Exam 20 percent

Grading scale
Final grades will not be curved. However, students with borderline grades, who have demonstrated
seriousness and improvement over the semester will have their grades bumped up. The following
ranking system will be used to determine final grades for the course:
A: 90-100
A-: 85-89
B+: 80-84
B: 75-79
B-: 70-74
C+: 65-69
C: 60-64
C-: 55-59
D: 50-54
F: Less than 50.

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Schedule

Modules Topics, Modules, and Due Dates Reading(s)

Modules Composition of the world in terms of physical Osei and Balogun (pp. 3-5)
1,2,3 and political geography PowerPoint under Course
Emergence of the modern world Documents
DUE DATE: Quiz 1 Under Module 2: Due Osei and Balogun (pp. 6-
September 7; closes at 8 p.m. ET (Opens after 16)
8 a.m. on September 6)
Due Date: World News Post September 8;
closes at 8 p.m. ET (Under Module 3)
Module 4 The foundations of contemporary global Osei and Balogun (pp. 17-
connections 24)
Modules The globalization and development nexus Osei and Balogun (pp. 201
5 and 7 The politics of globalization (UN etc) - 211)
Due Date: World News Post September 29; Dicken (pp. 1-9)
closes at 8 p.m. ET (Under Module 5) Osei and Balogun (pp. 41-
46)
Module 6 Mid-term examinations Under Module 6
(October 3; closes at 8 p.m. ET) Opens at 8
a.m. on October 3. You have up to 60 minutes
to complete the test.
Module 8 Globalization vs globalism Osei and Balogun (pp.63-
Quiz 2 under Module 8: Due October 17; 72)
closes at 8 p.m. ET (opens at 8 a.m. on October
16)
Due Date: World News Post October 20;
closes at 8 p.m. ET (Under Module 8)
Module 9 Global diversity Osei and Balogun (pp.47-
Due Date: My Major and Globalization 61; and 73-84)
October 27; closes at 8 p.m. ET

Modules Gender, power, and the global state Osei and Balogun (pp. 85-
10, 11, Transnational crime 104)
12, and 13 Quiz 3 under Module 11: Due November 9; Osei and Balogun (pp. 151-
closes at 8 p.m. ET (opens at 8 a.m. on 165)
November 8) Ibid (pp. 173-181)
Due Date: World News Post (Under Module Osei and Balogun (pp. 187-
12) November 16; closes at 8 p.m. ET 211)
Module Neoliberalism and the global materials economy Osei and Balogun (pp. 187-
14 Quiz 4 Under Module 14 : Due November 29; 211)
closes at 8 p.m. ET (opens at 8 a.m. on Video on materials
November 28) economy

Module Sustainability and the global environment United Nations website:

15 look for UN goals on

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 environmental
sustainability
Dicken (pp. 454-474)
Module Final Examination on December 8 (opens at 8
16 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. ET) Note: This
subject to change.

Class Policies:

Class Rules and Grading:

I will be responding to your questions, comments, and concerns in a maximum of 96 hours after
receipt of such. However, all questions with answers already in the syllabus will not be attended.
It is the students responsibility to ensure proper functioning of computer used for this class as
well as maintain high internet connectivity. There are no make-up opportunities for quizzes,
examinations, and assignment submission. I entreat all you of you to plan to take exams and
submit your assignments in a reasonable time frame ahead of deadlines.
Grading will focus not only be on content, but on grammar, spelling, style book and adherence
to deadlines.
Do not use bad language in any of your correspondence and assignments. Desist from all
unprofessional posts at all times.

Academic Integrity:

1. Definition and expectations: Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest
and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The
Delaware State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in
accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University's Code of Conduct
expounds the need for all students to act with personal integrity, respect other students' dignity, rights
and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed.
2. Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification,
misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the
University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.
3. Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of dishonesty will NOT be tolerated, and will result in a failing
grade for the course. If you have any questions on what defines plagiarism, please come see me.

NB: This syllabus is subject to change. I will communicate all changes in an addendum via
BLACKBOARD. It is your responsibility as a student to keep up with all changes if and when they
occur.