INDS APPROACHES GLOBAL THOUGHT

This course supports the interdisciplinary M.A. in Global Thought by encouraging students to attend events, workshops, lectures, and conferences on global issues at Columbia, throughout New York City, and in the era on online everything—around the world at relevant institutions. It supports and encourages students to maximize their intellectual enrichment during their time at Columbia and supports their research projects and plans for placement post-degree.

Students earn credit in this course by writing thoughtful and critically engaged reflection papers on the substance of lectures, workshops, and academic meetings attended at Columbia and other institutions in New York City and beyond.

For each event, the student writes a brief response (no less than 1 page/350 words) that is posted to CourseWorks within three days of the event. The work receives comments from the instructor intended to provoke further thought and engagement.

Students may register for one, two, or three credits: 

• One credit = students must attend four events (one must be CGT-related event)
• Two credits = students must attend eight events (two must be CGT-related events)
• Three credits = students must attend twelve events (three must be CGT-related events)

Additionally, students must attend two online sessions for the course – one at the start and the other at the end of the semester. In the first session, we will discuss what types of event qualify for the course and how to compose reflection papers.  

Three criteria will be introduced:  1) Writing analytically; 2) Thinking across disciplines, and 3) Critically reflecting on global issues through event selection and response papers.