Africa is the cherished home of almost one billion people, or one-seventh of the world’s population. They speak more than 2000 languages and hold citizenship in about fifty-five nations - more than one-quarter of the member states of the United Nations.  This diversity and intense energy is what students encounter in the African Studies track. Courses that count towards the track cover all periods of African history, examine African politics, and introduce the cultures and artistic expression of Africans through courses in Anthropology, Art History, Literature and Dance.  Recently, African Studies faculty have developed a new strength by teaching about health, healing and the history of epidemic in Africa, and do so in ways that are intended to benefit students preparing for careers in global health, medicine  and the health sciences.  In addition, courses place Africa in the broader context of world history, global politics and comparative literature.

The East Asian Studies track encompasses the diverse cultures, histories, geographies, languages, literatures, artistic traditions, political systems, religions, and economies that are crucial to understanding East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong). Students are exposed to a wide range of approaches, both in national and comparative contexts, through courses derived from the humanities and social sciences. The track allows interested students to reflect on the diverse histories of the East Asian region, from the classical to the modern, and to understand their continuity into our contemporary moment.

The Global Resources and the Environment track is designed to increase understanding of the physical environment that is inhabited and influenced by humans, and the ways in which direct and indirect policy-making by social, economic, and political institutions affects environmental issues. Students are introduced to topics related to global environmental conditions, opportunities and challenges in sustaining healthy environments, and the interrelationships between social responsibility and sustainability.

The International Communication and Information track combines two related lines of inquiry.  Many courses within the track focus on global cultures as systems of meaning which are created through a variety of linguistic and social practices and contexts (such as literary translation, face-to-face linguistic interaction, and cross-cultural [mis-]understandings).  The remaining courses are grounded in the idea that information and communication technologies have interconnected the nations, peoples and cultures of the world, and led to the emergence of global media regimes which impact international development, culture, human rights, politics and economics. Students take courses in anthropology, linguistics, translation studies, communication studies, journalism and mass communication, political science and cinema among others.

The Latin American Studies track provides a background in Latin American culture and social life that serves students in two important ways.  First, it introduces students to Latin American cultures, arts, languages, histories and social practices that have had a worldwide impact for over 500 years, and have become increasingly visible and influential in today’s global culture.  Second, it gives students a cultural framework for making sense of the social, economic, and political challenges faced by Latin Americans and Latinos in today’s world – including those in the state of Iowa and across the United States.