I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 9/15/09)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing
gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
III. Language
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
IV: Expressive Arts
IX: American & European
if requesting
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
X
more than one
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program Journalism
Course #
JOUR 165
Course Title
Prerequisite
Global Current Events / Honors
None
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Henriette Lowisch
Henriette.Lowisch@umontana.ed
u
243-2227
Program Chair Carol Van Valkenburg
Dean
Peggy Kuhr
III. Type of request
New
X
One-time Only
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
3
Date
Instructor
Phone / Email
Change
Remove
Course encourages students to relate
their knowledge of particular parts of the
world, with their individual identities, to
larger trends and issues that affect
multiple societies and environments.
Description of change
Requesting “X” designation
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
U 165 Global Current Events / Honors 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Survey of global news
intended to make students familiar with the context and vocabulary necessary to understand the
news, what makes it, and the implications that stem from it.
The purpose of the course is to help students become better-informed global citizens. By
closely following and discussing pertinent issues in the news, students learn how developments
in faraway places are interconnected and how they affect other peoples as well as themselves.
They acquire the vocabulary and context necessary to connect the dots between seemingly
unrelated events transpiring in different parts of the globe. They also come to understand that
history, economics, science and culture play a much greater role in shaping global current
events than they realized before.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Indigenous and/or global courses will
In teams of four, students prepare in-depth
familiarize students with the values, histories,
presentations on topics and issues currently
and institutions of two or more societies
in the news. Each semester, at least 10
through the uses of comparative approaches.
topics are covered, including, for example,
the Euro crisis, U.S. relations with Pakistan,
the rise of Brazil or the consequences of
global population growth. The topics are
chosen to include all continents, as well as a
spectrum of economic, cultural and political
issues. Student presentations always include
other societies’ historical and cultural
perspectives. Class discussion focuses on
comparing other countries’ problem-solving
approaches to U.S. policies and practices.
Global perspective courses adopt a broad focus Each week, students are assigned to read 10with respect to time, place, and subject matter
12 news stories published in The Economist,
and one that is transnational and/or multia magazine chosen for the broad range of its
cultural/ethnic in nature. Whether the cultures
international coverage and its transnational
or societies under study are primarily historical readership. The readings selected by the
or contemporary, courses investigate significant instructor not only cover news from diverse
linkages or interactions that range across time
regions of the world; they also frequently
and space.
include briefings on transnational issues such
as immigration, employment, education,
climate change and scientific discovery.
While the readings focus on current events,
class presentations examine the long-term
forces that led up to those events.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. place human behavior and cultural ideas into
a wider (global/indigenous) framework, and
enhance their understanding of the complex
interdependence of nations and societies and
their physical environments
2. demonstrate an awareness of the diverse ways
humans structure their social, political, and
cultural lives
3. analyze and compare the rights and
responsibilities of citizenship in the 21st century
including those of their own societies and
cultures.
In weekly news quizzes, midterm and final
examinations, students demonstrate their
knowledge of global geography and how it
affects regional conflicts; articulate common
factors linking otherwise disparate global
conflicts, and actively use vocabulary
relating to foreign policy, financial systems,
international institutions and processes.
For their class presentations, students
develop narratives reflecting the cultural and
historical perspectives of the people most
directly affected by an issue currently in the
news. A presentation on Pakistan, for
example, will not only discuss opinion polls
and population data, but also reference the
trauma of Partition or the role of Cricket as
a national sport.
By closely following the news, based on
reading stories in The Economist selected
by the instructor, students learn to recognize
how geostrategic forces affect minorities,
women and the poor. Weekly story
selections always include news related to
the effects of U.S. policy on other societies.
Class discussion frequently revolves around
the responsibility of all citizens, including
the students, to tackle issues of global
justice.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
No prerequisites
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Prof. Henriette Lowisch
Don Anderson Hall 431
(406) 243-2227
Henriette.Lowisch@umontana.edu
Office Hours: M 11-1, Th 2-4 p.m.
and by appointment
Course description
If you’re not already a news junkie, this class aims to turn you into one. By the end of the
semester, you should be confident that when you point to Iran on a map you won’t hit Iraq by
accident; you should be able to tell Weibo from Wen Jiabao; recognize acronyms like BRIC
and FAO, and know why the world is watching Mogadishu and Mumbai.
The skills and information you learn in Global Current Events will inform how you understand
the world around you for the rest of your life. You will connect dots between seemingly
unrelated events; track stories that will let you chime in if talk turns to global politics over
Thanksgiving break, and explore how journalists think when they cover international
developments. Your knowledge of other cultures will expand, as you learn about the historical,
social, economic and geostrategic forces behind today’s news.
The Economist magazine will be our required textbook. I will distribute a fresh copy each week
in class and assign a dozen or more articles to read from each issue.
The readings will be the focus of weekly quizzes and class discussion. They require a
substantial commitment of time and attention on your part, but will get easier as you become
familiar with the issues and the writing style.
On Aug. 31, please bring to class a check or money order for $28.80, made out to UM
Foundation/Journalism. This will buy you (at a student discount) one Economist magazine each
week for the semester. They come to me in a box and I will hand them out in class. If you
already subscribe, please let me know by the end of Class 1.
On Mondays, class will typically begin with a 10-question quiz on that week’s reading and the
presentation from the previous week. The quiz will be followed by a brief discussion of the
quiz questions and a review of information from the week before. Time will also be set aside
for presentation team meetings.
On Wednesdays, a class presentation will examine an event or trend in the news. It will
consider the historical and cultural forces behind the issue and a vocabulary for discussing it. It
will introduce the current cast of characters and provide a sense of what may happen in the near
future. There will be time after each presentation for discussion.
At first, I will give the presentations. But by the fifth week of class, you will take over. Topics
will be assigned to teams of students on Sep. 14. Around the same time, you will also receive
detailed guidelines on how to succeed as a team.
Teams of students will make 45-minute presentations on a predetermined topic. Each team will
consist of a researcher, a scriptwriter, a PowerPoint builder and a presenter. You will meet with
me individually as you are developing your part of the presentation. You will be graded on the
work presented during those meetings as well as on the final product, with additional evaluation
based on feedback of classmates and teammates.
It is essential that you meet all deadlines associated with your presentation. Your teammates
depend on you getting your work to them on time. Your classmates in the audience – and you –
deserve a top-notch presentation each week. Once deadlines are established, for each day a
deadline is missed your grade will be reduced by one letter grade increment. For example, a B
will become a B-, then a C+, C, C-.
Student presentations are a major emphasis of this class. Focused and thorough, they should
demonstrate the ability of each individual to be a responsible and responsive team member.
Some students find doing their share of the work for the presentation the most challenging –
and some say rewarding – assignment they’ve ever done.
Learning outcomes
Successful students in this class will:
o Understand a wide range of contemporary global news stories that occur in the course
of the semester.
o Be able to discuss global geography and how it affects regional conflicts.
o Know the names and background of global leaders who appear in the news.
o Be able to articulate common factors linking otherwise disparate global conflicts.
o Recognize how geostrategic forces affect minorities, women and the poor.
o Improve their ability to work as part of a team.
o Report, produce or present an in-depth study of a current global issue.
Assessment
Weekly quizzes, two exams and a team presentation help determine whether students have
achieved the learning goals. All quizzes and exams are closed book.
o A 10-question quiz will be given each week. It will mostly cover the reading, with
vocabulary drawn from the previous week’s presentation. Quiz grades will be averaged;
the lowest quiz score will be dropped.
o The midterm exam will be given Oct. 10, 2011, during regular class time. It will cover
material in presentations to that date.
o The final exam will be given Dec. 12, 2011, from 1:10 – 3:10 p.m. It will cover all
presentations given during the semester, with an emphasis on those given after the
midterm.
Grading
Quizzes: 25 percent
Class Presentation: 25 percent
Midterm: 15 percent
Final: 25 percent
Discussion: 10 percent
Be professional. Don’t squander the opportunities given to you through this class.
o Don't be late. Class doesn't start at 3:11 p.m. It starts at 3:10 p.m.
o Mute your electronic devices during class and put handhelds out of reach.
o Notify me in advance if you are ill or need to miss a class for other valid reasons.
o To act professionally at all times will positively affect your final grade.
o Unexcused absences and late shows will negatively affect your grade.
o Missing one third of classes will automatically result in failing the course.
The grading scale is:
A
AB+
93-100
90-92
87-89
B
BC+
83-86
80-82
77-79
C
CD
73-76
70-72
60-69
F 0-59
Academic Honesty
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic
penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. All students
need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review at
http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
This course is accessible to otherwise qualified students with disabilities. To request reasonable
program modifications, please consult with the instructor. Disability Services for Students will
assist the instructor and student in the accommodation process. For more information, visit
http://life.umt.edu/dss.
After hours access
For after hours access to Don Anderson Hall, complete and submit this form online:
http://jour.umt.edu/after-hours/ by Friday, Sep. 9. Miss the deadline, and you’ll pay a late fee
or you won’t be able to use the labs after hours.
Topics
1 After Norway: Europe and the Muslim world
2 The U.S. and Pakistan: Friends or foes?
3 The Euro shakes: Who wants a common currency anyway?
4 Border troubles: Mexico's drug wars.
5 Starving Somalia: A failed state's impact on the region.
6 Egypt after the revolution: Forerunner or exception?
7 Israel and the Arab Spring: Odds for war and peace.
8 World Population: Seven billion and counting.
9 A concert of tweets: Freedom of expression in China
10 Third World Rising: The case of Brazil
11 Who rules Russia?
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.