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Global Resource Systems

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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The Global Resource Systems undergraduate major employs a truly interdisciplinary and systemic approach to understanding complex global resource issues. Students develop a core set of technical competencies in a resource area selected from the majors, minors and certificates offered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Students choose a world region in which to specialize, develop competency in a relevant world language, and participate in a significant cross-cultural internship experience.  They carry out a senior project related to their resource specialization within the context of the world region. The undergraduate experience culminates with a senior capstone course, where students work with real-world clients to address global resource challenges.

Multidisciplinary themes are developed in the context of the physical, biological and socio-economic factors affecting global resource systems. In this context, resource systems include natural, food and agricultural, environmental, cultural and human, political and institutional, financial and built, public health and social resources. Graduates of this program have transnational leadership skills and are successful integrators of various specializations on a team.  They are skilled in applying a systemic perspective and developing solutions to complex global resource systems problems using innovativeness and creativity.  Future professionals communicate effectively and demonstrate environmental awareness, exhibit an ethical perspective, and display clear analysis of how cultural diversity impacts work both here and abroad.  They also recognize opportunities for learning after graduation.

A degree in Global Resource Systems opens the door to employment opportunities in the many businesses and organizations that require globally competent employees.

Curriculum in Global Resource Systems

Administered by a supervisory committee in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Students choose a region of the world to develop an expertise; they choose a language to learn and develop proficiency through the intermediate level; they choose and possess an area of technical expertise by completing an additional major, minor or certificate program offered through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; they complete a required internship in an international setting; and they select and complete a senior research project with faculty mentoring.

Total Degree Requirement: 129 cr.

Only 65 cr. from a two-year institution may apply which may include up to 16 technical cr.; 9 P-NP cr. of free electives; 2.00 minimum GPA.

International Perspective:  3 cr.

3 cr. from approved list3

U.S. Diversity:  3 cr.

3 cr. from approved list3

Communications Proficiency: 

English composition (6 credits with a grade of C or higher; see courses below.)
Speech fundamentals (3 credits with a grade of C or higher; see courses below.)

Communication/Library:  13 cr.

ENGL 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
SP CM 212Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
or AGEDS 311 Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences
ENGL 302Business Communication3
or ENGL 309 Proposal and Report Writing
or ENGL 314 Technical Communication
LIB 160Information Literacy1
Total Credits13

Humanities and Social Sciences:  6 cr.

ECON 101Principles of Microeconomics3
or ECON 102 Principles of Macroeconomics
Plus three credit hours from approved humanities list3
Total Credits6

Ethics:  3 cr.

3 cr. from approved list3

Life Sciences:  7 cr.

BIOL 211
211L
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology Laboratory I
4
or BIOL 212
212L
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology Laboratory II
Plus 3 cr. from approved life sciences list at 300-level or higher3

Mathematical Sciences:  6 cr.

MATH 140College Algebra (or higher; except Math 195 or 196)3
STAT 101Principles of Statistics3-4
or STAT 104 Introduction to Statistics
Total Credits6-7

Global Competency:  15-31 cr.

16 cr. of 100 and 200 level of a single WLC language; 15 cr. in global competency courses from an approved list with up to 3 cr. may be earned from a travel course.

Physical Sciences: 8 cr.

One of the following:5
College Chemistry
and Laboratory in College Chemistry
General Chemistry I
and Laboratory in General Chemistry I
One course from the following:3
Introduction to Soil Science
Soil Conservation and Land Use
Introduction to Weather and Climate
Environmental Geology: Earth in Crisis
Water Resources of the World
Total Credits8

Global Resource Systems: 23 cr.

GLOBE 110Orientation1
3 credits of GLOBE 2113
Issues in Global Resource Systems (Each offering is 1 cr., must be repeated for 3 cr.)
GLOBE 201Introduction to Global Resource Systems3
GLOBE 320Global Resource Systems Internship Preparation1
GLOBE 303Agricultural, Food and Natural Global Resource Systems3
GLOBE 304Socio-Economic Global Resource Systems3
GLOBE 401Senior Project3
GLOBE 402Responses to Global Resource System Challenges3
One of the following:3-6
Internship - Global
Internship - United States
Total Credits23-26

Technical Concentration:  15-18 cr.

Satisfied by any of the majors, minors or certificates offered through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Electives:

Sufficient coursework to ensure a total of not less than 129 credits

Global Resource Systems, B.S.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GLOBE 1101GLOBE 2013
GLOBE 2111ECON 1013
MATH 1403ENGL 2503
ENGL 1503CHEM 1634
LIB 1601CHEM 163L1
BIOL 2113STAT 1043
BIOL 211L1 
Humanities3 
 16 17
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GLOBE 3033GLOBE 3043
Language 1014Language 1024
GLOBE 2111AGEDS 311 or SP CM 2123
Global Politics or Global Culture3AGRON 182, 206, 282, GEOL 101, or GEOL 1603
Technical Area3Technical Area3
Elective3 
 17 16
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GLOBE 2111GLOBE 3201
Language 2014Language 2024
ENGL 3093Global History or Global Culture3
Global Culture 3AGRON 342 (or Other CALS Approved Ethics)3
US Diversity3Technical Area3
General Elective3General Elective3
 17 17
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GLOBE 3213GLOBE 4023
GLOBE 4013Global Culture3
International Perspectives3300 Level or Higher Life Science (From Approved List)3
Global Economics or Global Culture3Technical Area3
Technical Area3General Elective2
 15 14

Expand all courses

Courses

Courses primarily for undergraduates:

(1-0) Cr. 1. F.


An introduction to Global Resource Systems (GRS) program. University and career acclimation, development of educational and professional skills, participation in GRS Learning Community. Assessed service-learning component.

(3-0) Cr. 3. F.


A survey of geographic concepts with a specific focus on the distribution of natural and human-generated resources and the demand for those resources on a global scale.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.


A systematic analysis of natural, physical, and socio-economic resources. Examine ways communities prioritize, save, use, and invest in community resources to address their needs and wants in a sustainable way, and the global implications of resource systems decisions. Assessed service-learning component.

(1-0) Cr. 1. Repeatable, maximum of 4 credits. F.S.


Discussion of topics of current importance in global resource systems. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only. A maximum of 4 credits of 211 may be used towards degree requirements.

(Cross-listed with ANTHR, ENV S, M E, MAT E, SOC). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.


An introduction to understanding the key global issues in sustainability. Focuses on interconnected roles of energy, materials, human resources, economics, and technology in building and maintaining sustainable systems. Applications discussed will include challenges in both the developed and developing world and will examine the role of technology in a resource-constrained world. Cannot be used for technical elective credit in any engineering department.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

Cr. R. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Approval by the Global Resource Systems Faculty Coordinator
Practical work experience in approved domestic or international settings such as with a company, research laboratory, governmental agency or non-governmental organization. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.

Cr. 1-2. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of the instructor and approval by the Global Resource Systems Faculty Coordinator
Independent study on topics of special interest to the student. Comprehensive report required. Intended primarily for first-year students and sophomores.

Cr. 1-2. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of the instructor and approval by the Global Resource Systems Faculty Coordinator
Independent study on topics of special interest to the student. Comprehensive report required. Intended primarily for first-year students and sophomores.

(3-0) Cr. 3. F.

Prereq: GLOBE 201 and ECON 101 or ECON 102. Or permission of instructor.
In-depth analysis of the opportunities, constraints and consequences of agricultural, food and natural resource systems. Topics integrate global natural resources with agriculture and food systems, nutrition and health, sustainable development, and societal structures, including gender, migration and urbanization. Course content utilizes a systems approach.

(3-0) Cr. 3. S.

Prereq: GLOBE 201 and ECON 101 or ECON 102. Or permission of the instructor.
In-depth analysis of the opportunities, constraints and consequences of social, economic and political global resource systems. Topics integrate agriculture and food production, globalization, population, economic planning, energy, security, trade, and policy and their role in defining different world regions. Course content utilizes a systems approach.

(1-0) Cr. 1. S.

Prereq: Permission of instructor.
Students enrolled in this course intend to enroll in GLOBE 321 or 322 in the following term. Topics provide a pre-departure orientation, including logistical, academic, cultural, and personal requirements for completion of an experiential supervised work experience.

Cr. 3-6. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: GLOBE 320, Junior or Senior and enrollment in Global Resource Systems major; permission of the instructor and approval by the Global Resource Systems Faculty Coordinator
A supervised learning experience including an analysis of an international location's resource system via immersion in a foreign culture lasting at least five weeks. The experience should focus on the region and technical area consistent with the student's degree track. Course expenses paid by student. A maximum of 12 credits of GLOBE 321 and 322 may be used for degree requirements.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

Cr. 3-6. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: GLOBE 320, Junior or Senior and enrollment in Global Resource Systems major; permission of the instructor and approval by the Global Resource Systems Faculty Coordinator
A supervised learning experience including an analysis of a domestic location's resource system via immersion in a different culture within the United States lasting at least five weeks. Designed for international students and for students who are not in a position to leave the United States. Course expenses paid by student. A maximum of 12 credits of Globe 321 and 322 may be used for degree requirements.

(Cross-listed with ECON). (3-0) Cr. 3.

Prereq: ECON 101
Applied economic analysis of the determinants of world agricultural production, marketing, and use in feed, food, fiber, biofuel, and other applications, and global food processing and consumption. Analysis of market case studies and various data on global agricultural production and transformation, land and resource use, demography, economic activity, nutrition and health trends.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

(Cross-listed with MICRO, V MPM). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.

Prereq: BIOL 211
Explores human health across the world with particular emphasis on low- and lower-middle-income countries. Attention is given to the interconnectedness of health determinants, problems, and solutions found in global health, including the role of animals and the environment. Broad in scope, highlighting different cultures and the historical foundations of global health. Topics include colonialism, poverty, emerging diseases, climate change, biodiversity, one health, maternal and child health, HIV, malaria, urbanization, noncommunicable diseases and more. Current events will be a feature of all class meetings.

(Cross-listed with ECON). (3-0) Cr. 3.

Prereq: ECON 101, ECON 102
Current problems of developing countries, theories of economic development, agriculture, and economic development, measurement and prediction of economic performance of developing countries, alternative policies and reforms required for satisfying basic needs of Third World countries, interrelationships between industrialized countries and the developing countries, including foreign aid.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

Cr. R. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of faculty coordinator for the major.
Students must complete GLOBE 398 Cooperative Education Approval Form and register for GLOBE 398 before commencing each work period. Work periods for students in cooperative education related to Global Resource Systems. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.

Cr. 3. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Senior classification in Global Resource Systems
Research project in collaboration with faculty that complements and furthers a student's experiences from GLOBE 321 and 322 while simultaneously bringing into focus entire four-year experience. Student will write a research report and make either an oral or poster presentation.

Cr. 3. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Senior classification in Global Resource Systems
Research project in collaboration with faculty that complements and furthers a student's experiences from GLOBE 321 and 322 while simultaneously bringing into focus entire four-year experience. Student will write a research report and make either an oral or poster presentation.

(3-0) Cr. 3. S.


Capstone analysis of critical global resource challenges facing both developed and developing countries. Students will use research skills to investigate specific global resource issues and use communications skills to work as a team to integrate their research, develop an interdisciplinary perspective, and evaluate potential solutions to resource challenges.

(Cross-listed with AN S). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.

Prereq: One course from AN S 223, AN S 225, AN S 226, AN S 229, AN S 235
An overview of animal agriculture with emphasis in developing countries. Historical, economic, environmental, and political considerations will be assessed and evaluated. Issues related to gender, resilience and sustainability for different production systems including alternative livestock species, will be investigated. The role of animal source foods in attainment of global food security will be discussed.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

(Cross-listed with AGRON, INTST). Cr. 3. F.S.

Prereq: 3-credit biology course, Sophomore or higher classification, permission of Instructor
Interdisciplinary study and analysis of agricultural systems, sustainable management, and impact on plants and animal biodiversity. International field experience in evaluating different agricultural systems and impact on biodiversity may be required. A program fee is charged to students for international study abroad.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

Cr. 1-4. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of the instructor and approval by the Global Resource Systems Faculty Coordinator
Independent study on topics of special interest to the student. Comprehensive report required. Intended primarily for juniors and seniors. A maximum of 9 credits of all (university-wide) 490 courses may be used for degree requirements.

Cr. 1-4. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of the instructor and approval by the Global Resource Systems Faculty Coordinator
Independent study on topics of special interest to the student. Comprehensive report required. Intended primarily for juniors and seniors. A maximum of 9 credits of all (university-wide) 490 courses may be used for degree requirements.

Cr. 1-4. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of the instructor and approval by the Global Resource Systems Faculty Coordinator
Independent study on topics of special interest to the student. Comprehensive report required. Intended primarily for juniors and seniors. A maximum of 9 credits of all (university-wide) 490 courses may be used for degree requirements.

Cr. 1-4. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of the instructor and approval by the Global Resource Systems Faculty Coordinator
Independent study on topics of special interest to the student. Comprehensive report required. Intended primarily for juniors and seniors. A maximum of 9 credits of all (university-wide) 490 courses may be used for degree requirements.

Cr. 1-4. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of the instructor and approval by the Global Resource Systems Faculty Coordinator
Independent study on topics of special interest to the student. Comprehensive report required. Intended primarily for juniors and seniors. Assessed service-learning component. A maximum of 9 credits of all (university-wide) 490 courses may be used for degree requirements.

Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 4 times. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of instructor
Workshop experience in selected topics in global resource systems. Variable format may include lecture, recitation, laboratory, and field. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.

Cr. arr. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of instructor.
Selected projects that result in outcomes benefiting a non-Iowa State University entity while instilling a professional ethics and accomplishing student learning goals. Course expenses paid by student. Assessed service-learning component.

Cr. arr. Repeatable, maximum of 12 credits. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of instructor.
Selected projects that result in outcomes benefiting a non-Iowa State University entity while instilling professional ethics and accomplishing student learning goals. Course expenses paid by student. Assessed service-learning component.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

Cr. arr. Repeatable, maximum of 12 credits. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of instructor.
Selected projects that result in outcomes benefiting a non-Iowa State University entity while instilling professional ethics and accomplishing student learning goals. Course expenses paid by student. Assessed service-learning component.

Cr. 3. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of Instructor
Selected projects that result in outcomes benefiting a non-Iowa State University entity, while instilling professional ethics and accomplishing student learning goals. Academic work under faculty supervision may include written reports, presentations, and guided readings. Course expenses paid by student. Assessed service-learning component.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement

Cr. 1-2. Repeatable. F.S.

Prereq: Permission of instructor
Global resource systems topics will include the agricultural industries, climate, crops, culture, economics, food, geography, government, history, livestock, marketing, natural resources, public policies, soils, and preparation for travel to locations to be visited. Students enrolled in this course intend to register for GLOBE 494A, 496 or 497 the following term.

Cr. 2-4. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of instructor
Extended field trips abroad to study global resource systems. Location and duration of trips will vary. Pre-trip sessions arranged through GLOBE 495. Trip expenses paid by student.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

Cr. 1-4. Repeatable. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Successful completion of 2 credits of GLOBE 495 (Italy) and permission of instructor.
An integrated agricultural and food production and policy program that allows students to assess, analyze and evaluate complex, country-specific situations and to develop their skills, knowledge and abilities via team-oriented projects that involve complex issues such as development of effective foreign food aid and agricultural and food production systems, drivers of world hunger, sustainable resource management and efficacy of policy, and the role of the USA and the United Nations and other development agencies in these systems. International location and duration of program will vary. Pre-trip sessions arranged through GLOBE 495. Trip expenses paid by students.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

Cr. arr. F.S.SS.

Prereq: Permission of the instructor and approval by the Global Resource Systems Faculty Coordinator
Research projects in collaboration with faculty.