Global Cultures Flag: Information for Students

UT Austin’s new core curriculum, which is now being implemented by individual colleges and schools, requires all undergraduates to earn credit for flagged courses in six areas: Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, Global Cultures, Cultural Diversity, Ethics and Leadership, and Independent Inquiry. Upon full implementation, students will be required to earn credit for one course flagged for Global Cultures in order to graduate. You should check with your advisor to find out how many flag requirements have been implemented for your degree program.

The Global Cultures requirement is intended to increase your familiarity with cultural groups outside the United States. Courses carrying the Global Cultures flag ask you to explore the practices, beliefs, and histories of at least one non-U.S. cultural group, past or present. Many of these courses also encourage you to reflect on your own experiences within a global context.

Global Cultures courses may be flagged simultaneously with any of the other flags except Cultural Diversity. Although there might be overlap, Global Cultures courses are centered on cultural groups outside the U.S., whereas Cultural Diversity courses focus on American cultural experiences. A single course will not carry both of these flags.

What is a Global Cultures flag class like?

Global Cultures courses are taught in departments all over campus, both at the upper- and lower-division levels, and cover a wide variety of topics. For example, a Global Cultures class might focus on Latin American government, ancient Chinese poetry, or European architecture. No matter the topic, all Global Cultures classes must meet the following requirement:

At least one-third of the course grade must be based on content dealing with in-depth examination of the broader cultural context and perspectives of one or more non-U.S. communities, countries, or coherent regional groupings of countries, past or present.

Each instructor will use the Global Cultures requirement in unique ways to enhance the class. You might be asked to study primary sources from non-U.S. communities, examine the impacts of globalization, or conduct research on a city or country outside the U.S. Any such activities are designed to help you master course content while deepening your appreciation for the variety of lived experiences around the world.

How will I know if a course carries the Global Cultures flag?

When choosing classes, you can consult the online course schedule to find out whether or not a course carries a Global Cultures flag. You can search the course schedule by flag to see a list of all courses carrying the flag that semester. Or you can search by class to see if a specific course carries the flag. If it does, it will be marked with a small yellow box that includes the letters “GC,” as in this example:

A course might carry multiple flags (maximum of three), as in the following example. In this case, you should make sure that one of the yellow boxes is marked with the letters “GC”. Please note that a single course may not carry flags for both Global Cultures and Cultural Diversity.

During the semester, you can also consult your course syllabus for information on which flag(s) the course carries. To determine which flag requirements you have already fulfilled, you or your advisor should check the degree audit system.

For more information, contact the Center for Strategic Advising.