Name of Institution : BIT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

Campuses : Tagbilaran (Main), Jagna, Talibon

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Contemporary World revolves around the concept of Globalization, which fosters and
understanding of the interconnectedness of cultures and societies geographically wide apart. This course
scans existing debates over globalization throughout the world, explores how globalization impacts everyday
life in the First and Third World, how it has led to a common cosmopolitan culture, the emergence of a
global youth culture; and social, and political movements that challenge globalization.

TOPICS

Topics that are covered in this course include, but are not restricted to, world geography
(continents, major bodies of water, regions or regional divisions, countries, their capitals and their major
cities, and the impact of geography on the historical developments in each region and in the world),
globalization (historical events that brought about this phenomenon or the precursors to globalization) as a
force of change, the carriers of globalization, its impact on people, business and industry, global health and
environment. The evolution of computer and wireless technology and its impact on people’s lives and
manner that goods are exchanged and traded will be discussed. The different forms of media, the role of
media especially social media in enhancing globalization, and in spreading misinformation will be tackled.
The interconnectedness of people and cultures and finance, and the movement of people, ideas, and capital
in the world today will be thoroughly discussed. Awareness on the effects of migration, both good and bad,
will also be made.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

How do you make sense of people when they argue that they are 'pro-' or 'anti-globalization'? Why
are financial crises (Lehman Brothers bankruptcy), environmental crises (climate change and global warming,
bushfires and forest fires in Australia, California and the Amazon), and health crises (HIV and corona virus)
also now increasingly experienced as global crises? If in the distant past, the Silk Road and galleon trades
moved goods and people across countries and regions, how are goods, capital and people moving around
the world in new ways? Although the Philippines might not be directly involved in any political crisis that
might emerge in the Middle East or in Hong Kong that would lead to war, how would they affect the
Philippines regardless? Why would such a crisis still be a cause of worry to the Philippines? How has
technology changed the world, and what are its roles in ushering globalization? Why do corporations move
to other countries, and what are the benefits (and/or detriments) of their decisions to move? How do these
movements change politics locally and globally, and how do these movements relate to national security and
national sovereignty? Why does increasing global interconnectedness between countries also lead to greater
inequality in countries? How are we all connected together, and who are "we"?

This course aims to help you start answering these sorts of questions by examining globalization in
all its diverse forms of world-wide interconnection. Such interconnections highlight economic ties, political
ties, cultural ties, and social ties. How does globalization tie the world together in both constraining and
empowering ways, something that is constantly changing, and something that therefore can also be changed
or has to be changed?

1
 There are two main skills that students will develop in this class: 1) research skills, that will be
developed through researching, for example, on how, where and why a particular global corporation has
globalized; 2) debating skills, that will be developed in section discussions. Students will debate on a range
of topics such as the continued deployment of Filipino workers to critical areas in the Middle East, the
engagements of China in Philippine political and economic scenes, or whether mall chains and Duterte’s
build-build-build projects are good for the Philippines. More generally, students will develop their literacy in
global geography, as well as their capacity to read and understand the business and international news
sections of mainstream newspapers. With a mix of videos and broad-based lectures, the class will be very
interdisciplinary in scope, serving as a gateway to international studies, political science, sociology, law,
geography, anthropology, women's studies, business, economics and the humanities.

At the end of this course, students will come away with more than just some additional knowledge
and skills.  More importantly, they will have learned how to ask their own questions about global dynamics,
and they will have also learned about new resources (ranging from news sources and databases) that will
help them set about doing research and answering their questions. Ultimately, a successful experience in
this course will lead them to think more actively about how they themselves can work within global ties to
change them for the better.

COURSE EVALUATION OR GRADING CRITERIA

Class Attendance and Participation 20%

Quizzes 30%

Quiz 1 Quiz 1 is given after finishing the discussion of Part 1 topics (World
Geography, Early Attempts at Globalization)

Quiz 2 Quiz 2 summarizes ()

The quizzes will be multiple choice and True/False questions relating to people,
place-names, processes and key terms discussed in class and the class text. Extra-
credit and essay questions will also be given.
Final Exam 50%

COURSE MATERIALS

The course materials used in this course is a compilation of topics from printed and electronic
research databases, but following the presentation of topics in The Contemporary World by Patrico Abinales.
Photos. Diagrams, and videos are added and shown to enhance students’ understanding of events and
concepts.

CLASS POLICIES

CONCERNING LATE ARRIVAL IN CLASS

Students are given ONLY 15 MINUTES to be late for class. In case the student is late, he/she has to
stand up and do the necessary courtesies to the entire class. He/She must NOT sneak into the class.

ON CELLPHONES AND ELECTRONIC GADGETS

2
 It is extremely rude and disrespectful to be texting or surfing the internet, listening to music (on your
laptop or Ipod or phone) and eating or drinking soda during class. Students must refrain from doing
these activities in class. They are expected to turn off their cellphones and not to use them during
class, unless the class activity so requires. Improper use of electronic gadgets during class will not be
tolerated.

Students who badly need to eat are to finish their snack or meals at the canteen or outside the
classroom. They should never and not sneak into the class.

CLASS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Students are encouraged to request for membership to the BIT IC Tagbilaran Soc Sci 9 The
Contemporary World, SY 20__ to ___, 1st/2nd Sem closed Facebook account. They are to access this
account often so they are kept informed and updated on things going on in class especially on class
schedules and cancellations, and deadlines.

RECOMMENDED TEXT

Matthew Sparke, Introducing Globalization: Ties, Tensions and Uneven Integration, New York: Wiley-
Blackwell, 2013.