Complex Questions: Global Challenges & Social Justice
Each Complex Questions (CQ) course falls under one of our two Areas of Inquiry: Global Challenges (G), and Justice, Equity, Identity, and Diversity (J). You must take at least one G course and one J course, but you decide how to distribute the Perspectives.
Many interdisciplinary and departmental programs offer multiple CQ courses in both Areas of Inquiry and several Perspectives (for example, Music; Asian Studies; Classics; English; Environmental Science, Policy and Engineering; and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies). Whether you discover a program through a CQ course or vice versa, you’re exploring connections between disciplines.
No two students are alike – your CQ courses will reflect your own intersecting interests. Here are a few examples of how actual Union students from the classes of 2026 and 2027 have fulfilled their six* CQ requirements:
Biomedical Engineering major, Union Scholar
Chinese 200 (JCHF)
Modern Chinese Literature (JLIT)
Chinese 201 (JWOL)
Ordinary Differential Equations (GDQR)
Exploring Engineering (GETS)
Integrated Math and Physics (GNPS)
Double major, Managerial Economics and Visual Arts
Intro to Cultural Anthropology (JCHF)
Scientific Computing (JDQR)
The Poetic Process (JLIT)
Anthropology of Poverty (JSPE)
Environmentalism in Contemp. Art (GCAD)
Environmental Geology (GNPS)
Interdepartmental major in Computer Science and English, German minor
Interactive Fiction (JCAD)
Literature and Politics in the Caribbean (JCHF)
Can Computers Think? With Lab (JDQR)
Kafka and Mann: German Modernism (JLIT)
Queering the Hero’s Journey (JSPE)
Mohawk River Environmental Issues (GNPS)
Sociology major, minors in Creative Writing and Film Studies
Intro to Creative Writing (JCAD)
Intro to Religious Studies (JCHF)
Disability in Film (JLIT)
Arabic 100 (JWOL)
Mathematics of Sustainability (GDQR)
Intro to Sociology (GSPE)
Computer Science major, Asian Studies minor
Edo Prints and Printmaking (JCAD)
Scientific Computing (JDQR)
Japanese 100 (JWOL)
Japanese 300 (GCHF)
Exploring Engineering (GETS)
From Bombs to Buddhism (GLIT)
Integrated Math and Physics (GNPS)
Mechanical Engineering major, Music minor
Scientific Computing (JDQR)
Intro to Creative Writing (JLIT)
French 100 (JWOL)
Engineering Graphics with Lab (GCAD)
Exploring Engineering (GETS)
Integrated Math and Physics (GNPS)
Double major, Political Science and Anthropology
History of Photography (JCAD)
Queering the Hero’s Journey (JLIT)
Spanish 100 (JWOL)
Intro to Global Politics (GCHF)
The Solar System (GNPS)
Anthropology of Poverty (GSPE)
Double major, Astronomy and Theater
Intro to Creative Writing (JCAD)
Asian American Art (JCHF)
Intro to Audio Electronics (JETS)
The Global Performance Tradition (JLIT)
French 100 (JWOL)
The Solar System (GNPS)
Environmental Policy major, Studio Fine Arts minor
History of Photography (JCHF)
The Poetic Process (JLIT)
Intro to U.S. Politics (JSPE)
Environmentalism in Contemp. Art (GCAD)
Mohawk River Environmental Issues (GETS)
Diversity of Life (GNPS)
* The Class of 2028 is required to complete seven CQ courses.