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Global Citizenship Certificate Requirements

In order to earn recognition as a Global Scholar a student must complete the following requirements.

Academic Grounding

Global Scholars are expected to:

i. Pass two college foreign language courses in the same language (six credits); AND

ii. Complete a global field course or semester abroad which includes at least three credits of coursework in the history, culture, literature, environment, etc. of the host country.

Global Scholars are required to:

iii. Complete a multidisciplinary cluster of three courses, focusing on a particular region (i.e. Asia, the Middle East) or language group (i.e. Francophone, Spanish-speaking); OR

iv. Complete a cluster of courses within a disciplinary focus but with a global perspective (i.e., three political science courses dealing with global politics).

Experiential Grounding

Global Scholars are required to:

v. Identify a faculty or staff resource person who will advise the student in planning and completing the following experiential components; AND

vi. Take an active role in global or intercultural activities (i.e., a leadership role in a student organization dedicated to such activities or completion of a relevant internship or service project); AND

vii. Propose and complete an independent project in which they apply, synthesize, and reflect on what they learned in components i. through vi. The student project must be based on sustained, direct, and productive involvement with a specific community, organization or group working in global and/or intercultural projects.

more about vi and vii above.

More about requirement vi: "Take an active role in global or intercultural activities."

To meet this requirement, the student should take an active, leadership role (such as executive board membership and/or project leadership) in a club or organization that involves intercultural and/or global connections, projects, etc. Such an organization may be on campus or off (such as a church, NGO, sister city program, etc.).

Internships (either paid or for-credit) and service projects can meet this requirement if the organization/project involves intercultural/global outreach and connections.

Students must provide clear documentation of their involvement/role in the organization/project and are encouraged to present and/or publish an account of their experience to the Eastern community (e.g., an article in the "Campus Lantern" student newspaper; a presentation at the Arts and Sciences Research Conference, Excellence Expo, or Service Expo; or via a blog that can be accessed from an official Eastern web page).

More about requirement vii: "Independent Project."

Proposing a Project: Independent projects should be approved by the student's mentor and the Global Citizenship Council before the student begins the project in earnest.

Project proposals must include:

  • A clear, feasible yet substantive project plan including project goals, partners, resources, available support, and clear potential for sustainability and ongoing relationships with project partners
  • A list of learning objectives that are clearly related to the Global Citizenship Certificate learning outcomes. (See webpage on Global Citizenship Learning Outcomes).
  • Clear explanation and justification for time to be spent working on the project equivalent to at least two credit hours (whether completed for credit or not). 2 credit hours = 60 work hours.
  • A timeline indicating key project elements and dates of expected completion for each.
  • A clear budget, indicating sources of funding.
  • Letter(s) verifying partners'/organizations' willingness and ability to work with the student on this project.

Completing and Documenting the Project: Once the project is approved, students are encouraged (but not required) to register for internship or independent study credit with their on-campus mentor for the duration of their project.

Students will be required to submit periodic (at least monthly) project reports while their project is underway.

A final report is required, verifying and documenting all aspects of the project described in the approved project proposal. Students must also present and/or publish an account of their project to the Eastern community.