The Global Engagement Certificate is designed to enhance any major program of study and nearly all required coursework overlaps with Saint Vincent College core requirements. This is not a minor program, but rather a certificate, in that the focus is not so much on subject matter competence, but rather on habits of mind and skills that are important for understanding and engaging with the world, locally and globally.
The world is increasingly interconnected, and our local communities are part of larger political, social, cultural, ecological, and economic systems. The Global Engagement Certificate program seeks to teach students to consider how we, as we live our lives in our local communities, affect and are affected by the world around us. The Global Engagement Certificate is designed to enhance any major program of study and nearly all required coursework overlaps with Saint Vincent College core requirements. This design allows students to plan their education to focus on skills that are important for understanding and engaging with the world around us, locally and globally. Students who earn the Global Engagement Certificate will have demonstrated that they have developed skills and ways of thinking that will allow them to work productively with people and institutions from various cultures and backgrounds and that they are able to analyze how their actions, locally, play a part in the complex dynamics of our connected world.
Students pursuing the Global Engagement Certificate will complete a total of 18 credits of coursework to fulfill the global and language requirements. These courses may overlap with their other degree requirements. The coursework consists of 9 credits of required courses, 6 credits of elective courses, and 3 credits in an advanced language course.
Required courses:
Note: The certificate may only be awarded upon the completion of an academic degree at Saint Vincent College.
Elective Options
Select two—one must be outside of anthropology and history
A relevant internship or capstone project may also fulfill one of the elective requirements, with approval of the program director.
Note: Some of these courses may have prerequisites and/or lab sections.
Students pursuing the Global Engagement Certificate must complete 3 credits of advanced language study (200 level or higher), beyond the core requirement. It is strongly recommended that the students do their education abroad requirement in a place where they can immerse themselves in the language they are studying.
Students pursuing the Global Engagement Certificate must complete a minimum of 28 days of academically oriented education abroad. Students who are not able to complete a full 28 days abroad can work with the program director to identify an appropriate in-country experiential learning opportunity that fulfills the objectives of the study abroad component, to substitute for up to 14 days of study abroad time.
Students must demonstrate and reflect on active participation in an internationally or globally oriented organization (a student club or civic organization that engages with global issues) and attending/participating in at least 5 campus or community globally themed events (lectures, forums, festivals, service events).
Students will compile a digital portfolio documenting their accomplishments of the certificate requirements. Students will compile the portfolio as they complete different requirements for the program, and will finalize portfolios, including a final reflective essay as part of the Global Engagement Seminar.
Students completing the Global Engagement Certificate program will demonstrate ability to: