Global Studies Certificate Application

The Global Studies Certificate

The purpose of the Global Studies Certificate is to make students aware of the increasing interconnections, economic, political, social, cultural, historical, technological, and environmental, which have turned our world into a "global village". To meet the challenges of the 21st century, students today must possess a global perspective, being able to communicate in foreign languages, have a capacity to understand different cultures, provide a more refined understanding of world affairs, and to critically analyze global issues – in other words, to become "globally literate". Students who possess these global skills, will be able to successfully meet the global challenges ahead, i.e. being able to competitively bid for a growing number of careers with an international dimension throughout government, industry, and other non‐governmental organizations.

The requirements for the Certificate are divided into four sections:

Global Core, Foreign Language, Area/Cultural Studies, and Global Issues. We credit classes taken in most study abroad programs, either UGA sponsored or not; however, classes taken with non‐UGA sponsored study abroad programs must first be transferred to carry official UGA credit before they can be considered for the Global Studies Certificate.

1) Global Core (3 courses): These are courses covering global topics from an analytical and theoretical perspective, i.e. the emphasis for these classes is on theory‐building and analysis, rather than on description.

2) Foreign Language (2 courses): The standard requirement for obtaining a second language is two courses in conversation and composition at or beyond the intermediate (2000) level. Courses in literature and culture that are taught in a foreign language will also be accepted. Students may choose any language (other than English) to fulfill this requirement.

3) Area/Cultural Studies (2 or 3 courses): These courses deal either with a clearly proscribed geographical area and/or with "life situation" topics, such as gender studies, feminism, the African/American experience, Native Americans, or topics dealing with the cultural identity of different communities and other peoples.

4) Global Issues (2 or 3 courses): Five elements constitute "global issues": Peace, Environmental Issues, Development, Human Rights issues, and International Political Economy.

Most undergraduate students should be able to earn a Certificate without adding hours to their regular program of study by selecting appropriate core, major, and elective courses.

Altogether, 30 hours (10 courses) or the equivalent is required for the certificate with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the certificate courses. This means that courses cannot count in multiple areas.

Students will need to add the Global Studies Certificate to their programs of study on Athena and then apply to graduate for the certificate alongside their regular degree programs. Certificates will be awarded alongside an undergraduate degree.