Global Distinction Requirements

Global Citizenship Distinction Requirements

Students working toward Global Citizenship Distinction are given some flexibility on how they will achieve this graduation honor.  Students will earn points toward Global Citizenship Distinction for globally focused courses (12 credits), globally focused presentations, actively participating in significant cultural immersion experiences and international or intercultural campus activities, volunteerism, service learning, participating in study abroad experiences or internships, or as a member of the Students for Global Citizenship Club or other globally focused club activities.

Global Citizenship Initiative Completion Requirements

To be awarded distinction, students must complete 50 points of activities from the menu and offer meaningful reflections on their learning in the e-portfolio. Students can choose from a variety of on-campus and off-campus experiences in meeting the requirements. Participants complete a specified number of points in curricular activities and co-curricular activities.

Curricular Activities Points

Participants complete 12 points of coursework with a global focus. These courses are part of your degree curriculum and can be found in the on-line college catalog under cultural and global awareness with a designation of CG. The list is midway down the page. Participants also complete 13 points of globally focused experiences. These experiences can include course projects, research papers, presentations, study abroad, internships or service learning projects that have a global focus or perspective or volunteering on a global initiative.

Co-curricular Activities Points

Participants complete 25 points in experiences outside the classroom. These activities can include study abroad with a service learning component, international or intracultural campus activities, cultural immersion activities, active participation in a globally focused club activity, active participation in the Students for Global Citizenship an other globally focused activities.

REQUIRED: Program Documentation through E- Portfolio Completion

Curricular Activities

Curricular activities are those activities that are directly associated with the completion of a course or series of courses. This could include completing a course, course projects, reports and/or presentations, class trips, guest lecturers, service learning, internships and/or study abroad. Students seeking Global Citizenship Distinction must complete a minimum of 25 points of curricular activities. Globally focused courses include those that have received prior recognition by the General Education Committee as possessing Cultural and Global Awareness (CG) and those that incorporate global citizenship principles (list on IEC website on the Global Citizenship Distinction page).

Globally Focused Courses (BCC Designated as CG in catalog)

The General Education Committee at Brookdale Community College recognizes courses that either have global elements that are integrated throughout the course or an entire global orientation.  These courses are designated by a “CG” in the college catalog.  Courses usually included in the General Education list with the Cultural and Global Awareness “GC” designation are World History or International Business. The following list of courses has been recognized by the General Education Committee and can be taken to meet Global Citizenship Distinction requirements. (Make sure to consult with your Student Development Specialist (Counselor) to choose courses that meet your academic program requirements).

Globally Focused Courses (from the IEC’s GCP course list)

Additional courses that incorporate global citizenship principles and globally focused assignments and projects and content qualifies for Group A courses as long as they are listed on the IEC Global Citizenship Distinction Course list (list on IEC website). In conjunction with course faculty, students will identify the course objectives and assignments of these courses that are globally focused and will submit evidence of the assignment and an assessment of their learning in order for the non-designated course to be accepted as a component of program requirements. As with all courses, Student Development Specialists should review course selections to ensure they meet your academic program requirements.

Courses in this category will be updated regularly as faculty identify the assignment and/or course activities that offer research of globally focused issues with compilation and synthesis of related concepts and applications.

Courses with Global Citizenship Designation/ IEC approval

(The list is updated each semester and posted on the Global Citizenship Distinction website)

The broad range of courses across disciplines allows the student to be exposed to global issues from a variety of perspectives. Global issues and discussions are reflected in course objectives and / or assignments. For example, students in a Business course may work on an international business idea that helps to resolve a global issue rather than appealing to a global market solely for profit. An environmental course may integrate a discussion and research project on a global environmental issue, such as water quality or climate change, and focus on the effects to the world with a global solution. And another example, a statistics course uses data on a global issue, like poverty or the lack of education around the world to analyze and discuss rather than baseball statistics.  Students will learn about global issues through various disciplines.

Globally Focused Courses at another Institution

Up to 6 credits of course work with an emphasis on global citizenship or cultural and global awareness taken at another academic institution will be considered for inclusion as long as it meets Brookdale degree requirements and evidence of coursework meets global citizenship distinction criteria. Course work must be submitted for approval.  Candidates will submit course descriptions and assignments and reflect on this course work as they would for a Brookdale course in their e-portfolios for consideration.

World Language Courses

Engaging in another language is seen as an important aspect of possessing global citizenship.  World language courses are highly recommended and earn points for successful completion of the second, third and fourth semester courses of any modern language taken.

Globally focused project for BCC course

Participants who develop and complete a globally focused assignment or project as part of a Brookdale course can earn points toward Global Citizenship Distinction. The assignment / project must include significant focus on a global issue with requirements to research, present and demonstrate a solution to the ensuing issue. The student will submit course descriptions and assignments (original documents) and reflect on this course work as they would for a Brookdale course in their e-portfolios for consideration.

Semester Study Abroad

Cultural immersion through study abroad can be life-altering. Ideally, Global Citizenship Distinction students will have the opportunity to study abroad, which offers them the experience of leaving their comfort zone and embracing a new culture and learning of the issues that another country and its people face. Students choosing to participate in semester long study abroad will earn points toward achieving Global Citizenship Distinction.

Globally focused Service Learning Project

Through study abroad opportunities or Career Services opportunities, students can participate in service learning projects focused on a global issue. A minimum of 30 hours of participation is required in order to earn points.

Globally Focused Presentations

Students whom plan, organize and make presentations on globally focused topics at a campus or off-campus event can earn points toward Global Citizenship Distinction.  The presentation activity should include a minimum of 1.0 hours of activity (10 hours of preparation).

Short Term Study Abroad

Students can also participate in summer or winter faculty led study abroad programs. These shorter term experiences provide students with an international and cultural experience while participating in service learning experiences or completing course credits.

Internships with a Global Connection

Students who find the cost and duration of study abroad prohibitive can participate in domestic internships with a global focus. Students can intern for a business with international products or services, or they may select an organization with a diverse workforce. The most meaningful opportunities, however, may come when students choose to work for a non-profit agency focused on global issues. The intent of these internships is to integrate the students into another culture and provide them with a rich and marketable experience that will help their future prospects. Students participating in an internship that develops and implements a globally focused project can earn additional points toward Global Citizenship Distinction.

(Students must complete a minimum of 75 internship hours to receive credit.)

Co-Curricular Activities

Co-curricular activities are activities that are implemented outside the classroom and are not tied directly to any course. Co-curricular activities that meet Global Citizenship Distinction requirements can include international and intercultural campus activities, globally focused club activities, cultural immersion experiences, active membership in the Students for Global Citizenship Club, activities leading up to a Global Citizenship Award, service learning projects or globally focused projects as part of study abroad or internships.  ALL CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES MUST BE DOCUMENTED IN THE E-PORTFOLIO TO RECEIVE CREDIT.

Short-Term Study Abroad with Service Learning Experience

Students participating in a study abroad experience that develops and implements a globally focused project or conducts service learning activities can earn additional points toward Global Citizenship Distinction. To earn credit, student work must be verified with an e-portfolio reflection and letter of recommendation, if possible.

International and Intercultural Campus Activities

On-campus activities draw our diverse community together to share experiences. The campuses hold a myriad of presentations, film showings, events, and public conversations held at all campuses regularly. Through activities of the International Education Center, First Year Experience, the Center for Holocaust and Human Rights and Genocide Education, the World War II Center and Brookdale Clubs and Department, students will hear from experts who provide a global context for issues in healthcare, business, sociology, politics and other disciplines. Eligible events must be a minimum of 1.5 hours. After attending the events students will reflect on their experiences and learning outcomes in a e-portfolio journal entry that demonstrates what they learned about the featured global issue, culture or country and how the activity provided a global perspective.

Globally Focused Club Activities

Clubs on campus often organize and present activities that offer students an opportunity to learn about a new culture or a global issue. Examples may be the International Festival organized by the International Students Association or an Asian dance exhibition sponsored by the Asian club or a fundraising event for an organization focused on a global issue. After attending the events students will reflect on their experiences and learning outcomes in an e-portfolio journal entry that demonstrates what they learned about the featured global issue, culture or country and how the activity provided a global perspective.

Cultural Immersion Experiences

Cultural immersion experiences provide a viable alternative for those who cannot travel. These experiences are activities or events in which a student becomes actively engaged in another culture and the affairs of another culture for a minimum of 4 hours, transcending observer via their active participation. Students will actively participate in these activities not as an observer only. These activities can range from spending an entire afternoon with a group of cultural diverse individuals, attending a culturally focused community group activity, assisting in a literacy program for an ESL cohort, or attending an all day cultural program or performance. These experiences will vary depending on scheduled events in the area or on campus. These activities will need to be pre-approved to assure the student the experience will count toward program requirements.

Cultural immersion activities promote greater competency in working with culturally diverse people and provide a greater awareness of personal perspectives. Students will gain the skills and knowledge necessary for intercultural competency, gain sensitivity to languages, and integration of diversity, civic engagement, and social responsibility in a global framework.

After attending the events, students will reflect on their experiences in their e-journal with a 500-word essay or other expressive method that demonstrates what they learned about the featured culture or country and how the activity provided a global perspective.

Active Membership in the Students for Global Citizenship Club

The Students for Global Citizenship Club offers students an opportunity to discuss global issues, bring about awareness of global issues to others and raise funds for a non-profit organization working on a solution to a global issue.  Students will plan events, take leadership roles and organize activities to bring about awareness and work on a solution. Active participants (minimum of 20 hours in one year) can earn points toward Global Citizenship Distinction.

Recipient of a Global Citizenship Award

Students will have opportunities to be nominated for and receive a Global Citizenship Award. In order to receive a Global Citizenship Award, students complete a globally focused project as part of a Brookdale course. Work must be of a comprehensive nature and contribute to the awareness of a global issue and/ or arise at a solution for a global issue.  Students can self nominate or be nominated by faculty. Students will give a short presentation of their project at the award ceremony.

Globally focused project during an Internship

Students participating in an internship that develops and implements a globally focused project or conducts service learning activities can earn additional points toward Global Citizenship Distinction.

Full semester or Short Term Study Abroad Service Learning

Students participating in a student abroad experience that develops and implements a globally focused project or conducts service learning activities can earn additional points toward Global Citizenship Distinction.

Leadership in a Globally focused Campus Activity or Project

Students can take a leadership role in organizing and implementing a globally focused campus activity or project. It is highly recommended student seek prior approval before organizing. To earn credit, student work must be verified with an e-portfolio reflection and letter of recommendation, if possible.

All experiences must be documented in student e-portfolios.

E-Portfolio Completion

Candidates will submit reflections of their participation in each of the required activities, complete a pre and post program survey, and complete two assessment survey instruments as part of their e-portfolio. Creating an e-portfolio is a fundamental aspect of reaching Global Citizenship Distinction.  The e-portfolio will include evidence of experiences and learning outcomes through journaling, self reflective memoirs, photo essays, experiential surveys, letters of recommendation from faculty, internship sponsors and/or advisors, evidence of related presentations and course related projects, and completion of globally focused papers or presentations on global topics.

The intent of the e-portfolio is to demonstrate the student’s learning, awareness of global issues, active participation in global activities and gained interest and understanding as a result of their experiences.  E-portfolios will be evaluated on a regular basis and a final assessment of all included work will be conducted to ensure completion prior to the awarding of the Global Citizenship Distinction honor.