Course Information
Steps to Become a Global Scholar
Welcome to the Global Scholar Online Courses!
The intention of the Global Scholar Online Courses, developed by The Center for Global Education, is to introduce students to the opportunities and challenges inherent in participating in study abroad programs. Students will benefit from the courses by finding out tips and techniques to prepare for their program, how to cope with challenges that may arise while they're abroad, how to make the most of their study abroad experience while they’re there, tips for dealing with issues that may arise after their return home, and advice on where they can go from here personally and in their career preparation. The courses provide them the opportunity for cross-cultural learning, making better sense of their experiences abroad, and further refining their skills in cross-cultural observation, adaptation, and communication. Students are able to take the courses as a group so their group administrator can monitor their progress.
These courses include information from students who have studied abroad, the staff who work with them in the U.S. and abroad, faculty who teach students abroad, and researchers in the field who have developed materials to help students through the process. Many of the topics dealt with are practical in nature, but theoretical and conceptual issues will also be explored. Throughout the courses, students will be asked for Individual Reflection and Interacting With Others about their experiences they encounter preparing, studying, and reentry in the U.S. Regardless of where they are in their study abroad process, we hope that they will take advantage of the information provided here!
There are three separate courses designed to be of help to students, depending on what stage of the study abroad journey they are in:
Students who study abroad for academic credit and complete all three courses, including the Info Log assignments and the home campus and K-12 or Community College outreach presentations required in the third course, will earn the Global Scholar Certificate.
Course 1: Before You Leave Syllabus Contents
This course is for students who are in the pre-study abroad stage, whether they are thinking about study abroad, searching for a program, or preparing for departure. This course provides them with the opportunity to determine their goals for study abroad, know how to search for the program that is best for them, learn what documents they need, and prepare for cross-cultural and language learning.
Course 2: While You’re Abroad Syllabus Contents
This course is for students who are already on their study abroad program. Whether they have just arrived overseas, are well into their program, or are getting ready to return home, this course will give students the tools to make the most of their experience abroad! They will find out how to cope with challenges that may arise while they're abroad, how they can take care of things they may not have prepared for, and how to get ready for their return home.
Course 3: Once You Return Syllabus Contents
This course is for students who have returned home after their study abroad program. Here they will find tips and techniques to help them with their return home, how to cope with the issues that may arise after they return, and how to continue their learning. This course provides them with the opportunity to continue by reflecting on their overseas experience, on the odd, sometimes painful and unexpected process of cultural re-adaptation, on the integration of their intense international experiences with their current intellectual and emotional lives, and on where they can go from here personally and in their career preparation. It provides them the opportunity to continue the cross-cultural learning process, to make better sense of their experiences abroad, and to further refine their skills in cross-cultural observation, adaptation, and communication. The course requires students to complete a home school study abroad outreach presentation and a K-12 or Community College outreach presentation.
Study Abroad Administrators and Faculty can download and print the User Guide. This thorough guide of the courses provides a step-by-step navigation and overview of the each course section. We encourage you to utilize this as another easy-to-use reference guide to help you and your students complete the courses and study abroad successfully. Information for all Global Scholar users can be viewed on the User Guide page.
Global Scholar Certificate
The Global Scholar Certificate is a symbol of academic achievement that can be earned by any college or university student who studies abroad for academic credit and completes all three Global Scholar Online Courses including the Info Log assignments and the home campus and K-12 or Community College outreach presentations required in the third course.
The Global Scholar Online Courses can help turn what for many students may be an unconnected experience abroad into a meaningful, integrated international learning experience. Additionally, they connect participants to their home campus and community through mentorship and outreach, enabling returned study abroad students to make their overseas experience relevant and useful. Following completion of the courses and recognition of their achievement through a Global Scholar Certificate, students will have something tangible and marketable that they can add to their resume displaying their accomplishments.
How to Receive a Global Scholar Certificate & Who Signs It
Upon completion of the last action of the last course Once You Return, students will be congratulated and prompted to download and print their Global Scholar Certificate from the link that appears and to contact the appropriate people to get the necessary signatures to make it official. Students may want to consider printing it on parchment or resume paper in high resolution at a professional printing store such as Kinko’s or the UPS Store.
The Certificate appears in the student’s name with 4 lines for signatures from designated people confirming completion of the different components of the courses. The designated people and the components they are to confirm are listed on the Approving Signatures Explanation Sheet.
A second link will also appear for students to download and print copies of the Approving Signatures Explanation Sheet Downloads this page as a word doc to distribute to the people signing their certificate so that they know what to look for and understand what they are signing.
Feedback
We welcome any questions, feedback, or suggestions you may have regarding these courses or other resources! Please contact us at 
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