What is a Global Citizen Scholar?

"A Notre Dame Global Citizen Scholar seeks perspectives outside of and in addition to her own in order to approach all aspects of her education and personal growth with a curious and compassionate mindset that will deepen her sense of global citizenship"

Program Requirements

Application: Submission of application by date determined each Spring, usually in March of Freshman year. Students will be notified as to acceptance within two weeks of application deadline. Class of 2023 has 12 members out of a class of 100.

Canvas Course Completion: Scholars will complete a ungraded Canvas course each year, through cohort meetings, which will focus on various aspects of global citizenship i.e. positive identity formation, cultural competence, building empathy, cross-cultural communication, problem-solving, building confidence, and advocating for social justice.

Cohort Meetings: Monthly meetings by grade-level GCS cohort will take place to carry out the Canvas course activities, exercises and discussions.

Coursework and Language Study: In addition to all Notre Dame graduation requirements:

• Maintain 3.6 GPA while enrolled in the GCS program.

• Completion of at least 12 globally oriented courses. See the course options below.

  • Of these 12 courses, 4 must be in the same world language.

International and Cross-Cultural Experiences: Completion of three cross-cultural experiences. Reflections are to be written after each experience, 1-2 pages in length, and submitted to program coordinator through GCS Canvas Course. Each experience requires prior approval from the program coordinator.

• Cross-Cultural experiences might include:

  • International educational exchange, international volunteer experience.

  • Leadership and/or active participation in international or multicultural organizations. Volunteering/service with local organizations that have a global mission (tutoring ESL persons or refugee children, working at cultural organizations, etc.)

  • Virtual exchanges and/or student conferences

  • Hosting an exchange student

Program Attendance: Participation in a minimum of four on- or off-campus global-themed activities and events: lectures, performances, conferences, workshops.

*One of the cross-cultural experiences, programs, or the international experience must be in your target world language.

School Clubs: Involvement in one school-sponsored club that relates to global issues and/or studies.

• • Model UN, World Affairs Club, Politics and Policy Club, Diversity Club, Chinese, Russian, French or Spanish Club.

Senior Research Project: The Senior Research Project through English classes will focus on a globally-oriented topic. Field work for SRP should provide you with valid experience for your research and for building on skills related to intercultural or global competencies. Both must be approved by program coordinator.

Progress Meetings: Scholars must meet with program coordinator once in freshman year, twice in sophomore and junior year, and quarterly in senior year. The student is responsible for scheduling her meetings on the spreadsheet will be sent out weeks in advance of the meetings. These meetings are meant to check in with the students well-being as well as discuss progress made towards completing requirements. For example; project themes, global extracurriculars, cross-cultural experiences completed, reflections written, course selection, senior research project topics, etc.

Webfolio: Completion a of a global citizen webfolio. Scholars will begin to compile their webfolios in the Spring of their junior year and will have them ready to be included on college applications in the Fall of senior year. This will include reflections on all aspects of the scholar program (coursework, global experiences, clubs, events, programs, travel, etc.), as well as photos, videos, presentations, and other forms of documentation of their robust and rich experiences in the program.