The purpose of the course/credit requirement is that students will have in depth study and exploration of their certificate theme from a variety of disciplines and perspectives. It is not required, but encouraged that students choose credits from different departments in completing this requirement. Exceptions can be discussed and approved by certificate advisors.
Students must complete three credits (1 credit = 1 semester) over their Junior and Senior years. Global Studies Certificate students must also complete fours years of language study. The language need not be the same for all four years, but it is imperative that students include language study as part of a global and intercultural understanding of the world.
Students must earn a B average or higher in these selected courses to apply the credit towards the certificate.
Students should alert their teacher that they plan on either using a course for credit(s) or an assignment in a course as part of a major project towards their certificate. Students can not use projects in courses that they are already counting for credits in certificate work.
Once a semester, students will be asked to reflect on their learning based on our skills and competencies in the course and how it aligns to the certificate they are pursuing. This reflection will be posted on their online digital portfolio. Students will be asked to use the three fold rubric of the course content and activities connect with the goals of: Seeking Truth, Building Empathy, Let Your Life Speak.
The following courses count towards each certificate. This list is updated for the following school year in the Spring semester in preparation for course planning for the following school year. This list can also be found on penncharter.com under the course of study.
AP Environmental Science (2 units)
AP Biology (2 units)
Earth and Space Science (2 units)
The Natural History of the Wissahickon (1 unit)
Ornithology (1 unit)
Environmental Ethics (1 unit)
Literature and the Natural World (1 unit)
Environmental Wellness (0.33 units)
Caribbean Literature (1 unit)
Evolution of War (1 unit)
World Theater (1 unit)
Art & Social Justice (1 unit)
Comparative Religions I and II (2 units, or 1 unit for each)
Nationalism (1 unit)
American Foreign Policy 21st Century (1 unit)
Cultural Competence for the 21st Century (1 unit)
Global Issues (1 unit)
AP Art History (2 units)
AP European History (2 units)
Modern Africa (1 unit)
A second language beyond the one taken to meet the language requirement (2 units)
Caribbean Literature: Worlds Beyond the Cruise Ships (1 unit)
The Madwoman in the Attic (1 unit)
The Harlem Renaissance (1 unit)
American Studies, (2 units)
Statistics and Social Justice (1 unit)
Trends in American Popular Music (1 unit)
Racism, Sexism and Other -Isms in Film (1 unit)
Art and Social Justice (1 unit)
Seminar on Poverty (1 unit)
Biomedical ethics (1 unit)
Cultural Competence for the 21st Century (1 unit)
Peace, Justice, and Social Change (1 unit)
Modern Africa (1 unit)
African American Studies (1 unit)
Women & Gender in American History