Global Citizens Scholars Program

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."

Personal Experience

The Global Scholars program has given me the opportunity to learn more about the world and different cultures. This program has allowed me to view the world from a new perspective, giving me the skills to recognize, appreciate, and understand the importance of perspectives in an increasingly interconnected world. I have had the opportunity to learn more about myself through these experiences, as well as people from all around the world. The Global Scholars Program has given me a foundation of skills necessary for growing with and understanding different people, places, and cultures across the globe. 

Program Requirements 

Application: Submission of application by date determined each Spring, usually in March. Students will be notified as to acceptance within two weeks of application deadline. The class of 2026 has 19 members out of 103 total students. 

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

• • Maintain 3.6 GPA while enrolled in the GCS program.

  • Completion of four globally oriented elective courses. See the course options below.

  • Global Scholars must complete four years of the same world language.

International and Cross-Cultural Experiences:  Completion of three cross-cultural experiences, through which students engage with and often befriend peers who have different identities from themselves; teaching our students the soft skills considered to be vital for success in our 21st century world. Each experience requires approval from the program coordinator in order to qualify. 

• • Cross-Cultural experiences might include:

    • Academic exchange programs, 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, international conferences, pen pal communication

    • Hosting an exchange student

Program Attendance: Participation in a minimum of four on- or off-campus global-themed activities and events. These might be lectures, performances, conferences, workshops, museum visits, field trips, etc.. The goal for these opportunities are to observe, listen, and reflect in order to learn more about the world. 

Reflections: Reflecting on novel and unique experiences is critical to cross-cultural learning and skill development. Reflections are to be written after each experience, 1-2 pages in length, and submitted to the program coordinator through the GCS Canvas Course.

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, Identity/Affinity Clubs, 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 the program coordinator.

Progress Meetings: Scholars must meet with the program coordinator once in freshman year, twice in sophomore, junior year, and senior year. The student is responsible for scheduling her meetings through Calendly once Mrs. Moffat sends out the link. 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, leadership goals, reflections written, course selection, senior research project topics, etc.

Webfolio: Completion of a global citizen webfolio. Scholars will begin to compile their webfolios in the spring of their sophomore year and will have them ready to be included on college applications in the fall of their 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.