Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Global Citizens Credential


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Programs & Degrees  > Special Programs  > Global Citizens Credential

This program is targeted to undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing global careers in the foreign service, international institutions, non-governmental international organizations, or multinational corporations. The Global Citizens Credential (GCC) will allow students to enhance their degrees with a set of core competencies that will distinguish them as global citizens. These core competencies are identified as global knowledge, global engagement, and global responsibility. Completion of GCC requirements is certified by the Office of the Provost - UH Global and the Office of the University Registrar.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, students who obtain the GCC will be able to:

  • Obtain knowledge of cross-cultural and cross-national issues to comfortably function in highly diverse working environments.
  • Develop skills and competencies to effectively form relationships and perspectives taking, among others, under various cross-cultural settings.
  • Acquire competency in written and oral communication in at least one foreign language.
  • Explain the main problems faced by certain countries or regions of the world by in terms of their origins, impacts, and potential solutions available.
  • Identify the various differences and similarities that shape the ways countries embark in their quest for growth and development.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze some of the conceptual frameworks used to understand the globalization process and apply intercultural knowledge to global problems.

Eligibility and Criteria


The GCC is open to any UH undergraduate student who is not facing any disciplinary action and is in good academic standing as reflected by a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or above.

The GCC is based on five categories:

  • Global Courses
  • Learning Abroad
  • Language Proficiency
  • Global Scholarly Work
  • Intercultural Activities.

The student needs to earn at least 10 points out of a possible 16 points through involvement or participation in any of the above categories in order to receive the GCC. The student is also required to participate in a Capstone Symposium during the student’s final year.

Please note: It is not required to earn points in every category, but there is a limit to the total number of points that can be earned for each category. Students may not ‘double-dip’ points. For example, students may not earn points for both learning abroad and coursework taken abroad. Students may only earn up to 2 OR 4 points for global courses, learning abroad, and language proficiency based on the outlined descriptions below and students may only earn up to 1 OR 2 points for global scholarly work and intercultural activities based on the outlined descriptions below.

Global Courses


(2 or 4 points)

This category requires the successful completion of certain majors/minors and upper-level courses from the global subject areas listed. It is not an exclusive list. Courses under other subject areas may also be accepted as alternatives with consent of the UH Global Advisory Committee as well as the appropriate Associate Dean in the college or school that offers those courses. The courses included have been selected based on their minimum level of global content, offer opportunities to build intercultural competencies and skills, relevancy for fostering cross-national understanding, and/or addressing problem-solving in a global context.

The specific rubrics for labeling a course as “global” refer to:

  • Course materials drawn from international sources or overseas locations,
  • Lectures focused on cross-country comparisons,
  • Class discussions or presentations of real-world issues, and/or
  • Projects, exams or research assignments requiring global awareness, knowledge, and perspectives.

Students will receive 2 points after completing two courses from the list of approved global area courses or 4 points for a global major or minor. A list of approved global courses and global majors/minors can be found on the GCC website: https://www.uh.edu/provost/university/global/global-citizens-credential.

Learning Abroad


(2 or 4 points)

Learning Abroad is an important platform for building global competencies. There is no substitute for firsthand, on-the-ground experience to stimulate awareness and reflection not only of the host culture but of one’s home culture as well. Learning abroad broadly defined as study abroad, internship, research, service learning, and volunteerism provides students the opportunity to be skilled at interacting in another culture while building professional perspectives on academic subjects and real-world issues. They come back with a more sophisticated worldview which, in turn, allows them to become more marketable for global careers.

To obtain points in this category, students are expected to participate in a learning abroad experience with a UH academic program overseas (faculty-led, reciprocal exchange, or affiliated program) or with a documented professional activity abroad (internship, research, service learning, or volunteerism). Students will receive 2 points for a learning abroad experience lasting a week or less (7 days or less) or 4 points for a learning abroad experience lasting more than one week (8 days or more).

Please visit the Learning Abroad website for more information about learning abroad trips and available scholarship opportunities: https://uh.edu/learningabroad/

Language Proficiency


(2 or 4 points)

Language proficiency is defined to mean successful completion of two semester-long sophomore-level (intermediate) or junior-level (advanced) foreign language courses taken either at UH or as part of a language immersion program where UH credit is awarded. An exception will be given for students who have existing language fluency; students can earn 2 points with proof of proficiency by either submitting language placement test results or by providing UH faculty member documentation.

Students will receive 2 points after successful completion of two sophomore-level foreign language courses for UH credit with at least a “B” or two junior-level foreign language courses for UH credit with a “C” or better, or 4 points after successful completion of a UH foreign language major or minor. A list of approved language courses and majors/minors can be found on the GCC website: https://uh.edu/provost/university/global/global-citizens-credential/.

Global Scholarly Work


(1 or 2 points)

Students should actively engage in various intellectual traditions by attending conferences, seminars, symposia, or workshops that address global or multicultural issues. Alternatively, they may also undertake a more proactive role by presenting a globally related paper at any of the above-mentioned venues within their disciplines.

Students can fulfill the requirements for this category either locally, throughout the U.S., or abroad to the extent it has an international reach. They will receive 1 point for attending two global scholarly work events (conference, seminar, symposia, training, or workshop) that involves a global or multicultural dimension. Students will need to submit proof of attendance to earn points. Students can find a pre-approved list of Global Scholarly Work events and a documentation form for proof of attendance on the GCC website.

Or students may receive 2 points for performing research under a UH faculty member or in collaboration with a global entity (such as foreign embassies, international banking institutions, non-governmental organizations, multinational enterprises, think-ranks, or research and development institutes) and authoring/co-authoring a scholarly work on a global topic. Students will need to submit a copy of the research and written documentation from their research supervisor.

Intercultural Activities


(1 or 2 points)

Active participation and leadership in certain on and off-campus international organizations or events enhances cultural sensitivity and develops skills necessary to create global awareness and effectively interact and communicate in cross-cultural settings. The identified intercultural activities should lead to a clear understanding of cultural self-awareness and foster ways in which the student’s worldview can be broadened. These activities should improve the student’s ability to effectively communicate on cultural topics with diverse audiences. Students will report their involvement in any multicultural or intercultural related activity or event, such as cultural performances, festivals, etc. 

Students will receive 1 point for attending at least two intercultural activities or events. Students will need to submit proof of attendance to earn points. Students can find a pre-approved list of Intercultural Activities and a documentation form for proof of attendance on the GCC website. Or students may receive 2 points for a leadership role (such as an internship, volunteer role, or leadership position in a student organization) with a multicultural or global organization. The activity must be reviewed beforehand by UH Global so that it can be validated by the program administrator. Students must submit written proof of the leadership experience, such as a letter from their supervisor or student organization president.

Capstone Symposium


Students will be required to attend a Capstone Symposium once they have completed the minimum of 10 points required to earn the GCC. The idea is for them to integrate and reflect on the concepts, ideas, and knowledge they have acquired over the GCC experience. The Capstone Symposium will allow students to broaden their awareness of the most fundamental social, legal, economic, political, and technological dimensions the world faces. UH Global will offer the Capstone Symposium a few times every semester. There will be a variety of formats where a relevant global issue(s) will be described or presented before opening up the floor for discussion.

Administration/Policies/Procedures


The GCC will be housed in UH Global in an effort to enhance the international educational exposure of the students. The GCC process for advertising, determination of eligibility and certification, and programmatic planning will reside solely with the UH Global office.

UH Global staff will work closely with the Office of the University Registrar to annually review and update the pre-approved list of active global courses. UH Global staff will also ensure there are sufficiently acceptable global courses to enable students from any major to complete the GCC within their 120-SCH degree plan. Undergraduate academic advisers neither determine eligibility nor certify the GCC.

GCC candidates will submit all relevant criteria materials to UH Global at any point throughout the academic year. UH Global will periodically monitor the degree to which the GCC meets its established goals. Students interested in earning the GCC should complete the following steps:

  1. Register for the GCC online and join the GCC list serv: https://uh.edu/provost/university/global/global-citizens-credential/
  2. Read the website and determine how to earn 10 points. Schedule an advising appointment with UH Global for more support if needed.
  3. After completing 10 points, submit a Verification to Completion form online with any supporting documentation, upon which UH Global will review. Once the student is verified with 10 points, the student will be invited to register for a Capstone.
  4. Attend a Capstone Symposium before graduation.

Before graduation, UH Global will provide final documentation to the Office of the University Registrar confirming GCC completion.

Recognition


Upon successful completion of the requirements for the GCC, the Office of the University Registrar will add a notation to the student’s transcript. Student will also receive a certificate signed by the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost and an honor cord to wear at the graduation ceremony identifying them as having completed the GCC. Students who complete the GCC will have a $25 ‘Graduation Application Fee’ placed on their account by the Registrar after graduation. These charges are for the processing of the transcript and certificate.

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