ORIENTATION:
Earning a Global Studies Certificate
Adding a Global Studies Certificate makes any Ivy Tech degree stand out from the crowd!
Why Global Studies?
The importance of global education is an urgent need that is deeply rooted in economics, student employability, our ability to live and work successfully in diverse environments, and the prosperity of local communities. As the largest and most diverse sector of U.S. higher education, community colleges are essential and uniquely situated to ensure America’s future economic prosperity.
Enhance your Ivy Tech degree with a Global Studies Certificate!
Why Global Studies?
►U.S. communities, especially in rural areas, are increasingly competing for foreign investment, and globally competent and competitive workers make such communities more attractive to foreign subsidiaries.
►A study of more than 2,100 U.S. employers found that 93% highly valued employees who “are able to work effectively with customers, clients, and businesses from a range of different countries and cultures.”
►Whether as a customer, employer, or employee, the need for intercultural and global competence has become increasingly important in American society.
Enhance your Ivy Tech degree with a Global Studies Certificate!
►193,000 Indiana jobs are already supported by multinational corporations.
►Between 2013-18, foreign-owned companies announced plans to invest $11 billion in Indiana and create 27,600 new jobs.
►Just in Indiana, there are more than 900 businesses based in 38 countries.
Enhance your Ivy Tech degree with a Global Studies Certificate!
A Global Studies Certificate shows employers that you can think critically and globally. Let them know that that you’re prepared to thrive in and serve your increasingly global community.
Enhance your Ivy Tech degree with a Global Studies Certificate!
What Classes Do You Need?
You only need 4 or 5 classes to add the Global Studies Certificate to your degree. They may already be part of your academic plan…
►COMM101 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking
►ENGL111 - English Composition
►PSYC101 - Introduction to Psychology
►SOCI111 - Intro to Sociology
...and dozens of other classes from 33 different academic areas count toward the Certificate. See a complete list.
Enhance your Ivy Tech degree with a Global Studies Certificate!
What Else Do You Need?
You’re developing critical, global thinking skills all the time. The Global Studies Certificate projects push you to reflect on your global learning and explain it. You can use these documents in professional and academic applications.
►Global/International Résumé
►Global Immersion Portfolio (no travel required!)
►Global Capstone Experience
Enhance your Ivy Tech degree with a Global Studies Certificate!
Global/International Résumé
Adding your global skills to your résumé can make it stand out. Emphasize the global experiences you value, and the international interests you cultivate.
Be ready to touch on a specific example or two in your cover letter—how would an employer know you are excited to work with diverse colleagues and serve audiences and markets that have a different cultural background than your own? What can you say that shows that you are someone who is comfortable in a new and unfamiliar environment?
Enhance your Ivy Tech degree with a Global Studies Certificate!
Global Immersion Portfolio
You’ll pick four of six possible experiences.
►Earn a U.S. Institute of Peace Certification online.
►Read and review a book relating to cultural intelligence.
►Engage with professional groups or community organizations related to global issues.
►Attend lectures or workshops that address global and cultural issues—many are free right here on campus!
►Travel! Some Ivy Tech trips are just $50 and include all meals, housing, transportation, and tours.
►Propose you own idea!
Enhance your Ivy Tech degree with a Global Studies Certificate!
Global Capstone Experience
The Global Studies Capstone Experience can be many different things—completion of a project, research, community service, service learning, or travel study experiences.
You’re already completing projects like these in your required coursework—you’ll just want to pick a topic that connects to international, cultural, or global issues. This work may also be part of your job, internship, or community activities. You’re already doing the work—why not earn an extra academic certificate for it?
Enhance your Ivy Tech degree with a Global Studies Certificate!
Next Steps