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College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary Studies

Global Perspectives Certificate

Showcase your international interests with globally-themed courses that also fulfill your degree requirements.

Overview

The Global Perspectives Certificate is open to all degree-seeking undergraduate students at NC State, regardless of their major. To earn the certificate, students explore global perspectives through foreign language study and coursework that can also count toward general education, major or minor degree requirements.

Additionally, students can enhance their experience by completing a supervised international internship, joining an NC State student organization focused on global cultural awareness or foreign language, or leveraging their residency in the Alexander Global Village to meet certificate requirements.

Contact Info

Nora Haenn
Coordinator, Global Perspectives Certificate
nora_haenn@ncsu.edu

International flags line one side of the Talley Student Union

Certificate Requirements

The Global Perspectives Certificate consists of four components. To complete the certificate, NC State students must maintain good academic standing and achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses applied toward the certificate.

Language Requirement

  • The equivalent of WL 201 or at least three credit hours at any level of study in a new language.
  • Students who major or minor in World Languages and Cultures automatically fulfill this requirement.
  • Students who are native speakers of a language other than English may substitute for the Language requirement a course drawn from a list of Global Understanding Courses.

Global Knowledge Courses – 9 hrs

Courses fulfilling certificate requirements can also count toward general education, major, or minor requirements. Students may substitute a course with a U.S. multicultural emphasis for one of the required courses or replace required courses with study abroad experiences or other classes with significant international content.

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Additional Requirement

In addition to the Language Requirement and Global Knowledge courses, students must complete and document one of the following:

  • An additional Global Understanding course outside their major or minor (3 credit hours)
  • One semester of residency in Alexander Global Village
  • A supervised international internship (minimum of 45 hours)
  • Supervised research on an international topic (minimum of 45 hours)
  • Participation in an NC State student club focused on global cultural awareness or language (minimum of 45 hours)

Capstone Essay

The capstone essay is a 1,500-word document that synthesizes the diverse aspects of the student’s internationalized education.

Admission Info

Our certificate is open to any undergraduate student at NC State. While there’s no formal application process, students must declare their intent to enroll in and complete the program via our Google Form. Once you submit the form, the certificate coordinator and your academic advisor will be notified.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Foreign language majors and minors are exempt from the foreign language requirement.

As long as your university transcript indicates native fluency in a language other than English, you do not have to take a foreign language class.

Classes taken abroad can count toward course requirements as long as they display an international focus.

Internationally-themed courses that are not on the Global Understanding Course list can often count. Contact the program coordinator for additional information.

One course focusing on diversity within the US may be substituted for a Global Understanding Course. See the GEP U.S. Diversity course listing for examples.

International undergraduate students are encouraged to pursue the certificate. Living in the United States and learning in an English-speaking environment already counts toward the language component of the certificate. Other certificate requirements remain the same.

Students enrolled in the certificate will have access to a Moodle site that includes directions for documentation.

Anyone, regardless of class standing, can pursue and complete the certificate as long as all requirements are met.