Academics

Global Studies Certificate

OUR GLOBAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE

Through direct experience, travel, and study, Highland’s Global Studies Program seeks to produce global citizens who have acquired a deeper understanding of world cultures and global issues.  
The capstone of the program is an experiential, service, or academic project demonstrating in-depth knowledge of a global issue or problem. Through the Global Studies Program, students earn a certificate of recognition for their achievement.

Highland's Global Studies program requires students to earn points in four key "pillars of enlightenment." Those four pillars are as follows:

  1. Language Requirement (500 points)
  2. Cultural Requirement (300 points)
  3. Experiential/Service/Academic Project Requirement
  4. Project Presentation 

Four Pillars of Enlightenment

For a complete description of each of the four pillars of enlightenment, please click on any of the expanding boxes below:

List of 4 items.

  • Language Requirements: 500 points

    Students are required to have 500 points in foreign language study to complete the certificate.  These points may be accumulated in a number of ways:  language classes at Highland, immersion experiences, or through alternate exposure.  Passing grades, certificates of completion or the appropriate documentation are required.
    Highland Language Study:
    Points
    Completion of 3rd year of language study in a first language   
    (meets Highland’s foreign language requirement)   
    300
    First year of second language 
    150
    Additional years of either language
    100
    Independent study at Highland
    100
     
     
    Immersion Experience:
     
    Year Abroad  
    200
    Highland international student
    200
    Semester Abroad
    100
    Native speaker of third language (non-International student)
    100
    Immersion Program (3-6 wks.)
    100
    Exchange Program (min. 2 wks.)
    100
    Summer Study/Governor’s School
    100
     
     
    Alternate Exposure:
     
    Internet Classes       (credit through Highland)
    100
    CD-ROM (e.g. Rosetta Stone)
    50 per level
    Computer Apps (e.g. DuoLingo)
    50 pts to level 25
    Private Tutor               (see tutor form)
    50
    Language Club (active member)    (see club form)
    50
  • Cultural Requirements: 300 points

    Students are required to have 300 points in their cultural study to complete the certificate.  These points may be accumulated in a number of ways.  Passing grades, certificates of completion or the appropriate documentation are required. When there is overlap of experience between the language and cultural categories, students may choose which category to use for their points but may not count the points for both categories.
    Year Abroad
    200
    Exchange Program (hosting 50 & going 50)
    100
    International Family Travel (diary/photos)
    50-100*
    International School Travel (diary/photos)
    50-100*
    Participation in an international service activity                      (e.g. with school, church, scouts)
     
    50-100*
    Personal interaction with students abroad (w/documentation)
    (e.g. pen pal, video correspondence, etc.)
    50
    Non-language club with international/diversity focus (club form)
    50
    Internship with an international focus
    50-100*
    Employment with an international focus        
    50-100*
    Independent Study with an international focus                         
    50-100*
    Model UN: participate in at least one conference
    50
    Hosting an Exchange Student  
    100 per sem. (up to 200pts)
    Social Sciences/Literature non-required Electives
    (e.g. AP World History, AP European, art history)           
    100 per sem. (up to 200pts)

    *points subject to nature of experiences
  • Experiential/Service/Academic Project

    No later than at the beginning of the junior year, the student, with the advisor’s guidance, will design a project that will allow her/him to pursue a particular area of interest while at the same time allowing him/her to demonstrate language and cultural understanding gained from the first two pillars.  The project may include an experience or service-based project in another country, or a research-based paper.  The project is subject to approval by the Global Studies Committee and should be concerned with a global issue or problem which leads the student to a solution or conclusion.
  • Project Presentation

    The student must present his/her project to a group of students and teachers upon completion. Usually this is in the form of an all-school assembly scheduled for January or February of her/his senior year.
  • Questions about our Global Studies Certificate program? Please contact Ann Maclean, Director of Global Studies program, at amaclean@highlandschool.org
  • For more information and to download the Global Studies Certificate program packet, click here.


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Highland School is a co-ed independent Pre-K2 to Grade 12 day school located in Warrenton, Virginia.