Microcredentials

Global Awareness

The Global Awareness microcredential recognizes learners who have demonstrated the ability to engage critically with the systems, structures, and relationships that shape global interdependence. Earners complete a scaffolded academic experience in GLBL 100: Introduction to Global Studies, where they apply global-local analytical frameworks to investigate how economic, political, cultural, and environmental forces operate across borders and influence local realities.

Through a series of case-based writing assignments, students explore topics such as the transatlantic slave trade, global commodity chains, urban development, disaster response, and health inequality. They analyze the broader global processes at play and examine how these dynamics intersect with specific communities and personal experiences.

This microcredential highlights an earner's ability to think analytically across scales, reflect on their own position in the world, and communicate their insights through structured, research-based writing. It offers a meaningful way to share globally relevant competencies with future employers, graduate programs, and community partners.

Global Research Design

Global Research Design recognizes students who apply a range of research methodologies — from qualitative to quantitative — to design an original research proposal on a topic of global significance. Earners demonstrate the ability to identify appropriate data collection tools, analyze the ethical considerations of responsible research, apply analytical theories, and engage critically with the politics of representation in communicating research findings. Through structured workshop presentations and peer review activities, students practice giving and receiving constructive feedback to strengthen research in development. The collective learning experience prepares earners to pursue rigorous, interdisciplinary research with a global scope across academic, professional, and civic contexts.

Global Engagement Analysis

The Global Engagement Analysis microcredential recognizes learners who demonstrate the ability to apply interdisciplinary theories and research methods to critically examine how individuals, communities, organizations, or nations engage with global issues. Earners of this microcredential produce an evidence-based analysis that explores the reciprocal relationship between global processes, such as climate change, migration, or trade, and local or national responses.

This microcredential signifies the earner’s proficiency in synthesizing theory and data to assess complex global-local dynamics, drawing informed conclusions about actors' roles in shaping and being shaped by globalization. Earners demonstrate strong analytical thinking, research design, and written communication skills essential in globally engaged fields such as international business, foreign policy, nonprofit advocacy, and global development.