Global Studies
The Pennington School’s Global Studies Certificate Program is a two-year, interdisciplinary program open to all Pennington students. Students apply to the program in the winter of their sophomore year for participation during their junior and senior years. Students in this program are required to take the course below. The Certificate in Global Studies is awarded to graduating seniors at Commencement in June.
Global Studies Seminar*
Grade 11
.5 credit
Global Studies Seminar is the gateway course to the Global Studies Certificate Program; it is required of all juniors in the program. The course opens with the question, “What does it mean to be a global citizen?” and guides students to find their own answers to this question through a discussion of primary texts on citizenship, globalization, global issues, and social change. Further units invite students to examine such topics as the nation-state system, the United Nations and the Sustainable Development Goals, human rights, population, and quality of life. Students practice media literacy skills to engage current global news media, and to consider current events within the contexts of contemporary geopolitical issues. The course culminates in projects that prepare students to meet the objectives of the Global Studies program, including an independent social-action project in which each student defines and addresses a community issue of their choice.
*Successful completion of this course also garners History credit.
*Prerequisite: Successful application to the Global Studies Certificate Program
Offered fall and spring semesters