Global Learning Course Designation

The basic criteria for designating a Global Learning (GL) course at UCF is that through the course students will accomplish the following:

  1. Complete structured assignments that allow students to articulate their consideration and understanding of interdependent systems,
  2. Adapt and apply intercultural, discipline-specific skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies to solve difficult problems or explore complex issues,
  3. Connect core knowledge and skills of the course to real-world professional and civic contexts,
  4. Participate in meaningful interactions that include diverse experiences and/or perspectives,
  5. Articulate knowledge, skills, and qualifications to diverse audiences both within and beyond the university,
  6. Engage in structured reflections that connect course experiences to the development of global citizenship.

Because study abroad opportunities are already high impact practices (HIPs), study abroad courses are not eligible for the GL designation.

Procedure to Submit

  1. Submissions are accepted each semester, due by the fourth Friday of the start of classes, for course designation beginning the following semester.
  2. We highly recommend reaching out to an HIP course designation administrator to discuss your submission. They work as an advocate to help you with the submission process. Contact: oel@ucf.edu
  3. Review the Global Learning Course Rubric, making any necessary changes to your syllabus to meet these requirements. Note that to qualify a course must contain all the GL criteria/rubrics.
  4. Complete the HIP Course Designation Form to demonstrate how your course meets the evaluation criteria for SL designation.
  5. Submissions will then undergo committee review, with approved course designations being implemented the following semester. Should a submission require any revisions, the faculty member will receive feedback and may submit again the same semester; courses requiring substantial revisions may choose to submit materials the following semester.

Designation Levels
The HIP Courses Designations (Integrative-Learning Experience, Research Intensive, Service-Learning, and Global Learning) can all be obtained at either the instructor or course level.

Instructor-Level Designation
This type of designation follows the instructor who has submitted their course section for designation. If there are multiple faculty members teaching this course, only the faculty member’s course with an instructor-level designation will have the Global Learning (GL) course attribute.

Course-Level Designation
means that all sections have common learning outcomes, final outcomes, and similar assessment practices that meet all required components of the GL Rubric.
If there are multiple instructors, but everyone uses the same syllabus, then only that syllabus needs to be submitted. If the content varies, sample syllabi must be submitted as one PDF.

Global Learning Statement

Global Learning Experience Syllabus Statement
(Required for GL designated courses):
The following statement was created as a tool for faculty members to use when writing a syllabus for a GL course. Inserting it, however, does not automatically create a Global Learning (GL) syllabus. It should be modified to meet individual course content and objectives (bracketed sections in [bold] are areas that are typically adjusted to apply to individual course needs).

[Insert course name and number here] is designated as a Global Learning (GL) course. This designation will be noted on transcripts. Global Learning (GL) courses offer students a chance to prepare students to consider issues from multiple perspectives, and to ethically and collaboratively contribute to discussions about and finding solutions to issues faced by international organizations and the people impacted by their activities. If students have any questions about this designation or HIP designations at UCF, please contact HIP@UCF.edu. 

Our Global Learning (GL) in this [XXXX] course will involve [Adapting and applying intercultural, discipline-specific skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies to solve difficult problems or explore complex issues through course structured assignments.] for [___]. This will allow students to connect real-world experiences to course objectives and structured reflections that connect course experiences to the development of global citizenship. Reflections can be incorporated in course assignments.  Final project reflections in this course will involve [interactions with peers in another setting, written reflection paper, creative presentation, etc.]. If any student has a valid objection to a proposed GL project, he or she must let me know during the first week of class or before the drop/add deadline so we can discuss options. 

Global Learning Course Objectives: This description and the six (6) bulleted objectives of a GL course should be placed after the general course objectives in the syllabus.

This course will be a Global Learning-designated course. The University of Central Florida defines Global Learning (GL) courses as those that offer students a chance to explore symbiotic, international systems and their impacts on humanity from multiple points of view. As such, the work you complete will address all of the four objectives below:

  • Global Learning Criterion 2.1: Demonstrate understanding of a global aspect of a natural or manmade system, issue, practice or process and its influence on human life.
  • Global Learning Criterion 2.2: Explain perspectives different from their own of a global natural or manmade system, issue, practice, or process.
  • Global Learning Criterion 2.3: Address a cross-boundary problem or issue: Apply core course concepts to a natural or manmade global system
  • Global Learning Criterion 2.4: Encounter interactions that include diverse experiences or perspectives outside the classroom

Additionally, students will complete work that addresses one or both of these objectives during the term:

  • Global Learning Criterion 3.1: Communicate lessons learned, new knowledge or perspectives to a wider audience
  • Global Learning Criterion 3.2: Reflect on growth/change in personal appreciation for global systems and application to career and life goals.

Resources for Faculty submitting a GL Course Designation

UCF Resources

Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning (FCTL)

Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI)

Library

Center for Distributed Learning (CDL)

Current GL-designated Courses & Materials

Outside Resources
The resources listed below are provided to help faculty members who are interested in earning the Global Learning (GL) designation for their courses gain a better understanding of GL and how its tenets are applied to GL courses from other universities.

AAC&U

AAC&U Publications

Florida International University

Online Journal Articles:

Global, international, and intercultural learning in university classrooms across the disciplines (2020): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1745499920901947

Sample syllabi and worksheets

Please email oel@ucf.edu for examples of applications that were approved for the GL course designation.
Contact
For questions or to schedule a one-on-one appointment to discuss your course and the GL application, email oel@ucf.edu.

Amy Zeh High Impact Practice Student Showcase

This showcase is for projects connected with HIP-designated courses only.

Held during the fall and spring semesters, the Amy Zeh HIP Student Showcase celebrates students who have completed projects as a part of their HIP-designated courses. Students can participate in person or online. More information about applying and submitting can be found on the Amy Zeh HIP Student Showcase page.

Experiential Learning
Division of Student Success and Well-Being

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