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Global College students spend their first three years living and learning at the College's centers and programs in Costa Rica, China, India, Australia, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey, acquiring a cross-cultural education that is becoming increasingly valuable in our rapidly globalizing world. The final year of the program begins with an independently designed research project in a location of the student's choice and culminates in a semester in New York City, where students complete a series of capstone experiences and write a senior thesis before graduating with a B.A. in global studies.
During their course of study, our students have the opportunity to learn multiple languages and to participate in service-learning projects in diverse settings, building both their personal and professional skills. They have published books, served as staff writers for magazines, founded organizations like the Royal Asiatic Society Hangzhou and CIVIC.org, and have interned and worked for international institutions and businesses around the world. Students document their studies and experiences in an electronic portfolio including research papers and essays; Flash files and podcasts; and creative works like photos, paintings and poems.
Graduates have gone on to secure positions with leading organizations including the United Nations, OXFAM, UNICEF, the Earth Institute, the World Health Organization, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and a number of international nonprofits concerned with the developing world. They have built successful careers as linguists, analysts, scientists, journalists, teachers, social workers, diplomats and professors, and those who have pursued graduate education have been admitted to respected institutions including Columbia University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, University of California-Berkeley and the School for International Training.
Our Admissions Requirements are:
Applicants who have a high school diploma or a GED are eligible to apply for admission as freshmen. Global College requires a full application form, two letters of recommendation and a high school transcript.
Applicants who have completed academic work at other colleges or universities may apply for admission as a transfer student to Global College with advanced standing based on the number of credits previously earned. All transfer students are required to earn at least 64 semester-hour credits (four semesters) in Global College to qualify for the degree.
Global College does not require standardized exams (ie: SAT, ACT). Students are admitted based on past academic performance, community involvement, study abroad experience and the desire to become a world citizen.
Our Academic Goals are:
1. Increased Global Awareness
2. Increased Knowledge of Global Issues & their Manifestations throughout the World
3. Greater Critical Thinking & Stronger Analytical Skills
4. Greater Ability to Understand & Respect Diversity
5. High Level of Adaptability & Intercultural Sensitivity
6. Increased Ethical Awareness
7. Increased Capacity to Affect Social Change
8. Increased Leadership Skills
9. Problem Solving Skills
10. Effective Cross-Cultural Communication Skills
11. Proficiency in Writing
12. Proficiency in Qualitative Research
13. Increased Language Proficiency
14. Proficiency in Oral Communication Skills & Digital Literacy
Our accreditation information is:
Global College is accredited through the Middles States Association. The MSA is a strict institution that reviews college curriculums at 5 year intervals, ensuring it meets national standards. Also, Global College's curriculum has been approved by the New York State Department of Education. Even though Global College's curriculum differs from any other college or university in the United States, it is held to the same rigorous standard of excellence.
Our accommodation information is:
Accommodations in each county vary. Foundation Year (freshmen) students live with homestay families in Costa Rica, which enables them to have the necessary support during their first year in college while living abroad. Plus, students are totally immersed in the culture and language. After the first year, students have a variety of accommodations from which to choose. Options include living in an apartment, international residence halls, lodging houses or apartment-hotel. Most of the accommodations are a 5-15 minute walk to the center.
Our history is:
Global College was founded in 1965 by Quakers and was originally known as the Friends World College. In 1991 it merged with Long Island University and became the Friends World Program. In 2007, it experienced even more change as the curriculum was completely re-developed to become a Global Studies program. A new name was also introduced and now we are known as Global College of Long Island University.
Our alumni information is:
Our program has prepared generations of students for meaningful and highly successful careers. It is frequent that alumni return to countries where they studied as GC students to work in grassroots and international organizations and live as a part of the local community. Many students work as directors and leaders at non-profit organizations both in the US and overseas, and some start their own companies or organizations for social change. Furthermore, there are alumni that work in the private sector, like in corporations and also in the USA government, like in the State Department, Foreign Service and the United Nations. Global College graduates are working towards positive global change.
We also have alumni who have continued with their education. Those who have pursued graduate education have been admitted to prestigious schools such as: Columbia University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, University of California-Berkeley and The School for International Training.
Our calendar is:
Global College has the same calendar school year as any other college/university, with 15 week semesters. There is a fall semester that starts at the beginning of September and ends at the beginning of December. The spring semester begins at the end of January and ends at the beginning of May. Thus, students have a 5 week winter break and a 4 month summer break, and they are free to do whatever they want during their time off. Most return home during these breaks while several stay abroad to travel.
Our financial aid information is:
Global College of Long Island University offers a variety of aid, both federal and state. Merit Scholarships are also available. All Global College students are required to fill out the FAFSA forms if they would like to be considered for aid (even just for scholarships!). Please visit our website to learn more about how to pay for college: http://www.brooklyn.liu.edu/globalcollege/join/finaid.html
Information about our form of evaluating is:
Global College is an alternative form of education, so there are no tests and students create a portfolio every semester that documents their learning process. These portfolios are students' expressions that consist of essays, poems, journals, photos, drawings, paintings, etc. In line with the academic goal of forming electronic literacy, students have the opportunity to learn how to create the traditional book-like portfolios and electronic portfolios.
Information on our professors is:
Many professors are local and international scholars who have a broad experience in experiential education. The professors either have a PhD or Masters degree and are specialists in their particular field of study. The professors are also the academic advisers and students create a close relationship with their own advisor. Some of the professors at the different Global College Centers have worked there for over 20 years.
Information on our courses is:
At Global College there are required courses every semester. The language course will teach students the local language. The Global Studies course focuses on how global issues affect each region in which the students are currently studying and how local communities respond to these issues. The Yearly Seminar is a logistical course about living, traveling and studying abroad successfully. Other than these required courses, there are electives such as topics regarding holistic health and healing, environmental issues, peace and reconciliation studies, indigenous movements, and there are independent study options.
The size of our program is:
Global College is relatively small. There are around 150 students in the program. Costa Rica has the largest center with an average of 50 students.
Information on student-teacher ratio is:
Global College does not have an exact student-teacher ratio because all centers have different number of students and staff. For example, the language classes are typically 4:1, whereas the Global Issues course involves all or part of the student body. There are more staff members at the Costa Rica Center because Freshman students require more support and guidance, whereas the South Africa and Japan Centers have less staff because students have grown into independent and directed individuals.
Global College Professors have comparable education levels as other colleges in the United States. Many of them have a Masters degree and many have PhDs. Since this is an experiential program, it is of extreme importance that all of our instructors are extremely rich in experiences that relate to their area of expertise. Professors have extensive experiences in local education environments and are specialists in the course that they teach.
All of the Global College staff around the world live in the countries where they work and are bilingual in English and the national language. People are either nationals of the country or United States citizens that live abroad permanently.
Information about our typical students is:
Global College Students are adventurous, socially conscious and intellectually curious individuals who commonly come from alternative educational backgrounds. Global College students are high caliber students who are interested in experiencing the world, analyzing and reflecting upon different realities and then finding solutions to global & local problems. Many of our students have experience traveling around the world, living abroad, participating in volunteer work, and are active in their communities.
Information about tuition is:
Global College is part of Long Island University, one of the largest private universities in the country. The cost of each semester and year depends on which center a student attends. On average, it will cost about $18,900 a semester. This number includes a budget for tuition, room & board, center fee, international fee and health insurance.
Please visit Global College website for additional information: http://www.brooklyn.liu.edu/globalcollege/join/cost.html <https://weboutlook.liunet.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://weboutlook.liunet.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://weboutlook.liunet.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://weboutlook.liunet.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.brooklyn.liu.edu/globalcollege/join/cost.html>
