Requirements

First-Year: Introduction

• Students will be enrolled in the Global Scholars' cohort seminar during their first-year Fall or Spring semester (CNX-100; 1 credit). Examples of past first-year seminars:
  • How to Change your World (2024)
  • Global Perspectives of Identity (2022)
  • Geographic Perspectives on Nationalism (2020)
  • Climate, Capital, and Culture (2018)
• Students will work on developing a curriculum plan and identifying a desired major field of study during the first-year Global Scholar seminar.
• In addition to the co-taught Global Scholars seminar, the requirements of this program will be inclusive of language and culture. Students are required to complete four semesters of language and culture (literature, linguistics, cinema), making sure to complete at least two courses at the intermediate level of a language (above the 111 course). In order to complete the four semester-length language courses (4 credits) at OWU prior to the semester abroad, Scholars should plan on taking a language or culture course each semester (Fall and Spring) for the first two years. 

Sophomore Year: Exploration

• Students are expected to continue taking language and approved culture courses (ideally related to the region of interest) in this year. Declared major fields of study should be accomplished by this year, with other courses selected should diversify scholars' exposure to global approaches, while also aiming to complete OWU's general education requirements. Due to the nature of flexibility and inclusivity, you will work directly with the Directors to develop your individualized four language-culture courses. 
• In extraordinary cases, a student can petition the Global Scholars Directors to take the fourth course while studying abroad, detailing the justification for such an exception. 

 Junior Year: Interaction

• Students must complete the language and culture requirements prior to departure for study abroad, but the study plan must be approved during their sophomore year. Students should work with the Global Scholars Directors and the OWU Connection office (link).
• Courses taken during the on-campus semester should focus on meeting major requirements, finishing any remaining general education requirements, and preparing to best take advantage of the semester abroad.
• Most students will spend a semester abroad in an accredited program in a preferably non-English speaking (UK, Canada, Australia, etc.) country of interest. 
• After studying abroad, Scholars should begin to identify possible topics for their Senior Global Scholars Program Capstone Project.  

Senior Year: Reflection

• After students have completed the Global Scholars first-year seminar, four language and culture semesters, and one semester of study abroad, the final step is to research, write, and successfully defend a Global Scholars capstone project. The completion of these projects will be done under the supervision of their advisors, professors in their major department, and/or the Global Scholars Directors. 
• Because the Palmer Global Scholars Program is not a major, the only specific guidelines associated with the final project are as follow: 
  • The thesis must be 20-35 pages, including notes and formatted bibliography.
  • The thesis must include a global component.
  • The thesis must adhere to the requirements dictated by the Global Scholar's major field to which it contributes knowledge. 
    • If applicable, students should also see and adhere to Honors Program Thesis requirements (Graduation with Honors)
  • Late in the academic year fourth-year Scholars will reunite with their first-year cohorts to share their research and reflect on their other experiences in an informal conference setting. At the end-of-year ceremony, seniors will give a brief presentation of their capstone projects. In addition, the completed capstone project will be posted to the Global Scholars site.
• Students who successfully complete all of the requirements of the Global Studies Institute will graduate with a Global Studies Institute certificate and cord.

Additional Requirements

• Global Scholars must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students falling below 3.0 face expulsion from the program at the discretion of the GSFB.