Global Competency (Certificate)
Curriculum Guideline
Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:
Graduation Requirements:
Academic Requirements:
- Successful completion of 15 credits of coursework:
- 50% (7.5 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
- In good academic standing
- Time limit to complete the program graduation requirements: 4 years. Any courses completed outside of that time limit will not be usable. Students may seek the permission of the Department/Program to complete a credential outside the approved time limits.
Non-academic Requirements:
- Completion of a GCC-eligible international or intercultural learning experience (see list of GCC-eligible experiences below)
List of GCC-Eligible Courses
Applied Community Studies
- CFCS 1112 Working in Communities
- CFCS 1142 Introduction to Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Practice
- CFCS 2332 Strengthening the Family Spirit - Working from Aboriginal Perspectives with Elders' Teachings
- CFCS 2432 Understanding Indigenous Perspectives and Experiences
- CFCS 3900 Perspective in International and Community Development
- CYCC 1142 Introduction to Aboriginal Child and Youth Care Practice
- CYCC 2452 Enhancing Resilience in Aboriginal Children and Youth
- INTR 1102 Allyship and the Deaf Community
- INTR 2110 Positionality in the Deaf Community
- INTR 2201 Deafhood: Pathways to Identity & Diversity
- SOWK 2100 Introduction to Social Work Practice
- SOWK 2422 Social Work Practice with Groups and Communities
- SOWK 3250 Social Work with Indigenous People
- SOWK 4100 Social Work Between Systems
- SOWK 4260 Global Perspectives in Social Work
- THRT 2306 Inclusive Leisure Practice
- THRT 3601 Community Development Concepts and Applications in Health and Social Services
Commerce and Business Administration
- ACCT 3850 Detecting Accounting Fraud
- ACCT 3880 Data Analytics for Managers
- ACCT 4510 Advanced Financial Accounting
- ACCT 4570 International Taxation
- BLAW 3700 Fundamentals of International Trade Law
- BUSN 3100 Trade in the Global Marketplace
- BUSN 3200 Global Trade Finance
- BUSN 3410 Global Supply Chain Management
- BUSN 3500 Business Entry Strategies, International
- BUSN 4401 International Logistics and Transportation
- ECON 1103 Globalization and the World Economy
- ECON 2460 Environmental Economics
- ECON 2490 Canadian Microeconomic Policy
- ECON 3101 Introduction to Public Policy and Administration
- ECON 3300 North American International Trade Issues
- ECON 3360 Cost Benefit Analysis and Evaluation
- ECON 3400 International Economics and Finance
- ECON 3408 Global Banking
- FINC 3305 International Financial Management
- MARK 3300 International Marketing
Health Sciences
- NURS 3315 Leadership: Partners in Health Promotion
- NURS 3411 Nursing Art & Science: Vulnerable Populations
- NURS 3415 Applied Nursing Ethics, Leadership and Moral Courage
- NURS 4515 Leadership: Influencing Health Care Reform
- PNUR 2171 Family Health Promotion of Psychiatric Nursing Practice
- PNUR 2285 Psychiatric Nursing in Addictions and Mental Health
- PNUR 4501 Psychiatric Nursing Leadership and Management
- PNUR 4572 Psychiatric Nursing Community Concepts
Humanities and Social Sciences
- ANTH 1100 Introduction to Social & Cultural Anthropology
- ANTH 1101 World Prehistory: Ancient Peoples and Places
- ANTH 1130 The Anthropology of Religion
- ANTH 1160 Indigenous Cultures of Canada
- ANTH 1170 Anthropology in Developing Countries
- ANTH 2020 Visual and Sensory Anthropology
- ANTH 2220 Anthropology of Healing
- ANTH 2230 Ecology and Culture: Global Diversity and Inequality
- ANTH 2240 The Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality
- ANTH 2250 The Anthropology of Music
- CRIM 2261 Administration of Justice
- CRIM 3335 Human Rights and Civil Liberties
- CRIM 3355 Indigenous Peoples: Crime and Justice
- GEOG 1100 Introduction to Human Geography
- GEOG 1130 Human Impact on the Environment
- GEOG 1140 Environment and Media: Geographies of Nature, Climate Change and Natural Hazards
- GEOG 1180 The Geography of Canada
- GEOG 1190 Selected Regions
- GEOG 2212 Economic Geography
- GEOG 2213 Social Geography
- GEOG 2230 The Geography of Biodiversity
- GEOG 2311 Urban Environmental Sustainability
- GEOG 3327 Tourism and Recreation Geographies
- GEOG 3382 Population Geographies
- HIST 1101 History of World Societies, 3000 BCE to 1500 CE
- HIST 1102 A History of World Societies, 1500 to 1914
- HIST 1103 World History, 1900 - 1945
- HIST 1104 World History Since 1945
- HIST 1105 Global Issues in Historical Perspective
- HIST 1113 Canada Before Confederation
- HIST 1114 Canada After Confederation
- HIST 1120 Modern Africa
- HIST 1125 The Modern Middle East
- HIST 1140 American History: An Introduction
- HIST 1155 Asian History: An Introduction
- HIST 1165 Health and Medicine in History
- HIST 1170 Global Indigenous Histories
- HIST 2201 Early Modern Europe
- HIST 2206 History of the British Isles
- HIST 2210 History of British Columbia
- HIST 2215 Canadian Lives: An Introduction to Social and Cultural History
- HIST 2250 Modern China: An Introduction
- HIST 2252 Modern South Asia: An Introduction
- HIST 2260 Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Canada, 1600-1870
- HIST 2261 Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Canada, 1870 to the Present
- HIST 2270 History of Indigenous People in Canada
- HIST 3300 The Atlantic World: Africa, Europe and The Americas, 1500 - 1900
- HIST 3305 Europe Since 1945
- HIST 3306 Modern Germany: From 1871 to the Present
- HIST 3315 Canada Since 1945
- HIST 3325 Immigration, Diversity and Multiculturalism in North America
- HIST 4480 The Holocaust in Modern Memory
- HUMS 1171 World Religions: Oriental
- HUMS 1172 World Religions: Occidental
- HUMS 1173 New Religious Movements
- HUMS 1400 Urban Challenges Interdisciplinary
- HUMS 2274 The Nature of the Sacred
- INST 1100 Introduction to International Studies
- LGST 3330 Indigenous Peoples and the Law
- PHIL 1121 Medical Ethics
- PHIL 1135 Asian Philosophy
- PHIL 1170 Philosophy and Religion
- PHIL 2123 Environmental Ethics
- PHIL 3125 Ethics for Psychiatric Nursing
- PHIL 4706 Ethics in Therapeutic Recreation and Health Promotion
- POLI 1102 Introduction to Canadian Government
- POLI 1103 Introduction to World Politics
- POLI 2203 Current International Issues
- POLI 2209 U.S. Government and Politics
- POLI 2210 Introduction to Comparative Politics
- PSYC 3120 Gender Relations
- PSYC 3333 Cultural Competency and Counselling with Canada's Indigenous Peoples
- PSYC 3339 Sociopolitical and Critical Psychology
- PSYC 3340 Cultural Psychology
- PSYC 3361 Social Cognition
- SOCI 1145 Canadian Society
- SOCI 2220 Social Movements
- SOCI 2225 Sociology of Globalization
- SOCI 2270 Society and Environment
- SOSC 3141 International Organizational Behaviour
Language, Literature and Performing Arts
- CMNS 1104 Foundations of Intercultural Communication
- CMNS 1217 Intercultural Communication in the Workplace
- CMNS 1220 Communication and Social Change
- CMNS 2200 Global Media and Communication
- CMNS 2317 Intercultural Conflict in Interpersonal Relationships
- GSWS 1101 Contemporary Issues in Gender, Sexualities and Women's Studies
- LING 1102 Linguistic Diversity and Cultural Diversity
- MODL 1101 Basic French I
- MODL 1102 Basic French II
- MODL 1131 Basic German I
- MODL 1132 Basic German II
- MODL 1151 Basic Spanish I
- MODL 1152 Basic Spanish II
- MODL 1153 Introduction to the Language and Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking World
- MODL 1161 American Sign Language Level 1
- MODL 1162 American Sign Language Level 2
- MODL 1171 Basic Japanese I
- MODL 1172 Basic Japanese II
- MODL 1191 Basic Chinese I (Mandarin)
- MODL 1192 Basic Chinese II (Mandarin)
- MODL 1261 American Sign Language Level 3
- MODL 1262 American Sign Language Level 4
- MODL 2161 American Sign Language Level 5
- MODL 2162 American Sign Language Level 6
- MODL 2163 American Sign Language Level 7
- MODL 2164 American Sign Language Level 8
- MODL 2201 Intermediate French I
- MODL 2202 Intermediate French II
- MODL 2231 Intermediate German I
- MODL 2232 Intermediate German II
- MODL 2250 Spanish Conversation
- MODL 2251 Intermediate Spanish I
- MODL 2252 Intermediate Spanish II
- MODL 2262 American Sign Language Level 9
- MODL 2271 Intermediate Japanese I
- MODL 2272 Intermediate Japanese II
- MODL 2273 Introduction to Japan: Language, Culture and Society
- MODL 2291 Intermediate Chinese I (Mandarin)
- MODL 2292 Intermediate Chinese II (Mandarin)
- MODL 2351 Spanish Language and Composition
- MODL 2361 American Sign Language Level 10
- MODL 3111 French Language and Culture through the Media
- MODL 3301 Advanced French I, Introduction to French Language & Composition I
- MODL 3302 Advanced French II, Introduction to French Language & Composition II
- MODL 3351 Advanced Spanish I
- MODL 3352 Advanced Spanish II
- MODL 3393 Introduction to Classical Chinese I
- MODL 3394 Introduction to Classical Chinese II
- MODL 4401 Advanced French III, French Language & Composition I
- MODL 4402 Advanced French IV, French Language & Composition II
Science and Technology
- EAES 1201 Global Environment Change
- ENGR 1100 Engineering and Technology in Society
- SPSC 1105 Introduction to the Study of Sport and Leisure in Society
- SPSC 2205 Socio-Cultural Aspects of Health and the Body
- SPSC 2281 Sociological Aspects of Sport
- SPSC 2292 Introduction to the Administration and Management of Sport, Recreation and Leisure Services
- SPSC 2381 The Rise of Modern Sport and Physical Education
- SPSC 5398 Dance Education
- SPSC 5499 Curriculum Issues: Physical and Health Education
List of GCC-Eligible Experiences [3]
- All international and intercultural experiences approved by Global Engagement, including but not limited to
- Faculty-led field schools
- Belize
- Ghana
- Greece
- Iceland
- Italy
- Mexico
- Philippines
- Scotland
- Switzerland
- Uganda
- Wales (Early Childhood Education)
- Wales (HSS/LLPA)
- Faculty-led study tours
- Czechia (PEFA)
- Hawaii (Biology)
- Indigenous global learning programs
- Arizona
- Hawaii
- COIL experiences
- Douglas College/Nyundo School of Art and Music PEFA 1239 COIL Project
- International exchanges
- International work co-op placements
- Summer study abroad programs
- Disney work and learn program
- ELLA Experience Package
[1] Global competency courses are designated as “GCC-Eligible” on the curriculum guideline.
[2] No more than 6 credits of MODL courses and only 2 of CMNS 1104, CMNS 1217, and CMNS 2317.
[3] Other international and intercultural experiences may be deemed GCC-eligible if they meet the inclusion criteria for GCC-eligible international and intercultural experiences. For more information, consult the GCC coordinator.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the Global Competency Certificate, students will be able to
Critically examine global and intercultural issues
- Globally competent individuals effectively combine specific knowledge about global issues, localities, and critical reasoning to form their own opinions about global issues. [1]
Engage in open, appropriate, and effective cross-cultural interactions
- Globally competent individuals understand a variety of cultural norms, interactive styles, and degrees of formality in intercultural contexts, and they can flexibly adapt their behavior and communication to suit. [2]
Take action for collective well-being
- Globally competent individuals are keen to improve living conditions in their own communities and the communities of others, and are eager to build more just, peaceful, and inclusive communities. [2]
Take action for a sustainable environment
- Globally competent individuals understand the uneven impacts of human activity on the environment and actively attempt to improve the environment by following sustainability principles and practices.
Link local actions and global issues
- Globally competent individuals understand global interdependence and effectively connect environment, cultural, political, or economic issues to their local context. They understand that their local actions align with specific worldviews and positions on issues such as sustainable development.
Global Competencies
Upon completion of the Global Competency Certificate, students will understand
Worldviews of others
- Globally competent individuals demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of elements important to members of another culture in relation to that culture’s history, values, politics, communication styles, economy, beliefs, and practices. [3]
Sustainable and inclusive Economies
- Globally competent individuals demonstrate an understanding of sustainable and inclusive economic engagement with human and natural systems, and the concept of ecological interdependence. [2]
Global systems, contexts, and issues
- Globally competent individuals analyze major elements of global systems and issues, including their historic and contemporary interconnections, as well as the differential effects of human organizations and actions. They then use their analysis to propose solutions to complex problems in the human and natural worlds. [2]
Intercultural communication
- Globally competent individuals possess the complex skills and abilities that one requires in order to interact effectively and appropriately when dealing with members of another culture, including patience, humility, empathy, tolerance for ambiguity, and target-language understanding. [4]
Perspective-taking
- Globally competent individuals possess the ability to process, weigh, and synthesize a range of cultural, disciplinary, ethical, and emotional interests to inform decision-making regarding natural and human systems. As a consequence, they attach significant importance to intercultural empathy and personal reflexivity.
Critical thinking
- Globally competent individuals possess the ability to think systematically through problematic situations regarding what to believe or how to act. Critical thinking often requires collecting background information, weighing evidence, suspending judgement, and using criteria to evaluate options in order to reach a reasoned decision. [5]
Global self-awareness
- Globally competent individuals possess the ability to objectively evaluate the global impact of one’s own and others’ specific local actions on integrated social and ecological systems.
[1] Adapted from “Preparing Our Youth for an Inclusive and Sustainable World: The OECD PISA Global Competence Framework.” OECD, 2018, https://www.oecd.org/education/Global-competency-for-an-inclusive-world.pdf. Accessed 14 Oct. 2022.
[2] Adapted from Jacobs, Michael, and Mariana Mazzucato, editors. Rethinking Capitalism: Economics and Policy for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth. Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.
[3] Adapted from “VALUE Rubrics.” AACU, https://www.aacu.org/initiatives/value-initiative/value-rubrics. Accessed 14 Oct. 2022.
[4] Adapted from Fantini, Alvino. “Reconceptualizing Intercultural Communicative Competence: A Multinational Perspective.” Research in Comparative and International Education, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2020, pp. 52–61.
[5] Adapted from Roland, and LeRoi Daniels. “Introduction to the TC2 Conception of Critical Thinking.” TC2: The Critical Thinking Consortium, https://tc2.ca/pdf/About%20Critical%20Thinking/Online%20Articles/Understanding%20Critical%20Thinking/Introduction%20to%20the%20TC2%20Conception%20w_%20new%20copyright.pdf. Accessed 14 Oct. 2022.