The Graduate Global Citizens Credential (GGCC) is a graduate credential offered at the University of Houston that recognizes masters, doctoral, and professional students for their global knowledge and engagement. The Graduate Global Citizens Credential will allow students to enhance their degrees with a set of core competencies that will distinguish them as global citizens including global knowledge, global engagement, and global responsibility. Program completers are awarded a transcript notation, a Provost certificate, and an honor cord.

Upon completion, students who obtain the GGCC will be able to increase their knowledge and skills in the following areas, which were adapted from the AAC&U Value Rubrics:

• Intercultural Knowledge and Competency 
  • Cultural self-awareness
  • Knowledge of cultural worldview frameworks
  • Intercultural communication
  • Empathy, curiosity, and openness
• Global Learning
  • Global self-awareness
  • Perspective taking
  • Cultural diversity
  • Personal and social responsibility
  • Understanding global systems and applying knowledge to contemporary global contexts

Eligibility and Criteria

The GGCC is open to any UH graduate student who is in good academic and student standing, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above. UH graduate students who completed the GCC program while at UH as an undergraduate are eligible to complete the GGCC, but only global learning activities done after the completion of their undergraduate degree will be considered. 

Unlike the GCC, graduate students do not have to be in their final semester to complete the GGCC program. Graduate students can complete the program at any time during their studies at UH. As such, students who complete the GGCC can request to receive an honor cord if they would like to wear one during graduation. The Institute for Global Engagement will host an award ceremony each fall and spring to celebrate both GCC and GGCC graduates. 

The GGCC program utilizes the same five categories as the GCC: global courses, learning abroad, language proficiency, global scholarly work, and intercultural activities. Students must earn at least 10 out of the possible 16 points in any of the categories in order to receive the GGCC. After earning 10 points, students must also complete a capstone. 

Global Courses (2 or 4 points)

Global courses include those that allow the student to increase global knowledge and skills, gain greater understanding of different cultures, and explore global issues or multicultura/diversity topics. 

For a list of currently approved global courses, degree programs, and certificate programs, click here. This is not an exaustive list.

Learning Abroad (2 or 4 points)

Students can earn 2 points for participating in a learning abroad experience that is 7 days or less, or 4 points for a learning abroad experience that is 8 days or more. For students in the GGCC program, we will also accept past work or teach abroad experience performed during the time after college and before graduate school, and will grant points for attending or presenting at conferences abroad. 

Language Proficiency (2 or 4 points)

Students can earn points either through language coursework, a placement exam, or a language-focused degree program or graduate certificate program. For students who are already proficient in another language other than English, they can earn points by submitting proof of language proficiency either with aplacement exam score or written documentation from aUH faculty or staff member. 

Global Scholarly Work (1 or 2 points)

Students can earn points by attending global scholarly events or by completing global scholarly work. Global events include those that are academic in nature and that allow students to increase their global or cultural diversity knowledge, such as guest lectures, conferences, seminars, trainings, or workshops. Global scholarly work includes any of the following academic related activities with ag lobal or multicultural focus: performing research, presenting at a conference, participating in an international competition or publishing a scholarly work. 

Intercultural Activities (1 or 2 points)

Students can earn points by participating in intercultural activities or through global leadership experiences. Intercultural activities include those that have a global or multicultural focus that are not formally acdaemic in nature and allow the student to learn about another culture. Global leadership experiences include activities performed outside of the classroom with a global or multicultural focus. 

GGCC Point Summary can be found here. 

GGCC Capstone

Similar to the GCC program, GGCC students will be required to complete a capstone once they have earned the minimum of 10 points. However, graduate students will have two options for the capstone requirement. The capstone provides students the opportunity to reflect on their global learning experiences and to demonstrate what they have learned. 

• Graduate students completing the GGCC can register to attend an in-person or virtual capstone symposium where they will be asked to prepare a presentation and present to their peers on their global learning experiences. 
• In lieu of a presentation during a capstone, graduate students completing the GGCC may instead submit a 5-page capstone reflection paper responding to reflection questions sent by the Institute for Global Engagement office. 

Upon successful completion of the requirements for the GGCC, students will receive a transcript notation on their transcript that reades "Graduate Clobal Citizens Credential." They will also receive a certificate signed by the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, and the Executive Director of the Institute for Global Engagement.