Global Engagement > Student Resources > Global Competency Certificate

Global Competency Certificate (GCC)

​​​​​​​​​​Every graduate student has different goals and the Global Competency Certificate allows you the flexibility to customize your global experiences to reflect your interests and expertise.  The Global Competency Certificate validates the global skills and competencies developed during your graduate studies at DePaul.  Use the Global Competency Certificate to:

  • Curate a series of global learning activities
  • Document and validate your inter-cultural competencies
  • Build skills that help you work with diverse teams 
  • Differentiate you in your field and in the job market 

 The Global Competency Certificate is available to all graduate students who meet the requirements prior to the completion of their degree.  

Please complete this form​ to submit your certificate application.

 For questions, contact DePaul’s Curriculum Internationalization team at globalfluency@depaul.edu 

To earn the certificate, students choose activities and learning experiences from the categories below.  They earn a minimum of 50 points across at least 3 of the 5 categories and complete a final video reflection to be eligible for the Global Competency Certificate. Activities must be completed during their graduate study at DePaul. 

1. Intercultural Communication Skills: Students must demonstrate intercultural communication skills in at least one of the following:

- Demonstrate beginning proficiency in a language other than English. This requirement can be satisfied by successfully completing with a C or better language courses up to 103 (i.e. one year of a foreign language) or by taking an assessment test, administered by the Modern Language Department.  If an assessment test was used to meet the requirements of the undergraduate Global Fluency Certificate, students must test at 203 or XX level; or in another language at a level of 103 or higher). 

- Evidence of pursuing language training during graduate career with MOL tests (can include BYU or ACTFL tests)

- Completion of a graduate level course (from DePaul or from other institutions) focused on intercultural communication skills, multicultural communication. 

2. Global Experiential Learning. Students earn points in this category by completing one or more global experiential learning opportunities including:

- A DePaul study abroad program.

- A course with a Global Learning Experience (GLE) project. This must be an officially recognized GLE course, through the office of Curriculum Internationalization.

- A Division of Mission and Ministry service trip (DMM) (international only).

- Participate in three or more Global Conversations.

3. International Scholarship & Creative Activities. Students must demonstrate academic achievement in a topic with an international focus. These activities will vary by college and should be relevant to the student’s academic program or career focus. Examples of these activities include: cross-cultural research (article submission, international case competition), or presenting at an international conference outside the US.

4. International Practice. Students can provide evidence of participation in an international internship, international volunteer/community work, international project work, multiple networking events, or current global work experience.

5. Global Learning Courses. Students may take and pass at least two Global Learning (GL-) tagged courses. Courses that satisfy another requirement cannot count for this requirement. Being a TA for a GL-tagged course can count towards the requirement for 1 course.

Required GPA: All students must meet a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

After completing the requirements, students will complete a Video Synthesis Reflection discussing their GCC experience and key learning take-aways.

Please register by completing the form here. You will be contacted by globalfluency@depaul.edu within 1 (one) week when you are added to the GCC D2L site. 

Please follow this step-by-step instruction to search for Global Learning Courses in Campus Connect. 

Attached is a list of suggested GL-tagged courses. Please note that this list is subject to change at any time. This list should not be considered final or comprehensive. Please refer to Campus Connect (instructions above) to determine final GL-tagged status. 

Students will be invited to join the Global Competency Certificate D2L page.  There they will upload documents to verify their experiences.  Please note, in addition to evidence of participation, students will be asked to provide a reflection of their learnings from some activities.  Details regarding required documents and reflections is available on the GCC D2L site.

No, the Global Competency Certificate is a stand-alone certificate and will not appear on your transcript.  You will receive an electronic certificate once you have finished your graduate program and fulfilled all of the requirements.

Global Engagement will accept international internships through your study abroad program or through a virtual international internship. These options allow for DePaul University to verify the quality of the internship. For international internships outside of these programs, please contact globalfluency@depaul.edu to determine if it will be accepted for credit. 

For more information or if you have questions, please contact globalfluency@depaul.edu.

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