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Global Option in Public Affairs Requirements

To receive the Global Option in Public Affairs designation, students must complete all four of the following components:

  1. Global Academic Exposure
  2. Global Experiential Exposure
  3. Language Exposure
  4. Global Competency Evaluation

GO-PA Requirement Breakdown

The Global Option in Public Affairs is a curriculum enhancement program through which public affairs students may acquire documented international expertise integrated into the Glenn College curriculum without adding time to graduation. Upon completion, a “Global Option in Public Affairs” designation will be added to a student’s transcript.

Global Academic Exposure

To complete the Global Academic Exposure component, students must take a total of six credits of advanced international or global policy courses (3000-level or above). Courses must be completed with a “C” or above grade to fulfill the requirement. Students may take from the list below, or request to take 3000-level or higher global policy course(s) from outside departments.

  • PUBAFRS / AEDECON 4535: International Economic Development
  • PUBAFRS 5600: Science, Engineering, and Public Policy
  • PUBAFRS 5610: Innovation, Policy, and the Global Economy
  • PUBAFRS 5700: Rebuilding Weak and Failed States

Global Experiential Exposure

To complete the Global Experiential Exposure component, students must participate in a study abroad or globally focused internship program. The experience should be approved in advance by a Glenn College advisor as not all internships or global education experiences are applicable.

  • Global Education Experience
    • Participate in one of the many global education experiences posted on the Office of International Affairs Global Education search engine.  
  • Internationally focused internship
    • Complete an internationally focused internship either through the Washington Academic Internship Program (PUBAFRS 4191.02) or another approved global internship.

Language Exposure

To fulfill the language exposure requirement, students must complete two years (4 semesters) of a single foreign language.

After completing 1101, 1102, 1103, students must complete one advanced language course in that language. Common examples include:

  • ARABIC 2104
  • CHINESE 2102
  • FRENCH 2101.01
  • GERMAN 21101
  • ITALIAN 2102
  • RUSSIAN 2104.01
  • SPANISH 2202.01

Global Competency Evaluation

Lastly, students must fulfill the global competency evaluation component by writing their Public Affairs capstone paper (PUBAFRS 4011, PUBAFRS 4021 or PUBAFRS 4999.02) on an international or global policy topic.

Paper topics will be verified with the course instructor upon completion of the course.