Q. Is the Global Proficiency Program a Minor?
A. No, the GP program is a unique certificate program that integrates academic coursework, co-curricular activities, and international experience. The addition of co-curricular activities and international experience distinguishes it from a minor or major. Seniors who successfully complete the GP program will receive an official transcript and certificate detailing the GP requirements.
Q.What do I do after I sign Up?
A. After you sign up, familiarize yourself with the program by reading through the website: www.bc.edu/gp. The checklist under the forms tab will be very helpful. You can start gathering documentation by retrieving your transcript and filling out the co-curricular forms. You should meet with the graduate assistant to discuss your plans in the program and hand in documentation. To set up an appointment email global@bc.edu.
Q. How long does my international experience have to be?
A. We are looking for quality, not quantity. Obviously, a semester or year abroad counts. An immersion or volunteer trip in another country also counts. Unfortunately, as fun as it may be, spring break in Europe with your family or
Q. Do I need fill out a course approval form for every course?
A. You do not need to receive approvals for courses which are on the approved list on the website under "program description" and then "academics." If it is not on the list, but the title and description are obviously focused on global or multicultural issues, you can provide these to the graduate assistant and they will add the course to the approved list. You need to fill out a course approval form if it is not obvious that the course focus is international or multicultural.
Q. I placed out of the language requirement, do I have to take to more classes to fulfill the language requirement?
A. Yes, though the language requirement is quite flexible. You must take two language courses at any level beyond the core requirements for your school. These courses may be taken abroad. Language courses can also be literature or film courses taught in another language. The two language courses do not have to be in the same language. For example, you could take a beginners Italian course and Introduction to Arabic to fulfill the language requirement.
Q. Do classes taken abroad fulfill the Humanities and Social Science/Education/Business components?
A. No, other than language classes, the classes you take for the GP program must be taken at BC. The purpose of the GP program is to foster comprehensive global competency. It would be very easy to fulfill all of the requirements of the program during your semester or year abroad. However, we believe you will benefit from thinking about global issues before, during, and after your abroad experience.
Q. What classes fall under Humanities?
A. Humanities classes generally include Literature, History, Philosophy, Theology, Art, Music, and Theatre. Check with the graduate assistant if you have questions about this.
Q. Do classes that count towards my major, minor, and core also count for the GP program?
A. Yes! Courses that you take to fulfill your major, minor, and core may also fulfill the GP requirements.
Q. Can I take a course pass/fail and have it count towards one of the GP requirements?
A. Yes! As long as you pass the course it can count towards your GP requirements. Courses that you audit do not count.
Q. What if I have all classes in one component and none in the other?
A. The GP program was designed to give you a well-rounded experience and sometimes asks you step outside of your comfort zone. We ask that students make a good-faith effort to take the appropriate courses. If this is not possible because of the demands of your major or school please schedule a meeting with the graduate assistant by emailing global@bc.edu. Some courses may be on the borderline. For example a course may be offered in the History department but focuses on the political history of
Q. What does the program mean when it says that courses and activities must have a strong international or multicultural theme?
A. The focus of your activity must be international or multicultural. An example of a multicultural activity would be working in a school where the population is very diverse. Another example would be if you spend the majority of your volunteer time translating for donors who do not speak English then the activity could count. A survey of theology course that covers traditional theology and spends only a week or two on Liberation Theology and Martin Luther King Jr. will not count as a GP course. A course entirely dedicated to Liberation Theology or the Civil Rights Movement does count as a GP course. The courses you take and the activities you do will be listed and detailed on the transcript you will share with employers and graduate schools. You will want your courses and activities to indicate a clear link with a global perspective.
Q. Do paid activities count as co-curricular activities?
A. Yes, they can count, but they must be minimally paid. Furthermore, the money cannot be the main reason for your participation. For example, if you are an RA on the Romance Language floor, money is not the main incentive. However, if you worked in
Q. The summer before freshman year I volunteered at a center for immigrants, does this count as a co-curricular activity?
A. Unfortunately activities that you participate in before entering college and after graduation cannot count towards the GP co-curricular requirements. Activities you participate in during school breaks can count toward the GP requirements.
Q. I completed a co-curricular while I was abroad but did not have the form signed while I was there. Is there anything I can do to get that activity to count?
A. Yes, you can have your supervisor or on-site coordinator send an email to global@bc.edu that confirms your participation in the activity and details your time commitment. In addition to the email, please fill-out the co-curricular form and make a note about the email in the section that asks for your supervisor's signature.
Q. The co-curricular forms that I have look different from the ones on the web; can I still use the forms I have?
A. All of the forms for the program have been updated with student feedback. The new forms are simpler and use less paper. In answer to your question, yes, the GP program will accept both the old and new forms, be sure to fully fill-out whichever form you choose to use.
Q. When is documentation due?
A. We encourage all students to turn in their documentation as they complete each activity. Turn all documentation into the graduate assistant for the Global Proficiency Program in the Office of International Students and Scholars,
For graduating seniors:
Reflection Project Proposal: November 1st
All Documentation: January 31st
Reflection Project: February 28th
Q. What if I am just one component short?
A. If you find that you are only one activity or class short, e-mail or meet with the graduate assistant to brainstorm. Maybe something is not coming to mind, or maybe you are not sure about an activity. We can take a look at your course schedule and see if you overlooked a class that would actually count. The bottom line, however, is that you must complete all components in order to graduate from the GP program.
Q. I am a transfer student; can I still complete the GP program?
A. We will work with transfer students to help them complete the GP program. Coursework and activities completed at a previous university will be taken into account.
Q. If I request my academic transcript from Student Services, will my GP transcript be sent automatically?
A. No, if you would like official copies of your GP transcript please contact the GP program to request your transcript. You may do so by emailing global@bc.edu or adrienne.nussbaum.1@bc.edu or calling 617-552-8005. We are happy to send as many of your GP transcripts as you need.