Course Description
This course provides students with an opportunity to explore the concepts and practices of global citizenship through learning about current and emerging issues related to global health, international aid and development, volunteerism and voluntourism, and sustainability. Students develop their critical thinking, perspective taking, and reflection skills to examine current issues, identify the worldviews of others, and reflect on their own worldviews and cultural experiences. This course allows students to gain cultural awareness and knowledge in the pursuit of becoming global citizens.
Course Content
1. Key concepts of global citizenship
- Definitions
- Competencies
- Globalization and citizenship
2. Current and emerging global issues
- Introduction to select global issues
- Global health, population health, public health, health equity, social justice
- International aid and development - critical perspectives on the role and purpose of international governmental and non-governmental organizations
- Volunteerism and voluntourism – current examples and critiques
- Sustainability – environmental, economic, social, cultural, political
3. Worldviews and intercultural understanding
- Definitions of worldviews and paradigms
- Culture and intercultural definitions and models for understanding
- Cultural awareness, cultural humility, cultural safety, intercultural communication, and relational practice
- Identifying our own worldview, cultural lenses, and communication preferences
- Role and practice of reflection, critical thinking, and perspective-taking
4. Taking action as a global citizen
- Global citizenship in local, national, and international contexts
- Planning for action
Learning Activities
Methods of instruction will depend on the delivery mode: In-person, online, hybrid, or guided study.
Methods may include:
- Lectures (in-person, video)
- Peer-led seminar
- Discussion groups (in-person or online)
- Inquiry-based projects
- Tests
- Guest speakers
- Small-group work
- Field experience
- Field observation
- Independent study
- Video or audio presentations
Means of Assessment
Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. Course assessments will include a minimum of three separate assessments and include:
- An understanding of global citizenship in relation to key global issues.
- Evidence of critical thinking and perspective taking.
- A reflective element relating to broadening understandings of worldviews and intercultural awareness and the role of the global citizen.
The following is an example assessment format for this course:
| Reflection journal |
10-20% |
| Seminar presentation |
10-20% |
| Case study or research project |
15-30% |
|
Final Paper
|
20-35% |
| Discussion participation |
0-10% |
| Total |
100% |
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, successful students will be able to:
- Define global citizenship and global competencies.
- Demonstrate an understanding of key global issues related to global health, international aid and development, volunteerism / voluntourism, and sustainability.
- Critique past and current approaches to global issues with the use of case students and examples.
- Demonstrate an ability to identify one’s own worldview and appreciation for diverse worldviews.
- Articulate the values and practices of cultural awareness, cultural humility, cultural safety, intercultural communication, and relational practice.
- Apply the practices of reflection, critical thinking, and perspective taking to expand intercultural understandings.
- Identify key actions of the global citizen at local, national, and international levels.
Textbook Materials
The instructor may choose a textbook such as:
Bashir, H., & Gray, P.W. (2015). Deconstructing Global Citizenship: Political, Cultural, and Ethical Perspectives. Lexington Books.
Dower, N. & Williams, J. (Eds.). (2002) Global citizenship: A critical introduction. Routledge. Or compile a reading list of relevant articles/materials for this course.
Gaudelli, W. (2016). Global citizenship education: Everyday transcendence. Routledge.
Sant, E., Davies, I., Schultz, L. & Pashby, K. (2018). Global citizenship education: A critical introduction to key concepts and debates. Bloomsbury.
Sterri, A. B. (2014). Global Citizen-- Challenges and Responsibility in an Interconnected World. Brill | Sense.