Global Studies Diploma
For students drawn to international relations, environmental policy, cultural research, global public policy, or any field that requires crossing borders — geographic, cultural, or intellectual. Students develop cultural fluency and the ability to navigate complex global systems with discernment.
The Global Studies Diploma Distinction prepares students to understand an increasingly interconnected world through rigorous academic study, language immersion, and transformative international experiences, helping them develop the perspective and fluency needed to engage thoughtfully with the wider world.
This Diploma Distinction has existed at Davidson Day School since 2021, with most students taking advantage of the AFAR research trips to Spain, Portugal, and Belize to ground their research in collegiate-level archaeological research and international travel experience. As the Global Studies pathway matures, students will have additional opportunities to participate in international service trips, language immersion programs, or find their own international opportunities to ground their research and explore their interests.
Practicum experiences—often including international travel, research initiatives, language immersion, or cross-cultural service—become the foundation for sustained academic inquiry. Through their Capstone research, students investigate questions that emerge from lived global experience, whether in areas such as international development, environmental sustainability, archaeology, cultural identity, or global public health.