Global Studies Diploma Program - Davidson Day School

Davidson Day developed a Global Studies Diploma Program that combines rigorous field-based research with our strong international course offerings. The Global Studies Diploma Program offers students the opportunity to develop a culturally diverse perspective, both through curricular and experiential learning.

The diploma program compartmentalizes elements that currently exist at Davidson Day with the added enrichment of immersion and research through cohort learning. Students participating in the diploma program conduct research on a topic with international ramifications and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the connection among those perspectives.

The Global Studies Diploma Program is both demanding and rewarding. Students who complete the requirements for the Global Studies Diploma will be awarded a special diploma from Davidson Day School, in addition to their standard Davidson Day School diploma. Other benefits include participation in special programming, such as a lecture and workshop series, epicurean tastings, and travel experiences.

Click here to learn more about our international research opportunities

Director of Global Studies

Mat Saunders

Director of Global Studies, Upper School History Teacher

Global Studies Diploma Program Course of Study

Required Coursework

In addition to Davidson Day School graduation requirements, Global Studies Diploma students will be required to complete specific coursework. The purpose of these core courses is to provide a common base of knowledge for all participants as well as a basic set of skills and tools with which they can analyze global issues from the perspective of cultures, states, non-state actors, and systems. The required courses include:

Anthropology Honors
AP World History
AP Environmental Science
A world language class each year with a minimum of four levels in the same language. Alternatively, the requirement can be met by completing the AP level of one world language.

Required Research

The research component of the program requires a minimum of two weeks of international field research, either through Davidson Day School’s AFAR Program or another approved international research project. Members of the Global Studies Diploma committee will help students choose topics of interest and pair them with projects and research advisors to ensure a productive and enriching field experience. Research projects must be scientific in nature. Travel experiences without a scientific core, mission experiences, and study abroad will not fulfill this requirement. A minimum of two weeks must be completed to provide research for the student capstone project.

Capstone Project

To demonstrate proper process and execution of scientific research, Global Studies Diploma students will work with an advisory team to process data collected during their specific research project and create a capstone report, which will then be disseminated in the form of a paper and public presentation. Although students may collect data over the course of their high school years, this culminating project will be completed during the student’s senior year.

Academic Conferences

In addition to conducting international field research, students in the Global Studies Diploma Program have the opportunity to attend academic conferences. Conferences are enriching ways for our students to not only learn from peers but also close the scientific cycle by presenting their field research findings to others.

This academic year, students have the opportunity to travel to Calgary and Banff, Canada, for an archaeology conference hosted by Mount Royal University, and Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Florida for a Maya-themed conference hosted by AFAR and other archeologists.

These conferences include student research presentations and workshops for students to collaborate with and learn from professional archaeologists and scholars.

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