Global Studies and Service Diploma

GSS Diploma

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Our Mission

The Global Studies and Service Diploma program challenges students to engage locally and globally as agents of social change. A Global Studies and Service student engages with the world on a variety of levels— compassionate, creative, intuitive, analytical—in advancing causes of equity, justice, and sustainability. Students who earn the Global Studies and Service Diploma will demonstrate active citizenship: the capacity to appreciate the global dimension of everyday, local life and to catalyze social change within an increasingly complex and international world.

Our Goals

A student who earns the Global Studies and Service Diploma will demonstrate the ability to:

Understand and work fluently in a range of cultures
Understand and analyze biases, norms, privileges
Express a wide range of perspectives through writing and other narrative and creative forms
Foster a sense of empathy, compassion, and an appreciation for our common humanity
Effect change as an active citizen
Act as a steward of the environment

Fellowship Grants

Our Requirements

Cross-cultural experience: On campus

The student should demonstrate experience with a globally-oriented club, event, or activity at Taft by completing at least one of the options below. A written proposal must be approved by the GSS Department in advance.

Take a leadership role in staging a table at WorldFest
Serve on the Community Service Board
Serve as Editor of the Global Journal
Write two articles on global, cross-cultural, or environmental topics for the Global Journal (500-word minimum for each)
Participate in the Global Leadership Institute
Serve as a Taft Eco-Mon
Do an Independent Study Project (ISP) with a cross-cultural focus
Participate in Taft’s Model UN Club

After completing the experience, the student must submit a reflective essay demonstrating how the experience fulfills the requirement for a cross-cultural experience within the Taft community. Reflections are due two weeks after the semester ends.

Cross-cultural experience: In the community

The student should demonstrate experience within a culture beyond his/her home culture and outside of the Taft community. This experience may take place during the school year (e.g., volunteering as an “ex”) or during the summer (e.g., volunteering in a local community organization). The experience must span a significant number of hours, for example, one athletic season “ex,” a weeklong trip, etc. Proposals require GSS department approval and must be submitted by:

The end of the academic year for summer opportunities
The third week of the fall or spring semester for semester-long opportunities

The student must also submit a reflective essay demonstrating how this experience fulfills the requirement for a community cross-cultural experience. Essays are due by August 20 (for summer experiences) or two weeks after the semester ends (for experiences during a school semester).

Cross-cultural experience: Global

Service Travel and Program Providers

The student should demonstrate experience within a culture beyond his/her home culture and country. It is essential that travel programs include educational and service components. Possibilities include but are not limited to: Taft-sponsored service trips (e.g., Dominican Republic; Guatemala); Poole Grant travel; service/educational trips arranged through outside private or public funding; and exchange programs that makes use of Taft alumni and current families. Proposals require GSS department approval and must be submitted by:

January 1 for trips taking place over the following March break;
April 1 for trips taking place during the summer.

A reflective essay demonstrating how the student’s experience fulfills the requirement for a cross-cultural experience on a global level is due within two weeks of completing the trip.

Service

The service component of the Global Studies and Service Diploma may be completed in one of the following ways:

Fulfilling one of the Cross-Cultural Experience categories above;
Creating and completing an ISP that involves a service component.

A reflective essay demonstrating how the student’s experience fulfills the service requirement is required only for those selecting the ISP option.

Language proficiency

The language proficiency requirement may be met through the successful completion of a Level 4 course in French, Spanish, Chinese, or Latin.

A student entering as a Mid and starting at Level 1 may receive a special exemption.
A student from abroad who is exempt from foreign language study at Taft will be exempt from the language requirement.

Also recommended: travel in a culture represented by the student’s language of study.

Course Work

In-Person Reflection

Culminating Project

The project will be determined in conjunction with the GSS Department during the In-Person Reflection (see above), and will consist of a synthesis of the cross-cultural work the student has done in fulfilling the requirements for the Diploma. The student will present their project in a public forum during the spring of their senior year, usually at Morning Meeting or at the ISP Fair.

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