Academic Seals

Students who graduate with a Global Engagement Seal will prepare to be global citizens while accruing several academic and professional benefits:

• World language experience/coursework allow you to expand their foreign language awareness or proficiency to communicate in an increasingly global workplace 
• Globally themed course work that suits your interests and career/personal goals
• International experiences will increase your learning beyond the traditional classroom walls

Requirements

World Language Coursework and Globally-Themed Coursework (9 credits total): You will engage with rich academic subject matter through courses which focus on the study of a world language and globally themed coursework.

• World Language Coursework (3 – 6 credits)

  • language study may be demonstrated by successfully completing credits of university-level world language courses at SSU. Students may also transfer credits for World Language or American Sign Language courses from other accredited colleges or universities in the U.S. or during a study abroad experience. 
  • The language requirement is considered fulfilled by any student who has earned a diploma from a secondary school, college or university where instruction was in a language other than English.  Students may choose to take additional language courses or all 9 credits in WC courses.
  • If a student is a heritage speaker and their home language is a language other than English, they make take courses in that language or an additional world language. 
  • Students who have a language-based learning disability documented by the Office of Disability Services at Salem State University may request that a substitution of the World Language requirement be granted Courses taught in English with the WLC designation will be appropriate substitutions

• Globally Themed Coursework (3 – 6 credits) 

  • Students may choose 3 – 6 credits of globally-themed coursework from courses approved as part of the Salem State World Cultures General Education category (see list of attached courses which have been approved as in the World Cultures category of the General Education curriculum).
  • Transfer students may petition through the CIE to have 3 credits of prior coursework taken at another institution approved as “globally-themed.” 

International Experience:  Students will have one or more culturally immersive international experiences with people of a country other than the United States to gain cross-cultural awareness, intercultural communication experience, and empathy.  International experiences must total at least 143 hours can be fulfilled through the following:

• Study Abroad: Short-term faculty led trips summer programs, or semester or year-long study abroad programs. Note: International students studying in the United States will have fulfilled the sustained experience abroad.
• COIL course: Student completes a course with a COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) component may count the hours dedicated to COIL as part of this requirement.
• Internship: Student completes an internship or short-term service-learning experience in another country.
• Research, volunteer, or field work completed in another country.

To apply for the Global Engagement Seal, please fill out the intake form and a faculty fellow will contact you. To make an appointment, you can also contact Dr. Melanie Gonzalez, mgonzalez@salemstate.edu, faculty fellow for the Center for International Education

The Public Engagement Seal will be a valuable transcript recognition for students who have demonstrated active participation in civic learning and public engagement at Salem State University.  

The Public Engagement Seal will prepare students to serve as public problem solvers in their own communities, which may include geographic, identity, and issue-based communities among others. 

Requirements

Public Engagement Coursework (9 credits across 3 disciplines)

Students will take one course from the knowledge and skills category, one from the application and action orientation category, and a third course from either category. A list of eligible courses will be updated each semester and published on the Public Engagement Seal Canvas page.

Community-Based Experiences

Students will participate in at least two meaningful and sustained community, civic, political, or public engagement experiences with community members over one or more semesters and equal at least 143 hours. 

• Sustained volunteering or community service
• Community-based research
• Political, civic, or public engagement internship
• Political engagement.
• Advocacy, community organizing, or collective action
• Fieldwork
• Other Leadership Experience (as approved)

To apply for the Public Engagement Seal, please fill out the intake form and a faculty fellow will contact you. To make an appointment, you can also contact Dr. Megan Murphy, megan.murphy@salemstate.edu faculty fellow for the Center for Civic Engagement. 

The Diversity, Power Dynamics, and Social Justice (DPDS) Seal is valuable transcript recognition for students who have demonstrated active engagement in the study and practice of diversity, power dynamics, and social justice at Salem State University. The DPDS Seal provides:

• experiences that connect you academically, personally, professionally, and civically to our diverse communities and their struggles and accomplishments
• preparation to assume leadership roles in your communities and workplaces

Requirements

DPDS-Designated Coursework (9-12 credits)

Students will engage with rich academic subject matter and extend accomplishment of the DPDS goals through DPDS-designated courses.

Sustained DPDS engagement through internships focused on diversity, power dynamics, and social justice, a “study away” program, or additional coursework in related fields (3-6 credits)

  Sustained DPDS engagement can be fulfilled through the following:

•  Internship
• Study Away 
• Additional Coursework. Courses not designated as DPDS but that are part of the minors in Civic Engagement; African American Studies; Women’s and Gender Studies; Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies; Urban Studies

To apply for the DPDS Seal, please fill out the intake form and a faculty fellow will contact you to make an appointment. You can also contact Monica Leisey, faculty fellow for the Center for Equity, Education, and Belonging.