ILR students at graduation

Guidelines for Completion of ILR Global Scholars Program

1. International Experience

Completion of one significant international experience is required. The following types of experiences are acceptable:

  • Study abroad program or exchange program for a semester or a year
  • International internship (ILR Credit Internship or Cornell Global Internship)
  • Participation in a service-learning program abroad
  • Conducting honors thesis research abroad (not part of a study abroad experience). *Anything not included on the list above must be approved by an advisor*
    • The experience must be completed in a country other than the United States, different from your country of origin, and different from the country in which you did much of your schooling.
    • The experience must constitute significant engagement for a substantial period (at least one month and may include pre- or post-experience coursework.
    • The experience must be anchored around courses, research, or service-learning projects.

2. Foreign Language Study

Twelve language credits must be completed (three consecutive courses in a single foreign language). Languages taken elsewhere (e.g., while studying abroad) will count towards the 12 credits. *Important information for TRANSFER students* Language placement tests are required. Please get in touch with the language departments directly for more information. Please note that some placement tests are only offered in the Fall semester.

OR

One course must be completed at the 2000 level.

OR

A student may take a CASE (Cornell Advanced Standing Exam) in a language in which he/she is proficient; however, one language course must still be completed on campus. 

3. GPA

A minimum GPA of 3.6 is required for acceptance into the program, and students must maintain at least a 3.5 GPA at graduation to receive the Global Scholars Program designation. Petitions for slight exceptions may be considered if your GPA is between 3.5 and 3.6. 

4. International/Comparative Courses

  1. The IC core requirement of ONE course must be met.
  2. An additional FOUR international/comparative courses must be taken. These courses may be taken from the list approved for the IC distribution requirement or may be taken from anywhere else in the university if approved by IC faculty. Faculty-signed petitions can be sent to Becky Baines (rb786@cornell.edu). (TWO 7-week 1.5 credit courses can be combined to count as a course)
  3. THREE of the five courses must be taken inside ILR
  4. THREE of the five courses may focus on a particular region of the world, but the remaining two courses must focus on other regions. For example, three courses can be taken on East Asia or China, but the other two must deal with other regions, such as Latin America, Europe, Africa, etc.
  5. ALL courses must be taken for a letter grade.
  6. A maximum of TWO courses taken while studying abroad will count towards the course requirements. However, language courses will qualify for the language requirement.
  7. Independent studies or honors theses (on international topics) will count as ONE course towards the GSP.
  8.  All courses must be at least 3 credits and taken for a letter grade. 

5. Global Scholar Senior Capstone ILRIC 4940

Global Scholar Senior Capstone ILRIC 4940 is a 1.5-credit Pass/Fail course for Global Scholars to reflect and share their experiences as a Global Scholar.

In VERY rare circumstances, a student may take a Directed Study with an ILR faculty member instead of the Global Scholar Senior Capstone ILRIC 4940. This applies ONLY when a student has a significant course conflict, which is very rare.