• Global Studies Experience (GSE):

Global Studies strongly encourages students to extend their education beyond the classroom. One way to do this is to complete the Global Studies Experience (GSE), which offers students the opportunity to create an active link between academic learning and hands-on experience in the field. The GSE is optional. It consists of student-initiated volunteer or work placements, which must be conducted in a field setting outside Canada. The placements are preceded by completion of GS398 and followed by completion of GS399. In certain cases placements in Canada will be considered, where a student is able to demonstrate a substantive equivalence with a placement abroad. In all cases, students must apply to the GSE Advisor for pre-approval of their placements and permission to enrol in GS398 and GS399.

To apply for the GSE and enrol in GS398, students must be

• in either the Honours or the Combined Honours program,
  
• have completed at least 2.0 GS credits at the 200 level, and
  
• have attained at least a 7.0 (B-) average in their GS courses.
  

Proposed placements are judged for their appropriateness with respect to the goals of generating intercultural experiences and augmenting student learning in areas related to the GS curriculum. All placements must take place between May and August and must last at least four weeks. There are four steps to completion of the GSE, as follows:

1. apply in the fall semester for conditional pre-approval of the proposed field placement and permission to enrol in GS398;
   
2. obtain final approval for the field placement and successfully complete GS398 during winter semester;
   
3. complete the minimum four week field placement sometime between May-August; and 4. complete GS 399 in the fall semester following the field placement.