Extensive Beyond the Classroom Experience

You must participate in 200 hours of immersion in, or service to, a community that experiences societal challenges, documented through community service, internship, peer leadership, and/or other experiences related to social advocacy issues in the United States. You may use multiple experiences to earn the 200 hours, but at least half (100 hours) must come from one experience. You will be required to submit a proposal describing the population or issue with which you have, will be, or are currently working. The proposal will be submitted within the GLD experience record and application.

In addition, you must also complete a 30-hour research or advocacy project related to the population or issue you proposed for your 200 hours of service, internship, or peer leadership. This may be accomplished through development of community services, political activism/policy change, or research. The research or advocacy project may be done in connection with the service site of Part A (200 hours), but must be completed outside of regular duties and responsibilities of the role. Example themes for experiences and projects include:

• Pediatric health: Serving as a pediatric intern in a local community and completing research on health care providers' knowledge of child maltreatment
• Refugees: Volunteering with refugee services and completing research on outcomes of survivors served by the Libertas Center
• Support for the homeless: Interning with a homeless shelter and creating a database for the shelter to recruit volunteers to serve the homeless community more efficiently
• Multicultural students: Serving as an OMSA Peer Educator and completing the Social Justice Advocacy Program certificate. 

GLD Verification Forms are required for all off-campus experiences and for on-campus experiences without a faculty or staff mentor. More in-depth information on the GLD verification process can be found on the Apply page. Students will be ineligible for GLD for failure to submit a verification form, engagement in forgery, or for misrepresenting experiences.  

International Students:  Prior to engaging in on or off-campus employment, internship, or practicum experiences, please visit International Student Services and consult an ISS advisor to learn about your employment options and determine your eligibility as well as obtain any required authorizations.

Enhancement Experiences

You must participate in three (3) different enhancement experiences. An enhancement experience expands your knowledge and helps you understand concepts, ideas, and topics related to your pathway. They are additional beyond-the-classroom activities, separate from the core experience, that demonstrate sustained commitment related to your pathway. You will be asked to identify the experience, its significance, and how it relates to your GLD pathway.  

Enhancement experiences do not require verification from a supervisor and: 

• May be completed during a one-time event or may be an on-going experience 

• May involve active or passive attendance 

• May occur on or off-campus  

Examples include (but are not limited to): 

• Workshops, guest lectures attended outside of class, conferences, presentations, official meetings, job shadowing, leadership roles, organization membership or involvement, employment, and out-of-class events or trips 

Use the My USC Experience Database, office or department newsletters, or social media to find potential enhancement experiences related to your GLD pathway. 

Coursework

You must complete six (6) credit hours with a B or better from the approved course list for the Diversity and Social Advocacy pathway. You may not double count your coursework toward fulfilling the GLD core experience requirement. If you have not taken courses from the approved list, you may list and describe in your own words  up to two courses (6 credit hours) that were particularly meaningful for your pathway. You should have earned a B or better for these courses.

Presentation 

You must complete a presentation demonstrating learning from a meaningful beyond the classroom experience. Your presentation must meet certain expectations such as focusing on a significant beyond-the-classroom experience, articulating what you have learned from your experience, and receiving feedback from a supervisor or mentor. Visit the Presentation page for more information on approved presentation venues and requirements. 

ePortfolio

You must complete a GLD ePortfolio demonstrating the significance of your within-and-beyond the classroom experiences related to your pathway. The two ways of completing the ePortfolio are taking a course that supports the creation of the GLD ePortfolio (such as Univ 401 for GLD) or by attending an ePortfolio workshop and then working with a GLD advisor.

Extensive Beyond the Classroom Experience

You must participate in 80 hours of immersion in, or service to, a community that experiences societal challenges, documented through community service, internship, peer leadership, and/or other experiences related to social advocacy issues in the United States. You may use multiple experiences to earn the 80 hours, but at least half (40 hours) must come from one experience. You will be required to submit a proposal describing the population or issue with which you have, will be, or are currently working. The proposal will be submitted within the GLD experience record and application.

In addition, you must also complete a 15-hour research or advocacy project related to the population or issue you proposed for your 80 hours of service, internship, or peer leadership. This may be accomplished through development of community services, political activism/policy change, or research. The research or advocacy project may be done in connection with the service site of Part A (80 hours), but must be completed outside of regular duties and responsibilities of the role. Example themes for experiences and projects include:

• Pediatric health: Serving as a pediatric intern in a local community and completing research on health care providers' knowledge of child maltreatment
• Refugees: Volunteering with refugee services and completing research on outcomes of survivors served by the Libertas Center
• Support for the homeless: Interning with a homeless shelter and creating a database for the shelter to recruit volunteers to serve the homeless community more efficiently
• Multicultural students: Serving as an OMSA Peer Educator and completing the Social Justice Advocacy Program certificate. 

GLD Verification Forms are required for all off-campus experiences and for on-campus experiences without a faculty or staff mentor. More in-depth information on the GLD verification process can be found on the Apply page. Students will be ineligible for GLD for failure to submit a verification form, engagement in forgery, or for misrepresenting experiences.  

International Students:  Prior to engaging in on or off-campus employment, internship, or practicum experiences, please visit International Student Services and consult an ISS advisor to learn about your employment options and determine your eligibility as well as obtain any required authorizations.

Enhancement Experiences

You must participate in two (2) different enhancement experiences. An enhancement experience expands your knowledge and helps you understand concepts, ideas, and topics related to your pathway. They are additional beyond-the-classroom activities, separate from the core experience, that demonstrate sustained commitment related to your pathway. You will be asked to identify the experience, its significance, and how it relates to your GLD pathway.

Enhancement experiences do not require verification from a supervisor and: 

• May be completed during a one-time event or may be an on-going experience 

• May involve active or passive attendance 

• May occur on or off-campus  

Examples include (but are not limited to): 

• Workshops, guest lectures attended outside of class, conferences, presentations, official meetings, job shadowing, leadership roles, organization membership or involvement, employment, and out-of-class events or trips 

Use the My USC Experience Database, office or department newsletters, or social media to find potential enhancement experiences related to your GLD pathway. 

Coursework

You must complete three (3) credit hours with a B or better from the approved course list for the Diversity and Social Advocacy pathway. You may not double count your coursework toward fulfilling the GLD core experience requirement. If you have not taken courses from the approved list, you may list and describe in your own words  up to two courses (3 credit hours) that were particularly meaningful for your pathway. You should have earned a B or better for these courses.

Presentation 

You must complete a presentation demonstrating learning from a meaningful beyond the classroom experience. Your presentation must meet certain expectations such as focusing on a significant beyond-the-classroom experience, articulating what you have learned from your experience, and receiving feedback from a supervisor or mentor. Visit the Presentation page for more information on approved presentation venues and requirements. 

ePortfolio

You must complete a GLD ePortfolio demonstrating the significance of your within-and-beyond the classroom experiences related to your pathway. The two ways of completing the ePortfolio are taking a course that supports the creation of the GLD ePortfolio (such as Univ 401 for GLD) or by attending an ePortfolio workshop and then working with a GLD advisor.

Extensive Beyond the Classroom Experience

You must participate in 300 hours of immersion in, or service to, a community that experiences societal challenges, documented through community service, internship, peer leadership, and/or other experiences related to social advocacy issues in the United States. You may use multiple experiences to earn the 300 hours, but at least half (150 hours) must come from one experience. You will be required to submit a proposal describing the population or issue with which you have, will be, or are currently working. The proposal will be submitted within the GLD experience record and application.

In addition, you must also complete a 45-hour research or advocacy project related to the population or issue you proposed for your 300 hours of service, internship, or peer leadership. This may be accomplished through development of community services, political activism/policy change, or research. The research or advocacy project may be done in connection with the service site of Part A (300 hours), but must be completed outside of regular duties and responsibilities of the role. Example themes for experiences and projects include:

• Pediatric health: Serving as a pediatric intern in a local community and completing research on health care providers' knowledge of child maltreatment
• Refugees: Volunteering with refugee services and completing research on outcomes of survivors served by the Libertas Center
• Support for the homeless: Interning with a homeless shelter and creating a database for the shelter to recruit volunteers to serve the homeless community more efficiently
• Multicultural students: Serving as an OMSA Peer Educator and completing the Social Justice Advocacy Program certificate. 

GLD Verification Forms are required for all off-campus experiences and for on-campus experiences without a faculty or staff mentor. More in-depth information on the GLD verification process can be found on the Apply page. Students will be ineligible for GLD for failure to submit a verification form, engagement in forgery, or for misrepresenting experiences.  

International Students:  Prior to engaging in on or off-campus employment, internship, or practicum experiences, please visit International Student Services and consult an ISS advisor to learn about your employment options and determine your eligibility as well as obtain any required authorizations.

Enhancement Experiences

You must participate in four (4) different enhancement experiences. An enhancement experience expands your knowledge and helps you understand concepts, ideas, and topics related to your pathway. They are additional beyond-the-classroom activities, separate from the core experience, that demonstrate sustained commitment related to your pathway. You will be asked to identify the experience, its significance, and how it relates to your GLD pathway.

Enhancement experiences do not require verification from a supervisor and: 

• May be completed during a one-time event or may be an on-going experience 

• May involve active or passive attendance 

• May occur on or off-campus  

Examples include (but are not limited to): 

• Workshops, guest lectures attended outside of class, conferences, presentations, official meetings, job shadowing, leadership roles, organization membership or involvement, employment, and out-of-class events or trips 

Use the My USC Experience Database, office or department newsletters, or social media to find potential enhancement experiences related to your GLD pathway. 

Coursework

You must complete nine (9) credit hours with a B or better from the approved course list for the Diversity and Social Advocacy pathway. You may not double count your coursework toward fulfilling the GLD core experience requirement. If you have not taken courses from the approved list, you may list and describe in your own words  up to two courses (9 credit hours) that were particularly meaningful for your pathway. You should have earned a B or better for these courses.

Presentation 

You must complete a presentation demonstrating learning from a meaningful beyond the classroom experience. Your presentation must meet certain expectations such as focusing on a significant beyond-the-classroom experience, articulating what you have learned from your experience, and receiving feedback from a supervisor or mentor. Visit the Presentation page for more information on approved presentation venues and requirements. 

ePortfolio

You must complete a GLD ePortfolio demonstrating the significance of your within-and-beyond the classroom experiences related to your pathway. The two ways of completing the ePortfolio are taking a course that supports the creation of the GLD ePortfolio (such as Univ 401 for GLD) or by attending an ePortfolio workshop and then working with a GLD advisor.