Academy for Global Studies

The Academy for Global Studies is an interdisciplinary program that blends high-level learning with meaningful experiences that help students reach their full potential and future goals.  

Students also have the opportunity to earn the WI DPI’s prestigious Certificate of Global Competence through their Global Scholars program - To learn more, visit the WI DPI Global Scholars Program

The primary goal is for students in the Academy for Global Studies to master the same WI State Standards that all the students at Oshkosh West High School are mastering; however, we are committed to developing additional competencies (both academically and socio-emotionally) that prepare students for fulfilling futures.  As we implement our curriculum, the Academy focuses on helping students become global citizens that:

Understand interconnectedness: Recognizing how local actions affect the global community and vice versa.

Demonstrate cultural awareness and empathy: Appreciating diverse perspectives through a willingness to explore others’ experiences and to engage respectfully with people from different backgrounds.

Take action on global issues: Actively participating in addressing challenges that transcend national borders, such as climate change, poverty, or human rights.

Think critically about complex problems: Analyzing information from multiple sources and perspectives to form nuanced views.

Communicate across boundaries: Developing skills to effectively exchange ideas across cultural, linguistic, and ideological differences.

Demonstrate social responsibility: Acting with awareness of how personal choices impact others and the planet.

Pursue lifelong learning: Continuously seeking to understand evolving global issues and diverse viewpoints

Q: How is the Academy of Global Studies different from a traditional classroom?

A: The Academy for Global Studies differs from a traditional classroom setting in the following ways:

• Smaller learning community as students begin their experience at West High School (enrollment is limited to 75 students)
• Integrated learning (Social Studies, English and Spanish coursework is taught in an interdisciplinary way)
• Exploratory-focused curricula, where students research issues in the world around us and look for ways they can be part of the solution
• Learning in an environment for college-bound students
• Connecting with diverse peoples inside of West HS, in our greater Oshkosh community, and in the world at-large 
• Bringing learning to life through field trip, experiential learning, and leadership opportunities

Q: What will the day look like?

• Global Academy students will be scheduled into a flexible, multi-period block of time with two or three instructors
  • No two days look exactly alike in Global as we extend, shorten, or combine content class periods to maximize our learners’ growth!
• Outside of the Global Academy, students will follow a normal student day
• Class formats include small group, large group, individual, research, and seminar time
• Technology-rich instruction connects students to the broader world
• Students forge connections with a variety of diverse communities

Q: What is the Academy Course Progression?

• Freshman year: 3 hour block
  • US History (1.0)
  • English 1 Honors (1.0)
  • Spanish 2 (1.0)
• Sophomore year: 3 hour block
  • Diversity Studies (0.5)
  • Human Geography (0.5)
  • English 2 Honors (1.0)
  • Spanish 3 (1.0)
• Junior year: 2 hour block
  • Spanish 4 (1.0)
  • English 3 Honors (1.0)
  • Global Citizenship and Experiential Learning (0.5)
    • Scheduled as an “8th hour” and earned over the course of the students’ time in Global over 9th, 10th, and 11th grade
• Senior year:
  • CAPP Spanish (1.0)
  • Capstone (0.5)
    • Scheduled as an “8th hour” as students work toward completion of the Certificate of Global Competence

Q: What opportunities does Global offer to earn advanced college credit (AP and dual enrollment)?

A: Students in the Academy for Global Studies can earn college credit from CAPP Spanish and other courses in our curricular sequence.  While the program focuses on interdisciplinary learning that builds from year to year, it also recognizes that flexible options for earning advanced credit are important to our students and their stakeholders.  Oshkosh West High School also offers a variety of AP and dual enrollment courses in content areas beyond the program that Global students have the opportunity to take, too.

Successful Global Academy applicants tend to:

• Value challenges and learning about topics in a collaborative environment 
• Enjoy making connections between English, Spanish, and Social Studies 
• Read enthusiastically
• Want to excel in a world language
• Take responsibility for their learning
• Recognize that most ideas and issues are not black and white
• Communicate and work effectively as part of a group
• Respect a diversity of viewpoints
• Appreciate creative learning opportunities with open-ended tasks and outcomes
• Have an interest in global issues and cultures/experiences other than their own

Enroll in the following courses for Freshmen year:

• G1131 & G1132 Academy English 1 Honors
• G5421 & G5422 Academy Spanish 2
• G4121 & G4122 Academy US History

Please Note: The maximum capacity is 75 students. If more than 75 students enroll, a blind lottery will determine who is enrolled.

Spend 8-10 days exploring a foreign country while bringing your learning to life! Some past trips have visited England, the Dominican Republic, and Spain, and we will return to the Dominican Republic next!

Next tour: June of 2027
Questions? Contract tour leader Will Brydon at william.brydon@oshkosh.k12.wi.us

Every other year, students enrolled in a Spanish course at West High School have the opportunity to travel to a Spanish-speaking country selected by the students.

Next tour: June of 2028

Questions? Contact TBD

CIEE is a nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization that transforms lives and builds bridges between individuals and nations by sponsoring a wide variety of opportunities for the exchange of ideas and experiences. The CIEE mission is to help people develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world, and contribute to a more peaceful global community by humanizing international relations. 

Quick Facts:

• 100+ programs in 40 cities
• 2 types of programs: 4 week Language Programs for Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, or Korean OR 3 week Topic Programs related to STEM, Arts & Culture, Business, Social Change
• Since 2016, the Academy for Global Studies has sent over 60 students abroad and received over $170,000 in scholarships for those students.

More information can be found at ciee.org

Here is a complete list of our students and where they traveled!