The Global Educators Cohort Program (GECP) prepares future teachers who are committed to preparing today’s children for tomorrow’s world.
The Global Educators Cohort Program (GECP) gives future educators the tools they need to teach with a global view and to make an impact in today’s classrooms, which are increasingly culturally diverse. Through social and educational experiences, MSU’s Global Educators are prepared to help young people think about themselves as citizens and stewards of the world around them.
Points of distinction
COHORT COMMUNITY
Within GECP, connect with fellow Spartans who have the same goals and passions as you: to teach and bring global education into classrooms.
FACULTY EXPERTISE
In small classes with your fellow cohort members, learn from renowned faculty who are leaders in the field of international education.
A DIFFERENT LENS
Throughout GECP, you will be challenged to push yourself and see the world through a new set of eyes: learning how you can become a part of the global community.
About
What is GECP?
The Global Educators Cohort Program (GECP) gives future educators the tools they need to teach with a global view and to make an impact in today’s classrooms, which are increasingly culturally diverse. Through social and educational experiences, MSU’s Global Educators are prepared to help young people think about themselves as citizens and stewards of the world around them.
Who can join GECP?
Incoming freshman at Michigan State University interested in learning about education in a global context at the elementary or secondary level.
We invite students from any background, especially those interested in bringing the world into their classroom and those who want to make an impact in linguistically and culturally diverse classrooms.
Do you offer specialized classes?
GECP students move through freshman and sophomore coursework as a cohesive group. The GECP program is specifically designed to help students explore what it means to be an educator in today’s global context.
Students engage with others from around the world:
- in their cohort classes,
- through work with young people in the local community,
- and in international contexts.
Global educators work together to become the best educators they can be and make an impact in their classrooms, their communities and the world.
Message from the Director
Welcome to the Global Educators Cohort Program website! We are excited that you stopped by, and we hope you will connect with us. Now, more than ever, future educators must be prepared to teach students in an increasingly globalized and interconnected world. The world outside our doorstep is constantly changing, and teachers must be prepared to help their students grapple with complex global issues and to communicate and build relationships across cultural and linguistic differences. Global educators are prepared not only to teach core academic subjects, but to help their students develop the knowledge, skills, and agency to identify and develop solutions to issues in their communities and beyond. If you are someone who wants to help students learn to recognize and take action to address global challenges, please explore this website to learn more about the Global Educators Cohort Program!
The Global Educators Cohort Program (GECP) is a specialized teacher preparation program focused on global and international perspectives. Cohort participants enjoy all the benefits of a nationally ranked teacher preparation program but also have the opportunity to study, socialize, and engage in hands-on, practical learning activities with a small group of fellow students. GECP students enjoy many advantages, such as individualized mentorship by faculty, practicing teachers, and administrators with expertise and experience in global and international education; opportunities to participate in special seminars, undergraduate research opportunities, and special, smaller, faculty-led, course sections designed specifically for members of GECP.
GECP students learn to teach in a wide range of settings both in US preK-12 classrooms and abroad. GECP graduates are prepared to bring the world to their students and educate for global citizenship in both elementary and secondary settings in all subject areas. Students in our program pursue teaching certification in a variety of areas; majors that GECP students have pursued include: elementary education, special education, music education, physical education, as well as secondary English, biology, history, social studies and Spanish.
As you explore our website, you will have a chance to learn more about our program, meet some of our GECP students and graduates, and get information about how you can apply to be a part of GECP. Please feel free to contact us directly if any of your questions are not answered here. We hope you will consider applying to be part of our community of global changemakers!
Best,
Bethany Wilinski
Program Requirements
Students must enroll in GECP-designated sections for all courses. Descriptions can be found on the MSU Course Description website.
Want to learn more about the Teacher Preparation Program? Start here.
Applying to GECP
Program Leaders
Director Bethany Wilinski
Michigan State University
Erickson Hall
620 Farm Lane, Room 332
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-432-5571
Email: bethanyw@msu.edu
Why should you join GECP? It helps you gain a better understanding of the increasingly diverse educational system in America and around the world. The challenging coursework prepared students for a career in education, and the course content helps Spartans analyze their contributions to the world.
Connecting cultures, shaping learning
Assistant Professor Carrie Symons has debuted a documentary and free complementary teaching materials to help the next generation of students better understand the realities refugees face—and use that information to better shape our global future.
Learn more ›
