Depth and commitment
Dual Diploma Programs
“In college I realized that, having taken the Global Studies Seminar class at Watkinson, I really had been asked to read and write at a very high level, while still in high school.”
Ryan Dupuis ’17, B.A. in Government, St. Lawrence University
Global Studies Program
The goal of the Global Studies Program is to develop active, engaged global citizens. While all Watkinson students learn from a global perspective, those seeking specialized study can apply in grade 10 or in the summer for newly accepted 11th graders for a special diploma in Global Studies. The diploma program is multi-faceted and intellectually challenging. Students learn from guest speakers at Watkinson School, virtual meetings with experts around the world, and traveling to talks, plays, conferences, and more.
The program’s rigor demands a substantial commitment of time and energy as well as a willingness to collaborate with others. For more information about the program’s themes and requirements, please get in touch. Our Global Studies website gives more information about the Program and diploma students.
Service and experiential learning trips form an important part of the Global Studies education open to all students. Many Watkinson students have worked at a medical clinic and built houses for sugar cane workers in the DR, taught English, math and computer skills to children in Uganda, and built sheltered bus stops for indigenous people in Costa Rica. A student initiative to explore Middle Eastern culture and contemporary issues led to our trip to Jordan.
Jackson Forrest ’21, now a student at the College of William & Mary, won “Best Delegate” at the International Model UN in Budapest, Hungary while in high school. In the video below, he talks about “not memorizing but meaning” at Watkinson.
Creative Arts Program
Student artists who have demonstrated serious interest and strong ability may be accepted into the Diploma Program based on audition or portfolio review, written statement of intent, and interview.
Many of these students plan to enter careers in the arts; graduates have gone on to some of the world’s leading dance and theaters companies, galleries, and symphony orchestras. This program combines rigorous practice schedules with an individualized course of requirements under the guidance of an arts advisor. Students may study off-campus if necessary during the day. The C.A.P. faculty provides liasion with leading arts institutions, including the Hartford Art School, Hartt School of Music, and Juilliard.
