GPAC

Awakening a global perspective.

Questions one might overhear when walking past a class in the Global Perspectives and Citizenship (GPAC) program

“Are mega sporting events actually good for the people of the host countries?”, “What creates a successful secession?”, “How do modern cities use urban planning to manage their resources for sustainable growth?”

Recognizing that citizenship involves membership in a common whole – whether community, nation, or world – the GPAC program asks students to think beyond their own experiences in order to develop an appreciation of multiple perspectives on a given issue.

GPAC is designed to provide space for select students who are passionate about global issues and are excited to explore and conduct their own independent research.

The GPAC curriculum helps these students develop the skills and mindset necessary to navigate the rapidly changing relationships between communities, cultures, and civilizations worldwide. The concentration program empowers students with global perspectives and intercultural competencies.

Exciting Opportunities for Enrichment

Based on individual student initiative and interest, participation in GPAC may also include such experiential elements as summer travel abroad, an internship with an organization dedicated to global issues, or attendance at one of many university-sponsored Global Studies summer programs.

Program Admission

Admission to the GPAC program is selective. The program is appropriate for students with strong reading, writing, and language skills who have an interest in world affairs. Interested students may apply for the program at the end of their freshman year at Potomac. The process includes an essay, writing samples, and an interview with the selection committee.

When GPAC and Service Learning Intersect

Students in GPAC 11 were tasked with devising a service learning experience. When their unit on food insecurity began, they knew they had just found a way to take action and help support Ukrainians in need.

An inquiry based curriculum

With a structured environment, students tend to get excited about a specific area of global studies. The curriculum offers a scaffolding approach to research and analytical writing – giving students the fundamentals for their independent research in Grade 12.

“What's special about this experience is that students get to have a space to follow their passions, and our faculty is there to support them with the resources, materials, and the skills needed to execute a high-level research paper. We don’t dictate – the students in this concentration are very much in charge of their work, especially in Grade 12.”Bridget Gagne, Upper School Faculty Member

YEAR	FOCUS
GRADE 10	Each student begins the program by taking an Introduction to Global Studies. Using a combination of social theory and case studies, this year-long course introduces learners to global economics, politics, culture and citizenship; and then digs into specific larger issues such as food insecurity, pandemics, and climate change.
GRADE 11	A hallmark of the GPAC program is when students identify their own problem driven research project, working closely with Potomac faculty. They spend their junior year taking the problem they've identified, developing a research question from it, designing and executing that research.
GRADE 12	Students in the program produce a substantial research paper and give a presentation on their findings. Read descriptions of recent GPAC research projects.

In This Section

FEATURED SPEAKERS

BEYOND GPAC

When Hamilton Brooks ‘18 reads about history and the remarkable strides people have made, it brings him a degree of hope; with so much uncertainty in life, Hamilton wants to spread that hope to others. The Potomac alum puts his intentions into action and encourages others to do the same.

FINDING PASSION AND PURPOSE

Updates from Global Perspectives and Citizenship (GPAC) Concentration

GPAC Assembly 2026!

On Wednesday, April 29, GPAC11 hosted their annual assembly, based on this year’s central research question: "How does public security inform policy?" Students navigated this complex question through the lenses of humanitarianism, state stability, and nationalism, showcasing a deep understanding of how various actors enforce their priorities in an age of growing global interconnectedness. The event served as a celebration of their academic journey, with participants eagerly sharing their findings and engaging in thoughtful dialogue during the Q&A sessions. Following the assembly, students will transition into their writing phase this spring. It was an inspiring display of the inquiry and collaborative spirit that defines the GPAC experience.

GPAC Spends Morning at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

On Monday, April 27, the Global Perspective and Citizenship (GPAC) program visited the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which provided them the opportunity to explore the real-world impact of bipartisan policy research. During the visit, students engaged with Ms. Jane Nakano, a Senior Fellow in Energy Security and Climate Change program at CSIS, to learn about how a nonprofit organization provides data-driven insights that shape national security. It was an exciting experience for the students to see how the research skills they practice in the classroom have practical applications in solving complex international issues. The group was particularly intrigued by the methodology behind bipartisan collaboration, and how independent think tanks successfully influence policy development without being formal government entities.

research examples

Lost in the Drug Trade: How the Sinaloa Cartel Capitalizes on Community Erosion

The Rise of Punitive Penal Policy Under the U.K. Government in the 1990s

Ethiopia: A Link in China’s Chain to Hegemony

Research Projects