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Global Online Academy at Concordia

Concordia is a member of the Global Online Academy, a consortium of over 125 high-performing independent schools, representing 30 countries and over 30 states.

Established in 2011, the Global Online Academy (GOA) offers diverse and rigorous credit-bearing courses to students in member schools around the world. All GOA courses have synchronous components (when students collaborate together or work with their teacher at a set time, generally using video conferencing software) and asynchronous components (students choose when to participate).  Students can discover, explore and pursue their passions through learning about relevant, real-world topics they might not otherwise be able to on the Concordia campus.

Concordia students who enroll in GOA courses experience a global and collaborative online classroom, studying alongside peers who have diverse backgrounds and experiences. Courses are designed, developed and taught by teachers from member schools. GOA courses are equivalent to an honors or AP course in amount of work and time necessary to complete the course. 

Credit is awarded by Concordia for eligible and participating Concordia students.  Summer courses are awarded elective credit and semester and yearlong courses during the school year are awarded either credit toward graduation requirements or elective credit, depending on the selected course.

GOA Course Offerings for School Year 23-24

Courses marked with an asterisk meet Concordia departmental graduation requirements.  See the section below on 'credit' for more information.  All other courses are electives. 

Interested in Learning More about GOA at Concordia? Contact Concordia’s GOA Site Director, Joe Fambro – joe.fambro@concordiashanghai.org

Semester 1 GOA Courses for School Year 23-24

  • Architecture
  • Filmmaking*
  • Graphic Design*
  • Business Problem Solving*
  • Entrepreneurship in a Global Context*
  • Investing I*
  • Personal Finance
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applying Philosophy to Global Issues
  • Climate Change & Global Inequality*
  • Genocide & Human Rights*
  • Global Health
  • Medical Problem Solving I
  • Medical Problem Solving II
  • Prisons & Criminal Justice Systems
  • Race & Society*
  • Data Visualization*
  • Game Theory*
  • Linear Algebra*
  • Number Theory*
  • Abnormal Psychology*
  • Developmental Psychology*
  • Introduction to Psychology*
  • Neuropsychology*
  • Positive Psychology*
 

Semester 2 GOA Courses for School Year 23-24

  • Architecture
  • Arts Entrepreneurship
  • Computer Science II: Game Design*
  • Computer Science II: Python*
  • Computer Science II: Java*
  • Cybersecurity
  • Digital Photography*
  • Graphic Design*
  • Business Problems Solving*
  • Capitalism: Past Present Future*
  • Entrepreneurship in a Global Context*
  • Introduction to Blockchain & Cryptocurrency*
  • Investing I*
  • Investing II*
  • Personal Finance
  • Climate Change & Global Inequality*
  • Bioethics
  • Medical Problem Solving I
  • Medical Problem Solving II
  • Gender & Society
  • Prisons & Criminal Justice Systems
  • Game Theory*
  • Linear Algebra*
  • Abnormal Psychology*
  • Developmental Psychology*
  • Introduction to Psychology*
  • Neuropsychology*
  • Positive Psychology*
 

Yearlong GOA Courses for School Year 23-24

  • Arabic Language Through Culture I*
  • Arabic Language Through Culture II*
  • Arabic Language Through Culture III*
  • Japanese Language Through Culture I*
  • Japanese Language Through Culture II*
  • Japanese Language Through Culture III*
  • Multivariable Calculus*

Policies Regarding GOA Courses at Concordia

Site Director  Recommendation

Enrollment in Global Online Academy courses that will appear on a student’s Concordia high school transcript requires the recommendation and approval of the Concordia GOA Site Director.  The Site Director will evaluate the student’s academic background, motivation, and ability to succeed in an online course before making a recommendation.

Drop/Add Deadline

At Concordia, the policy for adding or dropping Global Online Academy (GOA) courses differs from the GOA policy itself. It's important to be aware that GOA permits a student to drop a course at any time during the term (fees imposed after the first drop date). In contrast, Concordia students are not permitted to drop a course after the first drop deadline for that term, typically approximately 9-10 days after the course begins. If a Concordia student does not drop the GOA course before the "GOA last day to drop with no penalty" deadline and fails to complete the course, they will receive an "F" grade (or 59%) for the GOA course on their Concordia transcript.

Incomplete/Fail

If a student does not complete their Global Online Academy (GOA) course and receives an "Incomplete" grade due to insufficient evidence provided by the student, an "F" (or 59%) will be recorded on their Concordia high school transcript. However, the student may be able to replace the failing grade with a passing grade by retaking the same course under the following conditions:

  • If the course is offered by GOA in a future term while the student is enrolled at Concordia
  • If the GOA site director recommends that the student retake the course
  • If the student successfully passes the course the second time
  • If the student/family agrees to pay for the course when retaking it
  • In order to replace the failing grade, all of these conditions must be met

Please note that this means a senior who fails a GOA course will not have an opportunity to recover the course credit by retaking the course.