Courses and requirements

International education

T. Meyers, Director of International Education

Introduction

Goshen College offers several types of international education. First is the general education requirement of a Study-Service Term (SST) or its equivalent in on or off-campus courses (Sections I and II). Second is a Minor in international studies (Section III). Third is a variety of other overseas educational opportunities offered by Goshen College or other organizations with whom we cooperate (Sections IV and V). In addition, the international student program described in the Student Life pages integrates international students with campus life.

I. The Study-Service Term (SST)

Program description

SST is a program designed to immerse students for one term in a culture significantly different from that of the United States. Its goals for each student are to develop intercultural openness, communication in a variety of forms, thinking that is active and reflective, and understanding of self and others. Spanish SST units are offered in the Caribbean and South America. Currently, units also operate in Germany, China, Asia, Ethiopia and Senegal.

Students choose a language area for SST in consultation with their academic adviser and spend one term in a location of that language, preferably during the sophomore year. Students are urged to plan and sign up for SST participation upon entering college because spaces are limited.

At each location, Goshen faculty leaders arrange the academic program and give personal counsel to a group of up to 23 students. The first six weeks of the term are spent studying the language and culture of the host country. The faculty leader uses local resources to support a largely experience-based learning program: home stays, lectures, discussion, field trips, journal writing, readings, special projects and examinations. Library resources, although somewhat limited, are available at each unit. During the last six weeks of the term, students work in a field/service-learning assignment, usually in a rural area. Throughout the term, students live in homes of the host country and eat at least two meals daily with their “families.” See www.goshen.edu/sst/ for more information.

Participation in SST is an educational privilege for those whose recent performance suggests that they are ready for the special challenge of SST. A screening process reviews the health and the academic and behavioral performance of all SST applicants throughout the preparation process until departure. On location, all SSTers are expected to follow both the standards of the college and the guidelines more specific to the norms of the host culture and host family.

Student fees in the Caribbean area, including travel costs, are the same as for a semester’s tuition, room and board on campus. Units in other locations involve extra cost.

SST locations for 2008-2011 (tentative)

2008-09	Fall semester China Peru Jamaica	Spring semester Peru	Summer semester Germany Nicaragua Peru
2009-10	Fall semester Peru	Spring semester Cambodia Peru	Summer semester Nicaragua Peru Senegal
2010-11	Fall semester Peru	Spring semester Peru Tanzania	Summer semester Peru Nicaragua

Credit hours and evaluation

Foreign language 4
Intercultural communication 3
History and Culture of [country] 3
Arts and Literature of [country] 2
The Natural World of [country] 1

Students will receive a letter grade for each program component.

Prerequisites for SST

Students are responsible for completing these essential prerequisites prior to SST. The director of international education must approve any exceptions

Students participating in French, German or Spanish units need to establish 102-level competency (by course or test) in the language of the country.
Students participating in any other foreign language unit will complete one elementary course in that language, offered on campus especially for that SST group prior to departure, and one course selected from any other language or from the following list. Whenever possible, students should elect a course from the specific region of their SST unit.

Bus 350, International Business
Comm 206, Communication Across Cultures
Econ 306, International Economics
Econ 308, Introduction to Economic Development
Engl 201, World Literature in English
Engl 310, Introduction to Linguistics
Hist 240, History of Global Poverty
Hist 340, Religious History of Africa
Hist/WoSt 330, Gender in World History
Hist 335, History of Ethnic Conflict
Hist 350, African History
MCLL 300, International Classics
PoSc 308, International Politics
Phil 307, Asian Thought
Rel 317, Islam and Judaism
Soc 230, Cultural Anthropology
Soc 330, Family and Kinship Across Cultures
Soc 334, Race, Class and Ethnic Relations
Soc 340, African Societies and Cultures

II. Alternate ways to meet the international education requirement

A. Approved study-abroad programs

The approved study-abroad programs described in Section IV may be used toward the alternative to the SST. Students may receive SST alternate credit for language courses at the 200-level or higher in an approved study abroad program. If the student has already met the SST prerequisite, 100-level language study in a second language may also count as an alternate. Approval must be granted by the director of international education.

B. Other international and cross-cultural options

This program is designed for those whose needs call for an experience different from the full three-month SST unit abroad. While immersion in another culture through SST comes nearest to our ideal for an integrative experience in international education for most students, we intend other options to promote the same learning outcomes as SST. Through courses on the Goshen campus, experiences and resources in the surrounding community, and where possible participation in shorter seminars abroad, this program includes a serious study in culture, encourages an interdisciplinary service learning component and invites an integrative activity to bring the various components into a meaningful whole. B.S. Nursing students who desire an alternative to the SST program should see the nursing department information in this catalog for a modification of the requirements below.

Required prerequisite: Two units of foreign language and culture which may be completed in any one of the following ways:

102-level course or proficiency in any foreign language
101-level language plus Comm 206
two 101-level courses in any foreign language (credit or proficiency)

Additional 12 credit hours in courses selected from the list of “SST alternate” courses below. These courses may not also count toward major, minor or other general education requirements. With assistance from advisers, students are encouraged to plan an integrated program to meet particular educational goals rather than to select courses based on random interest. The following list of international-studies courses may be supplemented with one-time courses approved by the dean and the director of international education. Some courses are offered in alternate years.

ASL 104, North American Deaf Culture
Bus 350, International Business
Bus 375, Business in Spain
Comm 206, Communicating Across Cultures
Econ 306, International Economics
Econ 308, Introduction to Economic Development
Engl 201, World Literature in English
Engl 207/307, Irish Literautre in Ireland, African American Literature or American Indian Literature
Engl 310, Introduction to Linguistics
Hist 240, World Geography
Hist 255, History of Global Poverty
Hist/WoSt 330, Gender in World History
Hist 335, History of Ethnic Conflict
Hist 340, Religious History of Africa
Hist 344, Latin American History
Hist 350, African History
Hist 375, Topics: History of the Southwest
Intl 250/350, Intercultural Service-Learning (see description below)
MCLL 300, International Classics
PJCS 320, Borderlands
PJCS 430, Healing the Wounds of Violence
PoSc 308, International Politics
PoSc 318, Latin American Politics
Phil 307, Asian Thought
Rel/Soc 315, Religion in Culture and Society
Rel/PJCS 316, Liberation Theologies
Rel 317, Islam and Judaism
Rel/Soc 319, Doing Theology Abroad
Soc 220, Human Origins/Human Nature
Soc 230, Cultural Anthropology
Soc 330, Family and Kinship Across Cultures
Soc 334, Race, Class and Ethnic Relations
Soc 336, Latin American Societies and Cultures
Soc 340, African Societies and Cultures
Soc 342, Native American Societies and Cultures
Spanish courses, any 300-level or above

Intl 250, 350 Intercultural Service-Learning 1-6
A field assignment in an intercultural setting through an approved voluntary-service agency. Arranged by the student with the international education director.

C. Modified program for students with other intercultural experience

Although most North American students who have considerable intercultural experience participate in SST, some may qualify for a reduced international education requirement. Students must meet one of the following requirements:

Live in another country outside the United States or Canada at least six months after completing high school.
Live in another country outside the United States or Canada for at least two years after the age of 12.
Participate in an organized service program operated by a church or service agency in a cultural group significantly different from one's own, for a period of at least six months.

If ANY one of the above conditions is met, the student must then:

Meet the standard language prerequisite to SST (See II.B.)
Earn six credit hours in international studies courses from the above options. Three credit hours of language learned in a foreign country may count as part of the six credit hours.

D. Exemption from SST

Students who have had significant intercultural experience throughout their life prior to enrolling at Goshen College may be exempt from SST. These students will be assessed on a case by case basis by the director of international education.
Studying in the United States meets the international education requirement for international students, though they are encouraged to seek service experience in this country. They may participate in SST, but any GC grants to international students may not be applied to SST.

III. Minor in international studies

Program director and adviser: T. Meyers, Associate Dean for International Education

9-17 credit hours, in addition to a semester of SST

Language prerequisite for SST (credits or proficiency) 0-8
Any three approved "SST alternate" courses from the list above 9

Planning and advising notes

This minor is available only to students who have had SST or an equivalent semester of study abroad. For students with SST in east Africa, China, or Cambodia, the alternate SST language prerequisites may be used. The course work is recommended for after SST, but courses taken before SST do apply.
The three "SST alternate" courses may not overlap with requirements in any major or any other minor.

If the international studies minor is selected as one of the three areas of study in an interdisciplinary major, 15 credit hours of courses must be selected from the "SST alternate" list to complete that area of study.

IV. Other study abroad options with Goshen College

During the May term or summer, Goshen College may offer special courses abroad. Locations vary, but in the past they have operated in England, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Middle East, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Perú. Credits may be earned in several areas, among them language, history, literature and peace studies. Some credits may apply as international study options (II-B).

V. Study abroad with other international programs

Study abroad is available at colleges or universities in many different countries. Special application must be made on forms available from the international education office. Goshen College students have access to approved study-abroad programs through affiliation with the following organizations:

Schools that are members of the Council of Mennonite Colleges
Brethren Colleges Abroad (BCA)
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)
Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)
Lithuania Christian College (LCCU)
Central American Study and Service (CASAS) in Guatemala

Goshen College students in these affiliated programs will be registered as students at Goshen College in absentia. Credit may count for international education requirements only with the approval of the director of international education. Approval for credit equivalency does not mean that Goshen College financial aid will apply, but sources of financial aid outside of Goshen College are available.

Financial aid policies

For the list of affiliated international study programs in the previous paragraph, sources of student financial aid and scholarships are limited to funding outside of Goshen College, such as Pell Grants, state grants, outside scholarships, church aid and Guaranteed Student Loans. Only when the international program is required by the student's major and there is no alternative available on campus may Goshen College scholarships and financial aid be used. An application must be submitted and the major must be declared by spring advising days prior to the year of off-campus study. Contact the director of student financial aid for more information.

Programs which are not on the approved list above may be eligible for credit transfer, but students who choose to enroll in programs that have no affiliation with Goshen College cannot apply for any sort of financial aid through Goshen College.

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