Global education

Introduction

Goshen College’s Study-Service Term fulfills the Core requirement for global education. Two different formats of SST, with the same student learning goals and series of courses, both in the US and abroad, are offered: a semester-long program and a sequential set of thematically related courses, with at least two immersive, experiential off-campus courses for both “study” and “service.” In addition, a minor in global studies and a variety of other global educational opportunities are available through Goshen College or other organizations with whom we partner. For contacts and related information, visit the Study-Service Term website at goshen.edu/sst.

I. The Study-Service Term (SST)

Program description

SST is a program designed to immerse students in a significantly different culture for experiential learning. Its goals for each student are to function competently and collaboratively in cross-cultural relationships, to analyze a critical global issue within systems of unequal power, to gain skills in language and cross-cultural communication, to engage in cultural analysis from a perspective of empathy and cultural humility, to develop a personal sense of social responsibility in civic engagement, and to actively and critically reflect on one’s own identity and position in the world.

SST, Semester-long

International SST units are one-semester immersion experiences. Spanish units are offered every semester in Latin America. Currently, other semester SST units operate in Indonesia, Senegal, Tanzania and the Navajo Nation.

Students choose a language area and location for semester-long SST in consultation with their academic advisor. See planning and advising notes for individual majors to determine the best timing for SST. Students are urged to plan and sign up early for the semester-long international SST. About half of all students participate in semester-long SST during their sophomore year. Others participate in their junior or senior year.

At each location, Goshen faculty leaders arrange the academic program and give personal direction 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 or community, focusing on a particular global topic. The faculty leader uses local resources to support a largely experiential learning program, including host family relationships, lectures, discussion, field trips, journal writing, readings, special projects, and examinations. During the last six weeks of the term, students work in a service assignment for community-engaged learning in another part of the country and complete an immersive community research project to present during the last week of the term. On SST, students live with host families throughout the term, often constituting their most significant cultural learning.

We hope that all students get the opportunity to spend a semester abroad on SST and will be working with each student in orientation to make sure that they are ready for the special challenge of living and studying abroad. Preparation includes a review of health, academic, and behavioral performance. Orientation takes place throughout the semester before departure.

Minimum GPA requirement is 2.0 to participate in international SST. Students must also receive a minimum of a C- in the language that is required for a particular unit. 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. There are extra fees associated with semester SST.

A student who decides not to go on SST or is academically disqualified from Goshen College less than six weeks prior to departure will be expected to pay all preparation costs, including the cost of an airline ticket.

A student who leaves an SST location and returns to the United States must pay all expenses associated with the return trip.

Student fees vary by unit location and from year to year. Please contact the global engagement office for more information.

Language Prerequisites

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

  1. Students participating in American Sign Language units in Ecuador need to establish 102-level competency at the outset of the term prior to departure. They are also highly encouraged to learn Spanish.
  2. Students participating in a foreign language unit will complete at least one elementary course in that language before leaving. Special languages are offered on campus especially for that SST group prior to departure. Students will complete their second language requirements while on SST. Students are encouraged to take additional language beyond the minimum requirement.

Split-Semester SST

In addition to the SST semester abroad, students can complete SST in one semester in the US by taking the first half of the semester on campus and then traveling to another place in the US to complete the immersive courses. Current options for this include Navajo & Hopi Nations: Southwest Indigenous Perspectives.

Language requirement for the Split-Semester SST

Students participating in the split-semester SST will also complete one of four options for language acquisition other than English:

  1. Demonstrate competence at the 102 level of any world language
  2. Demonstrate competence at the 101 level of two different languages
  3. Demonstrate competence in one language at the 101 level and complete either Comm 206, Communication across Cultures or Engl 310, Linguistics
  4. Demonstrate that the student’s native language is not English, either via F-1 status or via approval by the director of global engagement.

Competence in a language may be demonstrated by course credit, placement test, or CLEP test. See the director of global engagement for questions about individual situations.

SST locations for 2023-2026 (tentative)

2024-25 Fall semester Spring semester
Ecuador
Tanzania
Summer semester
Ecuador
Arizona: Navajo & Hopi
2025-26 Fall semester Spring semester
Ecuador
Indonesia
Summer semester
Ecuador
Senegal
2026-27 Fall semester Spring semester
Ecuador
Tanzania
Summer semester
Ecuador
Arizona: Navajo & Hopi

Credit hours and evaluation for Semester SST

  • Foreign language or GLST 241, Foundations3-4
  • GLST 250, Cultural Perspectives [location]3
  • GLST 260, Global Topics [location] 3
  • GLST 270, Community Engaged Learning [location] 3
  • GLST305, SST Integration Capstone 2

SST, Course Sequence

Following the same learning goals and course sequence as SST semester, students can choose to meet the global education requirement by doing SST courses one at a time during a regular semester on campus or in May or Summer terms.  Students will take each of these courses within a series of sequenced courses focused on a global theme.  Some of the current themes include  Ecological Justice, Global Health and Inequality, Hispanic Identities and Resilience, Arts and Purpose, and Global Heartland.

  • GLST 241, Foundations3
  • GLST 251, Cultural Perspectives3
  • GLST 271, Community Engaged Learning3
  • GLST 300, Global Issues 3

The Foundations course is offered on campus and prepares students with the concepts, skills, and place-specific knowledge for this SST.  Cultural Perspectives and Community Engaged Learning courses are immersive/experiential classes that may travel abroad, in the US, locally, or virtually. Locations have included Puerto Rico, Guatemala, India, Chicago, Detroit, Elkhart County, London, and Northern Ireland. Global Issues is the capstone course on campus that puts the learning into a global context where students will reflect on their experience. Students are advised to choose their SST sequence in their first year and put it in their four-year plan so they can begin to take these courses in order as they are offered. Most courses are offered at least every 2-3 years. There are extra fees associated with the short-term travel courses, including room and board for commuter students. 

Note: Courses designated for an SST sequence may not be used to meet any other graduation requirements.

Language requirement for the SST sequential courses

Students taking SST one course at a time will also complete one of four options for language acquisition other than English:

  1. Demonstrate competence at the 102 level of any world language
  2. Demonstrate competence at the 101 level of two different languages
  3. Demonstrate competence in one language at the 101 level and complete either Comm 206, Communication across Cultures or Engl 310, Linguistics
  4. Demonstrate that the student’s native language is not English, either via F-1 status or via approval by the director of global engagement.

Competence in a language may be demonstrated by course credit, placement test, or CLEP test. See the director of global engagement for questions about individual situations.

Exceptions for nursing majors

Students with a major in nursing have a modified on-campus program available. The community health clinical course counts as the foundations course. Students must take the following 4-course sequence in a theme to complete SST.

  • Language prerequisite: one semester (101 level) of any world language by placement test, course credit, CLEP exam, or native language other than English.
  • GLST 251, Cultural Perspectives
  • GLST 271, Community Engaged Learning
  • GLST 300, Global Issues

II. Other study abroad options with Goshen College

During the May term or summer, Goshen College may offer special courses abroad within academic departments. Locations vary, but recent courses have operated in China, Ecuador, England, India, Morocco, Nepal, Guatemala, and Spain. Credits may be earned in several areas, among them business, economics, art, music, theater, communication, religion, sustainability, nursing, and global studies.

III. Study abroad with other international programs

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

  • Mennonite Colleges and Universities Cross-Culturals
  • Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA)
  • 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 SST requirements only with the approval of the director of global engagement. 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

The Mennonite Colleges Consortium (Eastern Mennonite University, Bluffton University, Hesston College, and Bethel College) for cross-cultural programs allows the student to take an immersive cross-cultural program with another Mennonite College while still being registered at their own college and getting the credit directly on their transcript. They pay the same fees as they would for tuition, room and board plus whatever extra fees the other college charges. They can also continue to get their financial aid from their own university for this program.

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 that 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.