Is the Global Village Learning Community for You?

Course Work

During the academic year Global Village Learning Community students enroll in 4 courses as a group (2 courses each semester).  Students will individually select 2 or 3 additional courses each semester (a typical full-time student takes 12-15 credit hours each semester).  These additional courses will be selected in consultation with an advisor at SOAR and typically fulfill major requirements or additional General Education requirements.

2009-10 Global Village LC, Academic Core:

Fall 2010:

SOCY 1101 Introduction to Sociology (GVLC students only), Dr. Scott Fitzgerald.  TR 9:30am-10:45am

LBST 2101 Western Cultural and Historical Awareness, Dr. Coral Wayland.  MW 12:30pm-1:45pm

Spring 2011:

LBST 2211 Global and Intercultural Connections (GVLC students only), Dr. Scott Fitzgerald.

LBST 1102 The Arts and Society: Film, TBD.

Typical LBST offerings for the Global Village LC are:

LBST 1102 The Arts and Society: Film

LBST 2101 Western Cultural and Historical

Awareness

LBST 2102 Global and Intercultural Connections

LBST 2211 Ethical Issues

LBST 2215 Citizenship

The remaining courses, both fall and spring, are electives.  Typically students will take other General Education requirements such as Math, Sciences, or pursue language study.

Studying Abroad

One of the many benefits of the Global Village Learning Community is the opportunity to study abroad, providing hands-on experience of a different culture. The study abroad experience, worth six credit hours, is a 5-week Summer program in Manchester, England.  This is a highly interactive, individualized and exciting course—where the city itself is our classroom!  Global Village LC students have priority when registering for this optional summer course.

During our 5-weeks in Manchester students (1) learn key theories and concepts in urban sociology; (2) apply this knowledge to the study of contemporary Manchester; (3) participate in service learning opportunities with community organizations - all while exploring and experiencing an amazing, cosmopolitan British city!

This study abroad program provides a “hands-on” exploration of social arrangements and community building through service learning. Students will work together with organizations that provide a range of services to community members of the metropolitan area. Service learning increases students’ understanding of the disciplines they are studying as well as gives them the opportunity to apply their classroom material in a societal context and gain understanding of those whose life experience differs from their own.

Additionally, we have weekly classroom meetings, and group tours of important museums, landmarks, and neighorhoods in Manchester.  Students will routinely have long  weekends of unscheduled time to explore opportunities individually (e.g. weekend getaways or day trips).  In 2009, students used this time to travel together to London, Ireland, and Scotland!

Is Global Village LC for you?

If:

• You are interested in majoring in a Social Science (e.g. Anthropology, History, Sociology, Political Science)
• You are interested in other peoples and cultures
• You are interested in taking courses focused on global issues during your freshman year (all four courses will count towards your General Education requirements)
• You would like to connect with international students and organizations on campus
• You would like to learn from professors who have done research in other countries
• You would like to engage in service learning in your coursework. (Service learning is volunteer work that is directly connected to academic coursework)
• You would like to increase your understanding of social institutions and cultures both here and in other parts of the world
• Your are interested in pursuing a career that has a global dimension
• You would like to spend part of your first summer studying in another country

…then the answer is YES!

For more information about

the Global Village Learning Community, please contact: