SST Requirement
What’s the Intercultural Requirement?
One of the five core values at the foundation of Goshen College is global citizenship, so intercultural study is an important component of the Goshen Core. The three ways to meet the intercultural study requirement are:
- A semester-long Study-Service Term
- Short-term courses in the U.S. or abroad
- Study abroad with other international programs
1. Semester-long SST: International
- Immerses cohorts of students in a significantly different culture for a semester
- Includes study of local language and cultures, a service learning placement and six-week home stays with two different host families.
- A GC faculty member leads the group in studying a global issue of current concern.
- Foreign language: 4 credits
- Cultural Perspectives: 3 credits
- Global Topics: 3 credits
- Community Engaged Learning: 3 credits
- SST Integration Capstone: 2 credits
Foreign language: Students visiting Ecuador need to establish 102-level competency in Spanish before being admitted to the program. Students headed elsewhere must complete one course in the language spoken. American Sign Language students who are joining a unit with a sign language component need 102 level proficiency. The director of international education must approve any exceptions.
B. Foundations: An additional course with an intercultural theme is required for students who do not need 102 level competency. Examples include:
- BUS 350: International Business
- COMM 206: Communication Across Cultures
- ECON 306: International Economics
- ECON 308: Introduction to Economic Development
- ENG 201: World Literature
- ENG 310: Introduction to Linguistics
- HIST 330: Gender in World History
- HIST 350: African History
- PHIL 307: Asian Thought
- REL 220: Introduction to World Religions
- REL 317: Islam
- SOC 230: Ethnography and Culture
- SOC 340: African Societies and Cultures
2. Semester-long SST: Domestic
Will they have home stays in the future?
Will they have the same six week/six week structure?
How do I explain the foundations course?
- Foundations: 3 credits
- Cultural Perspectives: 3 credits
- Global Topics: 3 credits
- Community Engaged Learning: 3 credits
Students must have attained sophomore standing or 30 credit hours.
3. Short-term Courses in the U.S. or Abroad
These experiences share the same learning goals that semester-long units use. You’ll choose four courses, spread over several semesters or three-week May terms. Foundation courses and global issues courses will take place in a classroom setting. Cultural perspectives and service courses will immerse you in a new context–whether locally or abroad.
- Foundations: 3 credits
- Cultural Perspectives: 3 credits
- Global Topics: 3 credits
- Community Engaged Learning: 3 credits
A. The language requirement can be met with 102 level proficiency in any language.
D. Modified requirement for nursing and education students who elect the alternative program. Earn 12 credits as follows: The same language requirement, two courses from the registrar’s SST alt list and:
- Education majors incorporate 1 diverse field experience course, which replaces the third SST alt course expected of others.
- Nursing majors incorporate 1 community health clinical course, which replaces the third SST alt course expected of others.
4. 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:
- Amizade
- Augsburg University
- CIEE
- Eastern Mennonite University Cross Culturals
- Bethel College travel abroad programs
- Bluffton College Cross Culturals
- Council of Christian Colleges and Universities CCCU
- CASAS Guatemala
- CEA Study Abroad
- HECUA
- Hesston College travel abroad programs
- Lithuania Christian College (LCCU)
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. See next section.
For the list of affiliated international study programs in the previous section, 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 financial aid office 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.
Other study abroad options with Goshen College
- Courses related to specific majors:
These May or summer term options have a different curriculum and count toward a major rather than as SST credit.
Locations vary, but past courses have visited England, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Italy and Mexico. Past foci include art, music, literature, business, history, religion or peace, justice and conflict studies.
Students who have already completed SST or an equivalent semester of study abroad can earn this minor by taking five additional courses with a global theme.
Current SST Programs Being Offered
SST is offered in two formats