Your College Intercultural Experience
- semester abroad
- internship program in D.C.
- three-week summer experiences
Drink in knowledge at its sources
Imagine reading the Bible during your college studies at a site where Jesus likely preached. Or discussing history where the events actually took place. Or studying politics and social justice in the halls of Congress.
Along the way, you’ll reflect, discuss, journal and process your experience, led by faculty members who are more than experts – they’re mentors. If overseas, your group will be linked with local partners, usually far from the tourist circuit.
Our well-known program – over three decades old – is one of the strongest intercultural study programs in the country. It is part of what makes EMU a university like no other.
Go global, or stay in North America
Intercultural study is cherished by the alumni of EMU. As a requirement for earning a bachelor’s degree at EMU, the “intercultural” is a common experience that distinguishes EMU grads and makes them particularly proud of their time at EMU. Most students are immersed in another culture for a whole semester, usually in Africa,
Asia, Latin America or the Middle East.
Enlarge your perspective
Some students opt for a three-week summer experienceexploring places like Quebec, Eastern Europe, or the U.S.-Mexico border region. Others live and learn in North America, often based at EMU’s Washington (D.C.) Community Scholars’ Center, our thriving internship program.
Interculturals are more than study abroad. Graduates call the experiences “life-changing,” giving them the foundation they
need to live, lead and serve in a global context.
Through immersing yourself in another culture, you gain a unique chance to reflect on what you believe, and why. Many grads report that the experience enhanced their faith journey and deepened their values, while instilling respect for people different from themselves.
Typically students spend part of their intercultural living with local families. You could stay in a mud-brick dwelling, a multi-story apartment building, or a carefully patched shack. Whatever your location, you’re likely to develop a caring relationship with your host “parents,” “sisters” and “brothers,” who provide companionship, insight and support in language learning.
Learn from professors who are mentors
Faculty and staff members who have lived internationally for years lead the groups and routinely go off the beaten path for a journey like no other. They travel with their families, and offer caring guidance as well as challenging studies.
An EMU intercultural experience will open your eyes and heart while giving you skills and knowledge for successfully navigating our complex world. Check out journals and photos from students on intercultural right now!
