MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

The University of Michigan offers a wonderful range of academic programs for its students and among these is the opportunity for global study through the Center for Global and Intercultural Study. As Dean of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, I strongly support global education and recommend that students take advantage of the experience as part of their U-M education.

Global study through CGIS is integral to the LSA curriculum, and its programs are of a comparable academic rigor to courses offered here in Ann Arbor. Students who enroll in its programs earn credits which automatically count towards their U-M degree and can be used to satisfy various academic requirements.

I urge you, if you have not already done so, to encourage your son or daughter to consider global study while at U-M. It is an experience that enriches a student’s years at Michigan and one which remains with the student for a lifetime.

Terrence J. McDonald
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor,
Professor of History, and Dean

OVERVIEW OF CGIS PROGRAMS

As is evident in Dean McDonald's opening letter, the University of Michigan endorses global education as an integral part of the undergraduate curriculum. As a result, there are many different options available to students at the University of Michigan. Part of the CGIS mission is to serve as a central location for students and parents to come to begin exploring the options that are available to them and, if necessary, refer them to other locations on campus to help them find the program that best fits their needs and goals. Some colleges and schools have their own global and intercultural programs to offer specifically to students in those schools or colleges, however, CGIS programs are open to students across the University of Michigan Ann Arbor (some programs are also open to Flint and Dearborn students as well).

We applaud you for encouraging your student to consider an intercultural program as part of their experience while at the University of Michigan. Only a small percentage of U.S. students take advantage of the opportunity to live and participate in an international and/or intercultural program during their undergraduate years and your support for their doing so is an important part of their success. The CGIS's role in this is, in part, to prepare students (and their parents) for a positive experience. We can work together to achieve the academic and personal growth that lie at the heart of our global program options.

This website is designed to provide answers to the many questions you have begun to ask about the application and participation in a U-M global and intercultural program—how to find a program that is a good fit, how the finances will work, what the safety arrangements are, how the credits will count and more.

As a first step to begin exploring the options available to students at the U-M, CGIS encourages (and actually requires) that students attend an information session called Ready, Set, Go Global, which is led by our Peer Advisor team .Parents are also welcome to attend a Ready, Set, Go Global (RSGG) session with their son or daughter. During these sessions, students will be introduced to the variety of U-M sponsored programs, how to research/find a program, how to apply for programs, and about scholarships and financial aid. We recommend students attend a session early in their search and we do require that all students attend Ready, Set, Go Global prior to meeting with an Intercultural Programs Advisor and prior to submitting an application for our programs.

The staff at the Center for Global and Intercultural Study are happy to answer questions about our programs. Our location and contact information is available on the main web page of our site. Here you can also find information on the time and location of current Ready, Set, Go Global sessions. Please see the following link for more information: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/cgis/

There are four main program options available at the Center for Global and Interculturay Study:

>> Michigan Global Academic Programs offer global opportunities for students to study off campus during the entire academic year, spring, summer, fall or winter terms. Educational opportunities are categorized into exchange programs at institutions where students take university-level courses with locals or in programs structured specifically for a variety of American university students. Students can earn Michigan in-residence credit for their coursework.

>> Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates expands learning beyond traditional classroom boundaries through intercultural, short-term (3 or 4 week) summer service projects.  Small groups of diverse students called GIEU Student Scholars are mentored by U-M faculty members and travel to culturally-rich locations in the U.S. and around the world. Projects benefit local communities and give students the opportunity to work closely with local community members. GIEU emphasizes gaining intercultural skills, and as such, students are matched with field sites after being admitted to the program. Participation involves a year-long commitment and students receive academic credit.

>> Spring/Summer Language Study programs allow students to complete their third and fourth term language requirement in one intensive half term in the field. Students deepen their comfort and fluency in a non-English language through direct immersion as they live with host families and/or participate in internship/volunteer placements. These special language programs are offered during the spring/summer terms enabling students to complete their language requirement during their first year, if desired.

>> Global Course Connections are short-term programs that offer an excellent and affordable opportunity for students interested in field-based extensions to on-campus courses. Students enroll for selected courses on campus in the winter or fall terms and then travel (2-4 weeks) with classmates to a field site where they can put into practice or experience what they have learned. Recent courses have taken students to observe labor practices on the Mexican border, experience Thai culture related to their language study, and look at social conditions in contemporary South Africa.

THE BENEFITS OF GLOBAL EDUCATION

As several studies have shown, the benefits of participating in global education programs are numerous (Cushner & Mahon, 2002; Fernández, 1996; Salisbury, Umbach, Paulsen, and Pascarella; 2009). A list of the top benefits include:

Personal Growth. Just as your student learned to adapt to their new surroundings when they began college, they will again be urged to step outside of their comfort zones during their global education experience. Students typically return home with increased self-confidence and enhanced personal growth (Mistretta, 2008).

Intercultural Knowledge and Skills. Through cultural immersion, students who participate in global education programs are able to gain a greater depth of knowledge about and appreciation for new cultures. This often includes acquiring advanced language skills (Magnan and Back, 2007).

Enhanced Global Perspective. By experiencing the differences and similarities between their host country and their home country, your student will enhance their global perspectives and obtain a greater awareness of global affairs, including political, educational, societal, and economic issues (Fernández, 2006). This will help them gain a more mature worldview and develop a deeper understanding and respect for global issues.

Professional Development. As the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan (2010) has stated, "Studying abroad will distinguish your student from his/her peers. Employers are looking for the soft skills that students typically develop abroad." These skills, among others, include critical thinking, self-sufficiency, flexibility, communication skills, as well as intercultural knowledge and awareness. Thus, through the experience of a global education program, your student will gain a competitive advantage over others in the job market.

Sources: Cushner, K., & Mahon, J. (2002). Overseas student teaching: Affecting personal, professional, and global competencies in an age of globalization. Journal of Studies in International Education, 6, 44–58.

Fernández, E. (2006). Developing a global perspective during study-term abroad. (Ph.D., University of Michigan).

Magnan, S. S., & Back, M. (2007). Social interaction and linguistic gain during study abroad. Foreign Language Annals, 40, 43–61.

Mistretta, W. (2008). Life-enhancing: An exploration of the long-term effects of study abroad. (Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo).

Salisbury, M. H., Umbach, P. D., Paulsen, M. B., & Pascarella, E. T. (2009). Going global: Understanding the choice process of the intent to study abroad. Research in Higher Education, 50, 119–143. doi:10.1007/s11162-008-9111-x.

University of Michigan College of Engineering. (2010). "Top Ten Reasons Your Student Should Study Abroad." http://www.engin.umich.edu/ipe/parents/topten.html.

QUICK LINKS

Message From the Dean

Program Overview

Benefits of Global Education

CGIS Home

GIEU Home

Spring/Summer Language Study Home

GCC Home

MGAP Home

NEWS AND EVENTS

GIEU SYMPOSIUM
Students showcase capstone projects developed from their summer field experiences.

The next GIEU Sympoisum will be held Fall 2011.

ATTEND THE GLOBAL EDUCATION FAIR
Come attend an informational fair and learn about CGIS programs.

Friday, September 9, 2011
Michigan Union, Ballroom
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.