Internationalizing the Curriculum
An ongoing special project of the Internationalization Committee
under the auspices of the Office for Global Initiative—please feel free to share your ideas
Sub-committee members: division representatives
Sub-committee leader: Dr. Nancy Nanney
Rationale for Promoting This Internationalization Effort
1. To support the WVU Parkersburg mission, which includes global studies among the specific opportunities the college provides
2. To help prepare WVU Parkersburg students for life in the 21st century, which is becoming increasingly subject to global conditions, transactions, and developments across borders
3. To expose students to the diversity of the world in all disciplines
4. To provide students adequate academic and professional skills to function effectively in a global workplace
5. To provide students an appreciation of world cultures
6. To help students perceive issues from both local and global perspectives
7. To help students develop critical thinking skills with respect to global issues (e.g., artistic, cultural, economic, educational, environmental, ethical, health, political, scientific, social, technological, etc.)
Educational Strategies
Academic programs that already have an international focus
RBA Area of Emphasis in Global Studies
Recommendations
Establish an area of emphasis in Global Studies in the AA Degree (at least 15 credit hours would be accrued in designated Global Studies courses)
Courses that already have designated world content/perspectives
Business, Economics, and Mathematics Division
GBUS 405 Global Business
Education and Humanities Division
ART 101: Art Appreciation
ENGL 221: World Literature 1
ENGL 222: World Literature 2
ENGL 375: Topics in Contemporary Global Literature
MUSI 170: Music Appreciation
THEA 101: Theatre Appreciation
Health Sciences Division
Science and Technology Division
ENVR 310 Topics in Environmental Science
Social Sciences and Languages Division
Foreign Languages (French, Spanish, German, and Japanese)
GEOG 102 World Geography
HIST 101: Western Civilization through the Reformation
HIST 102 Western Civilization from the Reformation
HIST 307: Revolutionary Europe 1750-1918
HIST 309: Twentieth Century Europe
HIST 337: World War II
RELI 231: Religions of the World
SOC 250: International Culture
SOC 350: International Culture
SPCH 316: Intercultural Communication
Recommendations
Develop (if not already listed in the catalog) at least one course with designated global content/perspectives in each discipline as feasible
Identify sections of courses in which faculty have incorporated international content/perspectives (even though the course may not have a designated international description) and provide sample copies of course syllabi to the OGI.
Add a “global awareness/competency” objective to courses via one or more of the following methods or other methods faculty may devise:
Internationalizing course assignments
Include course readings that provide information about other countries (e.g., case studies, articles by international authors, articles that deal with international issues, literary works, etc.)
Include research assignments that focus on global content, skills, practices, etc.
Include attendance at internationally-oriented on-campus programs as regular or extra-credit assignments
Include attendance at off-campus internationally-focused programs (e.g., special exhibits, performances, lectures, festivals, workplace field trips, etc.) programs as regular or extra-credit assignments
Ideas for classroom activities
Include a class activity that involves developing global competencies (e.g., films, finding online information, interacting with students from other countries online, etc.)
Include role-plays that contain global content.
Use the Internet to explore global topics.
Plan a globally-oriented library visit (with the assistance of the library staff).
Guest presentations: invite guest presenters from other countries or others with international expertise to visit your classroom (e.g., faculty, students, staff, community members, international visitors, etc.). A list of resource persons will be available at the Office for Global Initiatives website.
Field trips to destinations with international relevance
Joint activities with other faculty:
Plan an internationally focused joint class project with one or more other faculty members at our college, at other U.S. colleges, and/or at colleges abroad
For courses in the same discipline
For courses in different disciplines
For courses being taught jointly at our campus and abroad
Include on-campus projects
Include off-campus projects
Include online projects/exchanges
Ideas for special campus programs
Use the student engagement time to promote international programs.
Plan special programs (e.g., talks, films, workshops, etc.) open to the campus community and the public.
Some programs can be offered at more than one time to accommodate participants’ varying schedules (e.g., daytime and evening).
Coordinate special programs with the library staff so they can arrange accompanying displays.
The Office for Global Initiatives may be able to provide special assistance.
The Distinguished Performance Series often features international groups.
The College Theatre performances may feature plays by international playwrights and/or plays with international content.
Plan programs that have a special focus and that can include several events during a given semester or year.
For example, OGI organized a “Focus on Mexico” series of events (Fall 2009) and a “Focus on the Middle East” series of events (Spring 2010).
With advance planning, faculty could incorporate some “focus” materials in their respective courses.
International exhibits
For example, there was an African art exhibit on campus during Fall 2009 – Spring 2010.
Other ideas
Classroom décor can reflect global content.
Other campus sites can also feature international décor.
The cafeteria could feature foods from other countries, perhaps timed to coincide with the featured country’s national celebration.
Support the students’ international club.
Encourage world news commentary in the student paper.
Resources (Watch for updates.)
The Office for Global Initiatives (Room 1306)
Can provide assistance for individuals and groups (e.g., faculty, students, staff, community members, inquiries from other local and global locations). The Office also maintains a website (http://www.wvup.edu/center_for_global_initiatives/) with international information and resources. Coordinator: Dr. Rebecca Phillips
WVU Parkersburg faculty, staff, and students willing to consult on international matters.
A list will be posted on the Global Initiatives web page when it is finalized.
Books, audio-visuals and handouts, which include global content, illustrations and references. Some materials are available for check-out in the OGI.
Of particular interest are the following:
International Educator (the professional journal of NAFSA)
The Global Learning for All Working Papers of the American Council on Education (We have three in the series.)
A complete list will be posted on the Global Initiatives website soon.
Materials are also, of course, available in and through the WVU at Parkersburg library.
Other resources include experience/expertise of community members from other cultures; visiting scholars; international students or community members with travel, work or living experiences in other cultures.
The Athena Cinema in Athens, Ohio (regular showings of foreign films)
Faculty and Course Development in International Studies (FACDIS). This WVU-based organization holds annual workshops and has an extensive lending library of audiovisual materials.
The Chronicle of Higher Education (e.g., articles, announcements, webcasts). In case you didn’t know, the college has an online subscription available at any computer on campus.
Useful websites:
American Council on Education (ACE) (http://www.acenet.edu//AM/Template.cfm?Section=cii)
Globalization Research Center at the University of Hawaii (http://www.socialsciences.hawaii.edu/grc/)
NAFSA -- Association of International Educators Workshops and Regional Conferences: www.nafsa.org
Community Colleges for International Development, Inc. (CCID) http://www.ccid.cc/. WVUP is now a member of CCID. Copies of its newsletter are available in the OGI.
Ohio University’s International Studies program sponsors weekly international talks, which are open to the public, at its Athens campus. A schedule is available at http://www.internationalstudies.ohio.edu/news-events/intrntl-studies-forum.html.