Cross-Disciplinary & World Studies
The Curriculum Committee thought it would be a good idea to expand the four traditional areas of the curriculum to recognize the vast amount of work that we all do that is interdisciplinary (note: this is only for purposes of this book). In our course system this is recognized by the designation CDS or cross-disciplinary. These courses span the traditional disciplinary areas and as the reader will notice, courses with this designation are found in almost all of the four areas. This fifth area gives us also a place to present the World Studies Program (WSP), which is, by its nature, cross-disciplinary. WSP is a four-year course of study integrating the best traditions of liberal arts learning and international studies with a six-to-eight month internship in a foreign culture. Students who complete the program receive a Bachelor of Arts or Science in International Studies and their area of concentration. Students follow a core curriculum based on the goals of the program, which provides a foundation for approaching the entire spectrum of global and cross-cultural issues in an educated and articulate way. These goals may be attained through course work, proficiency exams and portfolios documenting equivalent learning. A general description of program requirements is provided below; more information about the WSP curriculum can be found in the WSP Handbook.
Cross-Disciplinary degree fields include:
* American Studies
* Asian Studies
* Cultural History
* Development Studies
* Environmental Studies
* World Studies Program
All members of the Marlboro Faculty can act as sponsors for students enrolled in the World Studies program. A smaller group teach the required courses in the program and alternate in the role of World Studies Director. See Bob Engel, Carol Hendrickson, Dana Howell, Tim Little, Felicity Ratté, Lynette Rummel, Jim Tober and T. Wilson.
COURSES OFFERED ON A ROTATING OR PERIODIC BASIS
World Studies Colloquium (WSP53)
A weekly series designed to introduce students to international studies and to resources on campus and in the community. Students apply to WSP at the completion of this course. (Introductory; offered fall only)
Finding an Internship (WSP50)
Students learn to assess their skills, goals and resources and begin researching overseas organizations where those skills might be put to use. The course also includes résumé and cover letter writing and networking skills. (Introductory; offered spring only)
Designing Fieldwork (WSP3)
A course focused on fieldwork methods, designing projects for the field, writing field notes and reports and theoretical, ethical and practical issues surrounding all of this. (Intermediate)
World Studies Senior Seminar (WSP2)
Upon their return to campus after internship, students participate in a seminar addressing re-entry issues and the integration of field experiences into the wider context of a four-year liberal arts experience. (Advanced; offered fall only)
User’s Guide to the 21st Century: Global Issues and Perspectives
An introduction to world history of the past 100 years with the goal of understanding the concepts and issues of importance to human understanding today and in historical perspective. This course is designed to help students situate themselves in time and place, and to begin to think in terms of history, culture, society, geography, and the environment. The course will progress decade-by-decade and consider major trends in global and comparative contexts. Original source materials from several cultural areas will be an important element of course readings. Students will choose a regional or thematic focus and develop a portfolio of work drawing on different types of sources. Note: this is an introductory seminar for World Studies Program students and is open to other students as space permits. (Introductory; offered spring only)
SIT Graduate Course: Upon their return to campus after internship, students enroll in a graduate level course at the School for International Training in Brattleboro. Students may choose from a selection of courses offered in the Program of Intercultural Management. (Advanced; offered both fall and spring)
Internship
For most World Studies students, the internship is the centerpiece of their four-year undergraduate education. It is the means by which theories and ideas studied in the classroom are put to the test in the “real” world. The experience is inevitably one of intense educational impact and personal growth. With the support and guidance of faculty sponsors and World Studies staff, students find their own internships in organizations and design independent research that complements their positions. Internships may be volunteer, stipended, or paid. Hosting organizations usually are able to provide some compensation for interns, perhaps in the form of room and board, airfare, visa assistance or money for supplies. Internships are 6-8 months in duration.