Why Intercultural Studies at Houghton?

Houghton's Intercultural Studies program is designed to prepare effective cross-cultural change agents for service in a variety of capacities from Bible translation, to community development, traditional missions, health services, global service and urban ministry.

The mission of the Intercultural Studies major is to prepare Christian students to respond to key issues of global concern in culturally relevant ways that follow Kingdom principles.

Here's what graduates of the program say:

• Professors are available and approachable. They are willing to spend time with students and are good advisors. All the Houghton Intercultural Studies faculty have extensive experience in a cross cultural setting overseas and integrate this experience into the classroom. The professors are strong Christian role models: attending chapels, Global Christian Fellowship and serving the refugee community in Buffalo.

• Experiential learning is a core part of the major. Graduates are especially complimentary of the off-campus programs, and appreciated the flexibility of the major.

• Graduates like the courses offered in the major. They see them as stimulating and well taught. Most responders stated that these courses greatly expanded their view of the world. They appreciated the fact that the courses were interdisciplinary and at the same time had excellent content.

• Graduates felt well-prepared for going out and serving the greater world. They expressed that they were well prepared for graduate schools and for life in a cross cultural setting. For many this major was a vocational confirmation.

Importance of Intercultural Studies

The Intercultural Studies major links today’s shrinking global community and exploding global human needs with Houghton’s vision and students’ passion. Houghton’s unchanging mission has been preparing scholar-servants to be change-agents in a world of health crises, civil strife, and environmental, political, social and spiritual ferment.

The major reflects Houghton’s legacy of producing cross-cultural workers in religious, humanitarian, and related fields. It also emerged from the ten year-old International Studies major, which, focusing on international business and politics, remains in our curriculum with only minor changes. The driving force for this major has been student interest in cross-cultural service. Indicators include dramatically increased enrollment in anthropology, cross-cultural communication, development, urban studies, and linguistics courses, as well as enthusiasm for off-campus programs, and positive responses to student surveys.

Preparation calls for well-developed liberal arts foundations and spiritual formation produced in part by Integrated Studies (IS) and the total college experience. The major itself integrates faith and learning, theory and practice, service-learning, and various disciplines of study while utilizing existing curriculum. Students explore cultures, human relationships, social-political systems, and global issues.

Students gain skills in language learning, cross-cultural communication, needs assessment and community development.  Character is developed, theories tested, and leadership enhanced through hands-on intercultural experience. Then, surrounded by alert peers and experienced mentors, students cap the program with reflection on their experience and knowledge.  Special concentrations based on student interest in linguistics, urban studies, mission, or selected skills fill out the program.