Global Studies

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- Gwen Nyden, Professor of Sociology, studied in London for a semester as an undergraduate and has traveled and studied extensively in Europe and Australia as an adult

"Eighteen years ago I left home an impressionable student. Sometime between then and now was born an historian, anthropologist, and political scientist. I ate ice cream on the frozen streets of St Petersburg, birthplace of the Russian Revolution. I watched rain drench the streets of Bloomsbury in London, where one still hears the echoes of Woolf, Russell, and Keynes. And I stood in the scorching equatorial sun as Ugandans queued to receive copies of the new law empowering them to make decisions in their own local government. How could I not be but what I am? Certainly, an enquiring mind made all the difference. Travelling without curiosity is living the life of a bee, buzzing from hive to flower to hive in the service of a queen one never sees and to a purpose one never comprehends. But it is chiefly through travel that I became curious. A small taste at an early age begat an unquenchable thirst which persists to this day. My career and my life would be profoundly different had I not travelled, lived, and studied abroad. I owe to those experiences my fascination with History, Politics, and Anthropology. I owe to them the coincidence by which I was introduced to my wife. And through them I have acquired a far deeper understanding of the world and its people than ever was possible had I simply stayed at home.

Go now, and see what you can. Go now, while you have the time and money.

Go now, before parts of the world which are safe descend into uncertainty and perhaps violence. Go now, because later you may have other priorities.

Go."

- Michael Madill, Part-Time History Faculty Member

"I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand from 1971-1974. My Peace Corps experience was really a turning point in my life because it helped me focus on the area of English teaching that I felt more comfortable with and am still doing today. I'd thought about teaching high school English but without much enthusiasm for it. My experience abroad showed me that there were other areas of teaching I was more suited to. My time abroad also made me a more well-rounded, confident person and really opened my mind to other cultures and ways of living. I think studying or working abroad would be a great experience for anyone, in fact, my 21-year-old son just returned from studying in Paris for 5 months. He loved it!"

- Diana Allen, Assistant ESL Program Manager and instructor in the non-credit ESL program

Study Abroad Opportunities

NEW Exciting short-term international field study courses.

Italy - December / January
France - May
Prague, Czech Republic - May
Puerto Rico - August
(contact global studies coordinator for more information)

NEW Semester-length study abroad opportunity:
Seville, Spain - Fall 2008
(contact study abroad coordinator for more information)

Community College Students Study Abroad!
Eager to learn about different countries and cultures and acquire global skills, U.S. students are studying abroad in record numbers, according to survey data released November 2007. Study abroad increased by 8.5% to a total of 223,534, according to the Open Doors report, published annually by the Institute of International Education with funding from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The number of American students receiving academic credit for their study abroad has increased 150% in the past decade, from fewer than 90,000 students in 1995/96.

The increases reported in Open Doors 2007 reflect a growing interest in non-traditional destinations - students going to Asia (up 26%), Latin America (up 14%), Africa (up 19%) and the Middle East (up 31%) -- and a wider range of study abroad opportunities in addition to the extremely valuable semester and academic year programs. Semester study now attracts 37% of those students studying abroad, while slightly more than half (52%) of U.S. students elect short-term programs (including summer, January term and any program of less than 8 weeks) and only 5.5% spend a full academic or calendar year abroad.

During the 2002/03 academic year, 174,629 students from the United States studied abroad. Of these, 3,594 were community college students. 31.8% of these community college students studied abroad for one semester, while 67.2% of these community college students studied abroad for Summer, January Term, or less than 8 weeks. (Open Doors 2004)

There are many ways to work study abroad into your busy life! And, the rewards are great. A sister institution of Oakton and fellow member of the ICISP Consortium sent 255 students abroad during the 2002/03 academic year -- so, it is possible to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities available to you as an Oakton student.

Why Study Abroad? Click Here

Study Abroad Opportunities Through Oakton

One way Oakton Community College provides students with a global perspective in education is through our Study Abroad programs. As a member of the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs (ICISP), Oakton offers cost-effective study abroad opportunities.

ICISP was formed in 1986 through an initiative of several Illinois community colleges in collaboration with Illinois State University. It currently offers semester-long and summer programs at Canterbury Christ Church University in Canterbury, England and at Salzburg College in Salzburg, Austria, as well as a summer program at MacQuarie University in Sydney, Australia through a partnership with Madison Area Technical College. ICISP and the College of DuPage cosponsor a five-week summer Spanish immersion program in San Jose, Costa Rica held at the highly regarded Forester Instituto. Various other summer study abroad programs are also offered.

Canterbury, England (Semester) (Summer)
In Canterbury, located in the southeast corner of England, students study at Canterbury Christ Church University, a small, friendly school of about 5,000 full-time students. American students live with host families near the college; take courses with British and other ICISP students; join student activities such as clubs, sports, and drama; and travel both in England and throughout the continent.

Salzburg, Austria (Semester) (Summer)
Salzburg College is situated in an important cultural center of Europe in the northern foothills of the Alps. Here, students attend classes taught in English with other American and Japanese students, live with host families, eat meals at the college, and travel extensively. Course selections include subjects such as art, music, political science, history, and photography.

Seville, Spain (Semester)
In Seville, students study at the International College of Seville and at the University of Seville. There are extensive support services in place for students, as well as well-constructed home-stay and semi-independent living arrangements, field trips and tutoring programs. Students are placed into a Spanish language class (no prior knowledge is necessary). In addition, they take a Spanish life and culture class and two other courses of their choosing.

San Jose, Costa Rica (Summer)
Costa Rica is especially appealing as a study abroad site because of its beauty, prosperity, and political stability. ICISP students have a full range of field trips and activities during this five-week, Spanish immersion summer program designed by the College of DuPage and offered at the Forester Instituto Internacional. Courses in the Culture and Civilization of Costa Rica and Spanish at the appropriate level provide transferable college credit hours. The program includes housing with Costa Rican families.

Sydney, Australia (Summer)
Affordable Australian four-week opportunity! This program provides participants an immersion experience in the history and culture of Australia. ICISP students learn from a team of MacQuarie University instructors drawn from several disciplines. Numerous field trips to sites of cultural and historical significance are included. Courses in the History of Australian Culture and Society and Special Topics in Contemporary Society provide transferable college credit hours. Housing is provided in dormatories.

Eligibility Requirements
At least 12 hours of college-level work
A 2.75 grade point average
Completion of English 101 by the time of travel

More Information

Students interested in any of the above programs should contact the Coordinator of the Global Studies Program, Katherine Schuster, 847-376-7118, schuster@oakton.edu, for more information and application forms.

The Whole World at Your Fingertips

There are thousands of study abroad programs that Oakton students can also choose among; however, students should contact the Global Studies Coordinator to discuss how these various programs may fit into an academic plan at Oakton.

CCIS (College Consortium for International Studies)
CCIS is a consortium of two- and four-year institutions that offers semester-long and summer study abroad programs at 30 different sites throughout the world.

IIE (The Institute of International Education)
A searchable index of programs and general study abroad information is available at IIEPassport.

Study Abroad Directory
Check out the Study Abroad Directory for hundreds of opportunities.

Study Abroad Guide
It's Your World: Student's Guide to Education Abroad

Volunteer Abroad

There are numerous volunteer opportunities abroad. Travel, experience other cultures, and make a difference.

One of the most well-known programs is the Peace Corps, but there are many other opportunities, as well. Following are some examples of volunteer programs. This list is not exhaustive and the brief descriptions are taken from their website information -- the information does not represent the opinion or endorsement of Oakton Community College.

Volunteer English Teachers in Thailand Project
The Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Ministry of Education, Thailand, is initiating a project known as "Volunteer English Teachers in Thailand Project" as part of the effort on English teaching development for basic education. There are 10,000 volunteer English language teachers being recruited to teach in Thailand.

Peace Corps
The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then-Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship. Since that time, more than 178,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have been invited by 138 host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS education, information technology, and environmental preservation.

Cross-Cultural Solutions
Choose from nearly 200 start dates, lengths of stay of 1-12 weeks, and 10 countries: Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Peru, Russia, Tanzania and Thailand. Cross-Cultural Solutions, founded in 1995, is an international not-for-profit organization with no political or religious affiliations.

Global Crossroad
Registered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (U.S.) in 2003, Global Crossroad, LLC is one of the world’s fastest growing international volunteer organizations. Its ever-expanding program offers a variety of placements in 20 different countries throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America: Volunteer Abroad, Internship Abroad, Mini-Adventure, group Summer Escapes, and paid teaching opportunities.

Volunteers for International Partnership
Volunteers for International Partnership brings together international volunteers from sending countries with community service projects in receiving countries. VIP offers each international volunteer an opportunity to learn a culture from the inside while doing valuable community service, peer to peer, in a stimulating new environment.

World Endeavors
World Endeavors is a US-based organization that provides unique and fulfilling opportunities abroad by offering volunteer, study, and intern programs in numerous locations around the world.

International Volunteer Programs Association
This website provides information on additional programs and allows users to search for a program in a particular country or region of the world.

Contact Katherine Schuster, Coordinator of Global Studies, 847.376.7118, schuster@oakton.edu regarding this page and Global Studies at Oakton.

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Last update 09/2008

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