2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Badge in Intercultural Competence
Website: gvsu.edu/itc
The intercultural competence program (ITC) is designed to help students build the experience-based skills needed to interact sensitively and effectively with the rich diversity of people in our increasingly global community. Experience-based learning builds skills that are in demand by today's employers and support students to become more culturally aware, engaged citizens. Those include:
- Cultural Self-Awareness: Developing a demonstrated ability to articulate insights into one's own cultural rules and biases; and
- Knowledge of Cultural and Worldview Frameworks Through Inquiry: Demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the complexity of elements important to members of another culture in relation to that culture's history, values, politics, communication styles, economy, or beliefs and practices.
Course options are designed to fit the busy schedules of a wide range of students as well as non-degree seeking professionals from diverse fields like nursing, allied health, engineering, and business, among others.
Students wishing to earn the ITC badge can do so in one of three ways: (1) as free-standing digital badge; (2) as part of the global communications certificate (see gvsu.edu/goglobal); or (3) as part of a major (B.A. or B.S.) in integrative studies (see gvsu.edu/int). Courses within this program are offered in fully online, hybrid, and traditional formats. Students enrolled in the LEADS program (gvsu.edu/complete) may complete the ITC badge in a fully online, accelerated six-week format.
Many students are able to complete the badge in less than one year, or as little as one semester.
We encourage you to contact the Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies Department (IRIS) to speak with a faculty advisor who can help you plan the best and most direct course to complete the certificate requirements: (616) 331-8020 or email: [email protected].