Global Impact

By Sara LaJeunesse

Cultural differences among countries abound and as globalization increases it is imperative that people become more attuned to these differences. The College of Arts and Sciences, with its extensive list of internationally-focused faculty, course offerings, and study abroad opportunities, gives students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a global society.

“In order to maintain its greatness, a university must constantly evaluate what it needs to do to prepare students for life after graduation,” said Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Michael R. Halleran. “Our students are entering a world with different challenges from those which greeted their parents. Here, at the College of Arts and Sciences, our faculty members are creating experiences both inside and outside the classroom to provide students with the skills they will need to compete in a global society, as well as the cultural literacy that will enable them to understand the world beyond our borders.”

Paul Bagley ’07 is an example of a University of Miami student who has taken full advantage of the college’s myriad programs. As an international studies and political science double-major, Bagley took numerous courses that helped him see the world in a new way. One of them was an intersession course called “Dilemmas of Mexican Democracy,” in which he traveled to Mexico and learned about free trade issues, peasant’s rights, and United States-Mexican relations. For another course, Bagley traveled to Spain to study art and the Spanish language. He spent four weeks living with a Spanish family and attending classes at the University of Cantabria.

“Studying abroad is important because it allows you to gain a different perspective on international issues and cultural norms,” said Bagley. “It’s easy to be inward looking in the United States because we’re such a big country. But when you’re abroad you see different points of view about what’s happening in the world.”

Bagley’s other experiences include participating in “Washington Semester,” a program that sends students to American University in Washington, D.C. He chose the foreign policy path and attended seminars and meetings with Washington policy-makers. The program led to Bagley’s acceptance as an intern for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He also completed an internship with the State Department’s Bureau of European Affairs in Madrid and spent a summer studying at the London School of Economics.

While Bagley focused on international studies and political science, other students find opportunities for studying global issues in the Departments of Modern Languages and Literatures, Religious Studies, American Studies, and Art and Art History.

 

Learning Languages

Modern Languages and Literatures

The college’s Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers instruction in Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. This fall the department added courses – taught by lecturer Chiu-Hung Chen – in Mandarin Chinese and has plans to offer courses in Hindu in the future.

Gloria Chow ’08 is one of the students who is benefiting from the Chinese classes. “With one-fifth of the world population speaking Chinese, the initiation of a superb Chinese language program was essential,” said Chow. “As China continues to grow and advance to become a prominent global power, the demand for Chinese-speaking personnel will also grow. Being equipped with Chinese language skills will definitely help University of Miami graduates garner the attention of potential employers and stand out in an ocean of competitive applicants.”

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures not only teaches students to speak other languages, but it also serves as a window into other cultures. “Literature allows us to appreciate and compare human experiences across different times and cultures,” said Anne Cruz, the department’s chairperson. “By participating in the fictional worlds created by authors, readers not only familiarize themselves with other cultures and histories, they are better able to understand their own.”

 

In Good Faith

Religious Studies

While literature helps people understand different cultures and societies, true comprehension of a society’s beliefs and values is not possible without recognizing the importance of religion. “For many people around the world, the way they view the world and the way they behave in the world are influenced by, if not determined by, their religious beliefs,” said Stephen Sapp, chair of the Department of Religious Studies.

Nearly 20 percent of the world’s population is Muslim. For that reason, it is important for students to understand Islam. To meet that objective, the Department of Religious Studies appointed Islamicist Karen Ruffle to its faculty this year. An expert in Islamic studies, particularly Shi’i Islam, Ruffle is teaching courses on Islam, Islam and gender, and religions of South Asia. She also plans to teach courses on the religions and cultures of Iran, Islamic mysticism, anthropology of Islam, and Islam in the 21st century.

“Considering the current geo-political situation in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, it is essential for Americans to know the difference between Sunni and Shi’i Muslims, to understand their histories, loyalties, and beliefs,” said Ruffle. “This is one way that the University can foster the development of good global citizenship.”

 

Helping People

Study Abroad

Not all opportunities to learn about the world come in the form of a class or formal study abroad experience. Some of them are even more hands-on. Sherri Porcelain, Director of the University of Miami’s Disaster Research Program for Global Public Health with adjunct appointments in the Department of International Studies and the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Miller School of Medicine, recently took 11 students to Ahanta Abassa in West Ghana, Africa. Student winners of an essay contest received scholarships to attend the service mission, in which the team worked to bring potable water and latrines to rural communities.

“By far, this mission was the most eye-opening experience I’ve had in my 23 years,” said Danielle Barnett ’07. “It was terrible to see how people live in such unsanitary conditions and have no other choice than to drink unsafe water. Many times during the trip I felt frustrated because I wanted to help all the people we met. But even though we are just a small group, we are making a difference in the lives of many of the people in the community.”

Helping people in need does not end in Africa. Porcelain also recently led a service trip to Ica, Peru, one of several towns that were devastated by an 8.0- magnitude earthquake that struck the southern coastal region on August 15. Accompanied by Department of International Studies Professor Richard Weiskoff and four University of Miami students, Porcelain worked with the local government to complete needs/resource assessments for the region.

“The students who traveled with us were outstanding and the work could not have been done without them,” said Porcelain.

 

The Artist's Eye

Art and Art History

Studying art is another way to broaden understanding of different cultures and societies. “Art is the visual display of a society’s values, ” said University of Miami professor of art and art history, J. Tomás López. “Artists address issues that are relevant to their time and to the problems they are dealing with.”

For four weeks each summer, López takes students to Santander, Spain where they live with local families while studying art and improving their Spanish language skills. The students visit museums, including the Bilbao Guggenheim and the Museo del Prado, as well as other cultural attractions, such as local caves containing 30,000-year-old paintings.

“There’s a difference between standing in front of a 15-foot wide painting and seeing a three-inch image in a book,” said López. “It’s the aura of the original, the scale, the little things you miss.”

López’s class is about more than just art. It’s about experiencing a different culture. By living with host families during their stay, students become fully immersed in Spanish culture. “Being exposed to a different culture and a different way of life opens up students’ horizons,” he said. “They discover an entirely new way of being and thinking that is less provincial. It helps them to be more open.”

Paul Bagley was one of the students who participated in López’s class. His stay with a family in Santander was a life-changing opportunity. “Living with a host family that was culturally different from me was a wonderful experience,” he said. “I really learned to appreciate a culture other than my own.”

 

The Big Picture

American Studies

Despite its name, the American Studies Program at the University of Miami has a strong international dimension. The curriculum, which emphasizes understanding the United States in the world, was recently changed to incorporate global perspectives.

“The focus has shifted from studying the United States as an entity unto itself to thinking about the role of the United States in a global society,” said Robin Bachin, director of the American Studies Program.

Students who major in American Studies take courses emphasizing this shift in focus, including “The United States, Transnationalism, and Globalization” and “Labor, Migrations, and Social Movements in the Americas.” Students also have opportunities to perform service learning projects related to their coursework in which they assist local organizations that address the needs of immigrants. Students are also encouraged to participate in study abroad programs.

“To be successful, I think it’s imperative that students understand different cultures, different societies, and the ways in which the United States has related to them in the past,” said Bachin.