Intercultural Engagement Endorsement

Photo of a directional sign including destinations around the world

As our world grows more interconnected, the ability to interact, communicate, and collaborate with people across cultures becomes more essential. Bethel’s intercultural engagement endorsement combines courses, activities, and experiences to help you develop an awareness of your own cultural beliefs, behaviors, history, practices, and values—and you'll be equipped to understand and appreciate those characteristics in others as well.

Goals and outcomes 

  • Develop skills that will help you communicate and collaborate across cultural differences.
  • Learn how to engage in meaningful interactions and develop personal relationships with a wide variety of people with different backgrounds.
  • Grow your appreciation for the value of different perspectives, especially those rooted in cultural experience.
  • Understand how becoming more globally engaged enhances one's experience as a Bethel student and prepares you for a global workforce.  

Academic requirements

To earn an endorsement in intercultural engagement, you'll need to complete the following academic requirements. 

Activities

  • Membership in United Cultures of Bethel (UCB) for at least one semester
  • Attend five relevant events on campus (e.g., Reconciliation Studies forum) or off-campus (e.g., colloquium, reading)
  • Attend OIS’s Pre-Departure Orientation and Re-entry workshops

Courses: Two of the following

  • World Cultures (U) course
  • Second Language (S) course
  • Comparative Systems (G) course

Experiences: 14-16 credits

Choose one:

  • One semester abroad
  • One semester off-campus in a Bethel-approved domestic program that engages a different culture or cultures

Learn more about Bethel's international and off-campus programs