[ Intercultural Studies ]

Minor in Intercultural Studies

The Intercultural Studies minor is an excellent choice for students interested in diversity, multicultural, and ethnic studies who want to develop intercultural awareness and skills. You’ll learn about the structures of cultures, explore your own culture, and discover a range of cultures different from your own.

For a minor in Intercultural Studies, you will choose a focus in consultation with an ICS advisor. Students are expected to develop an understanding of one cultural group or to explore a thematic interest in depth.

Education and nursing majors are encouraged to identify themselves to a focus advisor or ICS co-coordinator to develop a focus within the work required for their major.

Objectives of the Minor
Requirements for the Minor


Objectives of the Minor
Students earning a minor in intercultural studies should be:

• Developing cultural group knowledge and understanding;
• Using intercultural models to analyze similarities and differences between cultures (ethnic, racial, gender, social class, and other minority and national identities) and their interactions;
• Developing an ability to analyze power, social hierarchy, and social inequality effects in interactions involving individuals,  groups, organizations, and nations; and
• Developing a problem-solving focus as it relates to the ability to effectively communicate with and relate to others from  various cultural or national backgrounds.

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Requirements for the Minor

Intercultural Courses
To develop an understanding of cultural and thematic issues as guided by program objectives, students take two half-course credit intercultural studies courses, as follows:

ICS 270 Introduction to Intercultural Studies (Half course)
ICS 271 Intermediate Intercultural Studies (Half course)

Core Conceptual Courses
To develop a conceptual base for intercultural understanding, students must take two or three courses from among the following:

BUS 271 Introduction to Global Business
BUS 350 Cultural Diversity in Organizations
COM 315 Intercultural Communication
ENG 230 Readings in Race, Class and Gender
ICS 275 Introduction to International Studies
PSY 325/425 Psychology and Culture
SOC 212 Cultural Anthropology
SOC 304 Majority-Minority Relations

Focus Elective Courses
Working with the ICS Program director or an ICS advisor, students select one or two focus elective courses from various  options to complete their specific cultural or thematic focus work. These options include:

• Regular and adapted Elmhurst College courses;
• Special January Term courses;
• Portfolio documentation of workshops, training sessions, lectures, retreats, etc., undertaken with an intercultural studies program focus;
• Independent study, research, field experience;
• Study abroad, internship, off-campus study or Service-Learning.

At least half the ICS course work must be taken at Elmhurst College. Some focuses, especially international, may need additional foreign language competency. A maximum of two courses may count also toward general education requirements or other majors or minors.

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