How
did the Global Village Curriculum begin?
During the early 1960's the university instituted a unique interdisciplinary core curriculum, which was later revised to include a cross-cultural requirement. In the mid-1990s a group of students spearheaded another change, asking that the curriculum have a broader global emphasis.
In the early 2000's, the faculty worked intensely to craft an undergraduate program with an integrated focus for the new millennium. They chose to keep the Global Village Curriculum title, which continues to communicate EMU's outlook on our role in a global community.
Philosophy
Contemporary students need a global context in which to understand the meaning of knowledge, and its relevance to daily decisions. The Global Village Curriculum is designed to provide this rich context. Students and faculty devote time and resources to examine, analyze, critique, synthesize and weave together strands of knowledge to develop the learner's God-given intellect.
EMU assigns equal importance to the process and content of study, believing students can take ownership and find meaning in their course of study and thus be active participants in the student-directed component of this curriculum. Faculty members are committed to developing and supporting a mentoring approach to advising. Students are guided to courses which will help prepare them to make a contribution to the world, and encouraged to explore areas of challenge.
Transformative learning occurs best in community both on and off campus. Within community EMU faculty encourage students to take seriously God's essential character as creator and redeemer to nurture the practices of creative and artistic expression, and to give attention to wellness of mind, body, and spirit in preparing for their vocation.
Values
EMU faculty incorporates these values in the Global Village curriculum.
- Integration of faith into all courses
- Compassionate engagement with the world
- Passionate inquiry
- Interdisciplinary learning
- Global awareness
- Learning in community
- Critical thinking
- Shared courses for all students
- Experiential education
