Off-campus programs
Semester abroad & other off-campus programs
The following off-campus programs of study are available to Bluffton students:
GUATEMALA
Students spend a semester experiencing the colorful culture and beautiful landscape of Guatemala! This Central American country has a population of just over 18 million people. Many Mayans continue to live in small, rural villages, dress in colorful traditional clothing and speak one of 22 indigenous languages. Guatemala is still recovering from 36 years of “civil war” called La Violencia (the violence); Peace Accords were signed in 1996.
The experience investigates the integration of ancient Mayan culture and modern life. You will see the ways in which wealth and power are unequally distributed. You will learn about La Violencia and efforts to heal the wounds of that painful experience. You will spend time in the capital city, Guatemala City, and in rural areas, particularly near beautiful Lake Atitlan. Students experience bustling markets full of locally-made crafts, visit cooperatives and learn about how those crafts are made, visit Ancient Mayan ruins, eat local foods, practice Spanish and learn to appreciate rural life and work during a home-stay.
Bluffton students will live with Guatemalan families in Guatemala City and take Spanish classes at CASAS (Central American Study and Service) program affiliated with the Latin American Mennonite Seminary. In addition, students have classes about Guatemalan history and culture and about making peace. A volunteer field experience will give you the experience of a second Guatemalan community and an organization working to better the lives of the people in the community.
While prior Spanish study is encouraged, it is not a requirement to participate in this semester experience.
CLASSES:
Classes for each term are selected from this course list.
WASHINGTON COMMUNITY SCHOLARS CENTER (WCSC) SEMESTER PROGRAM
Discover the city life of Washington, D.C., cultural diversity, career-building opportunities, a broad range of university classes and the connections between faith and work at the Washington Community Scholars Center. Washington, D.C., is full of exciting opportunities to explore new cultures, a different pace of life and learning, and a great variety of people, each with their own worldview and passions. The city is also a place to learn about the poverty that exists in our own country, about racism which continues to affect our society and about the ways that real people are addressing these challenges. Through internships, group life and the weekly seminar class, students are encouraged to embark on a stretching journey of personal and professional self-discovery and gain new perspectives on the world we live in.
WCSC’s inter-disciplinary seminar analyzes social problems, faith issues and urban experiences through reading and writing, the arts, field trips and group discussion. Guest speakers, internship visits, and history and arts tours are part of the weekly seminar course.
CLASSES
Classes for each term are selected from this course list.
Chicago Center of Urban Life and Culture
Through the Chicago Center for Urban Life and Culture, all majors are invited to spend a semester experiencing Chicago. Participants complete student teaching or internships and attend weekly seminars to process their experience with peers and supervisors to learn more about the challenges and promises of the urban environment.
More about the semester in Chicago >
American College of Greece (ACG)
ACG is an American-accredited institution with the credit hour system and a student body of approximately 3,400 students. Its campus is located on a hillside at the edge of Athens. ACG offers a full cultural immersion experience, rich academic programs, an impressive library and Olympic-quality athletic facilities.
More about a semester in Greece >
Global Ed (Council for Christian Colleges and Universities)
Off-campus, interdisciplinary learning opportunities are available to upper-class
students at Bluffton University and offer 16 semester hours of credit. For further
information, visit www.cccuglobaled.org or contact the director of global education.
Amizade Study Abroad
Amizade Study Abroad programs meet the cross-cultural requirement. For further information, visit amizade.org or contact the director of global education.
CENTRAL AMERICAN STUDY AND SERVICE (CASAS), Guatemala
Central American Study and Service, part of the Latin American Anabaptist Seminary
(SEMILLA), gives North Americans the opportunity to live, study and volunteer in a
Latin American context. The core of the CASAS program is a 12-week, cross-cultural
study term designed for students interested in studying Spanish while cultivating
a broader awareness of the issues facing people in Guatemala. The term begins with
eight weeks of intensive study while living with a Guatemalan family in a marginal
area of Guatemala City. Students study Spanish (often, in a one-on-one setting) with
experienced Guatemalan teachers and participate in visits and lectures with organizations
or individuals who are experts on Guatemalan history, culture, politics and religion.
During the final four weeks students have the opportunity of working in a voluntary
service setting. Students may earn university credit in several areas including Spanish,
anthropology and religion. Also available is an intensive Spanish-only program. For
further information, contact the director of global education. The CASAS website can
be accessed directly at semillagt.org
CIEE (Council for International Educational Exchange)
CIEE has programs in many countries around the world which are available to Bluffton University students. See their website for more information. https://www.ciee.org/go-abroad/college-study-abroad.
For additional information regarding all off-campus programs contact:
Paul Neufeld Weaver, Director of Global Education, weaverpn@bluffton.edu, 419-358-3227
or
Marathana Prothro, Director of General Education, prothrom@bluffton.edu, 419-358-3279
July 2024