Our Center for Global Education (CGE) offers numerous semester-long programs located around the globe—you can apply a maximum of two courses from your time abroad to your major or minor area of study. Past students have made excellent use of more social justice-oriented, field-based programs in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, like those run by the School for International Training. Others have chosen a more traditional route by attending affiliated programs in Asia, Australia and Europe.
Students whose area of academic focus is outside the US, especially those with double majors or interests in Africana Studies; East Asian Studies; Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies; Middle East and Islamic Studies; or a world language will find that study abroad will deeply enrich their education. If you’re interested in a semester-long program off-campus, be sure to meet with a member of the CGE staff in your first or sophomore year to begin planning your college trajectory. This is particularly important for students who plan to double major in sociology and another discipline.
Instead of—or in addition to—studying abroad, some students opt to complete the experiential learning component of their education through selective programming with the Eisenhower Institute (EI). The institute offers a variety of year-long, semester-long, and short immersion trips in the US and abroad. Along with the senior year Fielding Fellow program, which focuses on politics, diplomacy and law, students interested in social policy and nonprofit advocacy who would like a more condensed experience should consider applying for a competitive Washington Summer Fellowship to support their internship. Though EI’s experiential learning programs change regularly, sociology majors and minors are routinely selected to participate. Past students—particularly those who also major in Public Policy, Political Science, or International and Global Studies—have found that the EI’s offerings are an excellent complement to the lessons learned in the sociology classroom. If their programs are of interest to you, be sure to reach out to your advisor(s) in your first or sophomore year for assistance with the application process.
Alongside the Eisenhower Institute, the Center for Public Service (CPS) also offers short term immersion projects, in the US and abroad, which are often completed during the winter break, spring break, or summer months. Some students may be wary of spending an entire semester abroad, particularly those for whom Gettysburg College is already an ‘abroad’ experience. The short-term but intensive opportunities offered by CPS can therefore provide an important alternative. Students with an academic focus or double majors in Educational Studies; Environmental Studies; Health Sciences; Peace and Justice Studies; Religious Studies; or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies are especially encouraged to get involved in these intensive educational experiences.
If you are interested in nonprofit, advocacy or service work during your time at Gettysburg College or as a future career, you should plan to volunteer with the Campus Kitchen or the Painted Turtle Farm, both run by the Center for Public Service. The Center also runs several summer fellowships in community development and offers competitive grants for students hoping to develop their own social justice projects. Students more interested in public policy may want to pursue summer programming through the Eisenhower Institute. Others may choose a summer abroad experience orchestrated by the Center for Global Education.