This feature was written by Michele Justice in conjunction with OSU Global Opportunities.
In recent years, we’ve worked to integrate study abroad directly into students’ degree plans, so that international opportunities align with completing required coursework – a win-win for students who wish to explore the world and gain credits towards graduation.
This fall, OSU will launch an updated Core Education program, focused on preparing students to be proactive and creative professionals and problem solvers. A key component of this program that all students will complete is the functional capstone course, Seeking Solutions. Seeking Solutions employs a transdisciplinary approach, asking students to integrate diverse learning and a range of perspectives to understand and offer solutions to some of our world's most complex challenges.
Dr. Dwaine Plaza (Sociology) and Dr. Itchung Cheung (Hatfield Marine Science Center) have created the university’s first international Seeking Solutions! In partnership with Dr. Eric Mijts from the University of Aruba, the team has reframed an already-successful spring break study abroad program, “Coasts Compared: Aruba and Oregon”. OSU and University of Aruba students will wrestle with complex environmental issues faced in both locations, exploring natural factors such as climate effects on native mangrove forests and the impacts of invasive species, and human dimensions of social systems, resource management, tourism and coastal development.
In addition to learning about socioeconomic and environmental challenges in the “microstate” of Aruba, students develop self-knowledge, intercultural competence and an appreciation for the potential of local communities to address global problems. As in past years, we anticipate the program will be extremely popular – and now it will satisfy a brand new degree requirement in a way that brings learning to life in a Caribbean context.
