Course Overview
Students will learn how to communicate, as well as experience communication, using intercultural competency. This will be accomplished through activities that reveal sensitive areas of cultural understanding, misinterpreted body language, miscommunicated language translation, and misunderstood attitudes.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.
Learning Objectives
- Students will learn the definition of “cultural competency” using a rubric to measure values.
- Students will gain knowledge of how to communicate with intercultural understanding and competency.
- Students will become aware of cultural sensitivities and how to recognize them.
- Students will engage with other students to complete a rubric checklist of items to assist them in intercultural knowledge (including self-awareness, worldviews, empathy, verbal and nonverbal communication, curiosity and openness.)
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: SCN 167
Format: On Campus (at Syracuse University)
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school sophomore, junior, or senior status – or a 2024 high school graduate.
Credit: Noncredit
Grading: Pass/Fail
Cost:
- Residential: $2,195
- Commuter: $1,726
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – On Campus:
Experience what college is really like: take a college-level course, live in a residence hall, have meals with friends in a dining hall, and participate in activities and events on campus.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – On Campus | 1-Week Session I: Monday, July 8 – Friday, July 12, 2024 | MTWThF; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Noncredit | Open |
Course Requirements
There are no supply or eligibility requirements for this course.
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
Daily, students will use definitions, role-plays, critical thinking tests and discussions, explanations, cultural scenarios, and other activities to help recognize the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to portray intercultural sensitivity.
Faculty Bios
Rebecca Mindek
I have a Master’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from Columbia International University in SC and have worked with international students in multi-cultural classrooms for over 30 years. I lived and worked overseas for 11 years in Eastern Europe (2000-2011), which required me to learn and use these cultural competency skills in real life. I also currently teach at the ELI of SU, and use these skills and attitudes, daily, as I facilitate discussions with students in a multi-cultural classroom. I have designed courses and implemented the plans for the establishment of programs where there were no prior opportunities. I have not only taught, but also been a second language student, which allows me to understand the needs of my students. I have travelled to over 10 countries where I had to communicate and adjust to the surroundings. I am a teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, world traveler and New York State Native. I believe that learning takes place when you “experience”, therefore, I enjoy connecting with people, bringing people into discussions and learning about new cultures. My husband and I reside in Auburn.