Global Studies in the Field course prepares students for study abroad, connects students to scholarships and global careers

KALAMAZOO - At Western Michigan University, class assignments transcend traditional academic coursework to experience-driven learning, often preparing students to become conscientious citizens in a globalized world.  GIST 3100: Global Studies in the Field is a course run by the College of Arts and Sciences' School of Environment, Geography and Sustainability in collaboration with the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.

In the semester-long class, students plan to pair their academic knowledge with boots-on-the-ground study abroad experience. They are introduced to the cultural, historical, political and social institutions of their international destinations of interest, while also nurturing an appreciation for the commonalities and differences between people both at home and abroad.

In the Classroom

GIST 3100 allows students to earn academic credit while preparing for a study abroad journey or a global career.  In one of the last classes of the semester, Professor William McQuitty sat in a circle with his students at Dunbar Hall while everyone shared objects of importance to them. He had spent the morning talking about how objects have different meanings depending on historic context, cultural perspective and personal connection.

He started with a reference to the popular artist Banksy, who shredded his work moments after it sold at a live art auction. As Banksy’s work changed form, and the artist’s intention shifted, the value of the piece skyrocketed, McQuitty explained to the 25 students in attendance.  

The shredded piece, later renamed Love is in the Bin, was resold for $25.4 million in 2021, a substantial increase from its initial sale price of $1.4 million.

Objects take on different meanings to different people, McQuitty said. Culture and historical context contribute to how someone understands something.

To further his point, the professor also showed music videos from songs featuring U.S. downtowns, spanning from the 1960s hit “Downtown” by Petula Clark to the 2015 recording “Downtown” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.  The art and imagery of what it meant to be “downtown” changed as Americans migrated toward the suburbs, he observed, encouraging student debate and discussion.

McQuitty then showed an example from history, diving into deeply held cultural assumptions. He showed an image of a skull. In European and other cultures, this symbol means danger, death, pirates or poison. But in other parts of the world, it serves as a celebrated icon to honor the dead or to show human appreciation of life.

“A big part of this class is becoming more aware of not just that international countries have different assumptions and different cultures, but also that we have our own assumptions and our own culture that others might think of as different,” he said.

Sitting in the circle with his students, McQuitty held up his laptop and talked about how it symbolized not just technological advances and a connection to the gaming community but also his escapism from some of the hardest moments of his life—his mother’s death and his divorce. The laptop is now a physical reminder of his personal achievement in overcoming a gaming addiction, he said.

Students showed off key chains, jewelry, musical instruments, a Magic 8 Ball and more as each discussed the deeper meaning their personal items carried and how that meaning has changed over time.

“When you are abroad, don’t be afraid to ask questions,” McQuitty told the class. “You can make lasting connections with people if you take the time to learn about them and their world."

Traveling Abroad

GIST 3100 is open to all levels of students and satisfies the WMU Essential Studies Level 2: Exploration and Discovery, Societies and Cultures category. First-year students who want to study abroad during their time at Western are encouraged to apply. WMU senior Molly Dixon took GIST 3100 her first-year on campus. She says the lessons from the class have taken on a new importance as she prepares to graduate with a major in Spanish and enter the workforce.

"GIST 3100 opened my eyes to the value of networking and making connections in a globalized world,” says Dixon, a 21-year-old from Grand Rapids. “It also made me realize that looking through life and issues from a multicultural perspective not only makes you a better person, but also more capable and employable.”

“GIST 3100 made me see that traveling in general is not as scary as I thought it was, and it gave me the confidence to study abroad for a whole semester even though I had never left the country prior,” says Dixon who studied abroad in Costa Rica during her sophomore year.

Upon her return to Western, Dixon secured an internship with WMU’s Global Engagement Program (GEP). An initiative of the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, the GEP celebrates and honors students for their global engagement on campus. Through participation in global events and courses, students earn different statuses like Global Bronco, Global Explorer and Global Citizen. Each status comes with unique rewards, including scholarships for studying abroad. Nearly 180 students were recognized for earning a new GEP status this year. Students at WMU are automatically enrolled in the GEP program and some 11,000 students are actively engaged.

Taking GIST 3100 and continuing involvement in the GEP allows students to earn a $1,000 study abroad scholarship. Some 460 students at Western studied abroad in the 2024-2025 academic year.

'Internationalization at Home'

“The course is designed to prepare students not only for study abroad experiences but also for broader forms of international engagement, such as internships or short-term visits,” says Dr. Anezka Viskova-Robertson, global learning manager at the Haenicke Institute. “WMU is committed to comprehensive internationalization, including ‘internationalization at home’— global experiences for all students through global learning opportunities on campus.”

Even for students who are unable to study abroad, GIST 3100 and the GEP offer great opportunities to learn about the world, says Dixon. Students have opportunities to hear from guest speakers, attend cultural events and interact with people from around the globe.

Students from more than 90 countries attend WMU. In addition to supporting study abroad and global engagement, the Haenicke Institute also assists more than 1,500 international students and recent graduates on campus with immigration, student success and post-graduation job training.

“WMU gives you the tools to understand the ideas and problems you hope to solve in your chosen field," says Dixon, who walked the graduation stage last month. “GIST 3100 and the Global Engagement Program allow you to connect those ideas and challenges to similar issues and diverse perspectives across the world.”