Global Learning
Majors in Global Studies, Chinese Studies, Scandinavian Studies, International Business, Environmental Studies and modern languages, together with the International Core, signal the breadth and depth of international learning at PLU. Every department offers opportunities for students to engage complex global dynamics and interact across cultural boundaries.
Local Learning
Courses and internships connect students with the highly diverse Seattle/Tacoma region of Washington state, including the bustling tempo of international commerce at the Port of Tacoma, the vibrant traditions of the Makah Nation, and the linguistic, social and economic challenges of new immigrants.
Study Away
The Wang Center coordinates PLU’s successful off-campus study programs, with key partnerships at Sichuan University in the People’s Republic of China, the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, Hedmark University College in Norway, and the Instituto Cultural Oaxaca, Mexico.
PLU faculty also provide students with intensive global study through month-long short-term courses. Each January, students immerse themselves in the rhythms of more than a dozen countries – learning firsthand about, for example, the biology of the Galapagos Islands, the roots of modern psychology in Germany, contemporary business in Shanghai, Spanish in Costa Rica, or media and communications in Australia.
Building Community Through Public Education and Symposia
PLU sits at an international crossroads on the Pacific Rim, where people of many cultures live together, exchanging thoughts, ideas and traditions. The Wang Center is in an extraordinary position to facilitate this interaction. The Center regularly sponsors lectures and discussions of peace, justice and global citizenship and is also committed to hosting major public symposia. In spring 2003, the center held its inaugural symposium, China: Bridges for a New Century, which attracted more than 700 participants from across the globe to discuss topics such as trade, technology, education and the arts. Since then, in 2005 "Pathways to Peace" highlighted Norway's approach to democracy and development. 2007 showcased "World Conversations: Voices from Around the Globe". For more information, speakers, and photos, click on the links listed below. Save the date for a Global Health Symposium, February 21-22, 2008!