Cross-Cultural Experience

In the classroom, you’ll learn the theory of culture. In the required cross-cultural experience (CCE) immersion, you’ll live it. Carroll offers a variety of opportunities allowing you to immerse yourself in another culture. Whether you travel near or far, you’ll learn to see the world through someone else’s eyes and build understanding for people, places and ideas that are different from your own. Carroll is one of the few schools in the United States to require a credit-bearing, off-campus experience associated with its general education requirements.

Add Value to your education

In today’s diverse and global society, it’s critical for you to interact effectively with people who may be different from you, to communicate across national and cultural divides and to understand that our own worldview is not the only one. The ability to work with people from different cultures is one of the top skills employers are looking for in new graduates. Carroll’s program gives you an edge in a job market that is placing an increasing emphasis on cultural competency.

Innovative Curriculum that Maximizes the Value of your General Education Experience

As part of the Pioneer Core, every undergraduate student at Carroll will participate in a CCE as a requirement to graduate. The CCE requirement is completed in an off-campus setting and allows students to apply knowledge learned in previous cross-cultural classes through interactions with cultures other than their own. A variety of options are available, including domestic and international locations, 2-credit and 4-credit courses, and study abroad options. All CCEs have three key aspects: preparation, immersion and reflection.

 

Students studying 1. Preparation

In the classroom, students will learn about the country and culture they are visiting, as well as learn about how to work with those who are from different backgrounds and tips on how to be a responsible traveler.

Students on the roof of the Milan Cathedral 2. Immersion

Students must have at least 60 hours of meaningful interaction with people from a culture other than their own. It is not enough for students to read about or observe other cultures—students will experience the culture.

Male student writing a reflection on a train 3. Reflection

Students are expected to reflect on what they have experienced—usually through a written reflection; however, many students go beyond this, creating videos, photo essays, artworks, and presentations.

CCE Options

Our CCE opportunities range from Milwaukee to Tokyo and many places in between. To complete the CCE requirement, students will choose between taking a CCE Travel Course or a study abroad program. You’ll have the flexibility to embark upon a CCE that matches your interests and your budget. At Carroll, the world truly is your classroom.
Carroll students participating in a CCE travel course, visiting the Milwaukee Art Museum

CCE Travel Course

Travel Course CCEs are the most popular choice for students looking to fill their CCE requirement. These courses offer extensive preparation with a professor before students embark for off-campus cultural immersion.

Carroll students studying in Korea

Study Abroad

Studying abroad is a great way to maximize your CCE while earning course credits towards your college degree. Short-term to year-long options are available.

Discover everything our
CCE program has to offer

Visit the CCE Resource Center

Learn More

Resources

Featured Articles

two women in kimonos standing next to each other.

The World Reopens

6/1/2023

Carroll faculty and students resume globe-trotting Cross Cultural Experiences as the post-pandemic world reopens.

Tokyo

Alumna Helps Bring Japan to Students

6/10/2020

Prof. Dan Becker's cross-cultural experience trip was grounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still wanted to a meaningful cultural education to his students, from his own home to theirs. Alumna Marissa Garetto '17 stepped up to help.

Read more cross-cultural experience articles

Contact Info

Have questions regarding CCEs?
Please email cce@xiaoneizhi.com to get in touch with a CCE Expert.

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Panoramic View of campus