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Intercultural Missions at Taylor

Intercultural Studies

Major/Minor

Prepared for Global Engagement

The Intercultural Studies major will prepare you to engage with God’s redemptive mission in the world and reflect critically and productively on the church’s kingdom activity. By gaining skills in applied missiology, critical thinking, research, writing, and intercultural communication, you’ll be able to contribute positively to God’s global purposes.

Balancing Theory and Practice

This major’s core courses draw from the fields of missiology, Christian ministry, anthropology, and biblical studies. You can choose electives from a number of other fields to shape the major towards your own individual interests and goals. The courses balance theory and practice, teaching both collaborative and critical thinking to help you identify and use your diverse spiritual gifts, passions, talents, and skills to impact the world.

You’ll learn from faculty members with decades of academic and practical experience, who are part of large, influential networks in their fields. They are committed to the interdisciplinary approach of the Intercultural Studies major and how it will broaden your perspective on where and how you serve.

Get on track for these careers

  • Missionary
  • Humanitarian Aid Worker
  • Church Staff Member
  • International Development
  • Community Organization Director
  • Government Work
  • Hospitality Ministries
  • Overseas Business
  • English Teacher
  • Refugee Resettlement Worker
Students riding horses down a cobblestone road
Cross-Cultural Requirement

A cross-cultural service experience is one of the requirements for the Intercultural Studies major or minor. Taylor offers many cross-cultural study and service experiences that will give you valuable real-world experience, such as Lighthouse service projects in January term and academic study abroad experiences. You may seek out cross-cultural service opportunities closer to home as well, through local ministries that reach out to different communities.

Students sitting on a cliffside over the ocean
Career Opportunities with an Intercultural Studies Degree

Intercultural Studies will provide a foundation to pursue careers in cross-cultural service in a variety of vocations through holistic NGOs, mission agencies, denominations/churches, TESOL, participatory community development, refugee/immigrant services, tentmaking/marketplace ministry, social entrepreneurship, and more. If you are planning to continue your studies after completing your undergraduate degree, Intercultural Studies will prepare you for graduate school through exposure to key missiological scholarship, primary sources, intercultural competencies, and a capstone service-learning ethnographic research course.

Students in a field on a intercultural trip
Double Major with Intercultural Studies

Thinking about a double major or adding a minor? Majors that complement Intercultural Studies include Biblical Studies, Christian Ministries, Youth Ministries, Philosophy, Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Public Health, Sustainable Development, TESOL, or Global Studies. Your academic advisor can help guide you in these choices.

Two students sitting and overlooking a Greek city
Minor in Intercultural Studies

With an Intercultural Studies Minor, you’ll study world mission theology/strategy, cultural anthropology, history of church missions, and Eastern and world religions. This program pairs well with Biblical Studies, Christian/Youth Ministries majors, Public Relations, Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Public Health, Sustainable Development, TESOL, or Global Studies majors. In addition, you’ll complete a cross-cultural requirement through a January term Lighthouse project, spring break missions trip, study abroad experience, or other cross-cultural service opportunity.

Mylie Brennan Thumbnail
Mylie Brennan
Class of 2016
"Taylor was really foundational in starting me on this journey of wanting to be globally minded—wanting to step out and interact with people who have different perspectives. Studying abroad changed my life and opened up my perspective in a lot of ways and I grew so much. Being around people who want to make the world a better place and want to be thoughtful in their engagement with the world was something Taylor gave me that I will forever be grateful for."

Intercultural Studies Curriculum & Degree Options

Students interested in course descriptions and academic policies can check out our Undergraduate Catalog.

Liberal Arts Foundational Core

A Taylor liberal arts education will prepare you to live and work in a fast-changing world. It also goes a step further: laying a strong spiritual foundation that cultivates wisdom. You’ll become a well-versed individual, equipped with critical thinking skills, a lifelong love of learning, and an appreciation for God’s creation.

View Foundational Core Curriculum.

A group of students walking down a street in a foreign country

Related News

Breaking Down Barriers

Apr 05, 2019

Dr. Kevin Johnson led a group of Taylor students to Egypt over J-term. Read about the Taylor group’s experience of listening to hymns sung in Arabic, speaking openly to Muslims about religion, and visiting ancient Egyptian sites.

Read Article
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