Intercultural Communication

Overview

The Center for Global Engagement's Special Program in Intercultural Communication provides qualified international students with the opportunity of becoming global-ready graduates and earning a total of twelve academic credits from Florida State University. 

The Intercultural Communication Program provides participants with the enriching experience of doing intensive academic coursework in Intercultural Communication on the FSU campus followed by a six-month academic training program at Walt Disney World® Resort near Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.

The intensive three-credit on-campus course in Intercultural Communication provides the academic framework necessary to build important intercultural communication skills. Students also benefit from the experience of living and studying at a U.S. university and from interacting with FSU faculty, staff and students during their stay.

While at FSU, students also begin a six-credit Applied Intercultural Communication course, which will continue throughout their stay in the U.S. This course, combined with social and cultural activities, will help students prepare for their experience living, working and studying at Walt Disney World® Resort.

As this course continues at Walt Disney World® Resort, students will apply the principles of intercultural communication theory which they have learned at FSU to their daily interaction with and observations of people from a variety of different cultures, in social, academic and work situations.

In addition, students will also complete their three-credit Intercultural Communication Internship during their time at Walt Disney World® Resort.

During the Disney Academic Exchange Experience, students live in a state-of-the-art student housing complex complete with full amenities along with other students from a variety of cultures. They receive training and then engage participate in work-integrated learning throughout the Disney theme parks and resorts. Students also meet with an FSU instructor monthly. Total immersion in such an experiential learning situation helps students develop the invaluable cross-cultural skills and competencies needed to be successful global citizens in the 21st century.

Eligibility

Students need to be in good academic standing. They must be pursuing a degree program at an FSU partner university for this program, and their major must be approved by their home university to participate. At least some of the credits earned during the program must count toward students' graduation requirements. Students must be enrolled in their home institution the semester prior to participating in this program or be considered to be enrolled by the home university during their program participation. Students must intend to return to their home institution after the program’s completion. They must be 18 years old or older. Ideal candidates are outgoing and friendly, and have very good English conversation skills. All students must pass an oral interview with a Disney recruiter. Students should also possess a sincere desire to gain hands-on experience in intercultural communication as preparation for their future career path and be willing to be actively engaged in all components of the program.

Each partner school will implement a pre-screening process in order to identify highly qualified and motivated students with strong English skills. Only students who receive a minimum of the following scores on one of these standardized English assessment tests and who are nominated through their home university's pre-screening process may be scheduled to interview with a Disney recruiter:

• TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 61 and scores of at least 16 on the speaking section and at least 12 on the listening section
• IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 5.5 and scores of at least 5.5 on both the speaking section and the listening section
• Duolingo English Test: Minimum overall score of 100 and subscores of at least 100 in both speaking and listening

Final acceptance into the program will be determined by the Disney recruiter conducting the personal interviews with each student.