Hello,

I am excited to share with Drury's innovative approach to general education, or what we call Global Perspectives for the 21st Century (GP21). We have organized our entire curriculum around global issues and globalization. Because of its unique blending of breadth and depth, most Drury students earn a minor in Global Studies in addition to their major.

Global Studies at Drury offers some unique opportunities. First, Drury has received national recognition for its Alpha Seminar (first-year) program. Alpha Seminar provides new students with faculty mentors who help make the transition from high school to University life and instruct them how to write, think, and communicate at the college level as they explore American cultural traditions.

Second, as the name “Global Perspectives” suggests, our curriculum is designed to provide all Drury students with the insights and skills they will need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Students complete courses in foreign language, world cultures, and globalization.

Third, the core courses of GP 21 are interdisciplinary. They are designed to make the relationships between different areas of knowledge clear to students. Learning how to combine knowledge from a variety of sources is a key skill because the explosion of available knowledge overwhelms the ability of any single individual to “know it all.” The experience with interdisciplinary courses at Drury helps our students immediately begin to learn how to work together and draw connections between facts and ideas.

Fourth, we encourage students to study abroad for a month over the summer, a semester, or a year. Students report that studying abroad is a transformative experience, both personally and professionally.

Employers have long recognized the value of a liberal arts education, whether they are hiring graduates in business, communications, or other careers. The strength of a person's general education is frequently the most important factor when companies hire new employees or when graduate schools admit graduate students. Drury's general education curriculum, Global Perspectives for the 21st Century (GP21), provides both the skills and knowledge demanded by employers and graduate schools.

As you can see, a Drury education that focuses on global studies provides the foundation for reaching your goals after college. Please feel free to contact me so that I can tell you more about our curriculum and the experiences that Drury University offers.

Sincerely,

Richard Schur, Ph.D./J.D.
Director, Interdisciplinary Studies Center
rschur@drury.edu
(417) 873-6834