Study abroad … from the classroom

By Rachel McGreal

Perhaps you want to dip your toes in global studies without leaving home. Or maybe you’d like to meet agricultural journalists and communications specialists from a dozen countries and learn about how farm and food stories are told around the world. Or how about seeing the way freedom of the press influences knowledge mobilization outside of the U.S.?

If so, International Agricultural Communications (AGCM 375) is for you.

This new course, which launched last fall, gives you an opportunity to explore agricultural journalism and communications in an international context, from the familiar surroundings of Bevier Hall.

Each week, the class “visits” a different country -- Mexico, Argentina, Ireland, and Burkina Faso, for example. On the first day of class that week, a class member is appointed to lead the discussion about the agriculture and the agricultural communications and journalism in that country. On the second day of class that week, an agricultural journalist or communications professional from that country (typically, a member of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists) joins the class in person or online to talk about their connection to agricultural communications in their country. The students then get the chance to ask them questions at the end of class.

The exchange of ideas and perspectives gives students the opportunity to compare agriculture and journalism from country to country, while simultaneously understanding how those industries are connected on a global scale.