The programs and activities of the Confucius Institute aim to expand knowledge and understanding of China and its multi-faceted importance for the state of Utah. Fusheng Wu, director of the institute, discusses the cultural events and language learning opportunities available to the campus and community.

As one of the most popular undergraduate programs at the U, International Studies uses wide-ranging resources to prepare students to live and work in the global world. Director of the program and assistant professor of history Hugh Cagle, talks about the flexibility of the major and how students can design their own curriculum based on their unique goals and interests.

El Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos es un Centro Nacional de Recursos del Título VI que sirve como un eje para actividades relacionadas con América Latina en la Universidad de Utah abarcando docencia, investigación y alcance comunitario. El profesor asociado en ciencia política y director del centro Claudio Holzner explica cómo el centro interdisciplinario apoya a estudiantes, profesores y al público en general.

The Center for Latin American Studies, a Title VI National Resource Center, serves as a hub for Latin American-related activities at the University of Utah involving teaching, research and community outreach. Claudio Holzner, associate professor of political science and director of the center, talks about how the interdisciplinary center supports students, faculty and the greater public.

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The Second Language Teaching and Research Center supports research on second language acquisition and supports teachers at all levels of instruction. Fernando Rubio, co-director of the center and professor of Spanish Linguistics, provides details about the center and how it serves the language teaching community across the state and country.

The Peace and Conflict Studies program trains students how to resolve differences in the workplace, with friends and family, in the community and beyond. David Derezotes, professor of social work and director of the program, discusses what students can expect from the interdisciplinary program, what they’ll learn and their career options after graduation.

The Humanities in Focus program in the College of Humanities helps non-traditional adult learners acquire skills to make documentaries and find their voice through filmmaking. Since 2005, more than 75 documentaries have been created exploring issues such as homelessness, drug addiction, domestic violence, foster care, immigration, escaping polygamy and surviving cancer. Jeff Metcalf, professor of English and founder of Humanities in Focus, discusses how and why he started the program and the impact it has on the filmmakers. Past documentaries can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSP3BGlWMHOL-kB6fJjao0g/featured

Derived from Greek words meaning “love of wisdom,” philosophy teaches students to question and analyze themselves and the world around them. Dustin Stokes, associate professor of philosophy, explores the value and benefits of a philosophical education.

History majors study everything from the Gettysburg Address to the European economy and learn important skills such as information management, writing, critical thinking and how to research. Ben Cohen, professor of history, discusses why historical knowledge is vital to society and why it’s important to understand who we are and where we come from.

To major in a language means to learn about another culture from a variety of angles, such as customs, habits, food, film, literature and history. Katharina Gerstenberger, professor of German, explores how the study of language and culture is more than just a basic understanding of words, it helps students better understand the true meaning of those words and prepares them to effectively communicate with people of that culture.