SPECIAL PROGRAMS
The Florida State University Center for Global Engagement’s Special Programs offer students the opportunity to participate in a six-month academic training (internship) experience at Walt Disney World® Resort while earning 12 academic credits from FSU.
ELIGIBILITY
Full-time students who are currently enrolled in an eligible major at one of FSU’s designated partner institutions are invited to apply. Students must be in good academic standing, be at least 18 years old at time of application, and pass both their home university’s pre-screening process and an interview with a Disney recruiter. If English is not their first language, they must score at least a 5.5 on the IELTS, 500 on the PBT, 61 on the iBT, or 550-600 on the TOEIC. Students must be intending to return to their home university to complete their degree after program completion.
PROGRAM COSTS
The FSU Program Fee is approximately $4,800 USD (with an adjustment made to offset the cost of required compliant health insurance). This fee includes 12 FSU credits, textbook and materials for the on-campus course, room and board at FSU, group pick-up from the Tallahassee airport, transportation to Walt Disney World® Resort from FSU, local field trip, social and cultural activities, bed linens, pillow, towels, lanyard, polo shirt, and ongoing support from FSU staff.
Additional expenses include required compliant health insurance purchased by student and deducted from $4,800 USD program fee (links to compliant policies to be provided), round trip airfare to the U.S. (Tallahassee arrival), J-1 student visa application fee and SEVIS fee, Disney Program Assessment Fee, and personal expenses.
12+ YEARS
OF HELPING STUDENTS
THRIVE IN AN INCREASINGLY
GLOBALIZED WORLD
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
The program begins with a 9-10 day on-campus experience during which students take a three-credit FSU course in either Intercultural Communication or Hospitality Management and
experience American university life.
Both of these on-campus courses
incorporate experiential learning, with at least one course-related field trip.
Following the on-campus experience, students then travel to Orlando by charter bus to begin a six-month academic training (internship) experience at Walt Disney World®
Resort facilitated by Disney
International Programs. Students work full time in the Disney parks and resorts, live in company-sponsored housing with program participants from all over the world, and have access to a bus system designated for Disney Cast Members.
During their academic training
(internship) at Walt Disney World®
Resort, faculty and staff from Florida State University travel monthly to Orlando to facilitate classes and provide program support. Students have the opportunity to earn three credits for their six-month academic training experience and six additional credits for the two additional courses taught by FSU instructors.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The FSU Center for Global Engagement’s Special Programs in Intercultural Communication and Hospitality Management are designed to:
• Provide students with life-changing intercultural experiences both during their 9-10 days on the FSU campus and during their 6 months of work-integrated learning at Walt Disney World
®
Resort.• Help students to achieve their academic and career goals by earning academic credit while growing significantly in their intercultural competencies, their understanding of hospitality management, and their English language skills.
• Facilitate students’ building lasting, meaningful intercultural relationships which will be valuable for their lives and future careers.
• Equip students to thrive in an increasingly globalized world.
PROGRAM BENEFITS
• Located in Tallahassee, Florida, the state capital
• Ranked 26 among national public universities by U.S. News
& World Report
• 1 of 3 preeminent universities in the state of Florida
• Founded in 1851 with a student enrollment of 42,000
• Over 2,400 international students from more than 120 different countries and areas
• Ranked in the top 10 among the most beautiful campuses in the U.S. in 2016
ABOUT FSU
FSU ON-CAMPUS EXPERIENCE
9-10 days
Academic Curriculum
• Take a course in Intercultural Communication or Hospitality Management* from FSU faculty on FSU’s beautiful campus
• Participate in course-related field trips
• Earn a total of twelve FSU credits throughout the program
Cultural and Social Activities
• Engage in a variety of social and cultural activities on FSU campus and throughout the surrounding area
• Make friends with program participants from FSU’s other international partner institutions
• Enjoy getting to know four Peer Mentors, who are specially selected current FSU students that serve as cultural resources and live with program participants in the residence hall
Accommodations
• Live on campus in an apartment-style residence hall with three other program participants
• Eat at one of FSU’s dining facilities or the Center for Global Engagement’s dining room
*Program/course determination is based upon the agreement with the student’s home university and academic major.
6 months
Work-integrated Learning
• Work in a park, resort or entertainment area at Walt Disney World® Resort
• Take FSU classes online and in person
• Learn from full-time FSU faculty and staff who travel monthly to facilitate classes and provide program support
• Gain work-place training from Disney leaders in your work area
Opportunities
• Interact with guests from around the world
• Boost your resume
• Live in company-sponsored housing with other cast members which includes:
• Fully furnished apartments
• Utilities and internet
• Access to a bus system specifically for Disney Cast Members
• Read more at TheDisneyIP.com
“I have enjoyed interacting with many guests from
around the world and forming relationships
with my coworkers.
Each guest is unique to me because their home countries and languages are totally different. I think this internship experience is good opportunity to make my world bigger.”
Haruka Kokubo Japan
DISNEY ACADEMIC EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE
“I have been learning so many things from so many people, improving my language skills and taking classes with a very great university, and enjoying working with one of the best companies in the world—Disney.”
Alonso Farías López
Mexico
The academic content of the program helps students to succeed in their academic training at Walt Disney World® Resort and to grow significantly in their intercultural competencies and their understanding of hospitality management.
COURSEWORK ON FSU CAMPUS
During their 9-10 days on the FSU campus, students participating in the Intercultural Communication Program will take an intensive three-credit course titled Global
Perspectives: Communication. Students participating in the Hospitality Management Program will take an intensive three-credit course titled Managing Service
Organizations.
Global Perspectives: Communication (3 Credits)
• This course introduces students to the basic processes of intercultural communication from a global perspective in hopes of increasing their curiosity and acceptance of other cultures.
Managing Service Organizations (3 Credits)
• This course presents service management from an integrated viewpoint with a focus on customer satisfaction. The course material integrates operations, marketing, strategy,
information technology, and human resources. This course addresses the concept of quality, and intends to fine tune students’ managerial skills.
ACADEMIC CONTENT
FSU COURSEWORK AT
WALT DISNEY WORLD® RESORT
Applied Intercultural Communication (3 credits)
• This course is designed to build the foundations for healthy cross-cultural adjustment; reinforce key principles of cross-cultural interaction; and teach essential elements of American culture to prepare students to study and live in the United States and in other cross-cultural settings.
Corporate Social Responsibility (3 credits)
• This course is designed to encourage students to combine first-hand experience in a
professional setting with an exploration of different areas of company policy which exemplifies the Walt Disney Company’s approach to being a responsible corporate citizen.
Intercultural Communication Practicum or Hospitality Management Internship
• This practicum/internship is designed to provide the student with hands-on, work-integrated learning in a professional setting. Students will complete all necessary training for their assigned role(s) and work approximately 30-37.5 hours per week for approximately six months. They will set their own professional objectives and evaluate their progress towards achieving those objectives over the course of their program.
(3 Credits)
The FSU Center for Global Engagement’s Special Programs staff will provide participants with support from the earliest stages of the application process and pre-arrival, continuing through their arrival/orientation and 9-10 day stay on the FSU campus, and then extending throughout the duration of their program.
During participants’ time on the FSU campus, students will be supported through the work of a full time Program Director, two Coordinators, two student Program Assistants and four Peer
Mentors, who are specially selected current FSU students who live with the students in the residence hall and provide a variety of cultural and social activities for them.
While at Walt Disney World®
Resort, participants will also be supported locally by the Disney Internships and Programs team (whose offices are conveniently located within participants’ designated apartment complexes).
CGE Special Programs staff will make monthly visits to Walt Disney World® Resort throughout the duration of the program in order to teach students’ FSU courses, hold events for program participants, and provide additional support.
FSU SUPPORT
Since the program’s inception in 2007, over 1,400 participants from 9 countries have successfully completed the program.
After participating in this program, students have entered careers in international diplomacy, tourism/hospitality management, international business, and a variety of other fields.
In addition, having been introduced to Disney operations and culture, several participants have returned to work in subsequent roles with the Walt Disney Company at various locations around the world.
PROGRAM ALUMNI
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I feel like it
opens your horizons and lets you learn about
new cultures.”
“I found my lifetime friends through this
program. They are
the best part
of my journey.”
PROGRAM BENEFITS
• Gain real life work experience with Walt Disney World® Resort
• Improve English skills through class, work and cultural experiences
• Make friends with other students from the United States and around the world
• Earn 12 FSU credits
PROGRAM DATES
July 5, 2019 – January 2, 2020
PROGRAM FEE
$4,800 USD
BEGIN THE APPLICATION
Contact your university coordinator to begin the application process.
Mr. Jihoon Jang
Student Exchange Coordinator Office of International Affairs Dankook University
Room 314, International Hall csy@dankook.ac.kr
Tel: +82-31-8005-2603
APPLY NOW
“I made a lot of friends ... and
improved my English
so much, which
makes me really happy!”
