Special Academic Programs

Community-Based Learning

The Office of Community-Based Learning provides shared, community-based experiences and reflective opportunities that serve the entire campus community and all academic departments. Our goal is to strategically support faculty, students and the Baltimore community while focusing resources and expertise toward the continuing development of thoughtful and informed global citizens.

By actively connecting academic coursework with engaged learning in the community, students investigate assumptions about race, class and privilege, and learn how to develop beneficial, sustainable community partnerships. All academic disciplines and divisions (humanities, social sciences, sciences and the arts) incorporate community-based learning practices.

Special Programs

Futuro Latino Learning Center

On weekends, Goucher College is transformed into a bustling international center for the local community. Administered through Goucher College’s Office of Community-Based Learning (CBL) and Professor Frances Ramos-Fontan, the Futuro Latino Learning Center (FLLC) was created in response to a critical need for English as a Second Language (ESL) services for a rapidly growing immigrant population in Baltimore County.

The center offers a wide range of educational programs that respond to the needs and interests of the area immigrant community. Participants gather in the Athenaeum’s Pinkard Community Service Center on Saturdays from 11am-5pm to practice conversation skills and to receive ESL and basic computer-literacy training. For children, there are kids’ cultural heritage programs to keep in touch with their Hispanic heritage while their parents are working to reach their own educational goals.

Signature Programs

Goucher has a number of weekly signature programs. We encourage students who participate in these programs to make a full, semester-long commitment. Many of these programs will require additional training and will also offer structured opportunities for reflection.

• Armistead Gardens Partnership
• Baltimore County Humane Society
• B-HEARD
• Goucher Scholars & Pleasant Plains Elementary School (Federal Work Study)
• Maryland Food Bank
• Middle School Mentoring & Barclay Elementary/Middle School
• Project PLASE with Food Recovery Network
• Read-a-Story/Write-a-Story (volunteer and Federal Work Study)
• Refugee Youth Project @ Patterson High School
• TALMAR Gardens & Horticultural Therapy Center
• West Towson Neighborhood Association & Blue Water Baltimore

Student Leaders for Civic Action

Student Leaders for Civic Action (SLCA) Directors serve as a resource and leader to volunteers and community participants in Goucher College’s many off-campus and on-campus Community-Based Learning Programs.  We seek SLCA Directors who are passionate about community action and social justice.  SLCA Directors should have a high level of expertise in their particular site, or have significant experience that applies to that site or service location.  We also seek SLCA Directors who are organized, can communicate effectively, and have some experience managing or supervising peers. 

Examples of Community Based Learning Courses

• CBL 115  - Gateway to Service (2 Cr.)
• CBL 299  - Independent Work (1.5 Cr.)
• COM 301  - Topics in Media and Communication (3-4 Cr.)
• PSY 226  - Relational Psychology (4 Cr.)
• SOA 393  - Seminar: Sociological Analysis of Selected Topics (4 Cr.)
• SP 130S  - Intermediate Spanish with Community-Based Learning (4 Cr.)
• SP 230  - Intermediate Conversation and Composition (4 Cr.)
• SP 363  - Spanish in the Workplace: Language and Culture (4 Cr.)
• THE 490  - Senior Project Workshop/Senior Project Production (4 Cr.)

Individualized Interdisciplinary Major

Individualized Interdisciplinary Major (IIM) at Goucher provides a framework for students with a broad range of interests to pursue a flexible, self-designed major that takes advantage of the diverse and innovative courses offered across the curriculum. Students must complete at least 44 credits in courses that focus on the methods and content of three disciplines and balance the contributions from each discipline. Students will form an IIM Committee (which includes the IIM advisor, primary faculty sponsor, and at least 2 other members who could be faculty or staff on campus).  Students who engage in an IIM will be able to achieve the goals of a) being able to articulate clearly the vision of the area of research and study, b) stating the methodology or methodologies that they employ, c) framing the history of and the new relations and offerings among disciplines in their areas, d) engaging in and describing their advanced areas of research into questions in their areas of study, and e) researching, imagining, and understanding the areas of opportunity for advanced study, employment, and careers in their chosen areas of interest. 

Physical Education and Athletics

Physical Education and Athletics have been key components of the Goucher experience since the founding of the college. Together they complement Goucher’s commitment to developing a student’s intellectual growth and leadership skills. Students learn to test physical limits, develop responsibility, work together as a group, and understand the basis for establishing a balanced lifestyle.

The department encourages the development of vitality and health through the activity courses, where students take one course from a variety of choices offered through physical education. Athletics plays an important role in the student life of the campus. As competitive participants, students learn to draw strength and courage from within. The testing of mental and physical limits is integral to building positive self-esteem and important in the development of leadership skills. In addition to the Welsh Gymnasium and von Borries Swimming Pool, the Virginia and Alonzo Decker Jr. Sports and Recreation Center complex includes a cardio fitness center; a strength and conditioning center, dance studios, athletic training room, locker rooms, a racquetball and a squash court, and a multipurpose room. Outdoor facilities include three natural grass practice fields; eight tennis courts; an indoor and outdoor riding ring; stables; a synthetic turf field with lights, an eight-lane synthetic surface track and stadium field, a nine-hole disc golf course; and five miles of wooded riding, jogging, and hiking trails that are used by the cross country team and many students on campus.

Recreational Sports Program

The hallmark of recreational sports at Goucher is participation. The program provides facilities, equipment, and activities to meet the diverse needs and interests of the entire college community. Recreational sports includes three facets in programming: intramurals, sports clubs, and recreational events. Within these areas are opportunities for competition in team, dual, and individual sports for men and women; practice, instruction, and competition in common-interest group activity; and nontraditional, self-paced activities. The program is flexible and based upon the interests of the college community and the availability of facilities.

Intramural Sports

Most recent activities include basketball, softball, flag football, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, indoor soccer, and volleyball.

Sport Clubs

Sport clubs are recognized student organizations formed by individuals with a common interest. Sport clubs promote student participation in a wide variety of physical and athletic activities, provide greater opportunity for student competition at various levels of play, contribute to the development of student leadership, and provide a bond within individual clubs. Most of all, sport clubs are a great place to learn a sport, meet people, and have fun. The key to the success of this program and each club is student leadership and participation. Sport clubs are administered through the Office of Student Engagement and the Sports Club Umbrella. Each club is formed, developed, governed, and administered by the club’s student members. Clubs that have sustained interest in recent years include Ultimate Frisbee, fencing, jujitsu, hip-hop, gymnastics, and yoga.

Varsity Sports Program

The intercollegiate athletics program offers 11 varsity sports for women and 9 varsity sports for men, as well as an equestrian intercollegiate athletic program for men and women. Goucher is a member of the Landmark Athletic Conference and has NCAA Division III affiliation. Students may fulfill the activity course of the physical education requirement by successfully completing one season on an intercollegiate team.

Fall Sports

Men’s and women’s cross country, riding, soccer, and tennis, and women’s field hockey and volleyball

Winter Sports

Men’s and women’s basketball, riding, indoor track and field, swimming

Spring Sports

Men’s and women’s lacrosse, riding, tennis, outdoor track and field, golf

Equestrian Program

The Equestrian Program is part of the comprehensive physical education program and offers small, personalized riding classes for riders at the novice through advanced levels. The program emphasizes a contemporary approach to hunt seat riding. Throughout the year, students participate in horse shows and riding clinics both on and off campus. Goucher is a member of Region I of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, and intercollegiate competition is available to students on the varsity riding team. The Riding Club provides a variety of non-riding, horse-related activities and sponsors riding events on campus. Goucher’s riding facilities include college-owned horses, 21 box stalls, a 150’ by 180’ sand ring, an indoor riding ring, a hunt course area, and fields and trails with cross-country jumps. For information on boarding a private horse in the college stables, contact the director of the equestrian program.

Study Abroad

The college sponsors summer, winter, and semester study abroad programs. Students interested in studying abroad should contact the Office of International Studies (OIS) for further information. Students receiving any financial aid should consult the Office of Student Financial Aid before planning to participate in a study abroad program. Goucher institutional aid, including Goucher grants and scholarships, as well as any state aid, do transfer to any Goucher semester study abroad program, up to the cost of Goucher tuition for the first semester abroad experience. Participants are billed Goucher charges for their study abroad program, not the fees indicated in program literature or websites.

Students are considered in-residence while enrolled in a Goucher program. Credits and grades earned abroad on Goucher semester programs, Goucher ICAs and Goucher summer programs will be counted towards a student’s credit accumulation and calculation of grade point average. Semester courses must be taken for a letter grade with the exception of some designated language courses that may be taken pass/no pass. Consult OIS for these designated courses.

Generally, students will be allowed to transport their Goucher institutional aid for only one semester, except for reciprocal exchange programs, the Costa Rica Monteverde Institute program, or the Goucher Oxford University yearlong program. Students majoring in a foreign language, Peace Studies, or International Relations are eligible to study abroad for an additional semester with their financial aid, but must apply through their respective program.

Goucher Semester Programs Abroad

Goucher Intensive Courses Abroad (ICAs)

These courses are all led by Goucher faculty members. Course descriptions are available under the appropriate academic program. Although most ICAs are offered every other year, these programs are subject to change without notice.