![[FSU Seal Image]](_images/headerFSUSeal.gif)
Students earn 12 FSU credits for successfully completing all components of this program. Six hours of FSU credit are given for academic coursework and six hours of FSU credit are given for the internship at the Walt Disney World Resort.
SPC4710 Intensive Intercultural Communication Course
This 3-credit intensive course is an exploration of interracial and intercultural communication and the philosophies that underlie the concept. Through completion of assigned readings, participation in small-group and class discussions, and various homework exercises and fieldwork, students will learn to apply the basic concepts of intercultural communication, and sociocultural and sociopsychological theories of communication to their interactions with FSU students, faculty and staff, and the wider Tallahassee community. They will practice conducting social scientific observation of human interaction at FSU so that they can continue conducting similar observations in the interculturally rich environment provided by the Disney International College Program. In this three-credit course, they will also be introduced to many of the key co-cultural groups that operate within the United States, and are present within the Walt Disney World Resort community: African Americans, Latino Americans, Asian Americans, women, and the elderly.
COM3930 Cross-cultural Seminar
This 3-credit seminar is designed to help prepare students to study, work and live in the United States and help them successfully progress through the different phases of cultural adjustment. Students will reflect on and give feedback about their experience throughout the six months and submit online journals and other assignments to the FSU instructor. Students will also participate in eight 2-hour modules of a Disney Exploration Series as part of this seminar requirement. The options for the Disney Exploration Series can be found further down on this page. This seminar will meet while the students are at FSU and will also meet monthly while the students are at the Walt Disney World Resort. The seminar will be facilitated by an FSU instructor.
COM 4945 Internship (S/U)
This course provides six credits for a supervised internship working in one of the theme parks or resorts making up the Walt Disney World Resort. Students work in an assigned role for 30-37.5 hours per week, except when classes are not in session and they may work more than 37.5 hours per week, for six months. They are trained and supervised by the Walt Disney World Resort staff and are required to meet the same standards of work and attendance as all other regular Walt Disney World Resort employees.
Students also have the option of earning 3 additional credits through the Disney International Program by enrolling in one of the Disney Collegiate courses. These classes are taught by accredited instructors working in the Disney College Program. The courses are accredited by the American Council on Education, Washington, DC. Each course is worth 3 credits. The list of courses can be found below.
Advanced Studies in Hospitality Management
The objective of this advanced-level course is to prepare students to become entry-level managers in the Hospitality Industry by exposing them to contemporary and complex operational issues and situations and equipping them with the ability to analyze problems and develop, propose, and implement strategic solutions. Topics covered include leadership, strategic planning, international tourism, organizational behavior, communication, ethics, etiquette, human resource management, hospitality security, and guest service, among others. Previous working knowledge of the Hospitality Industry gained through academic studies and practical experience is helpful. However, a list of independent reading material will be provided at the beginning of the term to help those students without this knowledge.
» Course Syllabus
Corporate Analysis
This course provides an organizational exploration of the Walt Disney Company and covers a variety of topics including its corporate history, structure, governance, performance and culture. In addition, students will learn more about our Company's concepts around innovation & technology, globalization, history & heritage, community responsibility and diversity & inclusion.
» Course Syllabus
Corporate Communication
This course is designed to introduce the students to the purpose and significance of communication within an organization at many levels. Students will learn both the why and how of communicative techniques as organizations interface with customers, employees, and the public. As a result, students should have greater understanding of and appreciation for the corporate communicative process.
» Course Syllabus
Creativity & Innovation: Gaining the Edge
This course introduces students to the main theories of Creativity and Innovation. Students will learn various tools to promote creativity within themselves and others, processes to increase innovation, how to contribute to a creative team, how to manage creativity and how to establish a culture of creativity within an organization. As a result, students should have greater understanding of and appreciation for the creative/innovative process and be better able to harness and direct those forces for themselves and others.
» Course Syllabus
Human Resource Management
This course provides an overview of fundamental human resource management in a corporate setting. The focus is on the fundamentals of Human Resource Management. Topics covered include Equal Employment Opportunity; Employee Rights and Labor Relations; Recruiting and the foundations of selection; Employee Development; Performance Evaluation; and Rewards, Benefits, Safety and Health Programs.
» Course Syllabus
Organizational Leadership
This course analyzes the universal principles of leadership theory and their application within a personal and corporate environment. Instruction is designed to build repeatable and transferable leadership knowledge and skills.
» Course Syllabus
Students complete one of the following experiential classes presented in 8 2-hour modules. These classes are designed to give students the opportunity to learn how the Walt Disney World Resort operates in key areas. Each class is highly interactive and encourages each participant to fully experience all aspects of the 47 square miles of the Walt Disney WorldResort as a learning laboratory.
Exploring Marketing at the Walt Disney World Resort:
Gain a deeper understanding of how we maintain customer loyalty by both staying true to our brand and marketing our new Guest experiences. In this DES, you will:
Exploring Communication Processes at the Walt Disney World Resort:
Examine how we incorporate our Quality Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency in providing a vast communication network that can respond rapidly to anything, from weather emergencies to disgruntled Guests. In this DES, you will:
Exploring People Management at the Walt Disney World Resort:
Human Resources (HR) plays a huge role in developing the over 50,000 employees and Cast Members of the Walt Disney World Resort. In this DES, you will:
Exploring Guest Service at the Walt Disney World Resort:
Hospitality is the hallmark of the Walt Disney World Resort. Through our theme parks and resorts, we strive to satisfy and delight our Guests in the world's most hospitable vacation destination. In this DES, you will:
Exploring Leadership at the Walt Disney World Resort:
Discover how our leaders balance the needs of Cast, Guest and business to create the most magical place on earth. In this DES, you will: