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Center for Ethics and Global Studies

Over one hundred and fifty years ago, an American writer left the comforts of home for a little experiment. Henry David Thoreau built a small cabin and lived in the woods for over two years, hoping to discover what life was all about. In his classic book, Walden, Thoreau wrote these unforgettable words:

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...and see if I could not learn what it (life) had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived...I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life."

In a way similar to Thoreau's famous quest, an education at William Woods aims to awaken your curiosity in the world around you.

  • It’s about living deliberately. It's about finding purpose in your life and work. It's about teachers who know you by name and are there to help you chart a course for the future.
  • It's about learning what life has to teach — in class and out of class, on campus and in the community, from textbooks and on road trips.
  • It's about living deeply because ideas are important, people matter and each of us can make a difference in the world.

As part of our mission statement, William Woods University is committed to equipping students for "lifelong education in the world community." To that end, The Center for Ethics and Global Studies (CEGS) provides resources and programming aimed at helping our students succeed in an ever-changing world. The Center aims to develop critical thinkers who can navigate their way through the complexities of the "global village" as well compassionate citizens who learn to value other peoples and cultures.

Travel with Woods Around the World, our study abroad program offered through the Center for Ethics and Global Studies, and sit at the feet of those who’ve made history during the Civil Rights Movement. Find yourself in Italy, watching the sun come up over the Roman Colosseum or admiring the works of Michelangelo. Visit an Indian Reservation and build bunk beds for the Lakota children. Wherever you go with the Center for Ethics and Global Studies, we promise the opportunity to see the world, and serve the world, in a way you never have before.

For more questions, contact Travis Tamerius, Director of the Center for Ethics and Global Studies at travis.tamerius@williamwoods.edu