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What is the Learning Abroad Minor?
The learning abroad minor (previously the foreign studies minor) is an individualized, interdisciplinary College of Liberal Arts (CLA) minor that integrates a study abroad experience with related University of Minnesota coursework. Whatever your major, earning a learning abroad minor gives you the opportunity to increase your awareness, understanding, and appreciation of other cultures—as well as your own.
Why Should You Pursue the Learning Abroad
Minor?
With the growing interdependence of nations, it is imperative that
students become knowledgeable about the world beyond the borders
of the United States and gain skills in communicating with other
cultures. The learning abroad minor provides a framework and opportunity
for deeper reflection on your study abroad experience, which can
help you more effectively articulate your new skills, knowledge,
and world perspective to future employers, scholarship committees,
graduate schools, friends, and family. In the past, students have
combined the minor with closely related majors such as second languages,
global studies, or communication studies, as well as with such disparate
fields as social welfare, journalism, food science, and electrical
engineering.
What are the Requirements?
- A study abroad experience
of at least eight weeks, with a minimum of 6 credits.
This requirement may be fulfilled through one of the University of Minnesota’s 220 programs in 60 countries, through a program offered by another American or foreign institution/organization, and/or through directed study.
- Two years of college-level
second language study appropriate to the study abroad experience.
The first year of language study must be completed prior to the start of the study abroad program. Students intending to study in an English-speaking country may study any second language, and may also take courses about the regional dialect(s) to partially fulfill the language requirement. Students studying in a country in which coursework in the target language is not offered at the University of Minnesota may, with the permission of the Learning Abroad Center, choose to substitute additional credits that focus on the country of study (see requirement 3) for some or all of the second year language credits.
- Six elective credits in
3xxx to 5xxx coursework focusing on the country of study.
Courses in this area must concern the country of your study abroad as directly as possible. For clarification, ask a Learning Abroad Center adviser to help you select acceptable courses. Students are encouraged to fulfill this requirement while abroad, but courses offered by the University of Minnesota are also acceptable.
- Two core intercultural communication
courses:
Intercultural Communication:Theory and Practice (Comm 3451)
This must be taken prior to departure for the study abroad program. The course focuses on basic theories of intercultural communication. Students who can demonstrate that it would have been impossible to complete this course prior to departure may petition to replace it with Comm 5451 or Comm 4452 (to be taken upon return) and an additional writing assignment (to be completed while abroad). For more details, view the learning abroad minor FAQ.
Communication and Intercultural Re-Entry (Comm 3452)
This must be taken after the study abroad program. The course analyzes the study abroad and re-entry experiences and provides a framework for exploring intercultural experience.
How Many Credits Are Required?
The minor requires 12–38 semester credits, depending on the
credit value of each language course, or the equivalent.
When Should You Get Started?
Advance planning is essential! In order to complete the learning
abroad minor, at least one course must be taken prior to departure
for the study abroad program. The most common roadblock to doing
the minor is failure to complete pre-departure coursework.
How Do You Apply?
To apply for the learning abroad minor, you must call 612.626.9000
to make an appointment with the learning abroad minor adviser at
the Learning Abroad Center and bring along a current copy of your
transcript. The adviser evaluates courses you have already taken,
or have in progress, for applicability to the minor and advise you
on any additional required courses. It is strongly recommended that
you meet with the learning abroad minor adviser prior
to taking any coursework for the minor. Note that your college's
academic adviser is not able to approve courses for the minor.
How Often Should You Visit With the Learning
Abroad Minor Adviser?
You should contact the learning abroad minor adviser at least once
a year to update your record. In addition, contact the Learning
Abroad Center immediately if your contact information changes, if
you want to modify your plans for completing specific components
of the minor requirements, or if you decide to drop the minor.
How Do You Apply for Graduation With a Learning
Abroad Minor?
You must make a final clearance appointment
with the learning abroad minor adviser in the Learning Abroad Center
when you have completed the last of your minor requirements. Bring
an up-to-date, unofficial transcript and documentation of relevant
coursework to your appointment. The adviser verifies that you
have successfully completed the requirements for the minor and then
inform your college office. If you are taking your last courses
for the minor during the term in which you graduate, your transcript
may not yet include all the necessary courses and grades. In this
case, the learning abroad minor adviser verifies that you will
complete the minor pending successful completion of remaining courses
and request your college advising office to post the minor to your
record after grades for the course(s) have been posted. Note that
your college adviser is not able to clear you for graduation with
the minor until you have completed this final appointment with the
Learning Abroad Center.
Contact
The Learning Abroad Center administers the minor on behalf of CLA.
For more information about the minor and to explore your learning
abroad options, refer to the Learning Abroad
Minor FAQ, call 612.626.9000 or 888.700.UOFM or email UMabroad@umn.edu.
Learning Abroad Center
University of Minnesota
230 Heller Hall
271 19th Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Last modified on February 9, 2009 |