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Printed from:http://umabroad.umn.edu/students/maps/cla/cnes.php

Learning Abroad in Classical & Near Eastern Studies and in Classical Civilization

All of the majors and minors represented by CNES are based in the countries of Mediterranean Europe or the Near East. Thus study abroad gives students access to the material they are studying in a way that nothing else can.

Moreover, the academic study of the ancient Mediterranean world—its languages, cultures, and history—developed and remains extremely strong in Europe. Our students can reap double rewards from studying abroad—access to both the physical remains of antiquity and contact with important and exciting academic programs devoted to studying the ancient world.

“Before leaving to study abroad my impression of Egypt consisted of ancient artifacts, temples, and tombs. However, my time in Egypt not only allowed me to take in the rich history of ancient Egypt, but also experience the welcoming hospitality and vibrant culture of modern Egypt. From working on the excavation of an ancient site to wandering through the bazaar district of Khan el-Khalili in Cairo, my time abroad in Egypt was an experience I will always remember and value.”—Paul, CNES major.

Academic Planning

Review the following suggestions from the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Studies before beginning your study abroad research.

Choose your study abroad experience wisely

• No program is “best” for everyone. The trick is to find the right learning abroad option for you.
• Selecting the best program for your needs and interests is important, and it can take time.
• Read the program literature carefully; consult with advisers; check on the experiences of past students.
• In addition to general factors in program selection, keep in mind the following suggestions specifically from CNES.

Align your study abroad with your particular major.

• Majors in Greek, Latin, and Classical Civilization will benefit from all of the options listed that focus on Greco-Roman antiquity. Such programs are not limited to Greece and Italy. Greek and Latin students can also participate in academic programs in universities elsewhere in Europe, in Turkey, or in Australia or New Zealand, where they can continue their language training while experiencing the study of Classics outside the U.S.
• Majors in Biblical Studies, Hebrew, and Jewish Studies may benefit from studying Hebrew and related subjects abroad. Although the obvious location for studying Hebrew is Israel, there are also opportunities to study in an English-speaking university with a strong Hebrew language program, as well as to participate in a study abroad program with a strong Biblical Studies or Jewish studies curriculum (for some ideas see the Jewish Studies major advising page).
• Students in all majors covered by this page are encouraged to consider programs that afford relevant field experience such as visiting major archeological sites or monuments, or participating in archeological fieldwork as part of a team.

Consider also your particular personal, academic, and professional goals

• Are you interested in understanding your major from an international perspective?
• Do you wish to develop or improve your language skills?
• Would you like to use some of your coursework to satisfy Liberal Education requirements?
• Have you considered conducting archaeological fieldwork for your senior project?
• How important are such personal goals as broadening your academic horizons, increasing your self-confidence, and expanding your cross-cultural communication skills?
• Can you use your learning abroad experience to develop contacts, opportunities, and skills for future research, and to prepare yourself to work in diverse and international workplaces?
• How can your learning abroad experience prepare you for a life of engagement as an effective global and local citizen?

Work on your major or minor

• Many programs include courses that may be considered for major credit if you plan properly.
• To count toward the major, any course taken abroad must be accepted by the University of Minnesota at the upper division level.
• For some students, especially transfer students, it can be important to choose a program that yields resident credit. (Transfer credits may constitute no more than fifty percent of the upper division coursework for a CLA major.)
• Consider conducting field research for your senior project. Use the Learning Abroad Center program search to identify study abroad programs that include research or fieldwork opportunities.
• Relevant internships (for example, in museum or field archeology settings) may also be considered for major credit.
• Working on a language requirement while abroad is encouraged but can be tricky because of differences in sequencing. Learn as much as you can about how the program or host institution teaches your language, and ask your major adviser to help you plan. It can be a good idea to take with you the textbook for the parallel University of Minnesota course and to do some self-directed study on points not covered in the course you are taking overseas.
• Only upper division courses will fulfill requirements in the major.

Consider timing and length

• There is no “best” time for everyone, although liberal arts students often find the sophomore or junior year easiest.
• Students of Greek, Hebrew, and Latin must be aware that CNES offers each year of coursework in these languages beginning in fall term only (moreover, first- and second-year biblical Hebrew are offered only every other year).  Thus you cannot, for example, plan to start your second year of Latin in the spring.  If you take a semester abroad, consider how to obtain the language courses necessary to complete the sequence(s) required for your major.
• Introductory short-term programs and language study can be great for freshmen or sophomores.
• Senior-year study abroad, although common, may require additional planning. When must you start your major project? When are graduate school applications due? Do you need to take exams given only at particular times of year, or only in the U.S.? Will the grades from your study abroad arrive in time for graduation?
• Consider more than one learning experience abroad.

Seek cultural immersion

• Deep involvement in the host culture leads to personal growth and instills the cross-cultural skills that are so important to success in the workplace and community.
• Consider a program that houses you with a family or host-country roommate.
• Be realistic. Not all students are ready for the same amount of cultural immersion.

Pay special attention to program type

• Format and teaching approach are every bit as important as location and length. Consider your learning style, your educational and personal goals, and department advice.
• Field Study programs: Learn through doing. Programs built around internships, service-learning, field research, interview projects, etc., may work especially well for experiential learners.
• University Study programs: Become a temporary foreign student at a host university. Seek locations offering methodologies, theoretical perspectives, or courses different from ours.
• Study Abroad Centers: Take classroom courses tailor-made for non-native students. Many such centers also offer opportunities to engage in field study and/or to take courses as a local university.

Fulfill Liberal Education requirements

• Advance planning can help you apply study abroad credits to many of the University’s Liberal Education requirements.
• Decide early which requirements you want to satisfy through courses taken abroad and plan your coursework accordingly.
• Consult the Learning Abroad Center’s database of study abroad courses that have been approved for Liberal Education. If a course is not listed, it may still meet a liberal education requirement. We encourage you to submit your course(s) for evaluation.

Once You Have Selected a Program

• Use the Academic Planning for Study Abroad (APSA) form to structure your academic planning.
• Once you have chosen the courses that you want to take abroad (always choosing more courses than you intend to take), meet with the director of undergraduate studies in your major—preferably at least 3 months before departure. Bring your transcripts, your APSA form, and the course descriptions.
• Meet similarly in other departments for additional majors or minors.
• If your preferred study abroad program is not accredited, explore with you advisers the possibility of earning credit for your experience abroad through credit by exam or as a Directed Studies course under faculty supervision. Be aware that both options have cost implications.
• To complete the APSA process you will also need a signature from a college adviser.

While You Are Abroad

• If, once you are in country, you become interested in a course that was not included on your APSA but might be pertinent to your major or minor, gather as much information as you can about the course and then consult by email with the director of undergraduate studies before committing yourself.
• Hold onto course materials (e.g., syllabus, exams, papers, reports, and at least a photocopied table of contents of any key textbook) and bring them home with you.

After You Return

• Check to see if your study abroad coursework has been posted to your U of M transcript. If your study abroad courses were evaluated and approved for liberal education requirements and completion of these requirements is not reflected on your APAS report, please contact the Learning Abroad Center.
• Be aware that courses taken abroad may require many weeks, or even months, to get accepted and posted at the University of Minnesota. Times vary with programs. Let the Learning Abroad Center know well in advance if impending graduation or other special circumstances lend particular urgency to your case.
• Make an appointment with the director of undergraduate studies to review overseas courses for which you wish to obtain final approval for use toward your major or minor in CNES or Classical Civilization. For other majors or minors you will need to do the same in a different department.
• Bring to that appointment the course materials plus a brief explanation of why you think the course should be counted.

This section that follows highlights some of the study abroad programs that fit well for the different majors and minors offered by the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Studies. Given the diverse nature of these majors, many options are open to you. Some of our students visit the monuments and sites of classical antiquity in Italy, Greece, or elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Others engage in hands-on archaeological fieldwork. Still others study classical languages or related subjects in universities in Europe or elsewhere.