Learning Abroad Center

Learning Abroad in Individualized Degree Programs

The benefits of study abroad in individualized degree programs are as varied as the students and the degree programs they design. Through study abroad, you’ll develop your language competency, build confidence and problem-solving skills, discover new worlds and ways to adapt (even in your own world), and make life and career connections. But mostly, it’s an ancient, proven way of learning, “indispensable to any close observer of human beings.”

Wilhelm von Humboldt

This covers 4 individualized degree programs:

Academic Planning Recommendations

Many BIS, IDIM, ICP, and MdS students use credits from study abroad as part of their individualized degree program. All four programs are sufficiently flexible to incorporate study abroad. The key is advance planning. The earlier you select your study abroad program—or programs (some students do more than one)—the easier you will find it to integrate the courses into your individualized degree plan.

The BIS, IDIM, ICP, and MdS degree programs can be flexible about incorporating credits from abroad. Again, careful planning and consultation with your academic advisor is the key.

Liberal Education Requirements

Search the U Credit Abroad Search. You may also submit any liberal education course not yet evaluated for approval online.

Major and Minor Requirements

Most major requirements may be satisfied through appropriate courses taken abroad; however, certain degree requirements must be taken here because there are few counterparts outside the University of Minnesota.

Integrate community engagement or an internship into your degree program

  • With the advance approval of your concentration adviser, it is quite possible to include experiential coursework in a BIS, IDIM, ICP, or MdS degree program.
  • Like more conventional classroom-based courses, internships or other experiential courses should fit with the thrust of the concentration and should complement other courses within it.
  • Concentration advisers may vary in their enthusiasm for experiential coursework; early consultation is strongly advised.

Work on your language requirement

  • For the BIS and IDIM programs, students must either complete a fourth-semester college language course or pass the Language Proficiency Exam. The BA option within ICP requires either two years of language or one year of language plus 8 credits of related culture courses. The BA option within MdS requires 12 credits of course work dedicated to languages or cultures other than the student’s native language or culture.
  • Study abroad offers extraordinary opportunities to satisfy these requirements. Learning is most efficient when you are surrounded by the language you are studying; watch especially for programs that include homestays. Options are available for accelerated language learning.
  • Plan your language study carefully or you may find yourself out of sequence upon return to the University of Minnesota.

Who will advise me and help me with course approvals?

Learning Abroad Center advisers can help you find program and course information to help you prepare for your study abroad academic planning discussion with your academic adviser. Once you have narrowed down your program options contact your academic adviser to use the Academic Planning for Study Abroad (APSA) form to structure your academic planning.

College/Department Scholarships for UofM Students

Programs

Explore these suggestions and many more opportunities using the Learning Abroad Center program search.

As you plan your learning abroad experience, be sure to refer to the Major Advising Page associated with your interdisciplinary major. Work with your adviser to explore how you might integrate an experience abroad into your undergraduate career.

Additional Options to Consider

LAC Global Seminars

  • 3-week, 3-credit programs at the 3000-level led by University of Minnesota faculty and staff over winter break or May session.
  • Explore an exciting location and topic, Fulfill Liberal Education requirements, or earn major/minor credit.

LAC Freshman Seminars

  • Combine on-campus instruction during the spring semester with a study abroad component during spring break, on a 3 credits, 1xxx level Seminar.
  • Freshman Seminars Abroad are designed specifically for first-year students as an introduction to study abroad, an opportunity to explore an exciting location and topic, and likely fulfill a liberal education requirement.

Additional LAC Seminars

  • Check out additional LAC Instructor-led Seminars that might run over winter break, spring break, May, and summer sessions. They vary in length, dates, and content so students can find one that best fits their academic and professional goals.

Intensive Language Programs

  • Begin your language study or work toward completing requirements for a language minor.
  • Complete a semester of language on a short-term program or explore options to complete two or more semesters of language on semester-long program.