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Learning Abroad in Journalism, Mass Communication & Strategic Communication
“I urge every student to make learning abroad a top priority. Nothing comes close to matching the adventure, intellectual growth and preparation to live and work in an increasingly interdependent global community. You might forget the names of professors but you‘ll never forget how learning abroad changed your life.” — Albert R. Tims,
Director, School of Journalism & Mass Communication
Study Abroad Process
This is the basic process you'll complete in order to study abroad. The order in which you do things is somewhat flexible.
Academic Planning
Review the following suggestions from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) before beginning your study abroad research.
Fulfillment of major or minor requirements
Most universities in other countries do not offer the professional courses taught in SJMC. However, many offer fascinating media courses that fulfill context course requirements or other courses that fulfill the non-journalism supporting course requirements for the major.
If you want to fulfill major requirements, look for junior-senior level courses that may apply to either the context course area or the non-journalism supporting course area of your program plan. If you find a professional course of interest, you must get preliminary approval for this course from SJMC. Final approval for professional courses will not be given until the course work you did in the learning abroad course is reviewed by SJMC.
To determine whether programs or classes you have chosen will fulfill major requirements, talk to an adviser or faculty mentor in SJMC.
- For supporting courses: bring course descriptions with you.
- For context courses: bring course descriptions and syllabus (if available).
- For professional courses: bring a syllabus to obtain preliminary approval from a faculty mentor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). Final approval for professional courses will be given after SJMC faculty review the work you did—including all written or visual assignments—for the course. A syllabus and your course work must be submitted for faculty review when you return from your learning abroad.
If an adviser or faculty mentor in SJMC cannot determine whether a course fulfills major requirements based on the course description and syllabus, or if you are a pre-journalism major, you must complete a Transfer Course Work Petition and submit it with the course description or syllabus to 110 Murphy Hall. The DUS will use these materials to determine if the study abroad course will apply to the major.
Honors students can use a learning abroad course to fulfill one of their honors opportunities requirements.
The Study Abroad in Rome program (LAC); The Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS); and The Study and Internships in London program offered through the Learning Abroad Center (LAC); have worked well for SJMC students because these programs offer course work that will apply to all three major tracks. Strategic communication students should note that DIS in Copenhagen offers a course that is equivalent to the capstone course, Jour 4263 (Strategic Communication Campaigns).
NOTE: It is very important that you consult with an adviser or faculty mentor in SJMC before taking learning abroad courses in the topic area of journalism and mass communication because no more than 40 credits in courses in this topic area will apply to a 120-credit B.A. degree program. If you take journalism and mass communication courses that do not apply to the major, you will not receive credit for these courses in your degree program.
Fulfill Liberal Education requirements
- Advance planning can help you use learning abroad to satisfy many of the University’s Liberal Education requirements.
- Decide early which requirements you want to satisfy through coursework taken overseas so that you can work on other requirements here.
- Consult the LAC’s database of learning abroad courses that have been approved for Liberal Education.
Build second language skills
If you hope to jumpstart a new language or to gain advanced fluency, select a program that suits your goals.
- If you are at the beginning or intermediate level, consider a program where you can study and be surrounded by a language.
- If you already have reasonably advanced language skills, consider a program taught in another language.
For suggestions, see the LAC’s Language Study Options.
Participate in field study/internship and experiential learning opportunities
- Consider a program that offers experience-based learning and gets you out of the classroom and into the community.
- Participate in an internship to further immerse yourself in the culture and community of your learning abroad program. Some internships involve academic work and credit, or you may register for a one-credit course, Jour 3996, in conjunction with an internship
Conduct research under the direction of a faculty member or international colleague
- Discuss your learning abroad and academic research interests with a college adviser as well as your major or minor adviser.
- Many faculty members are interested in working with undergraduate students to support a research project that includes a component in another country. Begin early to define your topic and secure the support, both here and abroad that will be required to successfully complete your project.
- Consult with LAC advisers, even if you are earning UMTC credit for an independent research experience abroad. LAC advisers prepare University of Minnesota students for all sorts of travel, work, volunteer, internship, and learning abroad experiences.
Once you have selected a program
SJMC students planning on studying abroad will need to start working on their Academic Planning for Study Abroad (APSA) form as soon as they have chosen a program.
- Consult the LAC’s database of learning abroad courses that have been approved for Liberal Education or for Language Study Options
- Meet with your college adviser to get approval for your learning abroad program and courses
- Meet with a faculty mentor or SJMC adviser to get preliminary approval for major courses
- Meet with your minor adviser to get preliminary approval for minor courses
Programs
Africa and the Middle East
Jordan
CIEE Jordan– Middle Eastern Studies in Jordan
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Combine a rich academic program, cultural experiences and language study to gain a greater understanding of the Middle East.
- Enroll in specially designed courses in history, politics, economics, culture, media, the environment and current social issues, as well as an Arabic language course.
- One course, the Role of Media in the Arab World, may be of particular interest.
- Additional lectures, excursions and internship opportunities supplement the courses.
- Instruction in English by Jordian faculty.
Kenya
- Program Type: Field Study
- Offers credit through coursework, research and internships that focus on development, globalization and social justice.
- Past internship placements include community centers, health education organizations, women’s groups, orphanages and small sustainable businesses.
- No prior language required.
- Meet with your adviser well in advance to see how MSID may fulfill Journalism internship and directed study credits.
Senegal
- Program Type: Field Study
- Offers credit through coursework, research and internships that focus on development, globalization and social justice.
- Past internship placements include community centers, health education organizations, women’s groups, orphanages and small sustainable businesses.
- Two years of French required.
- Meet with your adviser well in advance to see how MSID may fulfill Journalism internship and directed study credits.
Americas
Ecuador
- Program Type: Field Study
- Offers credit through coursework, research and internships that focus on development, globalization and social justice.
- Past internship placements include community centers, health education organizations, women’s groups, orphanages and small sustainable businesses
- Two years of Spanish required.
- Meet with your adviser well in advance to see how MSID may fulfill Journalism internship and directed study credits.
Argentina
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Gain in-depth knowledge of Argentine and South American politics, economics and society.
- Students take two to four courses at FLACSO and then choose the remaining courses from the University of Buenos Aires.
- Classes of interest include Intro to Audiovisual Communication, Intro to Journalism, Communication Theory I and II, Intro to Publicity and Institutional Communication, Public Opinion and Politics of Communication.
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Offers a beginning and intermediate program with language and area studies courses.
- Students with advanced language skills can enroll in courses at the Universidad de Buenos Aires or the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella.
- Some internships are offered.
Chile
IES Chile– Santiago
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Choose either from a wide variety of courses at the IES Center or enroll in regular university courses at the Universidad de Chile and the Pontifícia Universidad Católica.
- Take advantage of a service-learning project in connection with any of the program courses.
- Internships available in business, the arts, and governmental agencies.
- Taught in Spanish by Chilean faculty.
Asia and Oceania
Australia
James Cook University
Macquarie University (available through Arcadia Australia or GlobaLinks Australia)
Queensland University of Technology (available through Arcadia Australia or GlobaLinks Australia)
Southern Cross University (available through GlobaLinks Australia)
University of Adelaide (available through GlobaLinks Australia or IFSA-Butler Australia)
University of Melbourne
University of Wollongong
- Program Type: Host-Country University
- Study in a university alongside degree-seeking students from Australia; host country universities work especially well for students interested in experiencing a different academic system and for students who want to select journalism and mass communication from a wide variety of offerings—with a distinctive Australian approach.
- These universities have been selected for courses, internships, and other factors that may be of interest to journalism students.
- In the past, credit and course work from these universities have transferred by well for Journalism students.
Study and Internship in Sydney
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Choose from a variety of courses that focus on Australian culture; areas include politics, art, cinema, business and the environment.
- Enhance your experience by participating in a 6-credit internship at places such as Nickelodeon, ABC, or the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School.
India
- Program Type: Field Study
- Offers credit through coursework, research and internships that focus on development, globalization and social justice.
- Past internship placements include community centers, health education organizations, women’s groups, orphanages and small sustainable businesses.
- No prior language required.
- Meet with your adviser well in advance to see how MSID may fulfill Journalism internship and directed study credits.
- Program type: Study Abroad Center
- Based at University of Hyderabad. The city of Hyderabad, located in southern India, is the country’s fifth-largest city.
- Center courses offerings include communication classes in the School of Performing Arts, Fine Arts and Communication.
- Instruction is in English; no prior study of South Asian languages is required. Fall semester, spring semester, or academic year.
Japan
IES Japan– Tokyo
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Combine Japanese language and culture coursework with field study and internships at Kanda University for International Studies (KUIS).
- Students with an appropriate level of Japanese language skills can enroll in regular KUIS courses.
- In the past, KUIS has offered courses in communication, including Intercultural Communication, Non-Verbal Communication, and Interpersonal Communication.
New Zealand
University of Canterbury (available through GlobaLinks New Zealand or IFSA-Butler New Zealand)
University of Otago
- Program Type: Host-Country University
- Study in a university alongside degree-seeking students from New Zealand; host country universities work especially well for students interested in experiencing a different academic system and for students who want to select journalism and mass communication from a wide variety of offerings—with a distinctive New Zealand approach.
- These universities have been selected for courses, internships, and other factors that may be of interest to journalism students.
- In the past, credit and course work from these universities have transferred by well for Journalism students.
South Korea
GlobaLinks South Korea– Korea University
- Program Type: Host-Country University
- Based at the Korea University in Seoul, South Korea.
- There are a wide variety of fields available, including journalism and mass communication.
- Korean language is also offered every semester from beginning to advanced levels.
- Most instruction is in English; no prior Korean is required.
Europe
Austria
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Offers the option of taking English-taught courses in a non-English speaking country, while studying German language and Austrian/Central European area studies courses.
- Students with advanced level German language proficiency may take courses at the University of Vienna, where the Institute for Communication Science offers a wide range of courses in journalism (print, radio, television, multi-media) that focus on the practical, historical, theoretical, cultural, and business aspects of the field
Belgium
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Brussels is one of the world’s top five communication centers, headquartering the European Union, NATO, and hundreds of non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations.
- Students take center courses and also choose from courses at Vesalius College of the Virje Universiteit Brussels.
- The communication depart trains students in journalism, public relations, advertising, human communication, mass communication, business communication, film studies, media studies, and cultural studies
Denmark
Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS)
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Enroll in a wide variety of courses taught in English and enjoy exciting study tours; first, a short tour of Denmark followed by a longer tour to and of London. Study tours are covered in the program’s cost.
- DIS has a track specifically for Communications and Media Studies, covering political and cultural communications issues such as communication across cultures in Europe, European news media in transition, European film and International marketing and branding.
- Students are required to take the course Current Trends in Media, which examines the changing media landscape of Denmark, and the different modes of communication.
- Students may chose from many other courses across the DIS curriculum to form a semester program tailored specifically to their interests.
- The program also offers a course that is equivalent to Jour 4263.
France
IES France– Paris
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Choose from courses in French language and area studies, including business, economics and the humanities.
- Enrollment in regular French university courses available for students with adequate French experience.
- Internships are available in business, non-governmental organizations, journalism and education.
- Instruction is in French by French faculty.
- Program type: Host-Country University
- Based out of Paul Valéry University, the liberal arts division of the University of Montpellier, the program provides an extremely flexible course structure.
- Choose from a mix of customized courses with American and foreign students, and regular University of Montpellier courses with French students.
- Paul Valéry curriculum includes a rich array of courses, in various disciplines, not only on France but also on southern European politics or the Mediterranean more broadly.
- University courses in communication and journalism are available for students with advanced French
- Internships are available.
Germany
- Program Type: Host-Univeristy Study
- This bilateral exchange is with Freie University of Berlin
- Courses are available in Journalism
IES Germany – Berlin
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Courses include areas such as business, cinema, economics, German language, literature and theatre, political science, natural sciences and a communications course focusing on the media in Berlin.
- Students have access to Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin, where they can study media theory, television and radio, and extensive offerings in practical, historical, theoretical and analytical communications.
- Internships are available in art, business, education, mass media, social service, politics and theatre.
- Instruction is in German by German faculty.
Italy
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Coursework available in journalism and communication where students understand, analyze and evaluate the impact of religion, politics, and popular culture on Italian media and communication.
- Includes study tours to Barcelona, Aquila, Naples, Pompeii, and Tuscany inaddition to site visits around Rome.
- Volunteer and limited internship opportunities are available for students at all language levels.
- Two courses, Italian Media: Popes, Politicians, and Popular Culture and Made in Italy: The Design and Marketing of an Ideal are pre-approved as context courses in students' major plans. Both courses are pre-approved for liberal education requirements.
Netherlands
- Program Type: Host-Country University
- Students directly enroll in the International School for Social Sciences and the Humanities (ISHSS) at the Universiteit van Amsterdam.
- Sample courses include Communication and Society; Digital Epistemology; Intercultural Communication in a Changing World; Journalists at War; Memory, History, and the Cinema; Making Sense of the News; and Television in a Changing Europe
- Classes are taught in English.
Spain
International Program in Toledo
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Strong humanities/social science curriculum includes courses on Latin American politics, Spanish politics, Spain and the EU, modern Spanish history.
- Toledo also offers internships for journalism students, where they can write articles for the local newspaper or work at the local TV and radio stations.
- Courses are taught in Spanish
Spain
IES Spain– Madrid
- You may participate on a U of M affiliated program (affiliate) not listed in the Learning Abroad Center's catalog. However, you will need to apply through our application system.
NOTE: This specific track and term of this program will not be found within our application system. Select “Program Not Found” on the application, and enter your specific application information in the fields given to request an application. Our staff will review your application and update your program, track, and term information. - Program type: Study Abroad Center
- Language and area studies program with a broad range of center courses, including internships, plus access to regular courses in Madrid universities.
- Courses include: Image of Women in Spanish Advertising and Advanced Journalistic Writing.
- For students with advanced Spnaish skills, direct enrollment is available at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, which offers classes in forur areas of Jounalism.
- Instruction is in Spanish; 4 semesters of prior Spanish are required. Fall or spring semester, academic year, or summer.
United Kingdom
HECUA Northern Ireland: Democracy and Social Change
- Program Type: Field Study
- Examines the historical, political and religious roots of the conflict in Northern Ireland through seminars, internships and field studies.
- A seven-week internship in Belfast allows you to be directly involved in efforts of social change with the context of Northern Ireland and its transition to a peaceful future.
- Internship options include The BBC, Amnesty International, Northern Ireland Assembly, and the School of Education, UNESCO Program.
- Each student also carries out an independent study project on a topic of personal choice, which includes hands-on field research.
Study And Internship in London
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Offers courses in a wide variety of topics, such as language, business, marketing, political science, and advertising.
- Fully immerse yourself in London society through internships in a number of fields.
- Complemented by tours in and around the city.
- Courses of note that may count as context courses include: Visualizing Britain—British Film and Television Documentaries; British Broadcasting Today; Ethics in the Media; Post-War British Popular Culture.
- Program Type: Host-Country University
- One of the UK’s most highly ranked and well respected universities, known for its innovative curricula and esteemed faculty.
- Choose from the university’s wide variety of offerings in almost every discipline, allowing you broad and diverse course of study.
- Courses of interest to SJMC students include a variety of classes in media and communication
University of Westminster (available through IFSA-Butler England)
- Program Type: Host-Country University
- Westminster’s School of Communication and Creative Industries is considered one of the largest, best-equipped and most prestigious centers of learning in the UK for studies in art and design, film, music, journalism, and mass communication.
- The University offers high-quality courses in these areas, as well as in business and technology, humanities, social sciences, languages, biosciences, and architecture.
- Sample courses include Social Theory and the Media; Media Law and Ethics; News and Public Opinion; and Political Economy of the Mass Media.
Additional Options to Consider
Student Project for Amity among Nations (SPAN)
- Work with University of Minnesota faculty to develop and plan your independent research abroad.
- SPAN can easily be adapted to School of Journalism and Mass Communication majors.
- Design and conduct an independent research project in one of four countries.
- Sites and faculty leaders vary each year.
- Prepare for your summer abroad throughout the year, spend 6 – 12 weeks abroad collecting information, then complete the project at the University of Minnesota with the help of a faculty adviser.
- 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
- 3-week, 3-credit programs at the 3000-level led by University of Minnesota faculty and staff over Winter Break or May Session.
- Fulfill Liberal Education requirements, or earn major/minor credit.
- Explore an exciting location and topic! Check out this year's offerings!
- Freshman Seminars Abroad combine on-campus instruction during spring semester with a study abroad component during spring break.
- Seminars are 3 credits at the 19xx level and most fulfill a liberal education requirement.
- Seminars are designed specifically for first year students as an introduction to study abroad.
Work, Intern, and Volunteer (WIV) Abroad Programs (non-credit)
Interested in work, intern, and volunteer opportunities abroad? Thinking about teaching English overseas? To explore your options view the online WIV or teaching English first step modules.
Endorsed WIV programs—Opportunities through Learning Abroad Center affiliated program providers
Student Experiences
Visit the Learning Abroad Center's Student Experiences web page for details on other students' experiences studying abroad.
