This course is optional, but strongly suggested for students participating in learning abroad programs that last 4 weeks or more.
All readings for the course are online through the University of Minnesota’s E-Reserve System. There is also a Moodle site which houses all other course documents. There is no additional cost for the readings. Due to limited internet access at some program sites, you should print the readings prior to departure and take them with you.
Assess your internet access immediately upon arrival in your host country and contact your instructor with any concerns. Your instructor can work with you individually to accommodate your situation if internet access is a challenge.
The course fee will be $200 if you register by the priority deadline. Late registration will be considered on a case by case basis with a course fee of $493.00 (1-credit of undergraduate tuition). Non-resident students pay the same rate as residents.
Instructors are from Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development and the Learning Abroad Center. All instructors are specially trained in intercultural learning and are familiar with your experience as a study abroad student.
Your instructor will contact you via your University of Minnesota email account approximately two weeks prior to your program start date.
If you are not contacted by your instructor by two weeks prior to your program start date, email Ryan McCarthy at the Learning Abroad Center immediately.
Registration instructions are emailed to your University of Minnesota email account. University of Minnesota students register themselves via MyU. If you are a non-University of Minnesota student choosing to take the course, you should email Ryan McCarthy in the Learning Abroad Center to register. Include your name, University of Minnesota ID and your home institution. The Learning Abroad Center will then complete the registration for you.
To drop the Global Identity course, you must email your request to Ryan McCarthy.
If you do not officially request to drop the course, you will remain registered even if you do not submit any coursework, and will receive a failing grade. Please note that the drop policies are different for Summer programs, than they are for Semester programs.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
| Length of Program | Last Day to Drop with no W | Last Day to Withdraw with a W | No Withdrawls Permitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Weeks or less | Day 2 | Day 6 | Day 7 |
| 5-8 Weeks | Day 14 | Day 26 | Day 27 |
| 9 Weeks | Day 14 | Day 42 | Day 43 |
SEMESTER-LONG PROGRAMS
You will have two weeks from your official program start date to request that the Global Identity course be dropped to avoid a "W" on your University of Minnesota transcript.
If you submit your request after the first two weeks, the course will appear as a "W" on your transcript.
If you submit your request after the final ten-week drop period, you will not be allowed to withdraw, and you will receive the grade that you have earned for the course (A-F).
In accordance with the Learning Abroad Center's Cancellation and Refund Policy, if you drop the course within one week of your program start date, you will be issued a full refund. If you drop more than one week after your program start date, you will not receive a refund.
This course is not included in your program fee. It will be billed to your University of Minnesota student billing account as a separate (additional) charge. The charge will appear on your account in late December for spring and calendar year programs and mid-June for fall and academic year programs.
When you request your Study Abroad Cost Estimate (SACE), mention that you are taking the Global Identity course to have the cost of the course reflected in your SACE. If you have already requested and received a SACE, you must request a revised SACE to include the Global Identity course.
A–F grading is used for this course. You will receive a letter grade for each of the five assignments. You must complete each of the five assignments in order to receive a passing grade for the course. This course is only available under the A-F grade base. If you register for it, you must select A-F as your grade base. If you select S/N, the Learning Abroad Center will change your grade base to A-F.
