Department Recommendations
Prospective Product Design Students
- Product design courses abroad may not meet Product design course requirements at the University of Minnesota. Your academic adviser will work with the product design faculty to help you try to obtain approval once you are admitted to the program.
Best Times to Go Abroad
Please consult your four year plan for the best time to study abroad: z.umn.edu/4yearplan
Fulfill Requirements
Be sure to meet with your academic adviser to fill out an Academic Planning Form.
Core Major Courses
- Your academic adviser will be able to approve the courses prior to departure. Work with your academic adviser to fill out the Academic Planning Form.
Internships
- Credit-based internships abroad are available. Check with your academic adviser for more information about requirements.
Liberal Education
- You can fulfill liberal education requirements while abroad. Decide early which requirements you want to satisfy through courses taken abroad so you don't fulfill them on campus. Consult the Learning Abroad Center's U Credit Abroad Search to find courses that have already been evaluated or submit courses online to be evaluated for liberal education requirements.
- Some University of Minnesota courses are approved to meet two requirements. For example, one course may count toward your liberal education requirements AND meet a requirement in your major. Study abroad courses may not meet multiple requirements.
Upon Return from Study Abroad
- Meet with your academic adviser to discuss the study abroad return process and to go over re-entry resources to help you make your learning abroad experience a meaningful component of your academic and career pathway.
Programs
Africa
Wakanda & Black Liberatory Futures: Exploring Afrofuturism in Senegal
- Summer Session 2024, Dakar, Senegal; open to all students
- Immerse yourself in Senegal's cultural environment and meet with Senegalese community members in a variety of industries and learn innovative, creative ways to help heal our communities, promote abolitionist principles, and advance collective liberation
- Using historical and modern-day research methods, Afrofuturist and Pan-Africanist movements, community engagement, and cross-disciplinary approaches, engage in the design research process to tackle emerging community issues that directly oppress Black communities throughout the United States
- This program is led by Terresa Moses, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design and Director of Design Justice in the College of Design and Simone Gbolo, Statewide Director Louis Stokes North Star STEM Alliance, Office for Equity and Diversity. This course is approved for DES 4403/5503.
- Consult with your academic adviser to see if this program will meet major or minor degree requirements
Asia and Oceania
Australia
University of Technology, Sydney (available through IFSA Australia)
- Offered each fall and spring semester, academic year, and calendar year
- Students may choose from courses throughout the university, including those in industrial design and visual communication
Singapore
- Winter Break 2024, Singapore; open to all students
- Immerse yourself in Singapore, ranked as one of the world's best cities for street food. This course is an experiential introduction to principles of service design applied to the food industry in Southeast Asia
- You will explore markets, farms and stores while engaging with local universities, companies, and organizations
- This program is led by Barry Kudrowitz and Carlye Lauff, both professors in the department of product design in the College of Design, and is approved for PDES Major/Minor elective credit
- This course can be tied to three Sustainable Development Goals: #2 Zero Hunger, #3 Good Health and Well-Being, and #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Consult with your academic adviser to see if this program will meet major or minor degree requirements
Europe
Denmark
- Offered each fall and spring semester, as well as academic year
- Designed for students majoring in architecture, interior design, interior architecture, and, for pre-architecture, in fine arts or studio art
- Students have the opportunity to develop professional skills and knowledge through interaction with Danish architects and designers in studio, classes, and on field studies and study tours
- The following courses are approved for PDES electives: Furniture Design Studio, Danish Design, Furniture Design Workshop, New Nordic Design
- No language prerequisite
- Offered summer session in Copenhagen
- Designed for students majoring in architecture, interior design, interior architecture, and, for pre-architecture, in fine arts or studio art
- Students have the opportunity to develop professional skills and knowledge through interaction with Danish architects and designers in studio, classes, and on field studies and study tours
- The following courses are approved for PDES electives: Furniture Design Studio, Danish Design, Furniture Design Workshop, New Nordic Design
- No language prerequisite
Greece
Capturing Greece: Color, Light, & Form
- May Term 2024, Athens & Greek Islands, Greece; open to all students
- Immerse yourself in Greece’s unique cultural environment to expand your vision and creativity. Travel to Athens and Tinos to observe and experience water, stone, and structure in a fresh way
- You will explore ancient architectural forms, uniquely evolved historic villages, and references to mythological and symbolic imagery
- This program is led by Frances (Fancy) Trice is the Graphic Design Program Director in the College of Design, and is approved for the Arts & Humanities Liberal Education Core
- Consult with your academic adviser to see if this program will meet major or minor degree requirements
Italy
- The Design in Sicily is a 7-week program offered in Siracusa, Italy during Summer Session. A College of Design instructor accompanies the program and teaches a 3-credit studio course open to all students. Earn 6-7 credits as you make Sicily your classroom. Consult with your academic adviser to see if this program will meet major or minor degree requirements
- Engage in the design process with local and international designers through coursework and a collaborative practicum
- Create visual projects in response to your Italian experience, honing your own sensibilities as a designer in the rich visual culture of Italy
- Engage with the theme of how meaning is created through both the still and the moving image, and you will engage in hands-on explorations through a variety of forms of visual representation including drawing from observation and imagination, illustration, photography, video, and collage
United Kingdom, England
- Offered each fall semester, spring semester, and summer
- Design internships are available
- Classes will not meet PDES requirements but could be taken for LibEds or other electives
Additional Options to Consider
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.