Study Abroad
When should I go and how will my study abroad credits fit into my degree?
All IS majors must earn 6 credits of study abroad. Many 5 week summer programs offer the opportunity to earn 6 credits. Alternatively, and especially if you want to become fluent in a foreign language and culture, you could study abroad for a full fall or spring semester, or even a whole year. If you study abroad for a semester or year, keep in mind that a maximum of 15 transfer credits may count for your "departmental requirements" in your degree audit, and that of the last 45 credits only 15 credits may be taken outside of NC State. Therefore, a semester or year long study abroad experience should ideally be done during your junior year; by the very latest in the first semester of your senior year. And it may be a good idea to plan on taking a mix of credits for your departmental requirements, your general education requirements (GER or GEP), perhaps a minor, and free electives.
How do I choose a Study Abroad Program?
Our first recommendation would be to study in a country where the language you are learning is spoken. It will give you a chance to deepen and apply your linguistic and intercultural skills and likely increase your interest in the foreign culture and your motivation for studying it some more - and you may end up with international friends that you might visit many more times throughout your life.
If it is not possible to study in a country whose language you are learning or you simply wish to study elsewhere, that is fine, too (your study abroad location does not have to match your chosen foreign language). If you want to study in a country whose language you do not speak, we recommend these options:
1. Choose an NC State faculty led program that offers classes taught in English.
2. Choose a location where English is the native language.
3. Choose a location where the university offers a wide range of classes taught in English (there are many universities which now have broad offerings of classes taught in English - but there are many who don't, so you need to check this out carefully; you can ask the Study Abroad Advisor about this and possibly also your IS advisor). You may then wish to take a class in the foreign language of that location, to be counted as a free elective, if pre-approved by Dr. Dudley Marchi in Foreign Languages and Literatures.
A program that is especially interesting for IS majors is the Prague Institute in the Czech Republic. Since it also caters to students in the NC State Master's of International Studies program, it offers classes in international studies that are also interesting to IS majors and can be taken by them. Since the program was first developed by NC State's school of design, check out their site on it, where you will also find photos and a video: http://ncsudesign.org/content/index.cfm/fuseaction/page/filename/prague.html
For details about the program, check the Study Abroad Page:http://studyabroad.ncsu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=2340
To see what programs are available, visit the Study Abroad Web Site and also their office on campus.
How do I plan and apply for a Study Abroad Program?
We recommend you discuss your plans and different options with your IS advisor, ask your foreign language teachers about their recommendations, and also gather information from the Study Abroad Office.
You will first go through a general advising session at the Study Abroad Office, then be assigned a Study Abroad Advisor who will work with you on the application process. Application deadlines and procedures vary depending on the program, whether it is an NC State Program, an exchange program, or organized by a national organization. NC State Programs and exchange programs, like UNC-EP, may provide a bit more support for your experience, while national organizations, like ISEP, will charge a fee for their services, but in exchange provide the largest variety of study abroad opportunities. UNC-EP is an exchange agreement between a large number of foreign universities or university systems that allows you to study abroad while paying NC State tuition (ignore the deadlines on their website; our Study Abroad Office, through which you apply, needs your application earlier, so go by their deadlines!)
Things to keep in mind:
1. Plan ahead! By about a year for a semester or year long study abroad, at least a semester ahead for a summer program. Application deadlines can be earlier than you suspect, check the Study Abroad Website on Deadlines for details:
http://studyabroad.ncsu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewDeadlines
2. Many programs have pre-requisites or certain other requirements, such as foreign language proficiency at a certain level or a certain GPA. Check them, and also: keep up your grades! Some programs are competitive while others are not.
3. Program application usually requires one or several letters of recommendation. Make sure you excel in some of your classes so your professors can give you good recommendations (which you should request at least two weeks before the deadline). Good recommendations are usually based on your academic performance over at least one semester, as observed and evaluated by a professor in one of your classes.
Regardless of which program you choose or even if you organize your study abroad experience yourself or through another university's program, you should register with the NC State Study Abroad Office (so we have it on record that you did your study abroad!).
How will I get my transfer credits?
If you've gone on an NC State led program, you have already signed up for them. If you return with credits from a foreign university, take your transcripts to Darnell Johnson in Caldwell 106, she will process them. You may also be asked to provide syllabi or exams and papers, so it might be a good idea to bring those back from your study abroad trip.
And finally ...
Enjoy your experience with an open mind - it will likely change your outlook on life and you may treasure it for life!
