Studying abroad is a great way for students to advance their degree plans while experiencing new places and people. With the right planning and research, studying abroad is possible for every major offered at The University of Texas at Austin.
Schools can help students find classes that will count toward their degree requirements and can be checked in individual degree audits. This blog post will help students understand how to find classes for their major when considering studying abroad.
Start by Consulting Your Advisor
The first recommendation is to schedule an appointment with your academic advisor. Academic advisors are the best people to help you figure out which classes to take while studying abroad.
It’s important to understand which classes are required by your department to be taken here at the University and which can be taken elsewhere. Depending on your major, some classes are required to be taken “in-residence,” at UT Austin.
Once you have an idea of the classes you’ll need to take, you can narrow your options in several different ways.
Use the Tools Available
One way students can search for major-specific programs is by going to the “By Major” tab on the Education Abroad website. There, you will find different colleges and programs that are sponsored by specific colleges.
If students aren’t satisfied with the programs listed by their colleges, they can search the Ed Abroad Programs page to find a program that meets their goals. You can narrow programs by “area of studies,” which filters programs that contain classes specific to UT Austin majors.
Another useful tool is the My Credit Abroad database, which is filled with classes that UT Austin students have taken in the past. It lists the UT-equivalent credit that students received once they came back from their program. Here, students can cross-reference classes listed on their degree audit while searching for classes to take abroad on the database.
Even if a class is highlighted as “expired approve,” there is a good chance it could be re-approved. Students would just need to submit the syllabus for the course and a Course Evaluation Request to Ed Abroad. Often this will result in the credit being re-approved. Each program page will provide a link to the My Credit Abroad page.
Students can also start a new search to look for specific courses that apply to their degree audit. For example, for a Spanish major, one of the main requirements is SPN 311/314. To look for programs with that specific code, a student would go to the My Credit Abroad database and create a new search. Under the “area of study” section, input the area of study “Spanish,” course number “311,” and specify whether the class is a lower- or upper-division course. (For this specific example, SPN 311/314 are lower divisions.) Once you hit submit, a list of programs containing the specific 311/314 class in the database will appear.
Contact Ed Abroad for Additional Help
Participating in a study abroad program really can allow students to take classes for their degree while also experiencing different cultures and customs. Every UT Austin department, from the School of Nursing to the College of Liberal Arts, offers classes abroad that will contribute toward its degree requirements.
There are several strategies students can implement to find the correct program suited for their major. If you try the ones in this post and still find yourself needing additional help, come by the Education Abroad office at 2400 Nueces St. to meet with a Peer Mentor or schedule a one-on-one appointment today. Good luck, Longhorns!
Karen Vasquez is an Education Abroad Peer Mentor providing support to students interested in studying abroad. Learn about this position and its services on the Peer Mentors Program webpage.
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