The School of Education is dedicated to increasing short-term, faculty-led study abroad courses. Faculty-led study abroad programs offer a unique curricular opportunity for students to travel with faculty to another country or sovereign tribal nation and get credit towards their SoE major.
The benefits of study-abroad programs for students are numerous. Study abroad has been:
- identified as a high impact practice for undergraduate students as per the National Survey of Student Engagement,
- linked to the development of key skills that are of interest to employers and graduate/professional schools (e.g. adaptability, curiosity, critical thinking, leadership, and time management),
- associated with gains in language learning and cross-cultural communication.
Importantly, study abroad programs offer opportunities for students to build friendships and networks with individuals from around the world. These courses also provide students with a chance to experience different styles of teaching and perspectives in their field of study.
Application for Study Abroad Course Development Grants
SoE faculty and academic instructors are encouraged to apply for the study abroad course development grants.
Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis. Before applying, you must meet with Aydin Bal, GEO Faculty Director, and Jamie Welling, GEO Associate Director.
Also, please contact the International Academic Programs (IAP) Associate Director Matt Geisler for details about the important logistical and administrative requirements of course development prior to applying for this grant.
For details about developing a course syllabus that incorporates and maximizes opportunities for intercultural exchange, global education, and place-based education, please contact GEO Associate Director Jamie Welling.
Application due dates:
- Friday, March 1, 2024
- Monday, April 1, 2024
Summary of Key Grant Requirements
Applicants for SoE study abroad course development must first discuss their idea of a course with Matt Geisler, IAP Associate Director for New Programs and Enrollment.
- SoE study abroad course development grants are for up to $4,000 for site-visit costs plus $4,000 (salary + fringe) for summer salary for one (1) instructor/Program Leader (PL).
- SoE requires that each course will have at least two instructors who can teach the content (in case one instructor becomes unavailable). However, only one instructor/PL is expected to teach/travel with the students in a given program year iteration. At least one instructor must be an SoE faculty member and both instructors must have their primary home in SoE (so all credits from study abroad courses will accrue to SoE).
- To be financially feasible, SoE study abroad courses typically need a minimum undergraduate enrollment of 10-12 students.
- For now, these grants prioritize the development of study abroad courses for undergraduates (and/or courses that include both undergraduate and graduate students). NB: graduate students are not eligible for SoE financial support for study abroad courses, and study abroad costs are not included within graduate-student stipends.
- For the purpose of these grants, “study abroad” means study either (a) outside the United States or (b) within a United States sovereign tribal nation. (Other forms of domestic “study away” courses are not eligible for these grants.) All approved courses must demonstrate a high degree of sensitivity to cultural differences in the host setting.
- As a general rule of thumb, study abroad courses offer 1 credit hour per week abroad, which means that a 3-credit summer course would spend 3 weeks abroad (each credit must equal 15 hours of direct instructional contact, so 3 credits = 45 contact hours, or 15 hours/week).
- See More Details About the Grant for additional information about and example of calculating credits.
- To be eligible for a grant, a study abroad course must be substantially new, or an existing course that has been significantly reframed to take full advantage of the instructional opportunities (ideas, topics, pedagogies, etc.) afforded by a thoughtfully selected host setting.
- For instructors who receive study abroad course development grants, SoE expects that such courses will be offered at least five times over the subsequent seven years.
- In most cases, SoE study abroad course development grants are to be used one year before the course is offered to students for the first time. For example, if you receive a grant to develop your course and make a site visit in Summer 2024, then your first cohort would enroll in your course during Summer 2025 or AY2024-2025.
- If you receive a SoE study abroad course development grant, you must submit your course for approval from your department within two semesters of receiving the grant. Your course will then need to be approved by the IAP Faculty Advisory Committee 2-3 semesters prior to its launch. For example, if you receive a course development grant to run a course during Summer 2024, then your course should be submitted for all requisite approvals in Spring 2023 (preferable) or in Fall 2023.
- Courses that use existing course numbers must be re-approved in their new study abroad form.
- Courses that use existing course numbers must be re-approved in their new study abroad form.