Study Abroad

Study Abroad is a semester-long experience that will take the student to a different country or countries. It provides the student with a wealth of experiences and opportunities as well as academic credit.

Study Abroad is the primary Applied Sociological Experience for students interested in expanding their understanding of culture, social issues, and political life on a global scale This experience will also expose students to experiential learning and language opportunities.

Currently, the Department of Sociology at UNE offers three programs:
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Cathedral of Cuernavaca Construction of the Cathedral began in 1533 Photo taken by Dr. Sam McReynolds, Sociology Dept. Chair

Each of these is offered through our affiliation with the Center for Global Education at Augsburg College. Each is based on small class size, extensive hands on learning opportunities, and extensive sociological content and perspective.

Students outside of sociology are welcome to participate in these programs. Before doing so, however, you should consult with your advisor to be sure how these credits will be distributed in your major.

The three programs focus on topics that reiterate the globalization, cultural, and political life themes of the Sociology Department. These topics include:

  • Gender and Social Change in Mesoamerica.
  • Social and Environmental Justice in Latin America.
  • Sustainable Development and Social Change in Central America.
  • Multicultural Societies in Transition: Southern African Perspectives.
  • Nation Building, Globalization, and Decolonizing the Mind: Southern African Perspectives.

All courses are taught in English with the exception of language courses. Students have the option of being involved in community service. There are also opportunities for travel within each program.

Credits for Study Abroad
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Indigenous vendors in Mexico City Photo taken by Dr. Sam McReynolds, Sociology Dept. Chair

Each of the study abroad programs accounts for 16 credits. These credits are granted cumulatively as part of SOC 491: Applied Sociological Experience: Study Abroad. Students may choose to take the credits for a grade or as pass/fail as recommended by Augsburg College.

Sociology majors are encouraged to take the credits pass/fail. All credits are pre-approved for the UNE curriculum. Majors in fields other than sociology may wish to be graded so that these credits can fulfill other college, major, or core requirements. Majors in fields other than sociology should confer with their major advisor to determine what requirements the study abroad may fulfill.

The preferred time for students to study abroad is in the spring of their third year or the fall of the final year. In certain circumstances the program could be taken in the summer before the fourth year.

Application Deadlines
Applications are accepted on a rolling admissions basis. Deadlines are Oct. 15 for the spring term and April 1 for the fall term. Enrollment is limited; early application is encouraged to ensure a place in the program.

Cost

UNE students will be billed the cost of the semester at Augsburg. While more expensive than typical semester (travel is additional), room and board is included so a semester abroad should cost approximately the same or less than a full semester at UNE. Students who qualify for financial aid will continue to be eligible. Private grants and scholarships are applicable.

After the application fee and deposit, all other billing will be processed through UNE to provide students with more efficient handling of billing.

The Study Abroad Programs through Augsburg will:
  • Bring you face-to-face with the peoples, cultures, and struggles for justice in another region of the world.
  • Give you hands-on opportunities to meet and discuss current issues with people at the grassroots level.
  • Expand your worldview and challenge your perceptions about global justice and human liberation.
  • Provide you with a life-changing experience and an entree into an international career.

Unique features of the Augsburg Program

  • Experiential education - Integrate solid academic work with real-life experiences. You learn not only from books, but also by living fully in the midst of the society you are studying, encountering the people and culture inside and outside the walls of a classroom.
  • Diverse guest speakers - Learn directly from local people involved in some of the most important issues of our time -- policy-makers and business leaders; human rights advocates and community organizers; members of women's organizations and union workers; the poor and marginalized.
  • Living/learning community - Reflect on your learning experience together in a community of students interested in similar issues.
  • Family stay - Spend several days to several weeks living with local families and participate in their daily life/activities.
  • Regional travel - Broaden your perspective on the cultural history and current social and political struggles in the region through group travel experiences. There are also opportunities for individual travel on weekends and breaks.

The sociology department is currently in the process of exploring further study abroad options. For more information visit the Augsburg College website.

   
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