Students majoring in International Studies are strongly encouraged to embark upon at least one study abroad experience as part of the major. Foreign study enhances the I.S. curriculum in three basic ways. First, study abroad enables students to become immersed in a foreign culture and intensively develop foreign language skills. Second, study abroad provides the opportunity to take international studies courses on a particular country or region—all taught from a non-U.S. perspective. Third, such courses are likely to be more specialized than those offered at WVU and, as such, build upon and extend offerings of the I.S. major at WVU. Course work taken as part of an accredited foreign study program can be credited towards requirements in each area of emphasis in the I.S. major. Because study abroad enhances the interdisciplinary and international scope of the I.S. major, it is the ideal means for fulfilling the WVU capstone requirement for the I.S. major.
A wide array of study abroad experiences are readily available across various academic departments at WVU and are managed through the University’s Office of International Program.. Three types of programs are directly relevant to the International Studies curriculum.
- Summer Programs in Foreign Language and Culture
- Summer Programs in International Affairs
- Full Semester Exchange Programs in International Studies
These programs have courses that fit directly into the International Studies curriculum, and include a variety of WVU programs that offer flexibility in terms of time commitment and cost: faculty-led spring break and summer programs, semester exchange programs with “sister” institutions, and several independent programs affiliated with WVU (e.g., ISEP). Click on on the above links for information on the variety of programs promoted by the International Studies program.
Financial support is also available to qualified students. Not only is study abraod usually covered by standard financial aid programs, but international studies majors often receive financial aid for study abroad in the form of “undergraduate academic enrichment grants” provided by the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and “Global Education Opportunity” (GEO) grants offered by the WVU Office of International Programs.
The WVU Office of International Programs offers important support services to students planning study abroad. Not only do they have extensive information on the above programs (and others), but their staff can provide advice on practical matters (e.g., health insurance), government travel restrictions (e.g., visa requirements), and WVU guidelines for safe travel.