Undergraduate Education Abroad Opportunities

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Students majoring in linguistics and language studies may want to consider studying abroad in the course of their degree program. For language studies students especially, study abroad is strongly encouraged, though not required.

Many students study abroad under the auspices of the University of California's Education Abroad Program (EAP). EAP offers year-long, semester-long, and quarter-long programs in a variety of countries for students at the sophomore, junior, and senior levels. All EAP coursework earns UC credits; UCSC financial aid applies.

EAP's Language and Culture Programs focus on instruction in the language, culture, and history of the host country. EAP's Immersion Programs offer students the opportunity to study at a foreign university and to take courses in a wide range of subjects, typically in the language of the host country. To be eligible for a non-English immersion program, the student typically must have a 3.0 GPA at the time of application, and must have completed Level 6 of the appropriate language by the time of departure.

Several EAP programs (including those in the southern hemisphere) begin the academic year in January or February and continue until December of the following year. Students enrolled in these programs typically depart in the winter or spring quarter of the junior year and return after the fall quarter of the senior year.

Study abroad requires careful planning, especially for those who wish to pursue a year-long program, or who wish to study abroad during the senior year. While study abroad has clear benefits, students should be prepared to balance those benefits against the fact that study abroad can lengthen the time it takes to complete the B.A.

If you are a linguistics or language studies major and hope to study abroad, bear these factors in mind:

• The ideal plan for most students is to spend some or all of the junior year abroad. Going abroad in the junior year provides six quarters for the student to complete Level 6 of the appropriate language. It leaves the senior year for the student to take remaining required courses and fulfill the exit requirement.
• Study abroad during the senior year will be approved only when all major requirements have been completed prior to departure, and/or when it is clear that any remaining requirements can be satisfactorily completed abroad. Students who spend some or all of the senior year abroad will need to make arrangements to fulfill the senior exit requirement prior to leaving. Please consult with the department adviser during your sophomore year if you are considering this option.
• Language studies majors in particular can satisfy certain major requirements in the course of study abroad; for instance, some of the context/elective course requirements. Generally, no more than three context/elective course requirements can be satisfied abroad. Approval of a fourth course will be considered only in unusual circumstances. Students can also make progress in the language component of the language studies major while studying abroad; in order to determine the level of proficiency achieved, they must take a placement exam upon return. Whether a given course requirement in linguistics can be satisfied abroad depends on the course and the study site.
• Most importantly: Students who wish to have a study-abroad course count toward the major must bring back reading lists, syllabi, texts, notes, completed exams, completed papers, and course evaluations to the Department, so that the Department can make a decision about whether the course satisfies a major requirement. Students should consult with advisers in the Linguistics Department and the Language Program before going abroad, in order to gain some idea of which courses are likely to count towards the satisfaction of major requirements.

Students who are interested in studying abroad should contact the Office of International Education (105 Classroom Unit, 459-2858) or explore their website. There you can find detailed information concerning EAP selection criteria and application procedures.