FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Study Abroad

1. I want to study abroad. How do I find a program to attend?
 The first step in selecting a study abroad program is to figure out your interests in anthropology and a particular world-region in which you are interested. Once you have some idea of where you would like to study, then you should go to one of the First Steps classes offered everyday at the Study Abroad Office. Additionally, the study abroad website offers some good suggestions for students interested in studying abroad. Check out the website at: https://www.studyabroad.uiuc.edu

2. What should I do to prepare for my study abroad experience?
Whatever you do, START EARLY! There is A LOT of paperwork, medical exams/inoculations, and official documentation (i.e. obtaining a passport) to get together before you depart. SO, whatever you decide to do, be in communication with the study abroad office, the anthro undergrad advisor, and your faculty advisor to make sure that you are well prepared and can accomplish all the paperwork necessary before you go. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!!!!

3. How do I get pre-approval for courses I want to transfer back to UIUC as anthropology credits?
You must go to the study abroad office to pick up all the necessary course approval forms. Each class you pick must be pre-approved by the individual department that these courses would be offered in on the UIUC campus. So, you would come to anthropology for anthropology courses, history department for history courses, economics for economics courses, etc. It requires a little bit of leg work and patience, but it is well worth it to have several course options pre-approved before you go abroad. You can all reference the study abroad website to see if the program you are interested in has pre-approved courses in the Study Abroad database. If approval is not there, then you must see each individual department for approval. Again, DO NOT WAIT FOR THE LAST MINUTE!!! You will need lots of signatures and help from a lot of departments and sometimes turn around may take some time.
 
4. Are there programs that offer anthropology courses that will count toward my major?
Yes and No. Most study abroad programs do offer introductory cultural anthropology courses specific to the region in which you choose to study abroad. Most of these courses are general cultural courses and would transfer back to UIUC as a ANTH 100 or ANTH 200 level courses. These courses can count for your major electives and are great ways to obtain a better understanding of the environment in which you are studying. We encourage our students to study abroad, however, there is a limit to the number of courses that a student may take off of the UIUC campus and also the number of advanced hours that may count towards his/her degree requirements.

5. How many advanced hours in anthropology may I take off the UIUC campus?
The current limit, as defined by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is two advanced courses, at no more than 6 hours of advanced credit. Be sure to plan your study abroad wisely and consider the requirements you have left to fulfill for LAS and anthropology. You should make an appointment to talk with the anthropology undergraduate advisor to discuss your options and make a plan before going to study abroad.

6. Are there any programs taught in English abroad?
Yes. You should check out the UIUC study abroad website to explore the various English and non-English speaking programs affiliated with UIUC. Go to https://www.studyabroad.uiuc.edu.

7. May I go on a study abroad program affiliated with another university?
Yes. There are options to go with programs from other universities…however, the paperwork becomes slightly more complicated. Your courses must be approved prior to leaving for your study abroad experience with the anthropology department and the study abroad office. Study abroad programs associated with other universities in the Big 10 are often easier to transfer than to pick a random university program. However, multiple foreign language programs and specialty programs may be approved, so do not count other programs out.

8. How are my study abroad course credits transferred back to UIUC?
Once you have completed a program abroad, the institution where you study should send a transcript back to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Your transcript along with other supporting materials from the class (i.e. a syllabus, reading list, list of activities, papers, exams, projects, etc) are important for determining the level of UIUC credit you will receive upon your return. These materials will be reviewed by advisors and professors in their corresponding departments (i.e. an anthro class is evaluated by the anthro undergrad advisor, but a history course would be evaluated in the history department).

9. What do I need to show to the anthropology advisor to get advanced credit for an anthropology class I took during my study abroad experience?
I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH…BRING EVERYTHING FROM YOUR STUDY ABROAD CLASSES BACK TO UIUC WITH YOU!!!! Every bit of extra information you can provide can only strengthen your case for an advanced course.

10. How long does it take for my study abroad credits to appear on my transcripts?
This time may vary depending on the time of the academic year and the volume of students returning from study abroad. The process starts with the study abroad institution sending your transcript back to UIUC. Once the transcript is processed in LAS, then your credits should appear shortly thereafter on your DARS report. Remember, you can check your Degree Audit Report at anytime at this website: http://www.oar.uiuc.edu/current/dars/index.html

Field Schools --- Coming Soon!!!