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Study Abroad Office
Why YOU Should Study Abroad
Students often cite studying abroad as the highlight of their academic career and a crucial moment in helping them gain a clearer view of the world, its peoples and the complex challenges facing us all. The School of Human Evolution and Social Change offers a suite of faculty-directed study abroad programs designed to connect students with real-life issues that impact local communities yet transect borders. Whether studying environmental and health issues in Australia or investigating the intertwined nature of food and culture in France, you will see the world as you never have before and come away with memories to last a lifetime.
Study abroad programs provide an opportunity for you to develop a valuable skill set that can enhance your overall college experience, and prepare you for career and advanced study opportunities by:
- Improving cross cultural skills for effective communication across populations;
- Developing critical teamwork and problem solving skills as you collaborate with others in an international setting;
- Expandinging knowledge of the liberal arts through the lens of different cultures, traditions and histories;
- Networking with students, faculty, and community members internationally with similar interests and goals;
- Enhancing your portfolio of experience through unique hands-on research and community-based opportunities.
A Message from the School of Human Evolution and Social Change
“Experiencing different cultures and immersing yourself in a new language can be one of the most rewarding experiences not only in your educational journey but in your life as well. Studying abroad is a great marriage between learning the concepts and theories of your degree major in the classroom with the incredible opportunity to experience the customs, museums, landmarks and traditions of your host nation. Studying abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity, don’t miss it!”
- Andy Drotos, Manager of Student and Academic Services
Planning Your Program
When to study abroad
When to study abroad
With advance planning, you should be able to fit study abroad within your four years at ASU. The School of Human Evolution and Social Change encourages students to study abroad during the summer of your junior year. However, you may consult our advising team to determine if you will need to complete your excursion in another academic year.
| Year | Term | Recommended Student Action |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Spring | Identify a summer study abroad program with a focus on social science or archaeological field methods |
| Year 2 | Fall | Meet with a study abroad peer-advisor to discuss programs of interest and gain a first-hand student perspective |
| Spring | Meet with your academic advisor to discuss programs of interest, review program requirements and potential funding options. | |
| Year 3 Optimal year to study abroad |
Fall |
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| Spring |
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| Summer | Complete study abroad experience | |
| Year 4 | Fall |
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| Spring | Apply for graduation |
General Advice
General Advice
Advice from the School of Human Evolution & Social Change
The School of Human Evolution and Social Change assists students in preparing for their future career or graduate school experience by offering opportunities abroad. This might include internships, field school or completing electives abroad. We have many opportunities for our ASU Online students as well. We recommend each student speak with advising about their needs and goals for study abroad in their first year to begin setting up the process for choosing the right program to meet personal interests and fulfill degree requirements.
Advice from the Study Abroad Office
- Be sure to view the list of recommended steps for getting started on your study abroad journey.
- Attend a Study Abroad 101 info session to get all the basic information from a Study Abroad Student Recruiter on program types, eligibility, housing, finances, searching for and choosing a program and the application process. Discover times and locations.
- Attend a Financing Your Study Abroad workshop to get information on program fees and deadlines, how financial aid can apply to study abroad, how to utilize community-based funding and tips on finding and applying for study abroad scholarships. Discover times and locations.
Meet With Your Academic Advisor
Meet With Your Academic Advisor
How to make an appointment
- Schedule an appointment online. You will need your student ID to log in; you will be asked to enter your ASU ID and telephone number.
- Call (480) 480-965-6215 to schedule an appointment by phone.
- Visit an advisor during walk-in hours in the SHESC Building – 2nd Floor Main Office.
Key questions to ask
- What are my remaining degree requirements?
- How many upper-division credits do I still need to complete for my degree?
- How many elective credits (lower vs. upper division) do I have left to complete my major?
- What remaining prerequisites must I fulfill, and how will study abroad impact my progress?
- Which of my remaining degree requirements could I complete abroad? Are there any that I cannot take abroad?
- Can I receive academic credit for an internship abroad?
- Are there any in-residence requirements I need to be aware of before I go abroad?
Meet With the Study Abroad Office
Meet With the Study Abroad Office
Meeting with a Peer Advisor
Peer Advisors are ASU students who have studied abroad on various types of programs and who are here to help you get started on a journey of your own! They are prepared to help you understand the different types of programs offered, narrow down your program options, guide you on the application process, discuss program costs, and speak about student life abroad.
No appointments are necessary to meet with a Peer Advisor.
- Stop by the Study Abroad Office anytime Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Contact a Peer Advisor by email.
- Call a Peer Advisor at (480) 965-5965.
Meeting with an International Coordinator
Your International Coordinator can answer your questions about specific programs, can talk you through the application process, and can help you find funding resources for your particular program on the Study Abroad Office website. Your International Coordinator is happy to meet with you multiple times to answer your questions, and he/she would be glad to schedule meetings in person, by phone, or via Skype.
- Find the name of your International Coordinator listed on the Study Abroad Office webpage for your program of interest.
- Schedule an appointment online. Click on the International Coordinator name for your program of interest and follow the prompts to schedule your appointment.
- Visit an International Coordinator during walk-in hours in Student Services Building, Room 278.
Key questions to ask the Study Abroad Office
- What are the eligibility requirements for my program(s) or interest?
- What is involved in the application for my program(s) of interest? Is admission to the program competitive?
- How will I get ASU credit and grades for the courses I take abroad?
- What courses are available on my program? How can I get courses approved for my program(s) of interest?
- What is the cost of participating in my program(s) of interest? What do I need to consider in preparing an estimated budget for my program(s) of interest, and what expenses do I need to plan for upfront?
- Where can I find more information about scholarships for study abroad?
Research Your Funding Options
Research Your Funding Options
Studying abroad is an investment in your future. Like any other type of investment, it requires careful planning and management. However, the personal, academic, and professional rewards that you will gain from this experience will last a lifetime. You should carefully consider costs, budgets, and financing when selecting and preparing for your experience abroad.
Review Cost Sheet
You can find a link to your program’s Cost Sheet near the top of the Study Abroad Office webpage for your program. The Cost Sheet will highlight the costs that are billed to your student account as well as additional estimated costs that are not billed to your student account but that you might expect to spend while abroad. Be sure to note what expenses are included in the fees charged by the Study Abroad Office, and remember to budget additional money for airfare, passport and visa fees and personal expenses since these are not included in any Program Fee.
Research Funding
Once you have reviewed the Cost Sheet for your program and are aware of the costs you might expect to spend on your program, you can begin to make a plan for financing your study abroad program. You can receive funding for studying abroad through financial aid, scholarships and grants, and community-based fundraising efforts. We encourage you to:
- Speak to Financial Aid and Scholarship Services (FASS) about financial aid;
- Use our Scholarships and Grants page to search for general study abroad scholarships and scholarships that are unique to your program;
- Read the Community-Based Funding Guide for creative ways that past ASU students have funding their programs.
Financial Aid
We encourage you to speak to a Financial Aid Counselor, who can help you figure out how your financial aid might be applied to your study abroad program. Be sure to seek answers to the following questions from a Financial Aid Counselor:
- How do loans work for study abroad? What kinds of aid/loans do I currently receive, and are there any restrictions on this aid if I study abroad?
- Have I reached the maximum of (insert name of) loan allowed per academic year?
- When will funds be released for my semester of participation?
- How will additional scholarships impact my ASU financial aid?
Major-Specific Scholarships
The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers study abroad scholarships for which you may apply.
Community-Based Funding
Check out the Study Abroad Office website to learn more about community-based funding, including tips and tricks for crowd-source funding. There is funding out there… you just have to ask!
Attend Financing Workshop
Would you like help learning about your financing options? We offer bi-weekly in-person and online Financing Your Study Abroad Workshops. Join us in the MU on Monday afternoons or log in through Adobe Connect (find login information here) on Thursdays to learn how to finance your study abroad program through financial aid, scholarships and grants, and community-based funding.
Helpful Links
Student Testimonial
“Studying abroad taught me so much more about culture and traditions, more than I could ever learn from sitting in a classroom and reading a textbook. Being immersed in language, history and societal rituals really added something special to my overall experience at ASU.”
- Ryan Thomas, Anthropology Major
Recommended Programs
Although SHESC students may participate in any ASU study abroad program, the School of Human Evolution and Social Change recommends the following programs.
Program Type: Faculty-Directed
Available Terms: Summer
Country: United States
Unique Features: The Kampsville Field School emphasizes both empirical and theoretical training in archaeological research design and implementation. The field school, which takes place in Kampsville, Illinois, offers students the opportunity to participate in ongoing professional research. Through this hands-on method, students are inspired to learn the good habits and skills necessary for field and laboratory methods in archaeological recovery and analysis.
Program Type: Faculty-Directed
Available Terms: Spring Session B
Country: South Africa
Unique Features: South Africa has much to offer about how humans from the present and the past are linked through their relationship to the environment. In this program, students will do research for the Hominins and Habitats Project, visit ancient fossil localities, and see the actual fossils. Students will also explore how migrations and colonization created strife, marginalization and apartheid, and examine freedom fighters’ struggle against the apartheid government through an understanding of the life of Nelson Mandela.
Program Type: Faculty-Directed
Available Terms: Summer
Country: France
Unique Features: France is not only known for its beautiful landscapes and historic places, but also for its unique culture of food which is unparalleled in any other region of the world. As such, this program focuses on the intersections of food, culture and health. Students on this program will be exposed to the origins of the French diet and cuisine, rural and urban food systems and dietary globalization. This program is centered in central Paris and includes excursions to Reims, Versailles and Normandy.
Program Type: Faculty-Directed
Available Terms: Summer
Country: Guatemala
Unique Features: This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in which students will get to learn about indigenous healthcare by making site visits with healthcare providers and conducting interviews in rural communities with Mayan midwives and community health workers and will also assist in data entry and analysis. The program will include trips to several health clinics in the region, as well as archaeological and environmental sites.
Program Type: Faculty-Directed
Available Terms: Summer
Country: New Zealand
Unique Features: New Zealand’s stunning landscapes—including towering snow-capped mountains, temperate and tropical forests with unique wildlife, active volcanoes as well as geysers and hot-springs, and expanses of dramatic and peaceful beaches—provide the backdrop for exploring the interplay between health, culture, the environment, and sustainability. This interdisciplinary program travels almost the full length of the country, and the friendly multicultural population provides insights into the challenges of providing equitable and effective health care, preserving environmental quality, and promoting food sustainability.
Program Type: Faculty-Directed
Available Terms: Summer
Country: Australia
Unique Features: This 6 credit traveling program begins in Eastern Australia, and spends 2 weeks getting to know the cities, coasts, and the outback of Australia. Learn how 200 years of colonization and more recent processes of urbanization and globalization have brought massive environmental, social and political changes to the continent with critical implications for its future sustainability. Students will explore 15 ecosystems - including 5 World Heritage Sites - multiple health centers, and visit with dozens of diverse stakeholders to understand complex interactions between people, their communities, and environments.
Program Type: Faculty-Directed
Available Terms: Summer
Country: United Kingdom
Unique Features: Study how people lived and died in the past through global health and bioarchaeology. Go on behind the scenes tours of the British Museum and the Museum of London mummy and skeletal collections. Academic visits to the Tower of London and Highgate Cemetery, while walking in the footsteps of deadly diseases (bubonic plague, cholera) and Jack the Ripper, included. Day trips to Stonehenge, Oxford, Hampton Court Palace, and Darwin's personal home.
Program Type: Faculty-Directed
Available Terms: Summer
Country: Peru
Unique Features: In this six-credit program we examine Peru's rich history and modern food scene to understand the various ways in which food and culture intersect and shape health and social experiences. Join us as we tour museums and famous archaeological sites, including Machu Picchu; visit with local producers at beach, desert and Andes mountain locations; cook traditional dishes; eat world-class meals at a variety of restaurants; and explore some of the most diverse food markets on the planet. Includes stays in Lima, the culinary capital of Latin America, and Cusco, the capital city of the Inka Empire.
Program Type: Partnership
Available Terms: Spring Session B
Country: Peru
Unique Features: Live in Trujillo, Peru for six weeks--known locally as the capital of eternal spring. In partnership with Vive Peru, visit families to implement community health programs at the household and community level, and visit the Peruvian Andes and Machu Picchu in your free time. Students will stay with host families who will provide all meals during the program, giving students the opportunity to have an immersive cultural experience.
Program Type: Partnership
Available Terms: Summer
Country: Tanzania
Unique Features: Live and work on the side of Mt. Meru in rural northern Tanzania in the beautiful village of Tengeru. The program is focused on rural global health issues and students have a role in addressing gaps in humanitarian needs through service. Students have an incredible opportunity to work in collaboration with the community to facilitate needed discussions about health, as well as develop projects that support the health needs of the community.
Program Type: Partnership
Available Terms: Fall, Spring
Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Africa
Unique Features: The Open Campus programs offer Global Health courses taught in English, along with coursework in multiple other disciplines to supplement your study. Each semester is divided into three 6-week blocks; so you have the flexibility to study abroad for 1 block/6 weeks (ASU session A/B), 2 blocks/12 weeks or 3 blocks/18 weeks. Students interested in satisfying the global health study abroad requirement through this program should discuss with their advisor.
Program Type: Exchange
Available Terms: Fall Semester, Spring Semester
Country: United Kingdom
Unique Features: Roehampton has a rich educational history, a traditional campus experience, high-quality teaching and research, and a strong focus on students. High-quality facilities and teaching by experts who are leaders in their fields, academics at Roehampton is designed to help students reach their potential.
Key Contacts and Resources
School of Human Evolution & Social Change
Map Location: SHESC Building – Main Office 2nd Floor
Phone: (480) 965-6215
Helpful Links
Study Abroad Office
Map Location: Student Services Building, Room 278
Phone: (480) 965-5065
Helpful Links