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Film and Media Studies, BA
Why YOU Should Study Abroad
With a diverse set of students and interests, the Department of English seeks to work with all Film and Media Studies students to create an international experience that meets their individual needs and goals. In addition to providing a once in a lifetime opportunity, study abroad programs also offer our students the chance to build their skills in a unique environment that stands out in the job market long after graduation. Study Abroad is also incredibly useful for those seeking the connections and experiences necessary to successfully move into the competitive entertainment industry.
In a study abroad experience, our students can:
- Improve language and cross cultural skills for effective communication across populations;
- Develop critical teamwork and problem solving skills as they interact with others in an international setting;
- Challenge themselves to adapt and persevere under sometimes difficult social and cultural circumstances;
- Expand their knowledge of the liberal arts and entertainment through the lense of different cultures and histories;
- Network with students, faculty, and community members internationally with similar interests and goals;
- Enhancing their portfolio of experience through unique hands-on research and community-based opportunities.
A Message from the Department of English
“When I was college senior, I was given the chance to participate in a summer abroad program—three summer months in a tent in the Sinai desert excavating an Old Testament city—and the experience changed my life as my views began an expansion that continues to this day...Having experienced the benefits of such study and having seen the same expansion of view take hold in my own students, I remain committed to creating opportunities to enhance learning through the wider world and its diverse people.”
- Dr. Mark Lussier, Professor and former chair, Department of English
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. When and where you decide to study abroad will depend on your interests and individual goals. We look forward to working with all students to find the best fit possible.
| Year | Term | Recommended Student Action |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 |
Spring |
Begin thinking of study abroad possibilities such as:
|
| Year 2 Optimal year to study abroad |
Fall |
|
| Spring |
|
|
| Summer | Complete a summer study abroad program | |
| Year 3 Optimal year to study abroad |
Fall - Spring |
|
| Summer | Complete a summer study abroad program | |
| Year 4 | Fall - Spring |
|
General Advice
General Advice
Advice from the Department of English
The Department of English assists students in preparing for their future career or graduate school experience by offering opportunities abroad. Students in Film and Media Studies might consider internships abroad, summer faculty-directed programs in Film. 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 at the right time.
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.
- Call (480) 965-3168 to schedule an appointment by phone.
- Visit an advisor during walk-in hours in Language and Literature (LL) Room 549.
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 8:00am - 5:00pm, or Live Chat with them on the Study Abroad Office website.
- 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 Interdisciplinary B (INTDSB) Room 255.
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 up front?
- 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 our 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
“Studying abroad in Italy was the most valuable educational experience I’ve ever had. I made lifelong friends and got to study art in the Uffizi museum and literature near Dante’s home in Florence. Years later, I look back to studying abroad as one of the best times of my life.”
- Mollie Connelly-MacNeill, BA English Literature
Recommended Programs
Although Film and Media Studies majors can participate in any ASU study abroad program, the Department of English recommends the following programs.
Spanish Language and Mayan Culture in Yucatan
Type: Faculty Directed
Recommended semester: Summer
Country: Mexico
Unique Features: Spend five weeks in Merida, Mexico learning Spanish in the beautiful Yucatan Peninsula. Merida, a pleasant and safe colonial city with a tranquil lifestyle and all modern-day conveniences, is the perfect place to study the Spanish language and Mayan culture. To maximize language immersion, students will reside with local Mérida host families, take classes with ASU instructors, and interact with local Merida experts in Mayan culture.
New Zealand: Film, Culture, and Lord of the Rings
Type: Faculty Directed
Recommended semester: Summer
Country: New Zealand
Unique Features: Delve into New Zealand’s history, culture, and cinematic heritage, with an emphasis on Peter Jackson’s "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the RIngs" trilogy. The program features week-long stays in three of New Zealand’s major cities on both the North and South Islands—Auckland, Wellington, and Queenstown—and also includes visits to the "Lord of the Rings" magical filming locations of Hobbiton, Edoras, Mordor, Rivdendell in Tongariro National Park and the Mavora Lakes region, among others.
French Language and Québécois Culture in Québec, Canada
Type: Faculty Directed
Recommended semester: Summer
Country: Canada
Unique Features: Stay cool in Québec City this summer while earning 6 ASU French credits! Participants will live in a francophone home while taking French courses at Laval University, one of the oldest Francophone universities in North America. Québec City, the only walled city in North America, is so beautiful that it was declared an official historical monument by the United Nations.
CAPA London
Type: Partnership
Recommended semester: Fall or Spring
Country: United Kingdom
Unique Features: Study and intern in London with CAPA internships available in businesses of every kind as well as nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations. Students who participate receive an unlimited Tube pass and work experience that provides strong professional and cultural foundations for the future.
ASU: Game of Thrones: Global Film and Culture in Iceland, Ireland and Croatia
Type: Faculty Directed
Recommended semester: Summer
Country: Croatia, Iceland, Ireland
Unique Features: This program explores the film and television industries, history, culture, and geography of Iceland, Ireland and Croatia through the global phenomenon of HBO's Game of Thrones. The program features 5 day stays in five major European cities - Reykjavik, Belfast, Dublin, Split and Dubrovnik - and includes visits to the filming locations for Winterfell; Kings Landing; Castle Black, the Wall, and lands beyond; Meereen; the Eyrie; the Iron Islands; and Blackwater Bay, among others.
University of Manchester
Type: Exchange
Recommended semester: Fall or Spring
Country: United Kingdom
Unique Features: The University of Manchester, originally founded in 1851, is the largest of England's great civic universities. Take Creative Writing and Literature courses while experiencing the bustling city of Manchester.
ASU: Costa Rica: Literature and Culture of the Americas
Type: Faculty Directed
Recommended semester: Summer
Country: Costa Rica
Unique Features: Explore the literature and culture of Costa Rica with visits to places like Cahuita, Tirimbina Biological Reserve, Rio Sarapiqui, La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, and Manuel Antonio National Park. Through the program, students will experience first-hand Costa Rican economics, politics, education, tourism, and culture and how the country's incredible biodiversity has influenced these aspects.
French Language and Culture in Lyon
Type: Faculty Directed
Recommended semester: Summer
Country: France
Unique Features: Live in Lyon for four weeks while focusing on language and culture. Students are enrolled with other foreign students in the Centre International d’Études Françaises (CIEF) at the University of Lyon located on the downtown campus along the Rhône River within walking distance of the city center.
Key Contacts and Resources
Department of English
Map Location: Language and Literature Building (LL) Room 549
Phone: (480) 965-3168
Helpful Links
Study Abroad Office
Map Location: Interdisciplinary B (INTDSB) Room 255
Phone: (480) 965-5065
Helpful Links