History & Government Education
General Planning Tips
- Start early: Planning ahead allows you to study abroad while staying on track for graduation. You can complete KU Core and even some teacher education requirements abroad.
Eligibility: The minimum eligibility requirements are the completion of one semester on campus and a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Identify potential recommenders early on who can speak to your academic potential as well as your ability to be successful abroad. Most applications require two recommendations.
Global Culture Goal of KU Core: Any study abroad program can fulfill this requirement through co-completion of UNIV 342 (online, asynchronous, and tuition-free) during your time abroad. If you haven’t completed this goal yet, plan to do so while abroad.
Other KU Core requirements: You may also complete additional Core goals by selecting courses that transfer as approved KU Core or Core 34 equivalents. Be sure to check the correct list for your catalog year.
Short-term programs: Winter break, spring break, and summer are great times to complete the Global Culture Goal, other Core requirements, or major electives. Several summer programs also offer short-term teaching experiences abroad.
Semester programs: Take a combination of KU Core and history/government/and social studies content courses abroad. Approved teacher education courses are also available on a limited basis at the University of Leeds in the UK and at the University of Wollongong and Macquarie University in Australia. If you wish to take teacher ed courses abroad, early planning with your academic advisor starting your freshman year is essential and you’ll want to take them in conjunction with Core and/or content area courses.
- Some requirements must be completed at KU including most Special Education (SPED) courses (based on U.S. law) and student teaching semesters.
- Program application deadlines(may vary by program):
- Spring: October 1
- Summer: February 15
Fall: March 1
When To Go
Freshman & Sophomore
- Meet with your academic advisor during your first semester to map out a 4-year degree plan based on your study abroad timing and duration preferences.
- Begin researching programs by visiting the Study Abroad Info Center in 105 Lippincott Hall.
- This is an ideal time to study abroad because you can complete, KU Core, history, government, and social studies content courses and/or teacher education courses.
- Some sophomore level history, government and admission requirement courses that are commonly offered abroad include: ANTH 160 or SOC 130, GEOG 104, PSYC 104, HIST 128, HIST 129, POLS 110, POLS 150, POLS 300+, Asian history, European history 300+, American history 300+.
- There are also several universities where you can take pre-professional teacher education requirements such as C&T 100, C&T 235, ELPS 250, and EPSY 306 including the University of Leeds in England and University of Wollongong and Macquarie University in Australia.
Junior
- Take teacher education courses in Australia such as C&T 331, EPSY 306, and EPSY 480 at the University of Wollongong or Macquarie University.
- Because approved teacher education courses are limited, be sure to save some of your KU Core and history/government/ and social studies content courses to take during abroad as well.
- There is some degree of flexibility with your course sequencing during this time. If you need an education class (C&T, ELPS, EPSY, SPED) that is not available through your study abroad program and only offered at KU during the semester you are abroad, the School of Education & Human Sciences may be able to work with you to arrange access to the course via Canvas, Teams, or Zoom.
Senior
- Senior year is not a good time to study abroad for History, Government, & Social Studies Education students because of your student teaching requirements.
Courses and Credit
- KU faculty have already pre-approved a number of history, government and education courses abroad. To see available pre-approved courses, visit the Course Equivalency Database.
- If you want to take a class/classes that have not been pre-approved, complete the credit approval process.
Recommended Programs For History & Government Education
Programs Offering Core and/or History & Gov't Content Courses
Korea University - South Korea
Recommended Timing: Summer - after freshman or sophomore year
Sample Courses: Intro to American Politics, Intro to Comparative Politics, Intro to Psychology, various Asian history courses
Recommended Timing: Spring semester - sophomore year
Sample Courses: Culture and Identity, Geography, Sociology of Culture, various Asian history courses, various political science courses,
Universidad Pontificia Comillas - Spain
Recommended Timing: Either semester - sophomore year
Sample Courses: Africa in the 21st Century, Asia: History, Culture and Politics, Comparative Cultural Studies, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, various European history courses, various political science courses
University of Leicester - England
Recommended Timing: Either semester - sophomore year
Sample Courses: American History 1607-1877, American History 1877-Present, GEOG 104, PSYC 104, various American history/studies courses, various European history courses, various political science courses
University of Regensburg - Germany
Recommended Timing: Spring semester - sophomore year
Sample Courses: Political Institutions of the USA, various American history/studies courses, various European history courses, various political science courses
Programs Offering Teacher Education Courses
Recommended Timing: Sophomore year
Sample Fall Courses: C&T 235 & EPSY 480, Core and content courses
Sample Spring Courses: C&T 235 & ELPS 250, Core and content courses
University of Wollongong - Australia
Recommended Timing: Sophomore or junior year
Sample Fall Courses: C&T 235, C&T 250, C&T 331, Core and content courses
Sample Spring Courses: EPSY 306 & EPSY 480, Core and content courses
Macquarie University - Australia
Recommended Timing: Junior year - fall semester
Sample Courses: C&T 331 & EPSY 306, Core and content courses
Programs Offering Teaching Experience
Education Majors: A Cross - Cultural Experience in Carpi - Italy (Summer)