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 area great time to complete KU Core courses or major electives. Several summer programs offer short-term teaching, field experiences, and internships abroad.
Semester abroad with teacher education courses: If you want to take teacher education courses abroad, early planning with your academic advisor starting your freshman year is essential. Options include recommended universities in:
- Australia (sophomore or junior year)
- United Kingdom (sophomore year)
- 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
- Schedule a meeting with an education advisor during your first semester at KU to discuss your four year plan and identify specific courses as well as specific timing opportunities for your study abroad experience. If you wish to take teacher education courses abroad for a full semester, you will need to follow a specific pre-determined study abroad 4-year graduation plan, in which you will study abroad in Australia during the fall semester of your junior year. Early planning starting your freshman year is vital. If you wish to take other courses abroad, such as your history and government content or admission requirements, there is a little more flexibility with your graduation plan, and you will study abroad earlier -- during late freshman or early sophomore year.
- After you've met with your academic advisor, continue your program research by visiting the Study Abroad Info Center in Lippincott Hall. Study abroad peer advisors can help you to identify suitable study abroad options based upon the information you received from your advisor.
- Studying abroad usually requires two letters of recommendation, so it's good to start identifying individuals who can speak to your academic qualifications as well as your ability to be successful during an international experience.
Sophomore
- There are both summer and full semester study abroad programs that offer admission requirement and history and government content courses. The best time to pursue these programs is the summer after your freshman or sophomore year, or either semester of your sophomore year. The application deadline for summer and fall programs is March 1st, and the deadline for spring is October 1st.
- 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+.
Junior
- The ideal time for History & Government Education students to study teacher education courses abroad is the fall semester of junior year.
- 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 is usually willing to work with you in arranging access to the course via Skype, Lecture Capture, or some other technology.
- Some junior level Teacher Education courses that are commonly offered abroad include: C&T 331, C&T 448, ELPS 301, EPSY 306 and EPSY 456.
Senior
- Senior year is not a good time to study abroad for History & Government Education students because of your student teaching requirements.
- There are a couple of senior level teacher education courses available overseas (C&T 448 and EPSY 456), so you may want to plan on taking these early during your junior year while abroad.
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 Admission Reqt 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
Recommended Timing: Either semester - sophomore year
Sample Courses: C&T 235, Comparative Politics, various European history courses, various political science courses
Programs Offering Teacher Education Courses
Macquarie University - Australia
Recommended Timing: Fall semester - junior year
Sample Courses: C&T 331, EPSY 306, EPSY 456, various political science courses
University of Wollongong - Australia
Recommended Timing: Fall semester - junior year
Sample Courses: C&T 331, C&T 448, EPSY 456, various political science courses
Programs Offering Teaching Experience
These programs may count for KU Core Goal 4.2. Recommended for summer after sophomore or junior year.
Education Majors: A Cross-Cultural Experience in Carpi - Italy