Interdisciplinary Computing

General Planning Tips For Interdisciplinary Computing

With careful and early planning, you can study abroad for a semester and still graduate on time.
The minimum eligibility requirements to study abroad are the completion of one semester on campus and a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Some programs may have additional eligibility requirements.
Study abroad is a great way to satisfy your KU Core requirements. Therefore, it is a good idea to reserve some of your KU Core classes to take abroad.
Scholarships are available for study abroad both through KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement and national organizations. Connect with your School of Engineering advisor to learn more about scholarship opportunities for engineering students pursuing international study.
Courses to take at KU: You should plan to take your EECS senior design courses at KU and possibly some of the courses from your IC focus area. Meet with both your EECS advisor and IC focus advisor to learn more about which courses you can take abroad so that you can effectively plan for a study abroad experience.

Schedule a meeting with both your engineering advisor as well as your IC focus advisor during your first semester at KU to discuss your graduation plan and identify specific courses as well as specific timing opportunities for your study abroad experience.
After you've met with your academic advisors, continue your program research by visiting the KU 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.
There are a few summer programs that offer good course options for computer science, and the best time to pursue these programs is the summer before your sophomore year. These programs typically offer courses such as physics and/or upper level math. Otherwise, summer is a great time to take some of your KU Core courses abroad.

As far as your CS courses, both the sophomore or junior year could work for study abroad, and because many of the sophomore level EECS courses at KU are offered during the fall and spring semesters, there is some degree of flexibility with your sequencing during this time.
You should also work closely with your IC focus advisor to determine which of your focus courses you could take abroad as well as how a study abroad experience might impact your course sequencing.
You can take a combination of mathematics, basic sciences, KU Core, IC focus courses, and/or EECS courses abroad. We recommend you take no more than two to three engineering courses abroad.
If you are not planning on a domestic internship during the summer, you could look for a summer program to complete some of your KU Core requirements abroad or you might consider an international internship. This second option would be a great fit for those students pursuing the IC-Journalism major in particular.

It is not recommended that IC students study abroad senior year due to their senior design course requirements.

KU faculty have already reviewed and pre-approved a number of study abroad courses for KU credit. 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 Timing: Summer – after freshman or sophomore year

Sample courses: varies by location