Integrating Study Abroad Into the Curriculum

Book excerpt: With the increased interest in study abroad from government, educators, employers and students, the question is: are programs engendering the desired intercultural competencies and intellectual development? To achieve this goal, this book proposes two strategies: structuring study abroad to bridge the separation of academic learning from experiential and intercultural learning; and integrating study abroad with the undergraduate curriculum. In proposing this integration, the editors take into account the need for institutional change, and they recognize faculty's concerns about maintaining the integrity of the curriculum, teaching in areas outside their expertise, and keeping up with ever-evolving institutional missions. This book offers different theoretical perspectives on the integration of study abroad into the curriculum, as well as examples of practice from a variety of disciplines--from anthropology and religious studies, to literature, urban studies, biology, and public health--and within such contexts as distance learning, service learning, and the senior thesis.