Study Abroad
Why Study Abroad?
In order for the United States to remain a leader in science and technology, an educated workforce is needed capable of working in an international research environment and in a global market. By participating in study abroad, students can acquire the international experience they need to compete in the job market, while gaining valuable cross-cultural skills. In addition, such international experience promotes flexibility, autonomy, leadership skills, innovation, maturity, ambition, and independence; qualities which are often in high demand by employers.
Interested in Studying Abroad?
Are you a LAES student and interested in or even just thinking about studying abroad between Winter 2020-Winter 2021? Please contact David Gillette, Michael Haungs, and Jessica Larsen ASAP!
*Make sure to include when and where you are planning on studying abroad.
Apply for a LAES Travel Grant
The LAES Program is offering $1,200 travel grants to students participating in Cal Poly-approved programs. (Students with financial need can apply for up to $1,500.) All students must have a cumulative or term GPA of 3.0 prior to going abroad. You can apply through the Cal Poly Scholarships link in your Portal.
*Please contact David Gillette, Michael Haungs, and Jessica Larsen if you are interested in studying abroad and to find out more information about applying for the travel grant.
*Once approved for your Study Abroad program, please email your acceptance letter to Jessica Larsen at jnlarsen@calpoly.edu to confirm your trip abroad.
Application Deadlines:
| TERM of travel | Decision period | deadlines |
|---|---|---|
| Travel in Winter, Spring, Summer | October | October 1st - November 15th |
| Tavel in Spring, Summer, Fall | December | December 1st - January 15th |
| Travel in Fall, Winter, Spring | May | May 1st - June 15th |
LAES Students Abroad
Check how Liberal Arts and Engineering Students had to say about Studying Abroad!
Melina Van Oers
Studying abroad provided me with an opportunity to grow both academically and as a person. Being at college is like being in a bubble- going abroad let’s you get out of that bubble as you are taught through a completely different perspective. I took a Nordic crime fiction class that counted as a GE. There’s nothing like that at Cal poly. Classes also extended their learning into the city. For example, my contemporary art class toured different art across the city. The education was focused on giving you a chance to learn about the culture and the history of the city which for me was a new take on learn by doing. I’ve never gone to the mission for example for any classes at poly.
Robyn Pan
Studying abroad was always a dream of mine to experience in college and through the LAES program, I was able to fulfill it! I learned a lot while abroad in Shanghai, China, about culture, my future, and about myself. Being a part of the LAES program opened many opportunities for me while abroad. My teachers were interested in hearing about my major and I was able to network and work for a local Chinese company because they were interested in what I had to offer as a LAES student. The people that I met and the memories I made were all unforgettable!
Edward Yi
Studying abroad enhanced my Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies education simply because of exposure. The cultural exposure you receive while studying abroad broadens your perspective as you learn more about the various cultures and views. This has helped me understand where individuals from different cultures are rooted from and offers a fresh perspective, while simultaneously improving my global communication skills.
Amanda Santana
I am so grateful for my abroad experience! I improved my skills on establishing rapport with people despite cultural and linguistic barriers. Simply traveling to a new environment is one thing but living and adapting in one is a very enriching and challenging experience. I continuously forecasted open-minded solutions involving conflicting viewpoints, a skill very critical to interdisciplinary study. I am more confident in my ability to integrate ideas on a wide spectrum with more creativity and clarity, and apply it to my liberal arts and engineering education as well as my future career.
To learn more about Cal Poly's study abroad program options, requirements, and deadlines, visit:
Global Perspectives Courses
LAES strongly encourages students to spend three-to-six months studying and/or working abroad; however, the program does permit flexibility by allowing students to fulfill the 8 upper-division unit requirement by taking Cal Poly global perspectives courses in lieu of going abroad. Students may select the following courses from the catalog:
|
A-E |
F-O |
P-Z |
|---|---|---|
| ANT 312 Intro to Cultural Resources Management | GEOG 308 Global Geography (D5/UD-D) | PHIL 320 Asian Philosophy (C4/UD-C) |
| ANT 325 Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica (D5/UD-D) | GEOG 370 Geography of Latin America (D5/UD-D) | POLS 324 International Relations Theory |
| ANT 330 Indigenous South Americans (D5/UD-D) | GEOG 380 Geography of the Caribbean (D5/UD-D) | POLS 325 Global Political Issues (D5/UD-D) |
| ANT 360 Human Cultural Adaptations (D5/UD-D) | GEOG 414 Global & Regional Climatology | POLS 333 World Food Systems (B7/UD-B) |
| ANT 401 Culture & Health | HIST 306 Witch-Hunt in Europe, 1400-1800 (D5/UD-D) | POLS 380 Religion & Politics in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict |
| ANT 402 Nutritional Anthropology | HIST 308 Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade (D5/UD-D) | POLS 426 International Organizations & Law |
| ANT 415 Native American Cultures (USCP) | HIST 309 Cultures of West Africa & the African Diaspora (D5/UD-D) | POLS 427 Politics of the Global Economy |
| ART 317 Asian Art Survey | HIST 310 East Asian Culture & Civilization (D5/UD-D) | POLS 429 Issues & Topics in International Relations |
| ART 318 Asian Art Topics: National, Religious, & Intellectual Movement | HIST 314 Middle East | PSY 465 Cross-Cultural International Psychology |
| COMS 316 Intercultural Communication (D5/UD-D,USCP) | HIST 316 Modern East Asia (D5/UD-D) | RELS 301 Religions of Asia (C4/UD-C) |
| COMS 319 Critical Cultural Studies & Communication | HIST 319 Modern South & Southeast Asia (D5/UD-D) | SOC 309 World System & Its Problems |
| ENGR 350 Global Environment (B7/UD-B) | HIST 338 Modern Latin America (D5/UD-D) | SOC 315 Global Race & Ethnic Relations (D5/UD-D) |
| ENGL 459 Significant World Writers | HIST 416 Modern Japan | SOC 350 Social Organization of Modern Japan |
| ES 300 Chicano/a Non-Fiction Literature (C4/UD-C,USCP) | HIST 417 20th Century China | TH 390 Global Theatre & Performance (C4/UD-C) |
| ES 320 African American Cultural Images (D5/UD-D,USCP) | ISLA 310 Humanities in World Cultures | UNIV 333 World Food Systems (B7/UD-B) |
| ES 321 Native American Cultural Images (D5/UD-D,USCP) | ISLA 350 Global Environment (B7/UD-B) | UNIV 350 Global Environment (B7/UD-B) |
| ES 322 Asian American Cultural Images (D5/UD-D,USCP) | JOUR 401 Global Communication | UNIV 391 Appropriate Technology for World's People: Development (D5/UD-D) |
| ES 323 Mexican American Cultural Images (D5/UD-D,USCP) |
LAES 411 Global Synthesis in Liberal Arts & Engineering Studies |
UNIV 392 Appropriate Technology for World's People: Design (B7/UD-B) |
| ES 325 Sex & Gender in African American Communities (USCP) |
|
WGS 320 Women in Global Perspective (D5/UD-D) |
|
ES 326 Native American Architecture/Place (C4/UD-C,USCP) ES 330 Chinese American Experience (D5/UD-D,USCP) ES 335 Filipina/o American Experience (D5/UD-D,USCP) ES 340 Cultural Prod/Ethnicity (C4/UD-C) |
WGS 351 Gender, Race, Class, Nation in Global Engineering, Technology & Intl Development (D5/UD-D) |
|
|
Cal Poly International Center Building 52, Room E32 |
|
(805) 756-1477 |