International Programs
253.535.7629
www.plu.edu/~inpr

PLU's international programs encourage students to expand their understanding of humanity's global condition in a changing and increasingly interdependent world. Multi-focused international programs provide opportunities for on-campus study of global issues and of the world's regions, cultures, and societies. Global issues include, for example, modernization and development; global resources and trade; and peace, justice, and human rights. Cultural foci are Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Scandinavia. Study of these issues and regions is made possible by diverse off-campus study opportunities and international student exchange.

To pursue a program in international or intercultural studies, students may enroll in courses offered by departments such as Languages, Political Science, and History, or choose among the special multi-disciplinary programs listed below which offer majors and minors in international studies.

More information about PLU's international programs is available from the Office of Off-Campus Programs, under the Wang Center for International Programs.

The Americas:
This interdisciplinary minor focuses on the comparative histories, cultures, and contemporary issues shared by the two continents in the western hemisphere. For specific information see The Americas section of this catalog.

Chinese Studies:
The Chinese Studies program is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students interested in China a broad foundation in language, culture, and history. For specific information see the Chinese Studies section of this catalog.

Global Studies:
Students interested in diverse cultures and international, global issues may undertake a multi-disciplinary major or minor program designed to reflect their geographic, thematic, or disciplinary interests.

Major:
The Global Studies major is termed a complementary major because it is taken as a second major in addition to a regular disciplinary major. For specific information see the Global Studies section of this catalog.

Minor:
The theoretical orientation and requirements parallel those for the major and are detailed in the Global Studies section of this catalog.

Scandinavian Area Studies:
The Scandinavian Area Studies major is a flexible program in which the study of Scandinavia is enhanced through a cross-disciplinary approach. For specific information see the Scandinavian Area Studies section of this catalog.

Off-Campus Programs:
To encourage students to expand their visions of the world, PLU makes available various opportunities to study and travel in other countries. Students are encouraged to spend the summer, semester, January term, or full academic year abroad. The Wang Center's Office of Off-Campus Programs has information to assist students in selecting and preparing for study abroad programs. The inter-dependence of all nations of the world and the need to gain basic knowledge of people, their cultures, and their interrelationships cannot be overemphasized in the 21st century. With this focus in mind, PLU supports several categories of programs.

Section A: PLU-Sponsored Programs

PLU Faculty Directed Programs:

1. Trinidad and Tobago: Culture, Creativity, and Complexity in the Caribbean: Spring semester (January to mid-May) in Trinidad provides students a unique opportunity to explore the island and learn about the varied heritages of this multicultural society. During January a PLU faculty member accompanies the group to Trinidad and teaches one course, which varies from year to year. From February to mid-May students take the core course, Caribbean Culture and Society, and choose two additional courses from the regular course offerings at the University of the West Indies. Students earn 18 semester hours credit for the January to May program.
2. January term: PLU also offers courses during the January term. Interest meetings for January term off-campus programs are announced in early spring for the following January. Students apply for these programs in May. January term program sites for 2003 are listed on the International Programs homepage, www.plu.edu/~inpr.

Reciprocal Programs: PLU currently offers three active exchange programs. These academic programs provide a limited number of exchanges each year. In all cases, the PLU student is integrated into the local university and culture.

1. People's Republic of China-Zhongshan University: PLU students may spend a full year or semester in the People's Republic of China through an exchange with Zhongshan University in Guangzhou (Canton). At Zhongshan, students live in university housing and take intensive studies in Mandarin Chinese. Students should have had at least one year of Chinese language before applying.
2. Tanzania: In a consortium effort with other colleges and universities of the Lutheran Church, PLU offers a five-month exchange opportunity at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Students study Swahili language and select three or four courses from the wide offering of courses at the University of Dar es Salaam. All university courses are taught in English. This is a fall semester program.
3. People's Republic of China - Sichuan University: Students may spend a semester or year at Sichuan University (SU) in Chengdu. At SU, in addition to classes in Mandarin and Chinese culture, students may take organic chemistry or general physics courses that are taught in English. Often a PLU professor will accompany the group and teach one of the courses. Extensive study tours are included. Fluency in Mandarin is not required.

Associated New American Colleges (ANACSA): In a consortium of other midsized comprehensive colleges, PLU offers additional semester and short-term program options throughout the world. A list of 2002-2003 program opportunities is available in the Wang Center's Office of Off-Campus Programs.

Summer: Many PLU-sponsored study abroad programs have summer options. Additionally, off-campus programs for summer are announced in the summer sessions catalog.

Brokered Programs

In addition to PLU faculty led or coordinated programs, PLU students can participate in any of the following brokered programs (program details are available on the International Programs homepage www.plu.edu/~inpr.)

Independent Liberal Arts Colleges Abroad: These programs are hosted by the Independent Liberal Arts Colleges Abroad (ILACA), a consortium of Pacific Northwest schools including PLU, Gonzaga University, the University of Puget Sound, the University of Portland, and Willamette University. Program sites: London, England, and Granada, Spain.

• Denmark's International Studies (DIS)
• Institute for Central American Development (ICADS)
• Living Routes, Findhorm Community Semester
• Institute for the International Education of Students (IES)
• University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
• University of Lancaster, Lancaster, England
• Service Learning Programs
• School for Field Studies
• Center for Global Education
• Institute for Study Abroad
• American Institute for Foreign Study
• College Year in Athens

SECTION B: PLU-Approved Study Abroad Programs

1. In addition to the PLU-sponsored programs, there are countless other opportunities for study abroad. Many U.S. colleges and universities have programs throughout the world, and PLU students may study through these programs by special arrangement. Information and application forms for several programs are available in the Office of Off-Campus Programs. Credits awarded by a regionally accredited U.S. college or university are transferable to PLU. However, direct aid from PLU cannot be transferred to other colleges.
2. PLU students who plan to study directly in a foreign school (not in a program sponsored by a college in the U.S.) must be sure to file a letter of intent with the Office of Off-Campus Programs and with the chair of their major department before leaving PLU. This letter must include what classes will be taken, where and for what length of time they will study abroad, and how the international experience will relate to their academic program. On the basis of this information, plus a record of lectures attended and examinations completed, academic credit may be given by PLU. Students are advised to save all papers and other materials relating to coursework taken abroad. All credit transferred to PLU will be pass/fail. PLU reserves the right to require examinations covering the subjects studied.

Application Process: All PLU-sponsored program applications must be pre-approved by the Office of Off-Campus Programs before they are mailed to the program associate (i.e., IES, AIFS, Butler University, etc). Students are asked to submit completed program applications and have an official transcript and faculty recommendations sent to the Office of Off-Campus Programs for the review process. General deadlines for program applications are: January 15 for Tanzania, February 1 for summer programs and Semester I programs in Australia and New Zealand, March 1 for fall and full-year programs, and May 1 for spring semester programs. (Applications for spring programs will be accepted until October 1 on a space-available basis.)

Credits: PLU awards PLU credit for all programs listed in SECTION A: PLU-Sponsored Programs. All courses taken on a PLU-sponsored program will be listed on the PLU transcript with appropriate department numbers assigned. Letter grades will also be posted, although they will not be included in the PLU cumulative grade point average. Grades for study abroad are calculated for honors at graduation.

Program Costs and Financial Aid for PLU-Sponsored Programs:

Reciprocal Exchange Programs: Semester charges are based on the PLU undergraduate tuition model (UTM) plus the cost of on- campus housing and a full meal plan.

Other PLU-Sponsored Programs: Program fees are calculated at the base price of the program plus an administrative fee of $1000 per semester. Each of the PLU-sponsored programs will, therefore, have a different program fee. The minimum semester program fee for the academic year 2002-03 will be $9,250.

On PLU-sponsored programs, students eligible for state and federal financial aid may transfer their aid awards (with the exception of work study) to their student accounts. Students may also apply their university grants and scholarships as well as government loans on selected sponsored programs. The Office of Off-Campus Programs has detailed information on Study Abroad and Financial Aid. Tuition exchange benefits do not apply to study abroad.