The Department of Linguistics strongly encourages its students to study abroad. While polishing your foreign language skills in a native environment, take advantage of the opportunity to gain exposure to how the academic field of linguistics is taught in other countries and cultures. Complement your studies at UCSD by studying about German politics in Germany or Latin American history at one of the many available sites in Latin America. Summer language programs, semester, and year-long programs are available.
"No one has ever come back from studying abroad saying, 'I wish I had stayed at UCSD instead.'" --Gary Jacobson, UCSD Professor of Political Science
"My time studying in Costa Rica was amazing. Immersing yourself in a different culture forces you to see the world from a new viewpoint and challenges what you thought you knew about it. I learned a lot from the professors and my fellow students, but I learned as much outside the classroom as I did inside." --Elisabeth Suiter, Latin American Studies Major, '03
Why study abroad?
“Today’s workplace requires you to be quick on your feet and highly adaptable. You will work for, and with, professionals from diverse backgrounds whose personal styles may be quite different from your own. Study Abroad is an outstanding way to build your skills, to see the world through another’s eyes, and to demonstrate to employers that you are tested and ready to pursue the global workplace.” --Andrew T. Ceperley, Director, Career Services Center, UCSD
Regardless of your future career choice, study abroad will help you develop skills that are critical to the working world, not the least of which is fluency in a foreign language.
Consider your value to an employer or a graduate program if you’ve:
Increased your proficiency in another language
Broadened your linguistics research overseas
Gained cross-cultural communication skills
Improved your critical thinking skills
Developed self-confidence and independence
Prepared for a career in an internationally competitive world
When should I study abroad?
While it is possible for Linguistics majors to go at almost any point in their academic careers, the particular quarter, semester, summer or year that you study abroad depends on your individual progress in your major and what courses you plan to take while abroad. See Requirements section below for more information.
Where should I study abroad?
You will find coursework relevant to your major in Linguistics at many EAP study centers. Program Wizard (http://eap.ucop.edu/programwizard) can help you find programs that meet your needs.
Study on EAP/OAP can be comparable to the cost of study at UC. In some cases, it is less. EAP participants pay UC fees and continue to receive UC financial aid while abroad. Furthermore, EAP students are eligible for special grants and scholarships from UC, the host country, and other sources.
OAP students may retain all or some of their funding while abroad, including special study abroad scholarships, but because of the variety of the programs found through OAP, costs for individual programs can vary greatly.
Start your research in the Programs Abroad Library
Meet with a Programs Abroad advisor
Complete your Academic Planning Form
Schedule a visit with the advisor in Linguistics (linginfo@ucsd.edu or 858-534-1145)
Visit your college advising office
Requirements
The Department of Linguistics allows a maximum of six courses taken outside of UCSD to count towards major requirements. Language Studies Majors are strongly encouraged to consider a year abroad.
What classes should I take?
The key to success is planning and pre-approval! The Linguistics Department's undergraduate advisor will help students select courses that can meet major and minor requirements. Be sure to take your completed Academic Planning Form with you to your meeting.
The EAP Coursefinder (http://eap.ucop.edu/coursefinder) lets you search courses taken by UC students over the last 5 years. Additionally, you can find courses that have been previously approved for Linguistics majors here.
EAP students automatically earn UC credit for the work they complete abroad. Application of credit to major requirements is subject to the discretion of the department. OAP students earn transfer credit for the work they complete abroad, and application of credit to major requirements is also subject to the discretion of the department.
What happens when I return?
Students must bring all coursework material from their abroad program to the Linguistics advisor with a general petition for each course. The Faculty advisor of the program will review the petitions and make final approval on coursework – if courses are approved the information will be transferred to the appropriate colleges.
Yeah, but ...
Still not sure if study abroad is for you? Want to discuss it with your parents, or need to convince them? Check out our “Top Ten Reasons to Study Abroad” (http://eap.ucop.edu/eap/whystudyabroad.htm).
University of California, San Diego OAP Opportunities Abroad Program If you don't find your perfect fit with EAP check out the infinite options for other academic programs available through UCSD's Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP). Follow the link below to find more information on OAP. http://pao.ucsd.edu/pao/started.html
UCSD
Programs Abroad Office International Center
Second Floor
