The Theater and Dance department encourages you to study abroad at one of the many universities around the world offering dance and theater courses. Through this experience, you can enrich your overall artistic development by learning how other cultures explore various dance idioms and approach different components of theater. In addition, you may increase your proficiency in another language through everyday, practical use. You will find programs in which to study theater and dance through the University of California’s Education Abroad Program (EAP) or UCSD’s Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP).
"By far the best thing that I have ever done. Traveling is the experience of getting away from what you are trying to become to find who you really are. Going to Spain opened up doors and horizons for me that I never knew existed." --Henia Belalia, Theatre and Dance major, '05
"Immeasurable value." --Allan Havis, Professor of Playwriting
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 a liberal arts education. The unique opportunity to immerse oneself in a different environment will not only provide for intellectual growth, but a personal one as well. Increased self-confidence and independence, and improved critical thinking skills, will better prepare students for graduate school or a career in an internationally competitive world.
Consider your value to an employer or a graduate program if you’ve:
Participated in a different educational system and gained a new cultural perspective
Increased your proficiency in another language
Improved your critical thinking skills
Expanded your worldview by experiencing another culture firsthand
Developed self-confidence and independence
Prepared for a career in an internationally competitive world
Enhanced résumés and/or applications for graduate school
When should I study abroad?
While it is possible for Theatre and Dance students to go abroad 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.
Students are advised to take one to three upper division courses at UCSD before they leave. See Requirements section below for more information.
Where should I study abroad?
You will find coursework relevant to your major in Theatre and Dance at many EAP study centers. Program Wizard (http://eap.ucop.edu/programwizard) can help you find programs that meet your needs.
Here are just a few of the universities where Theatre and Dance students have studied:
Dance
University of Ghana, Legon – Ghana
University of Brighton – England
University of Hull – England
University of London, Royal Holloway – England
University of Lancaster – England
San Miguel de Allende – Mexico
University of Limerick – Ireland (Modern Dance)
University Iberoamerica, Puebla – Mexico
Theatre
University of Exeter - England
Royal Holloway, University of London – England
Queen Mary, University of London - England
University of Sussex - England
University of Hull – England
Central College, London Metropolitan University - England
Marymount College of Fordham University, London - England
University of Copenhagen - Denmark
University of Costa Rica
University of Ghana, Legon – Ghana
Studio Marguerite, Paris - France
British American Drama Academy (BADA), London - England
Academia dell'Arte Arezzo - Italy
University of St. Andrews - Scotland
What will it cost?
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
Schedule a visit with the undergraduate coordinator in Theatre and Dance (theatredance-ug@ucsd.edu or 858-534-3619)
Visit your college advising office
Requirements
Theatre and Dance allows a maximum of six courses taken outside of UCSD to count towards major requirements.
What classes should I take?
The undergraduate coordinator in Theatre and Dance will help students select courses that can meet major and minor requirements.
EAP students automatically earn UC credit for the work they complete abroad. However, application of credit to major requirements is subject to the discretion of the department. The EAP Coursefinder (http://eap.ucop.edu/coursefinder) lets you search courses taken by UC students over the last 5 years. 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 theTheatre and Dance undergraduate coordinator 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 UCEAP’s “Top Ten Reasons to Study Abroad” (http://eap.ucop.edu/eap/whystudyabroad.shtm).
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
