Global learning opportunities

NAU has connections with more than 180 study abroad programs across the globe to which students may apply.  Our Comparative Cultural Studies students have recently studied in India, Italy, Ireland, France, and Greece.  After graduation, students have gone on to graduate school in Scotland or moved to Ireland.

The Department of Comparative Cultural Studies highly recommends the programs listed below, as well as the USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium) programs worldwide. The programs below offer special opportunities to study diverse cultural traditions as well as local languages.  You can find more information by clicking on the links below, by talking to Professor Krista Rodin in the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies, and by talking to an adviser at the Center for International Education.

Europe – especially for Art History, Museum Studies, Art and Cultural Management, and Humanities students:

• Siena School for Liberal Arts
• University of Malta

Europe – especially for Humanities and Sustainability Students:

• University of Eastern Finland

Africa – especially for Humanities, Religious Studies, Arts and Cultural Management, and Cinema Studies Students:

• USAC-University of Ghana-Semester/AY Program
• USAC-University of Ghana-Summer Program (Africa Studies)

Asia – especially for Religious Studies, Asian Studies, and Humanities students:

• Toyo University
• Sogang University

International Internships – Worldwide

NAU offers a variety of international internships that can count towards Comparative Cultural Studies degree requirements.  Earn credit while interning in museums or working for historical societies around the world.

More cultural study and internship programs are available if these do not meet your academic and personal needs. Programs can be found by searching here.

NAU has one of the largest numbers of Peace Corps alumni of any U.S. university. The Fourth of July parade in Flagstaff is a great time to meet some of them.

The Peace Corps at NAU – Worldwide

The Peace Corps offers students experiences that often serve as the first step in developing careers dedicated to public service. For more information, check out the Peace Corps Catalog or contact Robert Fulé at Pete.Fule@nau.edu.

Below are resources students can access to better navigate their global learning opportunities.

Participating faculty:

• Dr. Alexandra Carpino, Art History, Italy
• Dr. Paul Donnelly, Religious Studies, India
• Dr. Alyce Jordan, Art History, France
• Dr. Dan Moore, Humanities, Italy
• Dr. Krista Rodin, Humanities, Ireland and Western China
• Dr. Gioia Woods, Humanities, Italy, Siena School for Liberal Studies

Helpful literature

Sabbatical Travel Blogs

Index to Recent Articles on Global Curriculum and Study Abroad 

1. “Northern Arizona U. Overhauls Curriculum to Focus on ‘Global Competence,'” Chronicle of Higher Education (CHE),  May 20, 2012
2. “Why Every Student Should Study Abroad,” CHE, November 29, 2010
3. “In Study Abroad, Simple is Sophisticated,” CHE, December 9, 2010
4. “Cross-Cultural Skills: Essential for Expatriate Success,” CHE, August 23, 2011
5. “Europe’s Push to Teach English Creates Barriers in the Classroom,” CHE, February 13, 2011
6. “When Introducing the Liberal Arts to Asia, Don’t Forget the Students,” CHE, June 5, 2012
7. “The Moral Ambiguity of Study Abroad,” CHE, October 6, 2006

Index to Book Reviews or Excerpts of Recent Histories of Study Abroad 

1. Review of Fortunate Sons: The 120 Chinese Boys Who Came to America, Went to School, and Revolutionized an Ancient Civilization by Liel Leibovitz and Matthew Miller.
2. Review of The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough.
3. Excerpt of French Lessons: How Paris Changed Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, Susan Sontag, and Angela Davis by Alice Kaplan.
4. Review of Internationalism, National Identities, and Study Abroad: France and the United States, 1890-1970 by Whitney Walton.

This is a partnership between international students attending NAU and domestic NAU students. Interested students should fill out an application form at the Center for International Education in room 200 of Blome Hall and CIE will connect students with an appropriate partner. Partners are matched according to age, gender, languages spoken, and interests. The program coordinator will email students the contact information for their partner about one week after the application deadline.

The International Club is an opportunity to learn about different cultures and meet interesting people from around the world. The NAU International Club is also on Facebook.

Be paired with one of 160 international students enrolled in the Program in Intensive English for language and cultural exchange. For more information, contact Betsy Buford at Conversation.Partners@nau.edu or 928-523-7356.

Attend international films held in LA 135 Wednesdays at 7:00pm. For the schedule, see the NAU International Film Series for showings. For more information, contact Jude Costello at Judith.Costello@nau.edu.

The Sedona International Film Festival screens international films monthly at Harkins Theaters that are often followed by discussions led by NAU faculty.

Students can help the Center for International Education in a variety of ways:

• Volunteer as a peer advisor – Participate in e-advising, information sessions, classroom presentations, and pre-departure orientations and gain valuable communication skills and experience to add to resumes. A mandatory peer advisor training is held at the end of August. This opportunity is only open to study abroad alumni. Contact Kyle.Conway@nau.edu for more information.
• Submit a photo from abroad – Students can win a prize for a photo they took while abroad. There are four categories: landscape, pictures of locals, students, and monuments.
• Participate in student orientation – Welcome international students as they arrive on campus in August. Contact 928-523-2409 if interested.
• Get to know international students in your classes – Get to know students from other countries on campus.