International Opportunities

Exchange programs allow you to study abroad at a different university for a semester or a year. Many universities offer courses for your major in English, allowing you to continue to make progress on your degree. There are also many universities that offer courses in different languages, which allows students to use their semester or year abroad to perfect their language skills. The cost is regular NAU tuition, most financial aid will cover exchange programs, and the credits you receive for the courses you take abroad are directly transferred back to NAU. Learn more about NAU’s exchange programs here.

CEFNS faculty teach many programs every year for students who are interested in fieldwork, lab or field measurements, classroom learning, or interacting with other scientists in a foreign country. These courses are typically 1-4 weeks and take place during spring, summer, and winter breaks. Many forms of financial aid can be applied to these programs and the courses carry academic credit that counts toward your degree. These courses vary from year to year, so explore the current offerings here.

This interdisciplinary five-year program provides students with a way to combine a degree in any of the sciences (all CEFNS degrees) with a degree in a language (Spanish, French, German within Modern Languages) or culture (Japanese, Chinese, Arabic within Comparative Cultural Studies). NAU’s tuition guarantee extends for all five years of the program, as long as you remain in good academic standing. In this program, you will:

• Study the language of your intended country every semester as you prepare for your fourth year, which you spend abroad.
• Take courses in science, culture, and language in your new language while studying abroad for a semester.
• Spend a second semester doing scientific research in your new language while abroad.
• In the fifth year, consolidate your learning in both degrees and graduate with two degrees and an ability to work cross-culturally.

Learn more about IGP here.

CEFNS faculty have research sites around the world, from the tropics to the poles. When studying the Earth, it is important to consider a variety of systems. Climate researchers see many changes occurring in the polar regions as well as high in the mountains; geologists study volcanism, earthquakes, and crustal deformation on every continent; ecologists observe ecosystems in every climatic condition, so travel is essential for complete understanding. In addition, travel is also a significant part of collaboration among scientists. There are often opportunities for students to be able to participate in international studies like these assisting professors with their research. After you begin your coursework in a department, start meeting professors and exploring the research opportunities that exist.

Genevieve Conley, Dual Environmental Sustainability and Spanish Majors (Interdisciplinary Global Programs), CEFNS Outstanding Graduate, Gold Axe and President’s Award Winner. Spent one year in Tucumán and Bariloche, Argentina

My experience in Argentina really challenged and changed me for the better. Not only did I fall in love with the food and music, but the friends I made will stay with me for the rest of my life. The year I spent abroad made me a more resilient person, changed how I interact with others, and helped solidify my career aspirations. This was an unforgettable adventure and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Mia Pique, Dual Geology and Spanish Majors (Interdisciplinary Global Programs), Gold Axe and President’s Award Winner. Spent one year in Tucumán, Argentina, and Quito, Ecuador

My year abroad transcended far beyond the traditional sense of an academic experience, with studying abroad in Tucumán, Argentina and then interning in Quito, Ecuador. Every person I met has taught me a new world view and because of them, I am a wiser world citizen and a more confident me. It is true what people say, the places you see are amazing, but it is the people that you meet that make the true difference. From living in The Andes, backpacking Patagonia for a couple of weeks, boating to Uruguay, standing on the Equator, studying an active volcano in the Amazon jungle and hiking it, seeing rainbow mountains, Machu Picchu, and even crossing into Brasil through bus on a whim… I would have never imagined all that I have learned through these crazy adventures, but more importantly through the people I have met.

I have learned how to make mistakes successfully. I have learned how to be more brave in asking questions when I have no idea what is going on, yet I have become confident in trying my best to figure challenges out first. I would say I have become a more confident, wiser, and more-willing-to-mess-up-in-order-to-learn-scientist.  My gratitude could never truly be expressed by words.