Faculty and academic advisors resources

IGP students stand apart from their peers because of their in-depth international experience that includes both academics and internship experience.  IGP is focused on helping students gain five main global career skills: 

1. Multilingual capacity 

1. Interdisciplinary Education 

1. Intercultural competency 

1. Inclusive mentorship 

1. Social Network (international level) 

The IGP experience is unique because of the focus on high-quality professional development, such as bilingual resume writing workshops.  Students participate in several professional development events each semester to prepare them for an intensive and long-term immersion experience abroad. 

The IGP experience is challenging, but absolutely worth it!  Students have transformative experiences while abroad that prepare them well for graduate, medial, and/or career opportunities, plus be a force for global positive change.  Students expand their network to an international scale and across disciplines.  IGP students are motivated to make positive contributions in the world and have the skills to do it!  With IGP, students will graduate with one of the most unique global programs available to US students.   

The main differences between IGP and EA are:

• IGP is a dual-degree academic program
• IGP is a full year abroad which includes course work in a global language and an internship
• IGP works with very specific partner institutions
• EA you can study abroad for varying lengths of time
• EA you can go almost any where in the world

Either option is great! It depends on if your student would like to double major and do an internship abroad, whether IGP is a good fit for them. Otherwise, EA has so many wonderful opportunities around the globe.

There are no program fees to participate in IGP!  Additionally, NAU merit scholarships apply during students’ year abroad and are extended into Year 5.  NAU merit scholarships include Lumberjack, President’s, Dean’s, WUE blue, WUE gold.  Only NAU merit scholarships can be extended into Year 5. 

Many scholarships exist for students to study abroad, such as the internal scholarships of NAU GO scholarship and No Excuses scholarship.  There are national scholarships, such as the Gillman scholarship (for Pell grant recipients) and Boren (certain countries). 

During the year abroad, students pay the same NAU tuition as normal (with scholarships applied as normal).  The extra costs are the flight to arrive at the host country and housing.  Housing and meal costs are typically less than what students pay at NAU/Flagstaff and sometimes nearly half of what students pay at NAU. 

IGP has worked to create progression plans for students during their time with IGP. This is a template that students can use to plan our their 5 years in the program.

Ask students what language, culture, or region of the world are they drawn to? Research the university partners available to IGP students and talk with friends and family to get outside input.

IGP recommends continuing with a language where students already have experience. However, it is possible to begin at a 101 language level.

IGP students are matched with a language faculty mentor in Year 2 and they will complete four language checkpoints with their mentor through the course of the program. Their language mentor will give them feedback on their language progression and tips to boost their skills. 

There are three ways to enroll in language courses that are beyond the entry level: (1) An AP exam score of 3 or higher, (2) a CLEP test, or (3) a NAU placement exam.  Information on each of these options can be found on the Global Languages and Cultures (GLC) website.   

AP scores: Students with AP exam scores of 3 – 5 on Spanish, French, or German can be placed into language courses above the entry levels.  Please see a Gateway advisor to know what language class you can take, depending on your AP exam score. 

CLEP:  Students can take a CLEP exam to place above entry level language courses.   

NAU placement exams: Only students studying Spanish language can complete an online placement exam.  All other students should contact a faculty advisor, listed on the above website, to work with a professor on the proper class placement (likely via an email exchange). 

For students who have Spanish experience and test into 300-level Spanish courses there is an option to pursue an advanced Spanish degree.

Students can have any combination of a STEM, Business, or Psychology degree along with a language or culture degree. To view the degrees that IGP works with visit the following page.

For students studying Japanese, Chinese, or Italian, we recommend taking Comparative Cultural Studies courses in their first year (ARH 141/142 (Italian) ARH 143 (CHI/JPN)).  Language classes can be saved for students’ second and third years so the language practice will be fresh for when students go abroad.  

Yes, there are many IGP students that complete the NAU Honors program. Students can earn up to 10 Honors Credits through IGP.

Like any student at NAU, students who want to change their major certainly can! They will fill out the NAU Change of Major form and submit it to their IGP Region Lead to sign off on. As long as the students new major is within the eligible IGP degrees than it is possible.

IGP understands that the program is not for everyone. There is no penalty to withdraw from the program.

To officially withdraw from the program, we ask students to submit a withdrawal form to IGP.

Once completed students are no longer eligible for the 5 year NAU merit scholarship extension available to IGP Students. The Modern Language or Comparative Cultural Studies degree will be removed. Students can speak with their advisors about how they can add back any language or culture major or minor.

Please remember that Education Abroad opportunities are still available to students through Education Abroad. We encourage students to still pursue an international experience. Semester and summer programs are available.

Each student’s IGP experience is unique. Approximately 35% of science and business students can complete IGP in 4.5 years. Engineering students need the full 5-years to complete IGP.  

Depending on the student’s personal academic plan – including transfer/test out credits, majors of choice, and general NAU requirements – students may be eligible to complete the program in under 5 years. Students will need to meet all criteria and receive approval from their academic advisors and IGP staff. 

If students are entering NAU with up to 30 college credits that apply toward their degree requirements, they may be able to accelerate their year abroad to their third year at NAU and return to NAU for their fourth year and graduate. All IGP students must return to NAU following their year abroad for at least one semester.

Note: For students to accelerate their cohort with IGP, there is an acceleration petition form that must be approved by academic advisors for both majors.  

IGP understands the 4.5 – 5-year commitment may seem long for undergraduates and their families. Remember that IGP is a no-cost program, that NAU merit scholarships apply during Year 4 and extend during Year 5, that additional scholarship funding exists for your year abroad, and finally that you will graduate with a stand-out resume and an experience of a lifetime. 

Contact an IGP Region Lead if you have questions or to discuss further. 

IGP students are required to participate in a variety of programming throughout the program, complete Checkpoints (starting from level 2 to level 4) and maintain a certain level of academic performance. A full breakdown of these requirements can be found in the handbook. 

With IGP, students will have two majors and IGP programming event requirements. On average, IGP students take 15 – 19 credits per semester, unless students are bringing in credit to NAU and depending on their subject major. In Years 1 and 2, students will participate in 5-7 hours of mandatory IGP programming events per year. This increases to 10 – 12 hours of programming in Year 3 as the year abroad draws nearer. IGP programming is designed to keep students on track with their academics, help them practice their global skills, work on their career development, and prepare to be successful in their immersion year abroad. The IGP experience is rigorous, but achievable.  

Students practical experience abroad will vary widely depending on their chosen major, degree, areas of interest, country/city placement, and more. The IGP Region Leads will work closely with students during Levels 3 and 4 to define options for their internship experience. Our international internship page has some examples of what students have done in the past. 

IGP has a complete guide to help students find an internship abroad.  We recommend that students first gain internship/research experience in their field in the US.  Students will prepare a bilingual CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn  before going abroad. Students will work with the international host institution and do their own research to secure an internship – after preparing with IGP for three years before going abroad, you will be ready! 

There are no program fees to participate in IGP!  Additionally, NAU merit scholarships apply during students’ year abroad and are extended into Year 5.  NAU merit scholarships include Lumberjack, President’s, Dean’s, WUE blue, WUE gold.  Only NAU merit scholarships can be extended into Year 5. 

Many scholarships exist for students to study abroad, such as the internal scholarships of NAU GO scholarship and No Excuses scholarship.  There are national scholarships, such as the Gillman scholarship (for Pell grant recipients) and Boren (certain countries). 

During the year abroad, students pay the same NAU tuition as normal (with scholarships applied as normal).  The extra costs are the flight to arrive at the host country and housing.  Housing and meal costs are typically less than what students pay at NAU/Flagstaff and sometimes nearly half of what students pay at NAU. 

Students’ living situation while abroad varies depending on the partner institution.  Some partners offer dormitories, while other partners do not have on-campus housing.  With the latter, students find their own accommodations based on recommendations of former students and the international host university.  

IGP Alumni can be found pursuing careers varying from medical school to GIS data science around the world. Below are some reflections from IGP Alumni.

Check out our alumni page for more alumni news and updates.