Study Abroad

Students majoring in linguistics and language studies should consider studying abroad in the course of their degree program. For language studies students especially, study abroad is strongly encouraged, though not required.

Several Education Abroad Programs (EAP) programs (including Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa) begin the academic year in January or February and continue until December of the following year. Students enrolled in these programs typically depart in the winter or spring quarter of the junior year and return after the fall quarter of the senior year.

Study abroad requires careful planning, especially for those who wish to pursue a year-long program, or who wish to study abroad during the senior year. Meeting with your major advisor(s) early and often throughout the Study Abroad planning process will help to mitigate lengthening time to degree.

If you are a linguistics or language studies major and hope to study abroad, bear the following in mind (linguistics and language studies minors see below):

• Before being approved for UCEAP, you must declare your major. Also, majors must complete Linguistics 101, and either 111 or 112, before they leave for any study abroad programs that take place during the academic year. Minors should also complete all named courses before study abroad. The Department does not place any restrictions on summer study abroad.

• If you plan to study abroad during your senior year and do not plan to return to UCSC before graduating, your plan will be approved only when all major requirements have been completed prior to departure, and/or when it is clear that any remaining requirements can be satisfactorily completed abroad. Please consult with the department advisor​ before the end of your sophomore year if you are considering this option.

• Language studies majors in particular can satisfy certain major requirements in the course of study abroad; for instance, some of the context elective course requirements. No more than three context elective course requirements can be satisfied abroad. Students can also make progress in the language component of the language studies major while studying abroad; in order to determine the level of proficiency achieved, they must take a placement exam upon return. Whether a given course requirement in linguistics can be satisfied abroad depends on the course and the study site.
  
  
• Most importantly: Students who wish to have a study-abroad course count toward the major must bring back syllabi, completed papers, and course evaluations to the Department so that the Department can make a decision about whether the course satisfies a major requirement. Ideally, students should have courses pre-approved for the major before they go abroad. Students can visit the UCSC Campus Credit Abroad database to find pre-approved courses. A maximum of three outside courses may be used towards the major.

If you are a linguistics or language studies minor, please read the last bullet point above. Also, for minors, no more than two elective course requirements can be satisfied abroad.

Students who are interested in studying abroad should contact the Global Learning office (105 Classroom Unit, 459-2858). Global Learning staff can provide detailed information concerning selection criteria and application procedures. You can start by creating a profile on the Global Learning website.