2008-2009 Undergraduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]
International Programs
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The Division of International Programs supervises and coordinates the international activities of the university in order to encourage greater internationalization of programs, curricula, faculty, staff, and students. Division staff bring the perspectives of the world to NIU and the expertise of NIU to the world through international mobility for faculty, students, and ideas.
Study Abroad Programs
Director: Anne Seitzinger
The university offers a wide variety of opportunities for students to study abroad while continuing to remain enrolled at NIU. Most courses are approved equivalencies of current NIU courses and are applicable to campus degree programs with the approval of relevant academic departments. Students are covered by NIU’s accident and illness plan for students while overseas. Eligible students can apply their financial aid award toward overseas programs, and there are some scholarships available for study abroad. Courses are available in both the English language and in various foreign languages.
NIU is known nationally for the extensive study abroad programs that are offered to undergraduate and graduate students. Both graduate and undergraduate credit can be earned. The faculty-directed programs take place primarily during the summer and winter periods and range from three to nine weeks. Listed below are all of the study abroad programs that NIU currently offers. Students who would like more specific information should contact the Study Abroad Office.
Cosponsored Study Abroad and Exchange Programs
Director: Anne Seitzinger
These programs are open to undergraduate students only.
NIU currently offers programs worldwide for students from all majors and interests, for various periods of time. These programs include academic residential, academic internships, and one-on-one student exchanges in Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Cosponsored study abroad programs are administered by other institutions or organizations and supported by NIU. Students receive NIU credit if the program has been preapproved by the student’s academic department. On-site staff provide support and services for students. Cosponsored program sites include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, and Uruguay.
New countries to include: The Balkans, Bolivia, Botswana, Cambodia, Cameroon, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, India, Jordan, Madagascar, Mekong Delta, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Oman, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Samoa, Tanzania, Tibet/Bhutan, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam.
NIU currently offers faculty-directed programs in 23 different countries. Most NIU administered programs are directed by an NIU faculty member, with cooperation from various NIU departments, and offer specialized credit and residential study abroad during the fall and spring semesters, summer session, and winter break period.
Unless otherwise noted, in all cases undergraduates must meet NIU undergraduate admission requirements, and graduate students must meet Graduate School requirements or apply for and obtain permission from the Graduate School to register as a student-at-large.
Brazil: Adult education. Late May to early June. In cooperation with the Universidade Federal da Paraiba. To understand experiences of popular adult education and social movements in Northeastern Brazil and examine the changes due to educational decentralization and municipalization of education through the educational reform process taking place in Brazil at this moment and how this affect schools and communities. (UG or GR)
China: Exploring information systems Application and Practice. Mid May to early June. Examination of the practical understanding of the dynamic challenges and opportunities posed by information technology (IT) in today’s highly competitive global business environment. Students will also examine issues of international culture by learning IS practices, policies, and applications in China. (UG)
China: Robotics and manufacturing. Mid May to early June. In cooperation with Harbin Engineering University, Harbin Institute of Technology, and Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Provides students an opportunity to see and experience the massive manufacturing strength in China and gain a global view of world manufacturing industry as well as the opportunity to interact with Chinese students and professors in the fields of manufacturing and robotics and learn Chinese culture, history and way of living. (UG)
Costa Rica: International career development and Spanish language. Late May to late July. Intensive Spanish language instruction combined with individual professional programs in a wide variety of fields provides an opportunity to develop skills essential for an international career. Students must have a minimum two years college-level Spanish. (UG)
Costa Rica: Spanish language and culture. Late May to mid July. Provides immersion in the language and culture of contemporary Costa Rica. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and 3.00 in Spanish courses. (UG)
England: Oxford: English, political science, sociology, and biological studies. Late June to early August. Residential program at Oriel College that offers formal class meetings supplemented by individual tutorials. (UG or GR)
France: Agen: Law. Early June to mid July. In cooperation with the University of Bordeaux-Montequieu IV. Provides students with an understanding of two important areas of law: comparative law and European Union law. Open to NIU College of Law students and students from ABA-approved colleges or schools of law. (GR)
Ghana: Mid-May to early June. Provides students with an opportunity to explore aspects of the historical, cultural, and artistic foundations of West African civilization. Students experience the riches of Ghanaian life and culture, while also engaging in an educational experience at the University College of Education at Winneba, Ghana, and the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. (UG or GR)
India: Biomedical laboratory science. Mid to late August. An examination of the health care system in India and the impact of the World Health Organization as well as clinical laboratory sciences in India. Includes attendance and participation in an International Congress for Biomedical Laboratory Scientists with student forum networking opportunities. (UG or GR)
Ireland: Media and culture, and communication, English and history. Late June to mid July. In cooperation with Dublin City University. Examines Ireland’s struggle to define its own cultural identity in a world of American and British media domination. The program will examine issues of international culture via an immersion in Irish politics, history, literature, and media. (UG or GR)
Ireland: Selling Strategies. Early to mid January. Assists sales students in understanding the complexity and difficulty involved with selling in different countries (cultures). The program is also designed to help develop specific selling skills that are not typically taught at NIU. (UG)
Italy: Rome Eternal: An Unforgettable Experience. Late May to early June. Designed to give students an overview and a deeper understanding of the development of Western civilization through intense focus on one of its most important cities. Students will explore Rome through on-site study of its architecture, as well as several museum visits designed to offer students an incomparable opportunity to confront and analyze great works of sculpture and painting in person. (UG or GR)
Italy and Spain: Design, Art and Architecture. Mid May to mid June. An overview and blend of both historical and contemporary design and architecture will be introduced by means of on-site study in Italy and Spain. The program will integrate historical information and contemporary trends in architecture and design as it relates to the unique cultural fabric of Italy and Spain. (UG or GR)
Malaysia: History and Culture. Mid July to early August. Provides students with the opportunity to learn and experience the history of Malaysia and the Malay world, on site and in a living laboratory. (UG or GR)
Poland: Exploring Contemporary Graphic Design. Mid March. Provides students with the opportunity to meet and work with students at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice. The program will integrate historical information and contemporary trends in European graphic design. (UG or GR)
Russia: Moscow: Theater and performance studies at the Moscow Art Theatre (MXAT). Fall. Directors, actors, theater scholars, and teachers of the MXAT school administer daily instruction to NIU School of Theatre and Dance students. Teaching focuses on acting, voice, movement, and Russian theater history. Students take daily classes at the MXAT school. (UG or GR)
Spain: Toledo: Late June to early August. In cooperation with the University of Castilla-La Mancha. Provides immersion in the language and culture of contemporary Spain. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and 3.00 in Spanish courses. (UG or GR)
Thailand: The political economy. Early to late June. Learn about the economic and political development of Thailand, and to experience what these abstractions mean for Thais in different professions and of diverse ages and educational backgrounds. (UG or GR)
Turkey: Nursing care, education and health care systems. Late June to mid July. In cooperation with Koc University, School of Nursing in Istanbul. Explore emerging health care systems in a developing country, identify major public health problems and health care resources, compare cultural perspectives of health and illness in North America with those in Turkey and explore historical and cultural influences on nursing education in Turkey. (UG or GR)
Worldwide: International business seminars. Late December to mid January or mid May to mid June. Allows students interested in pursuing a career in international business or related field to acquire a firsthand view of international business practices and experience the excitement of traveling outside the United States. Includes visits to European manufacturing, retailing, and financial organizations/industries that engage in international business. (UG or GR)
Faculty-Directed Overseas Independent Research. Undergraduate or graduate credit for students traveling independently overseas who engage in a significant independent research project under the direction of a member of the NIU faculty. Type of academic credit and number of semester hours of credit dependent on the nature of the project and to be determined by the faculty member directing the research project. (UG or GR)
INTL 101. STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS (1-9). Course work undertaken as part of an approved university study abroad program. Discipline-based course used to reflect credit given, with departmental approval, for course work for which there is no NIU equivalent course available. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 semester hours.
INTL 201. STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS (1-9). Course work undertaken as part of an approved university study abroad program. Discipline-based course used to reflect credit given, with departmental approval, for course work for which there is no NIU equivalent course available. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 semester hours.
INTL 301. STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS (1-9). Course work undertaken as part of an approved university study abroad program. Discipline-based course used to reflect credit given, with departmental approval, for course work for which there is no NIU equivalent course available. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 semester hours.
INTL 401. STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS (1-9). Course work undertaken as part of an approved university study abroad program. Discipline-based course used to reflect credit given, with departmental approval, for course work for which there is no NIU equivalent course available. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 semester hours.
International Student and Faculty Office
The International Student and Faculty Office (ISFO) currently advises over 1000 nonimmigrant students and faculty from approximately 100 countries on various matters pertaining to their immigration status and success in their academic objectives in the United States. ISFO directs the admission process for international undergraduate students and cooperates closely with the Graduate School in the admission of international graduate students. In cooperation with a number of offices around campus, ISFO conducts the formal orientation program each fall and spring semester for new nonimmigrant students, to provide them with information and experiences which will ease their adjustment to the campus and to the United States. The ISFO is responsible for maintaining the institution’s obligations under the United States Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which include but are not limited to updating the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System database regarding student status, immigration documents, enrollment hours, work authorizations, and any variance from current immigration regulations. ISFO provides ongoing support to international students, faculty, and staff as they become a part of the NIU campus community and assists students in participating actively in student organizations.
Special assistance is given to international faculty members in residence at NIU, especially on matters regarding their visa and immigration status, health insurance, and general campus access.
International Training Office
Director: Lina Davide-Ong, Ed.D.
The International Training Office (ITO) develops and implements high-impact, innovative, and results-driven training programs that address societal and institutional needs of developing countries. The International Training Office’s programs and initiatives provide opportunities for NIU faculty, staff, and students to share their knowledge and expertise with training participants from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Since its establishment in 1981, the ITO has successfully implemented training programs that match participants’ needs with the strengths, capacities, and interests that exist within the faculty of NIU. Through the years, the ITO has been a facilitator of change and an active partner in developing the human resource potentials of individuals, groups, and communities worldwide.
Course List
Also see “Inter-College and University-Wide Interdisciplinary Courses” for IDSP 301 and IDSP 401.
NIU Administered (Faculty-Directed) Study Abroad Programs
Associate Provost: Deborah Pierce, Ph.D.
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