U of A Faculty Led Study Abroad Program Learning Objectives

While each faculty-led study abroad program at the University of Arkansas is unique, all share at least three key objectives:

  • to enhance traditional learning through international travel experiences;
  • to develop students’ knowledge and abilities aimed at interacting appropriately within intercultural contexts and engaging with complex global systems and issues;
  • to create meaningful experiences that advance students’ academic, professional, and personal goals.

In this way, faculty-led study abroad programs meet the specific learning goals of academic departments and programs, promote the University’s general education mission, and serve the individual needs of students.

Faculty-led study abroad programs meet these objectives by incorporating the learning indicators listed below into their syllabi. Faculty preparing study abroad courses and programs are asked to indicate how their course content addresses these indicators and how they assess student learning for each indicator.

Upon the completion of the study abroad program students will meet all of indicators 1-4:

  1. Describe the relevance of the program destination to the course content.
  2. Describe cultural differences and similarities between the program destination and the United States. This understanding should embody perceptions from both local and U.S perspectives. (Aligns with general education outcome 4.1a)
  3. Describe key factors that have shaped the program destination’s culture, society, and values, including but not limited to its history, politics, economy, beliefs, and practices. (Aligns with general education outcome 4.1b)
  4. Reflect and articulate on the ways in which the study abroad experience has shaped and/or supported the student’s academic, professional, and personal goals.

Upon the completion of the study abroad program students will meet at least one of indicators 5,6, or 7:

  1. Engage in the cultural environment of the program destination by having a meaningful interaction using the country or region’s native or principal languages, or by experiencing and reflecting on a cultural event, institution, or practice. (Aligns with general education outcome 4.1c)
  2. Describe key ways in which global trends and challenges have impacted the program destination’s culture, economy, politics, or society. (Aligns with general education outcome 4.1d)
  3. Describe key ways in which the program destination’s culture and society have been shaped by interactions with outside nations or other external cultural groups. (Aligns with general education outcome 4.1e)