Language and Culture Experiential Guidelines

Language and Culture Requirement

All College of Science majors must demonstrate an understanding of another culture in addition to their own. Students may meet this core degree requirement in several ways including completion of an approved Study Abroad experience. Such an experience will meet the nine-credit Language and Culture requirement.

To secure approval, a study abroad experience must satisfy the following requirements:

  1. Must take place outside the United States and meet one of the following program requirements:
    1. Be at least one semester (fall, spring) in duration.
    2. Be a summer program of at least seven and a half weeks in duration.
    3. Be an approved College of Education Block Study Abroad program.
  2. Consist of taking courses and/or working on a research project.
  3. Have significant immersion in the local culture and language independent of any US-based program in which the student may be participating.

 

Documentation Process

Students will work with their Academic Advisor to:

  1. Determine the appropriateness of a study abroad experience in relation to program requirements, degree requirements and desired degree completion date, and
  2. Complete the experiential learning preapproval process.

 

Preapproval Process

Students must complete and submit the following document to request pre-approval of their study abroad experience:

  1. Completed and signed Experiential Learning Contract.* Note: Students submitting a contract after completion of a study abroad experience do not need the signature of a Study Abroad Office contact.
  2. Submission of a statement supporting the use of a study abroad experience to meet the Foreign Language and Culture requirement. The statement should address the criteria listed above.

 

Final Approval Process

Students are required to submit a reflection paper (minimum four double-space pages) using the Study Abroad Reflection Paper Guidelines:

We hope that your time abroad is enriching --- academically, socially, and culturally. Part of a successful study abroad experience is the ability to critically reflect on that experience and articulate it well to others. Consequently, in order to complete the language and culture requirement of the core curriculum through study abroad, you must write a reflection paper. Although there is no page limit on this paper, in order to adequately reflect on the cultural aspects of your experience a minimum four double-spaced page reflection paper is required. College-level writing that has been spell-checked and proof read is expected. This paper is due the first day of the semester following the conclusion of the Study Abroad program.

Preparation

  1. Plan in advance for this paper by keeping a journal, mementos, or correspondence.
  2. Spend some time brainstorming: review specific events, striking conversations, sights, sounds and even smells.
  3. Try to sum up your experience in a sentence or two. Is there a word, phrase, or theme that captures it?

Analysis

In your paper reflect on some or all of the following questions:

  1. In what ways is the culture where you studied different from your own?
  2. How is this culture similar to your own?
  3. What, if anything, shocked you?
  4. How does this culture define “learning” or “knowledge”?
  5. How have cultural differences made you more aware of your own culture---of its benefits, limitations, strengths, or biases?
  6. In what ways might your own culture/society benefit by learning from that of others, specifically from the one in which you studied?
  7. How do cultural differences allow others to view you differently than you view yourself?
  8. You must address the following question: How might your experience abroad affect your future --- with regard to academic, social, career, and/or personal choices?

Students are highly encouraged to complete a review of the guidelines before and during the study abroad experience to be sure documentation and information is readily available for construction of the reflection paper.

All documentation will be collected by the Undergraduate Education Office and should be sent to Science Undergraduate Advising Office, Mathematical Sciences building, Room 231,150 N University St, MA 231, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2067.

*In the event that a study abroad program is not sponsored by the Study Abroad Office, students will send the certification form directly to their program contact.