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Suggested Programs for Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

Congreso de la nación argentina, Bueno Aires, Argentina

Congreso de la nación argentina, Bueno Aires, Argentina

Education abroad in critical race and ethnic studies offers many unique opportunities to study the construction of ethnic identities within other cultures. Such opportunities provide a rare perspective to examine similarities and contrasts to social, racial, and ethnic identities across national borders while offering unique insights to explore global perspectives and potential solutions. Migration and how it intersects with identity is particularly relevant for students seeking greater perspective across international borders. Consider how the political, social, or economic realities of Brazil, France, South Africa, Singapore, or England might help develop comparative perspective and insight into similar issues within the U.S.

Programs Highlighting Critical Race or Ethnic Studies

France & the United Kingdom: Global Cities Urban Realities

Studying in the global cities of London and Paris, exploring the complex social, political, and economic landscape of each location, students learn how each nation is handling immigration, increasing diversity, and urban conflict.

Learn more about deadlines, details, and the application

Immersion & Exchange Programs Suggested for Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

Barbados: Univ. of the West Indies

Situated in the Eastern Caribbean, Barbados offers unique opportunities to focus on Caribbean studies, the African diaspora, race & gender studies.

Learn more about deadlines, details, and the application

Brazil: Pontifical Catholic Univ. of Rio de Janeiro

Similarly to the U.S., Brazil has a complicated history of colonization and forced migration from Africa for slave labor. Look for coursework in history, philosophy, or even social services. Alternatively, explore the Brazilian Seminars program over the summer for coursework on social movements, race relations, and poverty.

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Chile: Univ. of Chile

Students can expect to take courses in Spanish, but they explore coursework in indigenous studies, gender & ethnicity, and intersectionality.

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Mexico: National Autonomous Univ. of Mexico

Students can expect to take courses in Spanish, but they can explore courses in complex social processes, intersectionality, decolonial theory, and queer theory.

Learn more about deadlines, details, and the application

New Zealand: Univ. of Auckland

Situated in the South Pacific, New Zealand is often an ideal location for studying Polynesian cultures including unique offerings in Pacific, Maori, and Samoan studies. Focus on politics, language, film & media studies, even sport.

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United Kingdom: King's College London

King's College London offers relevant coursework across film & media studies, international development, and philosophy. Alternatively, consider Univ. College London which offers more coursework across gender & women's studies and arts.

Learn more about deadlines, details, and the application

 

Completing Other SSHA Requirements Abroad

SSHA students, in general, can take advantage of the requirement to complete four (4) non-major upper-division general education courses—or equivalent—from SSHA areas as varied as English literature to economics. Most SSHA students complete one or more of these required courses while studying abroad. These courses must be reviewed through the   SSHA course approval form.

SSHA students must also complete a total of 60.0 semester units in order to graduate. SSHA students complete many of these units within their major but often need more and can complete these requirements abroad.

Course Approval and Course Approval Forms

With a few exceptions of previously approved courses (ask your academic advisor), courses will need to be approved to meet individual degree requirements. In these cases, students will use the Course Approval Form for the school that would typically offer such a course at UC Merced:

 

The school will often require a syllabus or equivalent in order to do a review. Keep in mind that syllabi may be protected intellectual property of certain professors or universities and may not be publicly posted online. If it is a UC Center program, you may be able to acquire syllabi through your study abroad advisor. If the program is with a local host university and the course is not posted online, you may be able to inquire with the instructor or host university in some cases.

Academic Planning

No matter your academic intentions while studying abroad, you should consult your academic advisor and your MyDegreePath report to plan out your study abroad academic goals. Once you narrow your search to 1-3 study abroad programs consult your program page or ask your study abroad advisor about resources for researching courses in your program.

 

Start planning for study abroad with your academic advisor as soon as you can. One of the keys to maximizing academic success abroad is early planning and scheduling course loads before, during, and after study abroad. This includes strategies such as targeting a study abroad term to exploit areas of flexibility in your academic plan.

Be sure to make use of UCEAP course credit resources below, too.

 

UC Merced Campus Credit through UCEAP

How to Explore Database of Courses Previously Taken

 

Campus Credit Abroad

Planning the courses you’ll take on study abroad is as important as figuring out when and where to go. All courses taken on the University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) are guaranteed UC credit, but understanding how each class may fit into your academic plan is a critical part of the planning process.

UCEAP Database of Courses Previously Taken

How to Find Courses for UCEAP

One of the challenges with academic planning and completing the Academic Planning Form is finding courses. While there is never any certainty with course offerings and study abroad always requires a little calculated academic risk, there are some techniques to minimize the risk and exploit unique educational opportunities through study abroad.

Courses & Credit Tab

For nearly every UCEAP program page, there will be a tab labeled “Courses & Credit.” Within this tab you will find information and links in the “Course Opportunities” area. The course resources are listed in order of relevance. Depending on the program, you might find any of the following resources:

  1. Course syllabi
  2. Links to academic majors or programs with courses
  3. A bulleted list of courses

UCEAP Course Catalog

All UCEAP coursework taken in the last five (5) years is listed in the UCEAP Course Catalog. There are a few things you should consider when using the UCEAP Course Catalog:

  1. The list of courses is not comprehensive.
  2. Course units are listed in quarter units (to convert to semester units, divide by 1.5).
  3. Syllabi are not included.
  4. You may need to search less intuitive subject areas to find coursework (e.g. health sciences for public health, "engineering" for bioengineering, business for management and business economics).

Check Previously Approved Courses

There are a few resources available showing coursework previously approved for study abroad online. The resources are limited but they do represent some of the more recent course approvals:

A Note on Course Syllabi

Your academic advisor or school may insist that you need syllabi in order to determine whether a course abroad will substitute a particular degree requirement. While this is generally true, this does not prevent you from planning out your academic schedule abroad and determining what type of degree requirements a course may fulfill.

Sometimes your study abroad advisor or UCEAP can acquire a syllabus on your behalf; however, this is not always the case. Please understand that syllabi are often considered intellectual property and may not be shared until the course begins. Previously approved courses (see above) are often your first go-to resource to select courses.