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International Studies
Study Abroad, Italy (SAI)
Florence, Italy (spring semester): students study in Florence at the Florence University of the Arts (FUA)
while living in apartment-style housing. The university is located in the city’s historic center, where
students are surrounded by beautiful Renaissance art and architecture. With a population of 500,000,
Florence offers all the excitement and amenities of a large city while its proximity to the Tuscan hills
allows for trips to the Italian countryside. At the university students are able to take up to 15 credits,
choosing from a wide selection of courses in the liberal arts, science, and business and economics. All
students are required to enroll in Italian language courses as part of their program.
Montpellier, France – The University of Minnesota
Fall, spring, or summer semesters: students live and study in Montpellier, one of France’s fastest
growing cities and an emerging cultural and educational center. Within easy reach of mountains and
the Mediterranean, and home to 100,000 university students, Montpellier is a young, vibrant city
with a centuries-old history of intellectual advances and social tolerance. It is the ideal place for an
introduction to French language and culture. Participation requires proficiency in French and must be
approved by the chair of the modern/classical languages department.
Universidad La Salle of Mexico City
Founded in 1962, Universidad La Salle is among Mexico’s most innovative private universities, noted
for the facilities offered on campus, the personal attention given to students, its traditional values and
community spirit. Mexico City is the largest city in the world with a population of approximately 24
million and at one time was the center of the Aztec-Empire. Situated 7,000 feet above sea level in a
valley surrounded by mountains and the snow-capped Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl volcanoes, it
is a city that combines elements of its pre-Columbian ancestry, with its Spanish, colonial roots, and a
modernism expressing itself through concrete, steel and glass.
Academic Exchange Program (fall or spring semester): students participate in regular courses offered by
Universidad La Salle. All classes are taught in Spanish. Students live with host families.
Spanish for Foreigners (summer): every summer, a special intensive Spanish language and culture
program is offered at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Courses include Spanish, Mexican
history and culture. The program incorporates field trips to places such as the Pyramids at Teotihuacan,
the colonial city of Puebla, and Cuernavaca. Participation must be approved by the chair of the
modern/classical languages department and requires at least two semesters of Spanish and adequate
proficiency in Spanish. Students live with host families.
Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA)
HECUA is an organization of 20 liberal arts colleges, universities and associations dedicated to education
for social justice. It provides off-campus study programs that address the most pressing issues in our
neighborhoods, nations, and world. Overseas study opportunities are available in Northern Ireland,
Ecuador, Norway and Poland. Students, faculty and practitioners engage in learning that generates
knowledge and tools for social transformation and community building.
Oslo, Norway—Scandinavian Urban Studies Term
Fall Semester: Students gain a deep understanding of contemporary Scandinavia. Three interrelated
seminars give students an understanding of how the welfare state works in the context of a social
democracy facing challenges posed by immigration. The relationship between Scandinavian countries, the
emerging democracies of Eastern Europe, the European Union and broader global politics are explored.
Quito, Ecuador—Community Internships in Latin America
Fall or Spring Semester: Models of community participation, organization, development and social
change are compared and contrasted. The fall program offers a seminar focused on social movements;
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