We do not encourage students to study abroad during their first year, but the summer after your first or second year is a great time to study abroad—especially if you are interested in fulfilling your World Languages requirement or other general education requirements abroad. There are some exciting excavation and field experience opportunities, so talk to your faculty advisor and a Study Abroad Advisor for more information.

Sophomore year can be a very good time to study abroad. If you would like to take anthropology classes abroad in your Sophomore year, think about going overseas during the second semester, after you have completed your introductory-level courses.

Junior year is perhaps the best time to go abroad. Look for programs with courses that fit into your academic plan. If you are planning to complete an undergraduate honors thesis, courses taken abroad may serve as inspiration for potential topics.

Studying abroad Senior year can help you finish a research project, gain additional language skills, take classes not offered at the University of Iowa, or even do an internship or field study. Just be sure that you are on track to graduate on time when you return! Your faculty advisor can help you see how study abroad can fit into your academic timeline by customizing a Sample Plan on MyUI.

Before you enroll in courses abroad, be sure to consult with a faculty advisor in the Anthropology Department and a Study Abroad advisor to discuss which of your academic requirements can be taken abroad for credit.

Double majors should be sure to check out the Major Advising Page (MAP) corresponding with their second major, as there are likely study abroad options relevant to both majors.

General Education Courses

Anthropology majors, especially those who are in their first or second year at the UI, are encouraged to fulfill general education requirements abroad. The World Languages requirement, in particular, lends itself to study abroad. Most study abroad locations will offer coursework that will count as part of your general education requirements. For more information, check out our General Education Program MAP.

Major Requirements

Whatever your area of study, there are plenty of opportunities for you to fulfill your B.A. requirements or your B.S. requirements while abroad. Be sure to consult with a faculty advisor before your departure to discuss which overseas courses can apply towards your degree.

The B.A. in Anthropology requires at least 33 semester hours of coursework in anthropology, 15 of which must be earned at The University of Iowa. Students are encouraged to take the introductory anthropology courses at UI. However, advisors are willing to consider study abroad options, so be sure to meet with your advisor for more information. Upper-level courses and electives are great things to take while studying overseas. However, you should have all courses approved before departing for your study abroad program.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the B.A. Anthropology degree, students interested in earning a B.S. can often take their quantitative/formal reasoning, directed laboratory/field research, and allied topical coursework (related minor) courses abroad. Conducting fieldwork abroad is excellent material for an honors or senior thesis, and can be excellent preparation for your future career or for graduate school. Please speak with your departmental academic advisor and Study Abroad advisor before selecting these courses.

Undergraduate Tracks

There are several optional undergraduate tracks which students may use to provide a focus in their plan of study. Required courses for your program as well as any optional track you've chosen can be reviewed by selecting the found on the major page. Students can look for similar courses abroad but be sure to have them reviewed by your departmental academic advisor to be sure they fulfill the requirement.

Honors Courses

You may be able to receive Anthropology Honors credit for courses taken abroad. However, the required Honors Research Seminar is only offered on campus in the Fall, so plan ahead and talk to your major advisor about your options. Keep in mind that if you are pursuing University Honors, it is possible to earn an Honors Commendation for 12 hours of Honors coursework taken abroad. For more information, please refer to the Anthropology Honors page.

Minor Courses

Anthropology minors may be able to receive minor credit abroad. Most departments in CLAS allow up to 3 s.h. of transfer credit towards a minor; check with your major advisor to confirm transfer credit limits. This limitation does not apply to study abroad programs that grant resident credit.

If you wish to earn minor credit from study abroad, you must seek approval from the instructor who teaches the UI equivalent of the course you want to enroll in overseas. Consult your major advisor for more information.

Internships

Consider taking advantage of an internship for credit while abroad. Gaining international work experience is a wonderful way to help ease the transition into post-academic life. More information can be found on our internships page.

Courses

In some countries, anthropology and archaeology are taught very differently than they are here at The University of Iowa. However, rather than preclude study abroad, these differences are a great opportunity to learn new and different approaches to your chosen field of study. For more information about these differences, speak with your major advisor, read about the specific courses by visiting the Programs section of this site, or stop by the Study Abroad office.

Funding your trip abroad

Various scholarships are available for UI students planning to study abroad. Information about these scholarships is available on the Study Abroad scholarships page. All students are strongly encouraged to consult with a major advisor and a Study Abroad Advisor about financing their study abroad experience.

Europe

Greece

American College of Thessaloniki (ACT)
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Summer

This program allows students to direct enroll in an American style university in Greece. ACT offers coursework to help meet General Education Requirements. Students will also have options to take courses related to their major and courses that focus on Greek culture within the disciplines of anthropology, art history, Greek language, and humanities.

Italy

Wells College Florence: Lorenzo di Medici
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

Wells College facilitates enrollment for UI students at Lorenzo di Medici. As part of the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, students can take courses that focus on anthropology, ancient studies, art history, history, philosophy, and religious studies.

IES Rome
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

IES Rome offers students the opportunity to study the Italian language and culture daily. Students can take courses in anthropology, art history, international relations, and religious studies and participate in an internship or service-learning project.

France

CIEE Paris Open Campus
Fall, Spring

Students take courses in English while studying in Paris. Two courses are taken during each six-week block, and UI students participate in all three blocks for 18 semester hours. Courses include Environmental Ethics, Migration and Mobility in a Global World, and Comparative Health Care Systems. Students also have the opportunity to participate in an internship or service-learning project.

United Kingdom

IES London: University College London
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

Through IES London, UI students can study at University College London in its top-rated anthropology and archeology departments. They offer a wide range of courses in sociocultural anthropology, material culture, physical/biological anthropology, and medical anthropology.

University of Kent Exchange
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

The University of Kent’s Anthropology department is ranked among the country’s top 20 anthropology/archaeology departments. Its offerings are particularly strong in the fields of sociocultural and biological anthropology in which they offer a large variety of courses.

Ireland

Iowa Regents Semester in Ireland
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

Through the Iowa Regents partnership with the University College Cork (UCC), UI students can study archeology and anthropology with a unique focus on the cultural heritage of Ireland. UCC offers such courses as Celts, Germans and Scythians – the People of the European Iron Age; Health, Diet and Disease in Early Societies; and Irish Archaeology: Prehistoric, “Celtic” and Historic.

Estonia

ISEP Estonia
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

The University of Tartu was founded in 1632 and is one of the oldest in Northern and Eastern Europe. While known for their research, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities offers a wide variety of courses. Courses include Introduction to Urban Planning, Introduction to Social Stratification, Extreme Right-Wing Movements and Populism, and Estonian in Multilingual Baltic-Sea Europe: Language Contacts and Linguistic Landscapes.

Africa

South Africa

IES Cape Town University of Cape Town
Fall, Spring

Students will enroll in the top-ranked university in South Africa — the University of Cape Town (UCT) — and take courses through IES. Course topics include community health in context, archaeology, gender studies, linguistics, and environmental and geographical science.

SIT South Africa Multiculturalism and Human Rights
Fall, Spring

Learn about multiculturalism in Johannesburg and Cape Town. During this program students study race, racial construction and mobilization, human rights, land dispossessions, and resettlements. Courses include Multiculturalism and Human Rights, Narratives of Identity and Social Change, and Research Methods and Ethics. All students are required to do an Independent Study Project (ISP) or an internship.

Uganda & Rwanda

SIT Peace and Conflict Studies
Summer

This program allows students to understand the root causes of conflict and genocide while examining measures to foster resettlement and reconciliation in Uganda and Rwanda. Learn how to critically assess measures to prevent conflict and mitigate its impact.

North Africa & Middle East

Jordan

SIT Refugees, Health, and Humanitarian Action
Fall, Spring

This is a unique opportunity to view the policies and priorities of UN agencies, international relief organizations, and Jordan’s government. During the program students travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to learn from experts at health and humanitarian agencies like the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, World Health Organization, and Red Cross. Courses include Refugee Health and Humanitarian Action, Arabic Language, and Research Methods and Ethics. All students are required to do an Independent Study Project (ISP) or an internship.

Morocco

SIT Morocco Multiculturalism and Human Rights
Fall, Spring

Explore the present-day characteristics, challenges, and complexities of multiculturalism and human rights in Morocco. Courses include Human Rights and Social Movements in a Multicultural Context, Arabic Language, and Research Methods and Ethics. All students are required to do an Independent Study Project (ISP) or an internship.

Oceania

Australia

Iowa Regents Semester in Australia: University of Tasmania
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Calendar Year

The University of Tasmania offers Aboriginal studies, Asian studies, gender studies, and environmental studies. Course examples include Aboriginal Studies: Reading Anthropology; Indigenous Life Histories, Religion and Gender; and Food, Health, and the Environment.

TEAN: University of New South Wales
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Calendar Year

The University of New South Wales is known for its strengths in Aboriginal studies and environmental studies. Examples of courses that can be taken are Indigenous Australia; Urban Society, History, and Theory; and Environment and Development.

New Zealand

TEAN New Zealand: University of Otago
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Calendar Year

The University of Otago has been teaching anthropology for over 50 years and offers a wide range of courses. Examples of courses include Asian Archeology, Maori Society, Anthropology of Health, and Cultural Politics.

Latin America

Costa Rica

USAC San Ramón Program
Fall, Spring, Calendar Year

San Ramón is an ideal location to study upper level science courses in ecology, biology, and health sciences in small groups with field experience. Courses include Biological Diversity, Global Health, and Global Issues in Environmental Sciences. Students can conduct in independent research, intern, or volunteer in field-related institutions.

Uruguay

USAC Montevideo Program
Fall, Spring

Through this program, students have the unique experience to study and explore the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay and Argentina, including its Spanish, Italian and African cultural influences. One Spanish language course is required. The electives offered in English include such courses as The Global Food Challenge, Latin American Social Revolutions, and Rio de La Plata: People and Culture.