Traditional study abroad is a credit-bearing academic travel experience, although UI Study Abroad may also administer non-credit international travel and virtual engagement courses that support the academic mission of the University of Iowa and contribute to faculty learning goals for students. There are many ways in which UI faculty can contribute to study abroad.
Study Abroad Classroom Visits
Faculty are welcome to request a study abroad classroom presentation, which typically runs 30-60 minutes, depending on the desired topics to be covered. Study Abroad can give general information sessions, provide information specific to a major or field of study, and/or talk about global internships.
Curriculum Integration
Faculty across campus play an important role in curriculum integration and the creation of Major Advising Pages to guide the international pursuits and study abroad program choices of students. Students typically consult departmental academic advisors for assistance completing a "Credit Approval Form," a learning agreement that analyzes credit transfer from study abroad toward major, minor, or certificate program requirements.
Faculty-led Study Abroad Programs
All University units must obtain approval from International Programs prior to organizing or promoting student travel abroad for University purposes. To ensure good practice standards, including safety standards, are met by university programs abroad, it is strongly preferred that student travel abroad programs be administered and organized by International Programs. When this is not the case, University units (including colleges, departments, centers, offices, or other operational units) organizing such travel must comply with minimum requirements set by University of Iowa International Programs for the organization and promotion of student travel abroad. For further details, please refer to the International Travel Policy for Students.
Faculty members develop and lead short-term study abroad programs with support from UI Study Abroad, enriching the curricular offerings for UI students.
The success of a new study abroad program depends on many factors. Some of these include:
- Course content that is relevant and interesting to a critical mass of students
- Courses that fulfill specific UI degree requirements, e.g., a General Education Requirement, or a major, minor, or certificate program requirement
- A course location that reinforces the curricular content and makes the site a learning laboratory
- An energetic, motivated faculty director who can successfully promote the program to students
The Study Abroad office operates study abroad programs on a cost-recovery basis. Every effort is made to keep a program affordable for the broadest possible range of UI students. In general, for a new study abroad program to break even, approximately 15 participants are required. Faculty can expect to have their airfare and housing provided by the course fee. Salary is usually collected from the students as part of the course fee they are assessed, although it is occasionally provided by the provost's office.
Study Abroad staff routinely offer the following assistance: creation and processing of applications, oversight and finalization of the program budget, student billing, disbursal of program funds, guidance and training for program leaders, a general pre-departure orientation for all study abroad students, processing of grades and student program evaluations, compliance and reporting support, safety planning and oversight during crisis response. Additional support or staffing from Study Abroad may be available if prearranged.
To begin the program proposal process:
- Contact the director of study abroad health, safety, and risk management to discuss program development. If the program idea is feasible, you will be asked to submit a proposal (see step 2 below).
Complete the Faculty-led Study Abroad Program Proposal form. The proposal must be submitted online via the webform to be considered.
This worksheet was designed to help you prepare your responses: Download proposal worksheet(.docx)
Proposal Review Schedule
Proposals are reviewed twice a year as follows:
Proposal Submitted by Proposal Reviewed by If approved, earliest time the new program is offered June 1 August 1 The following summer session December 1 February 1 The following winterim session - If your Faculty-led Study Abroad Programs Proposal is approved, the director of study abroad health, safety, and risk management will appoint a program coordinator in Study Abroad to assist with overall program planning, including logistics, partner vetting, contracting, payments, promotion, and pre-departure preparations. Planning a new program usually begins at least a year prior to its first offering.
Reciprocal Exchange Agreements
Most students are not well suited for academic exchanges that require complete academic, cultural, or linguistic immersion. For this reason, proposals for new exchange agreements are considered very selectively. UI students most often enroll in study abroad programs that can facilitate foreign university course access while also providing student support tailored to learners who lack the academic, linguistic, and cultural fluency to thrive independently on a foreign campus.
On rare occasions the needs of UI students can be met through a reciprocal exchange agreement where a student from UI and a student from a foreign university essentially swap places for a set period, most often a semester. If you have an idea for a student exchange agreement with a foreign higher education institution, please contact Autumn Tallman, Director, Study Abroad Health, Safety and Risk Management (autumn-tallman@uiowa.edu) to discuss the feasibility of your idea and steps for formalizing a proposal.
Promotion of Unaffiliated Study Abroad Programs to Students
If you are contacted by an external study abroad provider asking for your help promoting their program to UI students, please refer them to UI Study Abroad for consideration and vetting. All University units must obtain approval from International Programs prior to organizing or promoting student travel abroad for university purposes. Unaffiliated study abroad program providers are expected to direct requests for affiliation and promotion of their programs to UI Study Abroad rather than directly marketing unaffiliated programs to UI academic units, faculty, or students.
2026 USAC Visiting Professor Call for Applications
International Programs’ study abroad partner, USAC, is excited to announce another round of their Visiting Professor (VP) program for Summer 2026.
USAC has expanded this program, now offering 33 Visiting Professor spots. The application deadline is April 4, 2025, and selected applicants will be notified by June 1, 2025.
USAC will award the selected VPs a flat $6,000 stipend. This stipend is compensation for teaching and may go toward related expenses (i.e. flight, housing, meals, etc.). VPs will make and pay for all their own travel and personal arrangements. USAC will assist with finding housing. VPs will pay for their housing. International health insurance coverage via CISI at the same level as our students will be included and paid for by USAC.
There is a minimum requirement of at least five (5) students enrolled before the course (and thus the VP participation) will be confirmed. Faculty selected as VP are required to actively assist in student recruitment on U.S. campuses and beyond. USAC will provide recruitment materials and a workshop on best practices for reaching enrollment. USAC will announce the VP and course availability via regular USAC communication channels. However, it is incumbent upon VPs to work actively with their campus study abroad office to reach this goal.
NOTE: As USAC focuses on rebuilding enrollments, a major consideration will be the degree to which faculty can/will recruit students for the program and demonstration of prior success in recruiting students for similar opportunities.
Should you have questions, please contact USAC at visitingprofessors@usac.edu.
USAC is seeking applicants to teach the following pre-selected courses:
- Bilbao, Spain – Summer Session 1 (June) – International Marketing (BUS/MKTG, 400-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Bilbao, Spain – Summer Session 2 (July) – Operations Management (BUS/MGMT, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Chiang Mai, Thailand – Summer Session 1 (June) – International Management and Organizational Behavior (BUS/MGMT, 400-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Chiang Mai, Thailand – Summer Session 2 (July) – International Business Management (BUS/MGMT, 400-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Heredia, Costa Rica – Summer Session 1 (June) – Foundations for Personal Wellness (CHS, 100- level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Heredia, Costa Rica – Summer Session 2 (July) – Sports Nutrition, Exercise, and Performance (KIN/NUTR, 200-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- La Habana, Cuba – Summer Session (July) – Latin American Social Revolutions (POLI, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Lüneburg, Germany – Summer Session 2 (July) – International Business (BUS, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Lyon, France – Summer Session 1 (June) – French Art and Architecture I: Classical to Beaux Art (ART, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Lyon, France – Summer Session 2 (July) – Francophone Women Writers (FREN/WMST, 400-level, 3 credits, taught in French)
- Madrid, Spain – Summer Session 1 (June) – Mass Media and Political Communication (JOUR, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Madrid, Spain – Summer Session 2 (July) – Gender and Communication (COMM, 400-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Montevideo, Uruguay – Summer Session (June) – Government and Politics in Latin America (POLI, 400-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Pau, France – Summer Session 1 (June) – Sustainability in France (ENV/GEOG/PSC, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Reggio Emilia, Italy – Summer Session 2 (July) – Health and Wellness Communication (HLTH/COMM, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- San Sebastián, Spain – Summer Session 1 (June) – Food and Culture (ANTH/NUTR, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- San Sebastián, Spain – Summer Session 2 (July) – Positive Psychology (PSY, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Torino, Italy – Summer Session 1 (June) – International Strategic Management (BUS/MGMT, 400-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Torino, Italy – Summer Session 2 (July) – International Sports Business (BUS/MGMT, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Verona, Italy – Summer Session 1 (June) – Food and Beverage Tourism (BUS/FAB, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Verona, Italy – Summer Session 2 (July) – Digital Marketing (BUS/MKTG, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Viterbo, Italy – Summer Session 1 (June) – Food and Culture (ANTH/NUTR, 300-level, 3 credits, taught in English)
Open call - USAC welcomes proposals for courses in the following topics (a course blurb or a draft syllabus will need to be submitted):
- Chengdu, China – Summer Session 1 (June) — Intercultural Communication or a related communication/culture/sociology/anthropology topic (COMM/SOC/ANTH, 300-400 level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Chengdu, China – Summer Session 2 (July) – Food and Culture or a related communication/culture/sociology/anthropology topic (COMM/SOC/ANTH, 300-400 level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Chiang Mai, Thailand – Summer Session 1 (June) – comparative/global health systems/ issues/health and wellness (HLTH/SOC, 300-400 level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Lüneburg, Germany – Summer Session 1 (June) — STEM/engineering/tech/biotech with intersection with sustainability/renewable energy (STEM/ENGR, 300-400 level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Prague, Czech Republic – Summer Session 1 (June) – sociology/psychology of sport/activity/exercise/wellness (SOC/PSY/KIN/HLTH, 200-400 level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Prague, Czech Republic – Summer Session 2 (July) – sociology/psychology of sport/activity/exercise/wellness (SOC/PSY/KIN/HLTH, 200-400 level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Santiago, Chile – Summer Session 1 (June) or 2 (July) – criminology/criminal justice (CRIM/HIST/POLI, 300-400 level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Santiago, Chile – Summer Session 1 (June) or 2 (July) – international/cross-cultural journalism/communication (COMM/JOUR, 300-400 level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Shanghai, China – Summer Session 1 (June) — Digital Marketing or a related business/international business topic (BUS/MKTG, 300-400 level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Shanghai, China – Summer Session 2 (July) – Global Economics or a related business/economics topic (ECON/BUS, 300-400 level, 3 credits, taught in English)
- Viterbo, Italy – Summer Session 2 (June) – travel journalism/food and writing (ENG/COMM/JOUR, 200-400 level, 3 credits, taught in English)
We expect the application pool to be large, so the process will be highly selective.
SNAPSHOT DETAILS:
- 33 Visiting Professor (VP) openings available for Summer 2026
- Sites already selected (see above)
- Specific courses and/or topics already selected (see above)
- $6,000 stipend • CISI health insurance included
- 5 student enrollment minimum
- Courses taught in English (unless otherwise noted)
Applicants are required to submit a statement of approval from both their department head/chair and the education abroad office at the institution. A sample template for this statement is found on the application form.
Please click on the following link to access the application and upload required materials.