The best time for JMC majors to study abroad is during junior year, either for a semester or during the summer before or after junior year. Winter programs are also viable options, especially for double majors who do not have time to study abroad during the academic year. Your academic advisor can help design a Sample Plan on MyUI to determine when study abroad works best for you. More information about fulfilling academic requirements abroad as a JMC major is available on the Academics tab of this MAP.

If you are interested in taking General Education courses or fulfilling the World Languages requirement, you could study abroad as early as the summer following your first year on campus. Most study abroad locations offer coursework that will count toward your general education requirements.

There are many opportunities for SJMC students to fulfill academic requirements abroad. Before you enroll in courses abroad, be sure to consult with a departmental advisor in SJMC 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 to their second major, as there are likely study abroad options relevant to both majors.

General Education Courses

The World Languages requirement, in particular, lends itself to study abroad. Most study abroad locations offer coursework that will count toward your general education requirements. For more information, check out our General Education Program MAP.

Major Requirements

It’s important to consult with your academic advisor to make sure that you can remain on track for completing your degree in a timely fashion. Ideally, you should plan to complete Reporting & Writing, Multimedia Storytelling, and Visual Communication & Design prior to going abroad.

SJMC advisors recommend that the required Level 1 Introduction and Level 2 Foundation courses be taken at the University of Iowa. In particular, the foundational course "Freedom of Expression" and any other courses relating to U.S. media law must be taken at the UI.

Keep in mind you can only apply 9 s.h. of transfer credit toward the JMC major. However, some study abroad programs offer UI resident credit that will not count toward the 9 s.h. limit.

Minor Courses

Students who plan to pursue either the Media Management or the News & Media Literacy minors may be able to receive minor credit abroad. Seek approval from the instructor who teaches the UI equivalent of the course you want to enroll in overseas and consult with your departmental advisor for guidance on what courses abroad could be applied to the minor.

SJMC allows you to use up to 3 s.h. toward either minor. This limitation does not apply to study abroad programs that grant resident credit.

Internships

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

Journalism students interested in completing an internship abroad should consult with the Internship Coordinator in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

General Electives

Study abroad can be a great opportunity to explore new disciplines. While you will not receive credit toward your major for general electives taken abroad, it’s possible to receive credit toward graduation. Talk to an advisor in the Study Abroad office for information about earning credit for general electives completed overseas.

SCRIPT requirement

Beginning in Fall 2025, all new journalism and mass communication majors are required to complete one SCRIPT experiential learning course prior to graduation. Students can participate in study abroad or an internship abroad program to meet this SCRIPT experiential learning course requirement. 

Global Internships 

Students can work with our Assistant Director of International Internships to find an internship tailored to their career objectives. Our office has a variety of full-time summer internships (eight weeks) with guaranteed placements all over the world.  Information about scholarships can be found on the Global Internship Funding page. 

Funding your trip abroad

Various scholarships are available for UI students planning to study abroad. Information about these scholarships is available on the scholarships webpage. Additionally, SJMC students may be eligible for funding offered through the school. More information can be found at the SJMC scholarships webpage. All students are strongly encouraged to consult with a departmental advisor and a Study Abroad advisor about financing their study abroad experience.

Faculty in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication believe the most important thing for SJMC majors to do abroad is observe how journalism is practiced in different cultures. Many of the study abroad programs listed below are in locations where journalism is practiced differently than in the United States. (You are especially encouraged to consider programs located in Asia and Latin America; your Study Abroad advisor can help you identify appropriate programs in these regions that may not be listed below.)  

You can start your search with the recommended programs below, but feel free to browse our program database for other possibilities. The specific programs recommended below may change, so check with your major advisor and Study Abroad for the latest updates.

All students who study abroad must be in good academic and disciplinary standing. Each program listed has coursework taught in English unless otherwise stated. In addition, each program has specific eligibility requirements that may include GPA, prerequisites, and/or class standing. For more information about the program, click on program title.

Asia

South Korea

WorldStrides South Korea: Korea University
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Calendar Year, Summer

WorldStrides facilitates direct enrollment for students at Korea University (KU). Students enroll in classes offered by KU’s School of Media & Communication. Courses include Mass Media and Popular Culture in Korea, Understanding Journalism, Media Technologies and Culture, and Writing in Journalism. Course offerings vary by semester.

Latin America

Chile

USAC Studies in Chile
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Summer

This program in Santiago, Chile, offers academic coursework related to Spanish language and literature, and journalism.  Students take a Spanish language course (Fall/Spring) and are able to select from a variety of other courses. English-taught courses include Introduction to Communication and Media Studies, International and Cross-Cultural Reporting, and Crime and the Media. Students with higher Spanish proficiency may have access to additional courses taught in Spanish including Writing for Strategic Communications. 

Europe

Czech Republic

CEA CAPA Prague: Study in Prague with CEA CAPA and AAU
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

Through this program students take classes in English at Anglo American University (AAU), located in the heart of Prague across the river from the historic Old Town district. Students take one core course and then choose three or four electives. Courses include Media in a Democracy, Travel Writing, Video Journalism, Cultural Journalism, and Digital Tools for New Media.

France

CIEE Paris Open Campus
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Summer

The Paris Open Campus program features a Communications, Journalism, and New Media Track, in which courses are offered on a block schedule (two courses per six-week block). UI students participate in two blocks for 12 semester hours or all three blocks for 18 semester hours. Courses include International Journalism; Media, Gender and Identity; and Photojournalism.

Germany

CIEE Berlin Open Campus
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

Students take courses in Communications, Journalism and New Media in English while studying in Berlin. Courses are offered on a block schedule (two courses per six-week block), and students participate in two blocks for 12 semester hours or three blocks for 18 semester hours. Courses for Journalism & Mass Communication students include Radio Production and Digital Storytelling in Berlin; Music, Media and Public Spheres; International Journalism; Mass Media in Europe; and Photojournalism. 

Italy

Wells in Florence: Lorenzo De' Medici 
Fall, Spring

Wells in Florence facilitates enrollment for students at Lorenzo de' Medici. As a part of the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, students take courses offered by the Communications department. Courses include New Media: Communication in the Digital Age; Food Writing; Media Ethics in the Techno Age; War and Media; and Global Media Strategies.  

Spain

CIEE Seville Communications, New Media & Journalism
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

Designed for students who have completed Intermediate Spanish II or higher, the CIEE Seville Communications, New Media & Journalism program allows participants to deepen their knowledge of communications and reporting while increasing their proficiency in Spanish. After completing a two-week intensive Spanish language course, students participate in core workshops (Magazine Reporting and Writing and/or Digital Video Reporting in Context) and enroll in related electives, including Digital and Visual Culture in Contemporary Spain; Social Justice, Action, and Media: Stories that Matter; and Photojournalism. All courses are taught in Spanish.

United Kingdom

University of Strathclyde Exchange
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

Through this program, UI students enroll directly in the University of Strathclyde’s Journalism, Media, and Communication program. Students on this program live and study with their Scottish peers and are fully immersed in the local culture. Courses include Media and Health, News Reporting and Writing, Working for and with the Scottish Media, and Gender Issues and the Media.

University of Kent Exchange
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

Through this exchange program, UI students enroll directly at the University of Kent, living and studying with their British peers. The University of Kent’s strong Journalism, Media, and Communication departments and their robust selection of course offerings make studying at Kent a great option for making progress toward a journalism degree. Courses include British Public Affairs, Sports Journalism, Propaganda-Media, Manipulation and Persuasion, and Reporting Conflict.

Iowa Regents in Wales: Swansea University
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

This program allows Iowa students to enroll at Swansea University. On arrival, Iowa students enroll in a three-week orientation course that familiarizes them with the history and culture of the UK through a dedicated program specifically designed for study abroad students. From there, journalism students take courses with their local peers in Swansea’s highly rated Media department or pursue other degree requirements through Swansea’s diverse selection of course options. Courses include Misinformation, Fake News, and Fact-Checking; Social Media Cultures; Adaptation: Storytelling Across Media; and Theorising the Media. 

Oceania

New Zealand

WorldStrides New Zealand: Victoria University of Wellington
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Calendar Year

The city of Wellington is an artsy college town that doubles as the capital of New Zealand. Students studying at Victoria University can choose courses from both the Communications and the Communication Design programs. Courses include Literature and Journalism; Forms of Creative Communication: The Essay at Large; Literature in a Digital Age; Visual Narratives; and Narrative Design.