Study Abroad/Away Instructions for H&SS Faculty
Faculty Proposal Submissions Due: August 28, 2023 at noon
- Winter Session 2025 (3 programs, any location)
- Spring or Fall Break (contact Associate Dean before proposing)
- Summer 2025 (2 programs, any location excluding Spain, Germany, or Ghana—proposals for non-European and non-African locations will get preference)
Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty-Led Study Abroad and Away Programs
Every year, the College sponsors Study Abroad and Study Away Programs during the Winter, Spring and Summer sessions. During these programs, a faculty member teaches 1-3 courses of their choosing (ideally GE courses) at a domestic or international location to a group of CSUF students. These programs incorporate coursework and experiential activities to help students to immerse themselves in the culture of the chosen country.
Faculty may also propose teaching a one-week spring break program related to a spring course after consulting with Associate Dean.
Faculty are encouraged to apply to lead programs for two consecutive years. If faculty members are unable to commit to a second year, they are welcome to withdraw by Dean’s approval.
Application Process And Criteria for the Inaugural African American Resource Center (AARC)
Application Process and Criteria for AARC-HSS Program
In Summer 2024 HSS and the AARC will launch a joint Study Abroad Program. Our goal is to design and run a program that increases Black student participation in Study Abroad. The AARC-HSS Study Abroad Program should be designed around a question or theme that will guide students to deepen their understanding of black identities, creative expressions, histories, and/or cultures through an international experience. Example questions are: “What does it mean to be Black and abroad?” “How does global citizenship look from Black perspectives?” “How do people in different countries experience being Black?” “How does the Black identity differ or not from an African American Identity abroad?”
Your application for the AARC-HSS Program must include the following: Letter of interest, CV, a detailed syllabus for one of the courses proposed for your program, and a brief letter of support from your chair or coordinator.
In your letter of interest, please provide:
- An overview of the program and how the coursework and excursions in the country will deepen students’ understanding of black identities, creative expressions, histories, and/or cultures through an international experience
- Two examples of programs or workshops you would host in collaboration AARC in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 to promote and prepare students for their abroad experience
- A description of past study, research, or travel abroad experience that you believe prepares you to lead this study abroad program
- A description of your experience working with students outside the classroom and/or in serving as an advisor and mentor to students
Applications will be evaluated by a committee comprising: the Chair of the HSS Student Abroad Committee, the Associate Dean of HSS, the HSS Experiential Learning Specialist, the Assistant Director of Diversity Education and Campus Partnerships within DIRC, a student representative from the AARC who is an HSS student, and an alumni representative from the AARC who was also an HSS student.
Criteria for selection include:
- the extent to which your proposed program will deepen students’ understanding of black identities, creative expressions, histories, and/or cultures through an international experience
- expressed commitment to work collaboratively with AARC and HSS to promote the program and prepare students for an abroad experience
- demonstrated commitment to mentoring students
Application Process and Criteria
Your application must include the following: Letter of interest, CV, a detailed syllabus for one of the courses proposed for your program, and a brief letter of support from your chair or coordinator that addresses how leading the proposed program will contribute to your professional development.
In your letter of interest, please provide:
- An overview of the program, including the courses you propose to teach and your
target student audience (spring 2 courses / summer 1-2 courses / spring break 1 unit, 1 week course) - An explanation of how you would adapt your chosen courses for the location of your program
- An explanation of how your program would provide students with significant opportunities for the development of global awareness, social justice, community or civic engagement, service learning, or undergraduate research
- A description of past study, research, or travel abroad that you believe prepares you to lead a study abroad program
- A description of your experience working with students outside the classroom and/or in serving as an advisor and mentor to students
- An overview of how the study abroad experience would contribute to your scholarship, pedagogy, and/or professional development
Criteria for selection include:
- the extent to which the study abroad location contributes to course objectives
- the quality and feasibility of the proposal
- the degree to which the program fosters global awareness, social justice, community/civic engagement, service-learning, or undergraduate researc
- impact on faculty professional development
Proposals will be reviewed by the H&SS Study Abroad Committee. In the event that a proposal is submitted by a member of the committee, that individual will recuse him/herself from committee deliberations for the specific program for which they applied. Faculty who plan to propose a program should try to avoid serving on the committee. The committee will schedule interviews with applicants and advise the Dean on the relative merits of the proposals. Final decisions will be made by the Dean.
Note that all H&SS Study Abroad programs undergo annual review and are subject to change, including cancellation.
General Timeline
Spring Program (London)
-
August
- Submit program proposal for a program to start in about 17 months
-
September
- Program proposal decsisions
- Attend mandatory IRA funding orientation
-
October
- Submit IRA funding application
- Other fudning options such as CICE
-
February
- Attend program development orientation meeting w/Associate Dean and Study Abroad Specialist
-
March - April
- Program development with Assoicate Dean and Study Abroad Specialist
-
May - October
- Student outreach and marketing with Associate Dean and Study Abroad Specialist
-
November
- Attend program student predarture meeting
-
January
- Program Begins!
Summer Program
-
August
- Submit program proposal for a program to start in about 22 months.
-
September
- Attend mandatory IRA funding orientation
-
October
- Submit IRA funding application
- Other fudning options such as CICE
-
April
- Attend program development orientation meeting w/ Associate Dean and Study abroad Specialist
-
May - July
- Program development with Assoicate Dean and Study Abroad Specialist
-
September - March
- Student outreach and marketing with Associate Dean and Study Abroad Specialist
-
May
- Attend program student predarture meeting
-
June
- Program Begins!
Upcoming H&SS Faculty-Led Program Information
2023 Programs
Dr. Terri Snyder
London, England (spring)
London 2023 Program Information
London 2023 Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
Dr. Karen Stocker
kstocker@fullerton.edu
San Jose, Costa Rica (summer)
Costa Rica 2023 Program Information
Costa Rica 2023 Faculty Proposal
Dr. Cora Granata
cgranata@fullerton.edu
Berlin, Germany (summer)
Germany 2023 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Soon
Dr. Jarret Lovell
jlovell@fullerton.edu
Cape Town, South Africa (summer)
South Africa 2023 Program Information
South Africa 2023 Faculty Proposal
Dr. Kate Burlingham
kburlingham@fullerton.edu
Lisbon, Portugal (summer)
Portugal 2023 Program Information
Portugal 2023 Faculty Proposal
Previous H&SS Faculty-Led Program Information
2022 Programs
Dr. Lucia Alcala
lualcala@fullerton.edu
Yucatan, Mexico (summer)
Mexico 2022 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
Dr. Nicole Seymour
nseymour@fullerton.edu
Vienna, Austria (summer)
Vienna 2022 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
Dr. Elaine Lewinnek
elewinnek@fullerton.edu
Bali, Indonesia (summer)
Bali 2022 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
Dr. Juan Gallego
jgallego@fullerton.edu
Madrid, Spain (summer)
Spain 2022 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
2019 Programs
Dr. April Bullock
abullock@fullerton.edu
London, England (spring)
London 2019 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
Dr. Carrie Lane
clane@fullerton.edu
Copenhagen, Denmark (summer)
Denmark 2019 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
Dr. Cora Granata
cgranata@fullerton.edu
Berlin, Germany (summer)
Berlin 2019 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
Dr. Jarret Lovell
jlovell@fullerton.edu
Cape Town, South Africa (summer)
South Africa 2019 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
2018 Programs
Dr. Karen Stocker
kstocker@fullerton.edu
San Jose, Costa Rica (summer)
Costa Rica 2018 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
Dr. Pamela Fiber
pfiber@fullerton.edu
Rome, Italy (summer)
Rome 2018 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
2017 Programs
Dr. Erin Hollis
ehollis@fullerton.edu
Dublin, Ireland (summer)
Ireland 2017 Program Information
Faculty Proposal Available Upon Request
College Programs Vs. University Programs
CSUF Department Programs (E.G. H&SS Faculty-Led Programs)
One week to full semester programs created and managed directly by CSUF colleges in collaboration with departments and faculty. Participants pay CSUF tuition and fees as well as low program costs, and generally enroll in CSUF courses for added ease of credit toward their degree.
CSU International Programs
Yearlong exchanges offered by the California State University system. Participants pay CSU tuition and program fees and earn resident academic credit while studying at an affiliated host university or study center abroad.
CSUF Reciprocal Exchange Programs
Semester or yearlong exchanges with CSUF partner universities abroad. Participants pay the same tuition and fees they would at CSUF. Credits earned can be approved as major, minor, GE or elective courses.
Applying For Program Funding (e.g. CICE & IRA)
One of the biggest barriers against students who desire to study abroad or study away is money! The average cost to participate in a spring program is approximately $9,000 and $4,000 for a winter and summer program. CSUF tuition, round-trip airfare and daily meals are additional expenses. The student program fee solely covers housing, ground transportation, academic fieldtrips/excursions and 24/7 staff support from study abroad vendors.
To help reduce the program fee per student, it is expected that faculty apply for internal grants such as the Service-Learning Student Travel Grant and a grant provided by Instructionally Related Activities.
Center For Internships & Community Engagement (CICE)
Service-Learning Student Travel Grant
- Support to increase access for students to international service-learning experiences and programming. Disbursement restrictions apply.
- $500 (max 50%) of state allowed travel costs per student
Instructionally Related Activities (IRA)
IRA Grant
- Provides funding for educational experiences and activities directly related to courses offered at CSU, Fullerton.
- Amount cannot exceed $1,500 for international; $750 for out-of-state domestic; $500 for in-state
- To apply for funds, you will be required to complete a virtual orientation in September
CICE and IRA Award Summary for Recent H&SS Programs
2023 London, England Program Fee
| # of students | Original Program Fee | IRA Funding Award $28,949 ($1,500 max per student) |
CICE Fundung Award | New Program Fee per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 students | $8,645.00 | $1,500.00 | 7,145.00 |
2022 Yucatan, Mexico Program Fee
| # of students | Original Program Fee | IRA Funding Award $30,000 ($1,500 max per student) |
CICE Fundung Award $7,500 ($500 max per student) |
New Program Fee per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 students | $3,095.00 | $1,500.00 | $500.00 | 1,095.00 |
2022 Vienna, Austria Program Fee
| # of students | Original Program Fee | IRA Funding Award $20,250 ($1,500 max per student) |
CICE Fundung Award | New Program Fee per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 students | $3,095.00 | $1,350.00 | 1,709.00 |
2022 Bali, Indonesia Program Fee
| # of students | Original Program Fee | IRA Funding Award $22,500 ($1,500 max per student) |
CICE Fundung Award $10,000 ($500 max per student) |
New Program Fee per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 students | $2,500.00 | $1,500.00 | $500.00 | $500.00 |
Common Questions
Do I have to be an expert on the destination to apply?
No. Although specific in-country experience is highly valuable, it is only one of the elements that may help you succeed as a program leader
How should I prepare to submit a proposal for a new location?
Before submitting a proposal, you are encouraged to discuss the feasibility of the proposed program with the HSS Dean’s Office. To make an appointment, contact Jessica Stern at jessicastern@fullerton.edu.
Do you have any examples of successful recent proposals?
Yes! Please contact Jessica Stern for recent proposals or view uploaded proposals under the “Previous Approved Faculty-Led Programs and Proposals” dropdown tab on this webpage.
What logistical support is provided? Do I have to arrange for housing, transportation, etc?
CSUF partners with well-established study abroad providers such as American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) and WorldStrides (WS) to arrange housing, classroom space, in-country transportation, student support, and to identify and develop appropriate community engagement and/or service-learning sites and opportunities. Faculty program leaders will be consulted to ensure that these components of the program meet their needs. The more involved faculty are, the more customized their program will be.
Can I work with a tour company to develop my program?
After your program is chosen you will work with Jaycee Cover to find a provider.
How long are H&SS Study Abroad Programs? How many classes do I teach?
Winter programs vary in duration from 2-3 weeks and usually include 3 units of instruction.
Summer programs vary in duration, from 2.5 weeks to 6 weeks abroad. H&SS-sponsored Summer Study Abroad programs usually include 6 units of instruction (2 courses).
The London program takes place for the entirety of the Spring Semester and includes 6-9 units of instruction (2-3 courses) and supervision of the HSS 350 Life and Culture course and HSS 495 Internship
For all programs, the instructional program may take place entirely abroad or it may include online or in-class instruction at CSUF in addition to an international component. We highly recommend that you have some in-class instruction before you leave on your trip.
What might a Study Abroad course look like?
Study Abroad programs supported by H&SS are intended to provide students from any major the opportunity to engage deeply with questions and issues that draw from our core values: Civic Engagement, Social Justice, and Global Awareness. Because they are intended to be open to all CSUF students, faculty are encouraged to submit proposals built around General Education courses that can draw students from multiple majors within and outside H&SS. These courses should be appropriate for and tailored to the specific location for the program. In their applications, faculty members should clearly explain how their chosen course fits both their knowledge and the location. One course available to all Study Abroad programs is Humanities 350, Life and Culture Abroad. Please do not propose to teach another department’s course unless you have already consulted with that department.
I will be on leave part of next year. Can I still apply?
Because it is very important for program leaders to be available to recruit students, faculty who will be on leave are not eligible to apply.
What are the responsibilities of the faculty?
- Faculty must work with the Dean’s Office to develop the academic and cultural curriculum for their program. H&SS Study Abroad programs partner with well-established study abroad providers, such as American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) and WorldStrides (WS), for logistical support.
- Faculty must vigorously participate in recruiting students for their program. Recruiting includes the Fall and Spring CSUF Study Abroad Fairs, Information Sessions, and classroom visitations. The minimum program enrollment is typically 10 students. The maximum enrollment varies by destination and type of program, but is typically 15-25 students.
- Faculty are expected to apply for internal grants that can help support the program, such as IRA funding and CICE grants.
How are faculty compensated for Study Abroad programs?
All College-sponsored programs provide faculty with airfare and housing, as well as a salary based on the number of courses being taught (typically 2 courses for Summer and 1 course for Winter; London faculty receive their full salary). Housing is suitable for one person but may be upgraded to larger accommodations at the faculty member’s expense.
Can faculty bring family or friends/partners?
Yes! Faculty may bring people with them, but all expenses for companions are the responsibility of them or the faculty member. Liability concerns may preclude family and/or friends from participating in school-related excursions and activities and travelling with the class on chartered vehicles. Neither the program fee that students pay nor the college will provide funding for anyone beyond the faculty member.
