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Education Major Abroad Guide

Girl in Kayak in Switzerland
CU Boulder Education Abroad offers over 400 programs in over 70 countries! Depending on your major, you can go abroad for a semester, 2-12 weeks in the summer, or even winter break. The School of Education encourages its students to go abroad while staying on track for graduation. Use the following information as a general guideline to plan your time abroad, and connect with your academic advisor as well. Work with Education Abroad advisors to get more details on how to get started, discuss your program options, and next steps. 

Quick Facts

  • The best time for Elementary Education majors to go abroad is the summer between their freshman and sophmore year. 
  • Leadership & Community Engagement students have more flexibility on when they can go abroad, but they still need to work closely with their advisor. 
  • The most common degree requirements taken abroad are Skills Requirements and Content Area Requirements. 
  • Use the Course Approvals List to find programs that offer courses approved for the credit you need.

Planning and When to Go

  • First-year: If you are interested in studying abroad on a semester program, it is important to let your academic advisor know your freshman year. This will allow you and your advisor time to plan accordingly and keep on track toward graduation. You are eligible to study abroad starting the summer after your freshman year. For Elementary Education majors, the best time to study abroad is the summer between freshman and sophomore year. For this reason, it is important to connect with the Education Abroad Office in the fall or early spring of your freshman year. 
  • Sophomore: For Elementary Education students, this is the only time to go abroad on a semester program without delaying graduation. For Leadership & Community Engagement students, sophomore year is also a good time to go abroad on a semester program. The summer between sophomore and junior year is also an option to go abroad. 
  • Junior: For Leadership & Community Engagement students, you may be able to fit a semester of study abroad in during your junior year. Be sure that you understand what courses you will have left upon return to CU Boulder. 
  • Senior: It is unlikely that a semester study abroad will work during your senior year. Work closely with your advisor to ensure that you can get all of your requirements completed. Be sure that you know when the credits may be transcripted, as this can delay your official graduation date.

What Kind of Credit Can You Earn Abroad?

Usually Doable Tricky Probably Not
General Electives  Content Area Requirements Skills Requirements/Content Area Requirements Skills Requirements/Content Area Requirements EDUC
Overall credit hours  Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, World History, & Cultural Geography 
 		 Global Diversity, Physical & Biological Sciences Science (Lab), Written Communication, EDUC3013 Most EDUC Courses
 

Primary Education Abroad Options for EDUC Majors  

  1. Studying at a university abroad with traditional classes that fulfill major requirements. There are several options with classes taught in English.
  2. Participating in a summer program to get 3 to 6 credits done over the summer. 

Suggested Programs

Coming soon!

Additional Resources

Last Updated March 2023