CED Study Abroad Programs
Several College of Education faculty regularly host study abroad opportunities, which are open to students in the CED and may be open to students from other colleges. These programs are generally offered during university breaks, such as winter or summer sessions. Please contact the relevant faculty member for further information on the programs they offer. Additionally, the Center for International Education provides a full listing of faculty-led programs from across the university, many of which are open to undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students from any college.
College of Education Graduate/Post-Baccalaureate Programs Abroad
Alex Morales — Cambodian Culture, Education, and Diaspora
This class provides an examination and analysis of history and conditions leading to the diaspora of Cambodians during the Khmer Rouge Regime and to the resettlement of many in California, including social and psychological effects for individuals and families. Examination of current educational issues in Cambodia and local Cambodian communities in the U.S. are also part of the class. The class also provides students the opportunity to become involved in project-based learning activities for impoverished children, students, and their families in Cambodia. These activities take place in collaboration with Hearts Without Boundaries and Rescue Task Force, two U.S. non-profit organizations that provide heart surgery, dental services, and educational support.
Shuhua An — Study Abroad: Math Education Graduate Program
This class analyzes current major issues in international mathematics education and identifies the universal and culturally-defined factors that impact effective mathematics teaching in different cultural and educational systems. Students have the opportunity to visit local schools and observe math lessons at different grade levels in China. They also develop and teach standards-based mathematics lessons in English in Chinese math classrooms, which leads to a math lesson study activity with Chinese colleagues. From comparing, contrasting, and evaluating Chinese mathematics lessons and their peers’ teaching, students examine the elements of effective mathematics instruction in different cultural and educational systems. By interacting with classroom teachers, interviewing international scholars, and attending an international conference in China, students identify effective strategies that promote teaching and learning with an understanding of the global context and reflect on their own teaching practices in the U.S.
Stephen Adams — ETEC 525: Digital Culture and Society
This course offers a special summer version of ETEC 525 Digital Culture and Society with study abroad in Costa Rica. The course begins at CSULB, with students learning about social implications of information technologies and getting ready by preparing presentations. The class then flies to San Jose, Costa Rica, staying at the nearby city of Heredia. The class meets with students at a Costa Rican university, giving their presentations in English and, in small groups, discussing perspectives about the issues raised. The class also visits K-12 schools in Costa Rica to learn about their educational practices and uses of technology. The travel is also timed to coincide with activities at the collaborating university, such as an educational conference. The study abroad experience includes an excursion to surrounding areas, and is open to graduate students and educators.
Bita Ghafoori — COUN 680: Advanced Treatment Seminar, Study Abroad Course in the U.S. and Greece
This elective course provides training on current evidence-based treatment for individuals and families contending with depression and anxiety disorders, including stress and loss, in adults and children. Actual materials that can be used for treatment will be provided along with opportunities to practice interventions and techniques in class. The overall intent is to “fill in the gaps” in students’ knowledge about how to design and implement a course of therapy for common psychological presentations. While in Greece, students have the opportunity to dialogue with Greek students who are obtaining a M.S. in Psychology, attend a psychodrama of a Greek family therapy by a Greek professor with a specialty in family therapy, discuss Socratic questioning in Delphi (where Socrates and Plato engaged in Socratic dialogue), and visit historic and cultural sites such as Temple of Zeus, Acropolis, Balos Lagoon, Castle of Rethymno, and Chania.
College of Education Undergraduate Programs Abroad
Opportunities for Summer Terms
L/ST 471 "History Capstone"
Ireland: Summer 2024 Dates Coming Soon
Meets Core Requirement Area IV / Group 6 (History Capstone) for Liberal Studies Majors.
L/ST 471 is a three-unit course designed to provide pre-service teachers with a more intensive understanding of the content and disciplinary skills of history and the social sciences pursuant to the K-8 curriculum in History/Social Science in California. Assessment and inquiry will focus upon student literacy in the social sciences, integrating geographical perspectives with historical analysis, and facilitating student depth of knowledge and global perspective in understanding contemporary California, and Early American and Pre-Modern World history.
Attend a Virtual Information Session to learn more:
- Wednesday, October 18 7:00 PM
- Thursday, October 26 at 12:00 PM
- Tuesday, November 7 at 4:00 PM
- Friday, November 17 at 1:30 PM
NO RSVP Required. Zoom ID: 815 0574 5667
Included as part of the experience:
- Welcome dinner
- Guided Dublin History Tour, Abbey Theatre tickets, Guinness Factory, Dingle Peninsula, Galway, Salt Hill, Belfast Tour, Cliff of Moher, Killaloe / Lough Derg Lake Cruise, Inch Beach, St. Mary's Cathedral, National History Museum Dublin, Literary Pub Crawl
- Also arranged: Blarney Castle, Bunratty Castle, Rock of Cashel, Jameson Factory, Galway Walking Tour, King John's Castle
- A guided coach and walking tour of Belfast, Titanic Museum
- Farewell dinner
For official details for this study abroad opportunity/course, refer to the affiliated L/ST 471 Summer Study Abroad Webpage.
For further information and/or to express interest, contact Professor Hollie Schillig at Hollie.Schillig@csulb.edu.
L/ST 404 "Arts and Values"
London/Brighton, UK: Summer 2024 Dates Coming Soon1
Meets Core Requirement Area V / Group 5 (Arts Capstone) for Liberal Studies Majors.
Liberal Studies 404 aims to build a foundation for exploring the value of the arts, especially related to their application within schools and communities.
This course is designed to produce a deeper awareness of concepts and practices that are basic to understanding the arts, their forms, and their relationships to societies and issues. The course will explore the effects of religion, Enlightenment philosophy, modernism, and multiculturalism on the arts. Methodology in arts education will be developed through a variety of teaching strategies that may be applied to all levels of education.
Included as part of the experience:
- Cultural Activities and Excursions (Brighton)
- Welcome dinner
- A ticket to a theater production.
- A guided ghost walk of Brighton.
- Local transportation to the village of Rottingdean for a one day excursion.
- Cultural Activities and Excursions (London)
- Tickets to 4 theater productions in London’s West End.
- Entrance to the Tower of London, with audio guides included.
- A guided tour of Shakespeare’s Globe theater.
- Entrance to the Tate Modern for a self guided tour.
- Entrance to the Victoria and Albert Museum for a self guided tour.
- A guided walking tour of Shakespeare and Dickens’ London.
- A guided walking tour of Camden.
- Farewell dinner.
For official details for this study abroad opportunity/course, refer to the affiliated L/ST 404 Summer Study Abroad Webpage.
For further information and/or to express interest, contact Professor Victoria Bryan at Victoria.Bryan@csulb.edu.
The Semester-Abroad Experience
Liberal Studies students who want to take a full load of classes (four or five traditionally) during the Spring or Fall term(s) essentially "build their own journey." Students are encouraged to do their own research on opportunities and places abroad beforehand, and afterward will meet with an Advisor to discuss possible major course substitutions and credits, sign contracts, and then continue to meet with the Study Abroad office to finalize documentation and payments.
We recommend students to start on the CSULB Study Abroad Website. The Study Abroad / International Studies Office provides information sessions, searchable databases with options around the world, and scheduling options with a Study Abroad Advisor.
Here are some recommended and historically-popular Study Abroad Semester sites to discuss with a Study Abroad Advisor for our Liberal Studies students, based on the breadth of course offerings that align with program requirements:
- Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
- Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- CSULB London Semester
- Dankook University, Seoul, South Korea
- Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
- Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
- John Cabot University, Rome, Italy
- Mary Immaculate, Limerick, Ireland
- University of Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
We recommend that students explore the website for possible places and/or institutions of interest around the world. And touch base with a Study Abroad Advisor, either through information sessions and follow-up Q&A and/or scheduling a meeting through your Single-Sign-On under 'Beach Connect'. The Study Abroad Advisors will review eligibility, application documents and processes, finances and deadlines, etc..
After meeting with a Study Abroad Advisor and determining a university/courses abroad of interest, the next step is to meet with a Liberal Studies Advisor to discuss substitutions and/or equivalencies. The Liberal Studies curriculum is fairly specific and student's won't generally find "automatic" equivalencies to know what credit they are getting for their classes abroad. It's important and required to meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss which graduation requirements at CSULB will be met with Study Abroad coursework. The Liberal Studies Advisor will also sign with approval on the Study Abroad contract, which will designate which course/major classes are being met abroad.
- Students can refer to the Liberal Studies for directions on how to reach a Liberal Studies Advisor (phone, drop-ins, appointments).
If you let us know which courses and locations of the world you are most interested in, we'll take a look at your academic plan and see what works best in course equivalencies toward graduation.