We encourage every student to take the opportunity to study abroad, and many do. Going abroad is fun and exciting. It is also a great way to develop skills and competencies that will serve you well down the road.
The Honors College is featuring several new study abroad programs this year taught by our core faculty members, who work directly with Global Education Oregon (GEO) to administer the courses. The most up-to-date information about the programs can be found on GEO's website, and questions about the programs should be directed to them. Links and contact info accompany each program description.
Requirements
While students are able to fulfill some CHC requirements in Study Abroad programs, in order to be able to study abroad and graduate on time, most students will need to plan their course schedules carefully. This sample graduation plan shows how you might distribute your requirements across terms and years in order to free up time for study abroad programs, whether CHC's or others.
If you are interested in studying abroad but are concerned about fulfilling all of your course requirements and graduating on time, then the CHC's course substitution process may be able to help. Under the CHC’s study abroad course substitution policy, you can substitute any four-credit (minimum) study abroad course for one elective colloquium without going through the CHC’s petition process! See guidelines and instructions on the Study Abroad Coursework page.
Scholarships
Study abroad scholarships may be available through the Clark Honors College and GEO, the university’s study abroad program operator. For more information, see the following pages.
Clark Honors College in Siena
Explore medieval Siena and modern mindfulness this summer with the Clark Honors College. This four-week program offers a unique blend of historical and contemporary studies led by Professor Kate Mondloch. In 'Art and Identity in Medieval Siena,' you'll explore the visual culture of medieval Siena, examining how art, architecture, and traditions shaped civic pride, religious devotion, and communal identity.
Complementing this historical perspective, 'Mindful Living in the Digital Age' investigates the relationships between mindfulness, technology, and well-being, developing practical strategies for cultivating self-awareness and balance in our hyper-connected world. The program bridges centuries of human experience, allowing you to analyze how medieval Sienese used art to express identity, then apply those insights to navigate our digital landscape.
Environmental Change and Community Development: Senegal and the Gambia
Spend four weeks in West Africa examining environmental issues, their impact on human and nonhuman health, and community actions to combat these issues. Through immersive coursework, collaborative interactions with local communities, and guided excursions, students will engage in lively discussions and experiential projects.
This program will also examine the effects of (un)sustainable development approaches and how community resilience can galvanize innovative strategies to improve environmental health and the socio-ecological well-being of Senegal and The Gambia. The course is led by Dr. Jean Faye, Instructor of Natural Sciences in the CHC, an interdisciplinary scholar whose research focuses on climate change, environmental health, and development in West Africa.
CHC in Senegal and the Gambia Program
Turkey: The Crossroads of Civilization
This 29 day program in Turkey provides a unique learning experience for students to explore the complex depth and history of Turkey. Students will examine the creation of modern Turkey, from the fall of the Ottoman Empire to the birth of the contemporary nation. This overview of the economic, social and political history will illuminate the development and challenges to its democratic institutions.
There is also the extensive archaeological legacy that is still visible in the landscape of Turkey from Ottoman Empire era mosques to inspiring palaces to ancient ruins steeped in legends, to the famous covered bazaars, textiles, and ceramics, as well as cultural performances of dance, poetry, and culinary adventures.
Environmental Design in Oxford
The Leader in You is an active, innovative global learning course about leadership and its interdisciplinary creativity. This course builds on the University of Oregon’s mission to foster the next generation of informed transformational leaders and active participants in the global community. Topics include the actual and intellectual study abroad journeys of Exemplars such as architects and artists, authors and scientists, technologists and legislators, performers and others whose own study abroad influenced how they developed new, revolutionary ways to conceive, express, and live in their world.
The focus is on the people who created these environments and how those environments impacted their lives and inspired others culturally, politically, or through design.Come and embark on a three-week exploration of Oxford that combines classroom lectures, discussions, and site visits to museums and gardens, rivers and theatres, and more. In this program, you will get to engage in Oxford’s vibrant cultural and educational world, both past and present. The course is led by Barbara Mossberg ("Dr. B"), CHC Professor of Practice and recipient of the national award Outstanding Program of Faculty-Led Study Abroad for her work on "The Genius of Study Abroad" on which this program builds.
Singapore Exchange Program
Clark Honors College students can enroll directly in classes at National University of Singapore, the top university in Asia. All classes are taught in English and the university offers top-notch coursework in many majors in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
The university, with a total population of 35,000, welcomes nearly 4,000 international students every year from 60 countries. Singapore sits at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and is at the center of Southeast Asia. A multicultural and multilingual society, Singapore is an ideal entry point into Asia for students without previous experience in the region. CHC students are guaranteed housing in the residential Cinnamon College.
Two to four Clark Honors College students may receive spots in the program. As a CHC student, you will enroll in classes in your major, as well as in the university’s honors college, NUS College (NUSC). You will be able to take interdisciplinary courses similar to those offered at the CHC. NUSC offers interdisciplinary classes (called “modules”) on a wide range of topics such as transitional justice and war crimes, ethics and the environment, cyberart, and more. Under the National University of Singapore exchange program, you will earn around 18-24 UO credits per semester. Make sure to speak to your GEO study abroad advisor and CHC advisor for more information.
CHC students who participate in the Honors Exchange will enroll in two courses per semester in the NUS College, and you will take the rest of your classes from the various other faculties and schools at NUS. This will allow you to earn credit toward both your honors college requirements and your major or minor requirements. Consult academic departments and GEO for substitution of other NUS classes for major and/or minor requirements. Depending upon their specific situations, CHC students may substitute up to two Making Connections modules for two CHC colloquia classes per semester. Please speak with your GEO study abroad advisor and CHC advisor for more information.
Please note: Exchange programs pose unique challenges and they may not be a good fit for every student’s academic situation. For instance:
- Students are not guaranteed to be registered for the classes of their choice at their host university, and they will likely not find out which courses they’ve been registered for until after non-refundable program fees have been paid.
- Up-to-date syllabi for exchange courses are also not always available before the study abroad experience, which can pose significant challenges for students who are requesting specific course substitutions from their home academic departments ahead of travel.
- CHC colloquium substitutions must, if exceeding the two elective colloquium requirements, align with the disciplinary areas (Arts & Letters, Social Science, Science) for which the course substitutions are requested.
For these reasons, students in high-credit majors with tightly sequenced course requirements (such as STEM majors) will likely find exchange programs to be particularly challenging. Exchange programs work best for students whose majors/situations allow for maximum flexibility with regards to the substitutions that can be made from their study abroad coursework.
National University of Singapore Exchange
GlobalWorks Internship Opportunities
Looking for a chance to participate in a career-shaping opportunity overseas as a Clark Honors College student? GlobalWorks offers full-time internship experiences in variety of fields.
The staff at GlobalWorks works closely with local professional internship providers across the globe and makes individual placements at organizations, companies, and businesses overseas for Honors College students. You’ll earn academic credit while attaining work experience that will prepare you for a career after graduation.