Study Abroad and Rules for Credit

• Up to 12 hours of foreign language study may be taken in a SMU-approved study abroad program and counted toward the language requirement for the major;
• Up to 15 hours in the student's regional specialization may be taken in a SMU-approved study abroad program and counted toward the major;
• Twelve of 15 hours of the Basic Curriculum must be taken on a SMU campus (Main, Taos, Plano);
• Three hours of transfer credit (not a SMU-approved study abroad program) may be counted toward fulfillment of the Basic Curriculum requirement;
• The Senior Seminar (INTL 4388) must be taken on a SMU campus (Main, Taos, Plano);
• The number of hours for the IS major remains at 33 (exclusive of the 12 hours of language study required for the major);
• The number of credit hours in advanced courses remains unchanged.

FOR THE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES MINOR:

• Twelve of 15 hours of the Basic Curriculum must be taken on a SMU campus (Main, Taos, Plano);
• Three hours of transfer credit (not a SMU-approved study abroad program) may be counted toward fulfillment of the Basic Curriculum requirement;
• Up to 6 hours of foreign language study may be taken in a SMU-approved study abroad program and counted toward the language requirement for the minor.

FOR AREA STUDIES MINORS: 

• 6 hours in the International Studies Basic Curriculum;
• Nine hours of advanced coursework in student's area of specialization;
• Two years language requirement; Existing distribution requirements remain unchanged.

CONCERNING SMU-APPROVED STUDY ABROAD:

• Three of 9 hours in the student's regional specialization may be taken in a SMU-approved study abroad program and counted toward the minor;
• Up to 12 hours of foreign language study may be taken in a SMU-approved study abroad program and counted toward the language requirement for any of the Area Studies minor.

For more information on available Study Abroad programs click here.