by Julia Gardner
Are you a STEM major interested in studying abroad, but worried about being able to complete your requirements? Not sure where to start with figuring out how study abroad fits into your academic plans?
The Office of Study Abroad believes that studying abroad can be a key part of every single Wesleyan student’s academic experience, regardless of major. Studying abroad in the sciences or mathematics can expose you to unique research opportunities that complement your academics at Wesleyan– in addition to all of the other benefits that immersive intercultural learning has to offer. Getting a glimpse into how other education systems in other countries conceptualize of STEM subjects enriches a well-rounded understanding of what you learn in Wesleyan classes throughout the rest of your experience in the U.S.
A good place to start is reviewing the information on your major’s website and scheduling a meeting with your advisor. The Office of Study Abroad has compiled a helpful list with initial guidelines for any major at Wesleyan, which can be accessed here. Nearly every single major under the NSM division gives credit for courses taken abroad; please note that although the Psychology major does not give credit for courses taken abroad, it is completely doable to study abroad as Psychology major with a bit of pre-planning! Once you’ve gotten an idea of what credits can transfer for your specific major, we recommend speaking to your academic advisor for more detailed input based on which classes you have already taken and which requirements remain.
A few departments provide specific program recommendations. For E&ES majors, for example, study abroad is a great way to complement in-class learning with hands-on study in different environments. The department has a list, linked here, of pre-approved programs frequented by E&ES students; however, if you’re interested in a country that’s not on the list, you can find a variety of other programs on ViaTRM for discussion with your advisor. The Physics Department also has a webpage dedicated to recommended study abroad programs.
Although many of our pre-approved programs offer great STEM opportunities, there are a few other programs that have STEM as a specific focus in addition to the ones linked above. Wesleyan’s pre-approved programs in Budapest provide great opportunities to study computer science or mathematics. Other programs with strong sciences include DIS, which has programs in Sweden and Denmark, as well as direct enrolment programs in large universities.
If you and your advisor determine that a semester abroad isn’t compatible with your current plan of study, an international experience is certainly not out of the question. Many program providers offer winter and summer study abroad programs, for which you can earn Wesleyan credit! Some of these programs offer STEM focuses, while others provide opportunities to explore other interests without worrying about disrupting your completion of requirements. More information about Wesleyan’s approach to summer and winter study abroad programs can be found here.
If you have more questions, feel free to reach out to the Office of Study Abroad in addition to your academic advisor. We are dedicated to making sure every interested student has an abroad experience that fits into their academic plans at Wesleyan, and are here to connect you to any resource that may be helpful.