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Faculty-Led Abroad Courses

TWU has a long standing tradition of faculty incorporating international or domestic academic travel components into their coursework. These are often short-term (1-3 week) experiences which can contribute to course contact hour requirements. Education Abroad manages the approval process for Faculty-Led Abroad Courses, and can provide support in the planning and execution of courses with an with a domestic (out-of-state) or international travel component.

NEW: Click here for the updated Faculty-Led Abroad Resource Site for the most current information regarding Faculty-Led programs.
 

SELECTING A COURSE

Faculty-Led Abroad Courses must be associated with academic credit. Therefore, a good place to begin is considering the focus of your Abroad course. Here are some considerations:
  • Which courses do you already teach?
    • While you may be exploring a Special Topics course, considering what you are already scheduled to teach may be a good place to begin exploring a potential course to embed an abroad experience into.
  • Which courses count toward degree requirements?
    • Remember, many TWU students utilize financial aid. Federal financial aid can only be applied to coursework that meets degree requirements.
  • Which of your courses have a large pool of students to recruit from?
    • Is there an opportunity to partner with another academic area to create an interdisciplinary course?
  • How could you make the material you teach “come to life” while in your host destination?
    • Consider the Student Learning Outcomes for the course. How would an abroad or domestic travel component lend itself to the SLOs?
  • Which colleague might be a good Co-Leader?
    • Faculty-led Abroad Courses require at least two TWU leaders. Who might have expertise specific to your course goals and/or the local destination(s)?

SYLLABUS AND ASSIGNMENTS

When considering course goals both in-and-out of the classroom, it may be worth considering adapting your syllabus to include TWU Education Abroad Student Learning Outcomes:
  • Global Awareness: knowledge related to how environmental, social, cultural, political, and economic systems impact the world
  • Global Perspective: ability to examine links between one’s own life and the diverse lives of others
  • Global Engagement: intentionally participating in intercultural interactions and problem solving

Include assignments and assessments directly related to experiences occurring during the travel component. See Planning Resources for helpful links and tools.

FACULTY FUNDING NEEDS

You will want to have a discussion with your academic component leader to determine what funding might be available, if any, from your department to support your Faculty-led Abroad Course. Depending on the program model you select, some expenses related to faculty travel may be included in the fees paid by the travelers (students and participants). 
TWU Education Abroad has partnerships with several travel organizations and agencies who can offer a range of services - from arranging travel logistics to fully customizing the entire abroad itinerary. The type of program model that works best for each Faculty-led Abroad Course ultimately depends on the goals and connections of faculty leaders. Below are some of the models most frequently utilized by TWU faculty:
 
  • Customized Program: travel organization manages the travel logistics, and fully customizes all of the academic and cultural activities in the host location with significant input from faculty related to course goals and objectives.
 
  • Self-Designed Program: faculty coordinate most, if not all, of the academic activities in the host location; travel organization manage travel logistics, along with cultural activities. 
 
  • Consortium Program: academic activities in host location organized by a consortium of universities; may be traveling alongside faculty and students from the consortium; travel organization manages travel logistics
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  • Platform Program: minimal customization. Faculty plug their course into an already built itinerary managed by a travel organization. Example of Platform Programs.
It is never too soon to begin planning a Faculty-Led Abroad Course. The sooner plans begin, the more time becomes available to recruit students, potentially lowering the price-point and increasing the likelihood the course will meet enrollment requirements. This timeline is highly encouraged.

COMPLIANCE STANDARDS

ACADEMIC FRAMEWORK & COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

  • Coming Soon

TRAVEL ORGANIZATIONS

DOMESTIC STUDY AWAY

Looking for ways to incorporate intercultural experiences into your course without crossing an ocean? The video below presented by TWU International Affairs along with international education partner WorldStrides explores global learning opportunities “at home” in the United States.

All Faculty-Led Abroad Courses must be approved by the faculty's department and college. See more about this process on the Faculty-Led Resource Site.
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 *Students cannot make any payments until your abroad course and international travel requests are full approved.
 
Be sure you are able to communicate the following to colleagues and students
  • Will your course(s) count toward a TWU major or minor? What requirement(s) will this course(s) satisfy?
  • Will your course(s) count toward TWU Core? If so, which core requirement?
Create a flyer promoting your coursework abroad. Resources: Promote your course via the following channels:
  • Ask colleagues within your department to share course details with their classes
    • Consider creating a very short video Faculty could add to their Canvas course or show in their classroom
    • Provide class visits to give your pitch
    • Particularly consider hard targeting “feeder” courses – courses students typically take before they would take your course
  • Share details with Academic Advisors who work with students within your academic component areas
  • Share recruitment materials during TWU events (examples: Pioneer Preview, New Student Orientation, Transfer Connection)
  • Connect with relevant student organizations
  • Utilize digital signage on campus, social media, Pioneer Portal announcements, and the TWU Lasso. See the Selecting a Tool for Unofficial Communication for related information
  • Work the TWU Student Union & TWU University Housing to post flyers in student lounges and residence halls
TWU Education Abroad provides the following services:
  • Manages the student registration and pre-departure process through the International Travel Registry.
  • Promotion and recruitment through:
    • Education Abroad website
    • Education Abroad social media
    • Classroom and TWU event presentation(s)
    • Education Abroad advising
    • Sharing Visiting Faculty Appointment with TWU Marketing & Communication