Sociology is more and more about world societies. Core sociological issues of
globalization and economic development, cultural change, social movements, race/class/gender, and many others are better addressed with an international perspective. The relationship of the United States to the rest of the world, and the efforts by people in many places to deal with pressing global and local problems, can be studied and witnessed up close by attending a foreign university through the world renowned UC Education Abroad Program (EAP). You may well have the experience of a lifetime studying and living abroad, with no delay in your graduation or extra financial burden.
For American sociology to move in the 21st century, it increasingly needs to
cultivate an international dimension. For American citizens to participate
fully and meaningfully in the new global economy, they need exposure to the
rest of the world. To develop a more sophisticated perspective on your own
society, you should live at some point in another.
All of the topics of sociology can be profitably approached in a non-US setting - from the most intimate emotions and conversations to family life to the institutions of school, religion, politics, and work and on to the most macro-level social structures of the world economy, the international system of states, and the future of the planet. The opportunity to live and study abroad, to immerse yourself in a different culture and possibly language, to meet your peers at another university and a wide range of people from across another society offers a virtually infinite potential for personal and intellectual growth.
The EAP experience can be a life-changing, self-challenging, and uniquely
valuable one for your future choices - of occupation, involvement in social
issues, and sense of yourself in the world. The Department of Sociology urges you to consider spending part of your undergraduate career at one of the many EAP locations around the world!
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From Australia to Vietnam, there are programs with plenty of courses for
Sociology students. Choose an English speaking country like Barbados or
Ireland, or improve your language skills in Italy, Japan or Spain. Live in a country
you may have studied in one of our 130/134 series courses, such as Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa,
Taiwan or Turkey. Wherever you decide, you will experience global sociology
firsthand.
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Sociology majors typically study abroad during their junior and senior years. It is highly recommended that you have completed the entire pre-major and have
declared full major status prior to studying abroad. With the exception of a few
upper-division electives, seniors should have most of their major completed
prior to leaving. It is possible to graduate while abroad, but close consultation
with the department undergraduate advisor and with the College of Letters and
Science is essential. Transfer students are eligible to participate
as early as their first quarter at UCSB. For more information, visit the EAP web site.
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Most foreign universities offer a wide range of sociology courses. When looking
at courses to take, consider those that you wouldn’t be able to take at UCSB -- including sociology courses that study specific aspects of the host country. While you may find classes that match up to those at UCSB, many of the best are those that are unique to that country.
When you are abroad, you can E-mail the course descriptions of the sociology
classes you are planning on taking to the undergraduate advisor. The advisor
will then tell you how the classes would be applicable to the major pending their
transfer as upper-division sociology courses. The Sociology Department
allows a maximum of 20 units of upper-division EAP coursework to count towards major requirements. All courses must be petitioned upon return.
Keep in mind that at least 20 units of upper-division major coursework (or
12 upper-division minor units) must be completed in residence at UCSB along with other residence requirements. Consult an advisor in the College of
Letters & Science for more information.
EAP students automatically earn UC credit for the work they complete abroad. However, application of credit to major requirements is subject to the discretion of the student’s major department and approval of the college.
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Begin by identifying your goals for study abroad and then consult the EAP web pages (http://eap.ucop.edu/) to identify appropriate EAP programs. To find programs which offer particular disciplines or to search courses taken by EAP students over the last 5 years by subject, keyword and/or location, explore the resources found under Program and Course Search. Navigate to host universities’ web sites on the available links to learn more about the schools and their departments.
Stop by the EAP office at 2431 South Hall. Peer advisors who have recently returned from studying abroad as well as staff advisors are eager to answer your questions.
Go see your department Undergraduate Advisor and a College of Letters & Science advisor to discuss major, general education, residence and other requirements.
Here is a partial list of EAP host countries that offer unique opportunities in sociology:
Australia -- Canada -- China -- France -- Germany -- Hong Kong -- Ireland -- Italy Japan -- New Zealand -- South Africa -- Spain -- United Kingdom -- Vietnam
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Department of Sociology
SSMS 3119
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9430
Phone: (805) 893-3118
www.soc.ucsb.edu
