International Profile
International Degrees and Training
The following represent just a sample of the many international academic and training programs offered at the University.
- Global Studies Degree
- Learning Abroad Minor
- Language Courses
- Comparative and International Development Education
- Executive MBA Programs
- International Fellowship Programs
- Health Sciences
- MAST Program
- MacArthur Program
- Mingda Institute for Leadership Training
- Summer Institutes for Language Teachers
- Minnesota English Language Program
- Intercultural Training Center
Global Studies Degree
The Institute for Global Studies houses an undergraduate global studies major and minor, with more than 400 students enrolled in the major. The Institute also fosters faculty and graduate student research on global themes, organizes interdisciplinary faculty seminars, and coordinates a range of centers and programs focused on global issues.
Learning Abroad Minor
The Learning Abroad Minor is an individualized, interdisciplinary College of Liberal Arts minor-administered by the Learning Abroad Center-that integrates a study abroad experience with related University coursework on campus.
Language Courses Offered
Akkadian – Arabic – Aramaic – Chinese – Coptic – Dakota – Danish – Dutch – English as a Second Language – Finnish – French – German – Greek (Classic & Modern) – Hebrew – Hindi – Hmong – Icelandic – Irish – Italian – Japanese – Korean – Latin – Norwegian – Ojibwe – Old Norse – Polish – Portuguese – Russian – Sanskrit – Spanish – Sumerian – Swahili – Swedish – Turkish – Urdu – Vietnamese more info...
Comparative and International Development Education
The doctoral and master’s degree programs in Comparative and International Development Education (CIDE), offered by the Department of Educational Policy and Administration, provide an opportunity for intensive study of comparative education, international development education, and international education exchange. CIDE studies education’s role in economic, political, and sociocultural development; international education exchange; and the internationalization of education.
Executive MBA Programs
The University offers three “offshore” degree programs through the Carlson School of Management. These executive MBA programs—in Poland, Austria, and China—allow executives abroad to learn about fundamental global issues. In addition, executive MBA students in the U.S. can complete their required residency abroad, giving them a deeper understanding of emerging and mature markets abroad.
International Fellowship Programs
Humphrey Institute’s International Fellowship Programs is home to five fellowships: Hubert H. Humphrey International Fellowship Programs, Edmund S. Muskie Fellowship, U.K. Fulbright Fellowship for Civil Service, Mexican Fellowship Program, and the Halle Wittenberg Exchange Program. The IFP office provides fellows with opportunities that blend a strong intellectual base with academic courses, research, public service, and intercultural understanding. Fellows themselves serve as invaluable resources to educators, community leaders, professional groups, students, and many others.
Health Sciences
The International Medical Education and Research Program (IMER) promotes the exchange of international educational, research, and other scholarly opportunities for medical and health-related graduate students and faculty.
Minnesota Agricultural Student Trainee Program
The MAST Program, based at the University, has been preparing agriculture leaders since 1949. MAST provides students from around the world the opportunity to gain practical hands-on experience in agriculture, horticulture, agri-business, or related areas. More than 5,000 students from 70 countries have participated in the MAST program.
MacArthur Interdisciplinary Program on Global Change, Sustainability, and Justice
The central aim of the MacArthur Program is to integrate graduate students and faculty who share common interests and commitments concerning the developing world into an interdisciplinary community of study, discussion, and research. Fellows are supported by the MacArthur Program and the academic department in which they are enrolled. Each year the program supports about twelve fellows.
Mingda Institute for Leadership Training
The China Center’s Mingda Institute provides customized and advanced training for junior- and senior-level executives from business and public sectors in China. University faculty from various disciplines provide most of the instruction for these workshops and thus establish new contacts and become more familiar with issues in this rapidly changing country.
Summer Institutes for Language Teachers
The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) offers an annual series of summer institutes geared to the needs of second language teachers. Some topics include culture and language learning, second language assessment, immersion education, and less commonly taught languages.
Minnesota English Language Program
The Minnesota English Language Program helps international students prepare for academic work in an English-speaking college or university setting, but can also be used to improve English skills for business or personal reasons. A variety of credit and noncredit courses are available throughout the year.
Intercultural Training Center
International Student and Scholar Services offers workshops and experiential activities to help individuals and groups improve their communication across cultural boundaries. Training sessions are tailored to fit the specific needs of the clients, which include U.S. and international students in academic classes and clubs, University staff, non-profit organizations, and businesses.