Courses Offered By Academics Abroad Group

Non-degree foreign language and multi-cultural studies distance education courses enable students to earn graded credit (A-F, S/U) for intensive foreign language-culture study.  (Note that Portuguese 113 is graded S/U only.)

After students apply and are accepted by the US university offering the course(s), students contract with the US course instructor for language skill evaluation and placement, and to complete an online orientation designed to improve cross-cultural learning and communication skills.

Students travel independently to the cooperating institution abroad to pursue intensive instruction and integration in the local culture and complete designated classroom and community based assignments.  There are also online assignments including a paper and journal.  Course progress is distance-monitored by the US faculty.   Three credit courses require at least three weeks immersion and attendance in fifty multi-cultural classes abroad.   Four credit courses require at least five weeks immersion and attendance in one hundred multi-cultural classes abroad.  Under exceptional circumstances, the US university course instructor may approve accelerated studies which may enable the student to complete courses in less time abroad.

Upon completion of studies abroad and related assignments, students complete a final exam administered by the US faculty and submit a final course evaluation.  Transcripts reflecting final grades are issued by the US university offering the class.  Sixty percent of the student’s grade is based on on-line work with the instructor.   Courses offered include:

BEGINNING LEVEL (FIRST and SECOND SEMESTER).
Study of the language including basic reading, writing, conversation, comprehension, and grammar skills, cultural studies and readings.  In addition to completion of assignments, testing, and online work with instructor, each course requires five weeks cultural immersion and successful completion of 100 multicultural class-hours in the country in which the language is spoken.

• FR 1111 - Beginning French 1. Four Credits.  No prior language study
• FR 1112 - Beginning French II.   Four Credits.  Prerequisite FR 1111 or equivalent
   
• JA 1111 - Beginning Japanese 1. Four Credits.  No prior language study
• JA 1112 - Beginning Japanese II.   Four Credits.  Prerequisite JA 1111 or equivalent
   
• PO 1113 - Beginning Portuguese.  Four Credits.  No prior language study
   
• SP 1111 - Beginning  Spanish l.  Four Credits.  No prior language study
• SP 1112 - Beginning Spanish II.   Four Credits.   Prerequisite SP 1111 or equivalent

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (THIRD & FOURTH SEMESTER)
Intermediate level study of reading, writing, conversation, and comprehension skills, cultural studies and readings, and grammar review.  In addition to completion of assignments, testing, and online work with instructor, each course requires at least three weeks cultural immersion and successful completion of 50 multicultural class-hours in the country in which the language is spoken.

• FR 2211 - Intermediate French 1. Three Credits.  Prerequisite FR 1112 or equivalent
• FR 2212 - Intermediate French II.   Three Credits.  Prerequisite FR 2211 or equivalent
   
• JA 2211 - Intermediate Japanese 1. Three Credit.  Prerequisite JA 1112 or equivalent
• JA 2212 - Intermediate Japanese II.   Three Credit.  Prerequisite JA 2211 or equivalent
   
• PO 2213 - Intermediate Portuguese 1.  Three Credits.    Prerequisite PO 1113 or equivalent
• PO 2214 - Intermediate Portuguese 11.  Three Credits.    Prerequisite PO 2213 or equivalent
   
• SP 2211 - Intermediate  Spanish l.  Three Credit.  Prerequisite SP 1112 or equivalent
• SP 2212 - Intermediate  Spanish II.   Three Credit.  Prerequisite SP 2211 or equivalent

ADVANCED LEVEL (Beyond FOURTH SEMESTER)
Advanced study of all aspects of the language.  Community engagement or service learning is encouraged.  Required paper on some aspect of the culture and civilization.   In addition to completion of assignments, testing, and online work with instructor, each course requires three weeks cultural immersion and successful completion of 50 multicultural class-hours in the country in which the language is spoken.

• FR 3325 - Intermediate French Conversation.  Three Credits. Prerequisite FR 212 or equivalent
• FR 3305 - Topics in Francophone Civilization.  3 Credits.  Prerequisite FR 3325 or equivalent
   
• PO 3325 - Advanced Portuguese Conversation.  3 Credits.  Prerequisite PO 2214 or equivalent
   
• SP 3325 - Advanced Spanish Conversation. 3 Credits.  Prerequisite SP 2212 or equivalent
• SP 3305 - Topics in Hispanic Civilization.  3 Credits.  Prerequisite SP 3325 or equivalent.  May be repeated with instructor permission.

GRADUATE LEVEL  (Undergraduate degree required)
Advanced Spanish Speakers may take 5590A which includes advanced study of Spanish and a paper written in Spanish.
NON-SPANISH or Spanish Speakers may take 5590B-5590E which includes the study of Spanish language/culture at your level and a paper  in English on a topic which furthers your professional capabilities.  Example: teachers, social workers, attorneys, health professionals and others who serve non-English speaking clients may  research some facet of Hispanic cultural so as to better understand and serve clients and/or fulfill CEU requirements.
In addition to completion of assignments, testing, and online work with instructor, each course requires participation in a multicultural classroom for at least 50 class-hours and  two to four weeks cultural immersion in the country in which the language is spoken.

• SP 5590A - Topics in Spanish Linguistics, Literature, or Civilization.  3 Credits
• SP 5590B - Special Topics in Multi-Cultural Studies. 3 Credits
• SP 5590C - Topics: Education and the Multi-Cultural Classroom. 3 Credits
• SP 5590D - Topics: Social Services within the Multi-Cultural Community. 3 Credits
• SP 5590E - Topics: Improving Healthcare in a Multi-Cultural Society.  3 Credits
• Prerequisite for SP 5590A-E: Undergraduate degree and/or instructor permission.  May be repeated with instructor permission.

GRADES
Letter grades are issued for all courses except Portuguese 113 which is graded S/U only.  There are no numeric +/- grades. 
A = 4.0 or 90 - 100.  B = 3.0 or 80-89.  C = 2.0 or 70-79.  D = 1.0 or 60-69.  F = 0.0 or under 60 or may result from academic or code of conduct infraction.  I = incomplete.  Incomplete grades for verifiable emergencies (such as extended illness) are at the US Instructor’s discretion and must be given in writing for completion by a specific date i.e. if a 30 day extension is given and ALL course requirements are not received within 30 days, grade automatically reverts to an F with no further extensions or appeals possible.

US UNIVERSITY TRANSCRIPTS
The date the student is scheduled to complete ALL course requirements determines the session or semester of US University admission.
FALL Semester: Courses to be completed between Aug 1 and Nov 30.  Transcript available by Jan 31.
SPRING Semester:  Courses to be completed between Dec 1 and Apr 30.  Transcript available by Jun 15.
SUMMER Term: Courses to be completed between May 1 and Jul 31.  Transcript available by Sep 15.
Failure to complete ALL course requirements within the above dates will result in a failing grade (see “Grades” above).

COURSE COMPLETION NORMS
Most students are able to master course material and complete multi-cultural class and other requirements for 3 credit courses within 3 weeks abroad and 4 credit courses within 5 weeks abroad.  Course fees include lodging, insurance and designated meals for 3 or 5 weeks respectively.  If additional time abroad (additional lodging, meals, insurance) is needed to complete course requirements, course fees will be higher.

Under exceptional circumstances and with US Instructor approval in writing, some students may be able to complete course requirements in as little as 2 weeks abroad for 3 credit courses or as little as 4 weeks abroad for 4 credit courses.  However, this requires class overloads and special assignments.