Skip to main content

Education Abroad

The Communication Department encourages students to broaden their educational experience through participation in a TAMU-affiliated Education Abroad Program. In addition to taking courses in communication, opportunities to take courses that fulfill CARC, CD, and ICD requirements are also available. Because students receive TAMU credit for faculty-led education abroad courses, students can plan carefully and be able to study abroad without delaying graduation.

Why study abroad?

Studying abroad provides opportunities to discover oneself while gaining an understanding of a different culture. Being in a new place and knowing how to communicate effectively can be overwhelming at times. Studying abroad allows you to test your ability to navigate diverse situations, problem-solve, and apply course concepts and understanding in real-life. Your classroom becomes the rainforests of Costa Rica, the Pantheon in Rome, the Duomo in Florence, the safaris in South Africa, and so much more than a classroom in Texas.

Where to study abroad?

Students should choose locations for studying abroad based on a number of factors. First, which program aligns with education interests and fits within your degree plan? Second, how much is the program and how will you pay for it? Third, what parts of the world interests you? Fourth, what parts of the world are you least familiar? Finally, how would studying abroad in a location affect your understanding of the world and help you seek employment upon graduation?

The University features several styles of study abroad experiences.  These include faculty-led programs, reciprocal exchange programs, and direct enrollment programs.  The Academic Advisors in Communication can help you determine the right option for you.  Study Abroad lists hundreds and hundreds of programs in locations all over the world that are great options for Communication, Telecommunication Media Studies and Journalism Studies students.

Types of Study Abroad Programs for Communication Major and Minors

The Communication Department currently offers programs in Italy, Ireland, Costa Rica, South Africa, and Spain. These programs range from one week international field trips, to semester-long study abroad, to even exchange programs that can go even longer.

How do I get started?

Start by scheduling an appointment with an Academic Advisor in the Communication Department. Create a plan for
when to study abroad and what courses you can take abroad. After you know the general timeframe and general
courses needed, seek out opportunities on the Education Abroad web portal (abroad.tamu.edu) or pay attention to
guest speakers that offer opportunities abroad in your classes.

FACULTY-LED PROGRAMS

These programs highlight a particular region or area of study and draw upon the unique skills and insights of faculty members.  Texas A&M faculty oversee every aspect of these programs.  In the case of COMM to Italy, Communication faculty members lead a group of COMM and TCMS majors and COMM minors.

  • COMM to Italy: Faculty-led program to Castiglion Fiorentino in the Tuscany region of Italy. Education abroad link
  • Ireland Political Communication: Faculty-led program to Galway and Dublin, Ireland in Summer 2019 for the month of June. Education abroad link
  • Rhetoric in the Italian Renaissance: Faculty-led program to Florence, Italy, in Winter 2019 for the 1st two weeks in January. Education abroad link

See the Education Abroad website for other Faculty-Led programs open to COMM and TCMS majors.

FIELD TRIPS

International Field Trips
Field Trips are shorter study abroad opportunities for students and tend to last about a week. The majority of course work is completed in the classroom in College Station, with a weeklong field trip abroad to test out course themes. The Communication Department offers two International Field Trips for the 2019/2020 school year: Costa Rica and South Africa.

COMM to Costa Rica
Study the rhetorical strategies used in art, literature, politics, and tourism, in the beautiful ‘rich coast’ of the Americas: Costa Rica. Named one of the happiest and safest places on earth, Costa Rice is an excellent place to apply course themes in real life. We will interview local students, local politicians, and local workers in the tourism industry.

2020 Course Offerings:
COMM 434 “Rhetoric of Latin America”

COMM to South Africa
Nelson Mandela’s release from prison and election to president, ended the Apartheid state in South Africa, but it did not end the critical discourses surrounding race and ethnicity. We visit historical sites, current neighborhoods, and cultural locations where racial issues are prevalent and where segregation still exists.

2020 Course Offerings:
COMM 338 “Critical Race Discourse”

RECIPROCAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS (REEP)

Texas A&M maintains a diverse global network of institutions who “exchange” students each semester.  Texas A&M students pay only their Texas A&M tuition and fees, enroll directly in the foreign institution, and do not pay any tuition or fees to the host university (with the exception of local housing/boarding costs.)  The costs of these programs are among the lowest of study abroad options.  In many cases, courses are taught in English, but in others, foreign language proficiency is required.  The Department of Communication features a REEP to Barcelona, Spain.

  • Barcelona Oliba Abat: Reciprocal Exchange program to this media-oriented school in an ocean-side destination.  Students are heading to Barcelona each and every semester.

A partial list of additional Communication and Media related REEP opportunities include:

  • National University of Singapore
  • University of Adelaide (Australia)
  • Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand)
  • University of Nottingham (UK)

See the Study Abroad website for additional REEPs open to COMM and TCMS majors.

DEPARTMENT SUPERVISED DIRECT ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS

The Department of Communication has developed a network of global universities with strong communication programs, and our faculty have personal ties with these institutions.  Students can enroll directly in these overseas institutions, and be assured that their courses will be accepted by Texas A&M as fulfilling departmental requirements.  Tuition and other fees are payable to the host institution.  These programs will normally require a stay of a semester abroad, and the course content is offered in English.

  • Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
  • Copenhagen School of Business (Denmark)
  • Texas A&M Qatar/Northwestern University (Qatar)
  • London School of Economics (UK)
  • Tsinghua University, School of International Communication (China)

See the Education Abroad website for additional Study Abroad programs open to COMM and TCMS majors.

How do you get started?

Contact an academic advisor in the Department of Communication or the Education Abroad Office.