College of Agriculture - Core Requirements

October 9, 2008

International Understanding

All undergraduate plans of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Forestry, or Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture must include a minimum of nine credits from the international understanding electives list on this page, or equivalent study abroad programs, international travel courses, or international work experiences. Six credits are required in programs of study leading to the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biological Engineering degree .

International understanding elective credits may be used to fulfill written and oral communication, social sciences and humanities, or departmental requirements.

In today's rapidly changing international environment, students must broaden their understanding and appreciation of the historic, cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity of the world's peoples, while enhancing their ability to interact effectively with people from other cultures. The objective of the international understanding component of the core curriculum is to stimulate students to explore the world and responsibly apply their learning and knowledge to global challenges.

Study Abroad Programs or International Travel Courses

In lieu of including nine or more credits of international understanding electives in a plan of study, students may partially or totally fulfill the international understanding requirements by earning credits in an approved study abroad program or international travel course.

Regardless of the academic discipline, all credits earned in an approved study abroad program or international travel course may be used toward the nine-credit international understanding requirement.

International Work Experience

Successful completion of an approved non-credit international work experience (AGR 495) may be used as follows:

* An experience of 4-7 weeks may be used in lieu of three credits of international understanding electives to fulfill the international understanding requirement.

* A minimum eight-week summer session experience may be used in lieu of six credits of international understanding electives to fulfill the international understanding requirement.

* An academic semester experience may be used in lieu of nine credits of international understanding electives.

Total number of credits required for graduation are not reduced when students fulfill international understanding requirements through participation in approved non-credit international work experiences.

International Understanding Electives

International understanding electives include all courses offered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and those listed below. Proposed additions to this list may be submitted to the Agricultural Faculty Curriculum and Student Relations Committee for consideration. Contact your academic advisor.

(1-4) All Foreign Languages and Literatures courses