The Law & Society Program strongly encourages its students to complete a
portion of their undergraduate study through the Education Abroad Program
(EAP). Studying abroad allows students to take classes that give a different
perspective on the themes and issues that are commonly studied in our program. No amount of classroom work can replace living for an extended period of time immersed in the culture of another country.
For students in the Law & Society Program, the benefits of study abroad are immense. Some students go in order to improve language skills. Others go to gain a different perspective on the major. Some use the experience to build their resumes in preparation for government service, grad school applications, or international business. And some go just for the adventures: watching a session
of Parliament in London, interning with the Institute of Political Science of Barcelona, climbing the Great Wall of China, volunteering in an Italian elementary school, researching a honors thesis topic in the libraries in Hanoi, or working with women’s rights organizations in Chile.
Regardless of the reasons for going, nearly all return with a new perspective not only on the social, cultural, and political context of a foreign country, but a new appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of their own country as well. Some students find their lives or career choices transformed by their study abroad experience. Many find that adjusting to a foreign way of living and studying is a time of great personal growth that enhances their confidence and sense of self in ways that translate to many other pursuits. College is the time for
exploration. Don’t miss out on an EAP experience!
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Students can study abroad as early as their freshman year or as late as their last semester of their senior year. Regardless of when you plan to study abroad, start planning NOW!
We recommend Law & Society majors complete the pre-major and core courses before embarking on study abroad. You will then be better prepared to take full advantage of your overseas experience, as well as ensure a streamlined return to the UCSB campus and the completion of your degree. Close consultation with your department and college advisors is essential to ensure a successful study abroad experience.
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EAP offers a variety of short-term and long-term study experiences in various
locations around the world. Students also have the option of studying in English or in a foreign language. Many students choose to fulfill their General Education requirements while on EAP while others seek to further their studies in their major.
There are many universities around the world that offer programs and courses
that are relevant to Law & Society majors. Do not feel that you have to go to an English-speaking country or only take classes that have an explicit focus on law. Remember the field of law and society scholarship is broad and can include courses in history, anthropology, sociology, and political science. The point is that in any class you take you should be exploring some aspect of how law operates in cultural contexts and places other than the United States.
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All EAP students automatically earn UC credit for the work they complete abroad. However, the application of credit to major requirements is subject to the discretion of the department and approval of the college. Plan ahead and consult with your advisors before leaving and while abroad.
There are numerous opportunities to get credit in Law & Society for courses taken abroad. Here are some examples of what our students have taken in the past:
•Gender and the Law in Barbados
•Human Rights Law in South Africa
•Law and Globalization in Spain
•Legal History of Minorities in Sweden
•Intro to Criminology in Hong Kong
•Psychology and Law in Australia
•French Society and Politics in France
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.
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Consult the EAP web pages to see what programs best suit you. In addition to Course Finder and Program Wizard, students should navigate to host universities’ websites on the available links.
Come by the EAP office, 2431 South Hall, to speak with staff advisors and peer advisors who have recently returned from studying abroad.
Make appointments with the undergraduate advisor and a Letters & Science
advisor to discuss major, general education, residence and other requirements.
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If you take courses abroad for which you wish to get credit towards your Law & Society major, you MUST keep your syllabi, course materials, and essays and exams to present to the Law & Society advisor on your return. We cannot give credit for a class without evidence of its relevance to UCSB’s Law & Society Program. You will automatically earn UC credit for all classes successfully completed on EAP, just not necessarily credit within the department.
If you go abroad your junior year, you should strongly consider doing a senior
honors thesis based on the coursework and intellectual interests you developed
abroad. This provides an ideal way of integrating time abroad with the completion of the Law and Society Honors Program.
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