Education Abroad for

Sociology Majors

Student peched on Lions Head overlooking Table Bay in S. Africa

Globalize Your Education

Sociology students are highly encouraged to study abroad. Participating in a study abroad is an ideal way to add a global perspective to your Sociology major through the first-hand experience living and studying in another country and culture. 

Review the resources here to first help decide how an international experience can fit into your degree plan. It is important to work with your Undergraduate Advisor and an Education Abroad advisor early on in the application process to make sure that you are choosing the best program to fit your goals and meet major requirements.

Why Study Abroad?

When you step out of a familiar environment and engage with another society, where cultural, political, and academic perspectives differ from the U.S., it can greatly enhance your perspective by placing domestic issues and experiences within an international context.  It helps participants negotiate differences, listen to and learn from new viewpoints, and adapt to unfamiliar situations.  The changed perspective students gain from studying abroad helps make them better informed global citizens, and they are often more competitive for employment, fellowships, and graduate school.

You can Afford to Study Abroad

Eligible for Financial Aid? Learn more about how financial aid might apply to your program. (Applies to PSU degree-seeking students, only.)

Veteran? Learn how Veterans Benefits may help cover the cost of your program fee! 

Pell Grant Recipient? You may also be eligible for the Gilman Scholarship, worth up to $5,000! 

Need Scholarships? The PSU Ed Abroad office offers scholarship workshops every term and has a multitude of resources online for students on a budget. Come meet with us so we can talk about awards ranging from $500 - $10,000.

My interactions with professors, host family, and friends in Mexico deepened my sociological imagination. I found myself being able to contextualize my experiences and interactions during my time abroad on a global level. More importantly this experience has made it easier to interact and understand different cultures and societies.


- Sarah E Przybylo, Sociology
Program: IE3 Mexico: Querétaro

Which Education Abroad Programs Work Well for Sociology Majors?

The programs listed below are recommended because they offer the largest number and range of courses relevant to Sociology majors.

 

EUROPE

PSU Faculty-Led Denmark: Copenhagen - Human Trafficking, Sex Work, and Criminal Justice Reform: A Comparative Nordic Perspective
 

LATIN AMERICA


IE3 Global Mexico: Puebla, Universidad de las American, Mexico
PSU Direct Enroll Turkey: Istanbul, Bogazici University - (Click here for the summer option)
PSU Exchange Egypt: Cairo, American University in Cairo

 

Don't see a program that works for you? Email us at edabroad@pdx.edu

Considerations

Education Abroad Credit Limit Toward Sociology Major

Students earning a BA/BS in Sociology may apply up to 24 credits from any PSU-approved study abroad program towards their Sociology major. The table below specifies which major requirements can be met through education abroad.  

Courses Must Be Taken For A Grade

Education Abroad courses used for the Sociology major must be taken for a grade (A-F) unless that option is not available.

PSU Course

Title

Education Abroad Eligibility

SOC 200Introduction to SociologyApproved for Education Abroad
SOC 301Foundations of Sociology I
Either SOC 301
OR SOC 302
may be taken for Education Abroad, but not both
SOC 302Foundations of Sociology II
SOC 397Social Research MethodsNot eligible for Education Abroad
SOC 397LSocial Research methods (Required Lab to be taken in conjunction with 397)Not eligible for Education Abroad
SOC 398Social Research ProjectNot eligible for Education Abroad

STAT 243

OR

SOC 399

Introduction to Probability and Statistics

SPST: Social Statistics 
(note: this class fulfills the STAT 243 requirement for Sociology majors ONLY)

Not eligible for Education Abroad
Sociology electives:

28 elective credits total required for major,

including at least 12 credits in 400-level courses (see Sociology advisor for a list of approved 400-level courses)

Approved for Education Abroad

 

Ready to take the Next Step?

Attend an Ed Abroad 101 session to learn more about studying abroad at PSU. These are 30 minute sessions offered when classes are in session. They cover the application process and direct you to next steps. Can't attend the live session? Watch the Ed Abroad 101 digital presentation!

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Education Abroad for Sociology Majors