Fact:  All majors can study abroad, some just take more planning than others.  We have sent students in Chemical Engineering, Finance, Psychology, Petroleum Engineering, Biochemistry, Theater, etc.  If you think you have a major that might restrict you from going abroad, talk to your college advising office, in addition to the CGE advisors, early so they can help you find a program that fits your curriculum.  Any student can study abroad with enough planning and support, so let us help you make that happen. 

Rachel Johnston
Chemical Engineering

“This is what I thought initially.  As an engineering student, I have some very specific classes that I have to take each semester and these classes aren't offered everywhere.  My interest was piqued, however, when I heard one of my fellow engineering classmates talking about studying abroad.  I went to a study abroad meeting and met with a faculty advisor about my schedule.  We were able to determine that it was possible for me to study abroad if I moved a few courses around.  I truly believe that a person from any major can study abroad, the key is to start planning as early as possible.  I spent a lot of time studying the course offerings at the universities I was considering to find equivalent courses that were offered in the appropriate semester.  This actually made my choice of university easier because it significantly narrowed my options.”

Paige Tryggestad
Pre-Med and Spanish Major

“Not being able to study abroad with certain majors was something I thought applied to me until I started looking more into the wide range of opportunities available.  With lots of planning and consulting with my advisors, I found that it was definitely something I could fit in.  I decided to study abroad over the summer because that was what worked best for me, and I'm so glad I did because it's one of the best experiences and most memorable ways I could have spent that summer.  It also helped relieve my fears or anxieties about missing out on things in Tulsa or coming back to something completely different than when I left.  If you make studying abroad a priority, everything else will come into place in terms of classes and such.  And you'll usually find that all the fears or anxieties you had disappear.  You can share all your stories from abroad, and your friends can share all their stories from Tulsa, and then you all continue with life--changed perhaps, but for the better.”

Kelsey Corrigan
Petroleum Engineering Major 

“So I did not take any courses for my major while in Costa Rica.  But I had planned to go abroad so I did not take any of my block courses while at TU.  I saved them all and took them at my university. This made it very easy to get courses to transfer back to TU.  I also was looking at going abroad my last semester since I would be done with all my petroleum classes.  There are quite a few options out there for engineers. If you just need some basic engineering classes (ones not major specific such as heat transfer, circuits, statics, dynamics the list goes on and on) you can find these courses at any university that has an engineering college. Now if you want to go somewhere besides Ireland, England, Australia, or anywhere else English speaking you have to be comfortable enough with that foreign language because these programs are direct enrollment type programs. However, with our new TECNUN program though they have "bilingual" engineering where they offer engineering courses all in English.  So there are many options available it just takes a little bit of research and planning to get it done.”

Ken Ferrell
International Business Major

“I was able to spend a semester abroad and still graduate with a double major, with my majors being in different colleges. Study abroad classes can fill many elective requirements, and I was even able to use one of my classes to cover a senior year business school requirement.”

Lesley Jacobs
Communication Major

“Why study Art History at TU during the summer when you can go to Florence and see the paintings in real life? Or, why get your mandatory language requirements out of the way at TU when you can fully immerse yourself in the language and culture while receiving credit at the same time? As long as you are willing to sit down, be creative, and get organized about making studying abroad a possibility during your four years at TU, then it can happen!” As long as you plan well in advance for your summer, semester, or year abroad, you can make studying abroad a priority and reality. Advisors in EVERY college will work with you to create a customized study abroad plan that will include a study abroad experience. Also, you might even decide to study abroad to get credits out of the way for your minor and/or mandatory elective classes.

Whitney Lechner
English and Sociology Major

“My program has people from a zillion different areas, from business to literature to music to biology.  Plus, classes like local history classes or internships are available to fit in with all sorts of majors.  And even if there are only one or two classes that count towards your major, everyone needs electives!”

Stephanie Madsen
Marketing Major

“There's a location for everyone, depending on your major!  The destination you want to travel to might not offer classes to complete your major, but check around different programs and keep your mind open to different destinations.  You can also take classes overseas to help complete your minor or to go towards the number of credits you need to graduate, so it doesn't have to be focused on your major.”

John Thao
Business Management Major

 “Any major can study abroad because you can take all your elective courses abroad to study about globalization and development in a third world country or about REAL Human Rights issues in Thailand. My best decision ever to take elective courses abroad!  Also if you are passionate about studying abroad the university is super awesome and more than willing to work with you so you can go abroad, get all the credits transferred and graduate on time.”

TU Student
Theater Major

“You can work with your advisor to find a way to take the courses you need to take before you leave and when you come back and even possibly work in a credit or two for a major that isn't always available abroad. I was able to get theater credit for my major by conducting research in the arts field.”

Jessica Tipple
Biology Major

“I think that this is a myth...all majors should be able to find a place abroad that offers their major...it is just a matter of looking. I thought this before I went abroad and I have to say my classes abroad were actually better than some of my classes here, so overall it was a great educational experience.”

Chris Small
Mechanical Engineering Major

“Yes you can.  Maybe you have fewer options because of your major, but you can find a good school, and a good semester to go- I suggest sophomore year, especially for Engineers.”

Don Morie
International Business and Spanish Major

“Yes, you can. I never understood why this was ever such a myth, but then again my major is International Business. Especially with the way the TU block system is set up, this is never a legitimate excuse to not study abroad. Some majors, I will admit, it might take some more planning and foresight but there is always a way to work it out. If you start early enough and communicate your desire to study abroad with advisors and with the study abroad office, you will find that no matter your major there are opportunities out there for anybody.”

Michael Juen
History Major

“They have programs for any and every major.  I have friends that went that received their degrees in all sorts of areas.”

Katy Brown
Environmental Science Major

“CGE can help pick the best place for students to study abroad at schools that have excellent classes that will count toward your major.  As long as students pick the right classes and fill out the paperwork, all credits transfer back to TU!”

Zadora Hightower
International Business and German Major

“It is easier to study abroad with some majors than with others.  Mine is one that makes it quite easy to study abroad, but it was also partially because I knew I wanted to study abroad and prepared by saving my electives and general education courses to take abroad because they are much easier to transfer.  So if you know you want to study abroad, save those general education classes and take them in a more exciting place than Tulsa, Oklahoma.”

Casey Lowry
Film Studies Major

“Studying abroad does not have to be about furthering your major. I am a film studies major and I'm not taking ANY film classes while abroad. Half of my courses will be counted as Block I and II credits, and the other half go with my minor, which is music. Quite frankly, my reasons for studying abroad really had absolutely nothing to do with academics. I did it because I wanted to experience another culture, meet new people, travel, and immerse myself in an interesting setting.”

Go to other myths:

Myth #1: Studying Abroad is too expensive.
Myth #2: I don’t want to miss out on anything here.
Myth #4: I haven’t traveled much, so I wouldn’t be ready to go all the way to another country.
Myth #5: I don’t speak a foreign language, so I can’t go abroad.

All photos taken by students during their study abroad experiences.