Pre- and post-study abroad courses

Augustana’s International and Off Campus Programs (IOP) office has developed two new one-credit courses to help students make the most of their study abroad and international travel experiences.

ISS 310: Preparing for Cross-Cultural Engagement Abroad (1 credit) is intended to be taken the semester before students study or travel abroad. It will help students maximize their preparation and personal development by providing significant attention to learning about the host country and skills for communicating across cultural differences in the new location.

ISS 311: Re-entry and Reflection after International Study (1 credit) is designed to be taken the semester after students return from an international program. It will help students unpack their experiences abroad and articulate the skills they developed. In collaboration with Career Development and Vocation, it helps students prepare to integrate their international experiences and newly developed skills when they apply for an internship or job.

Schedule

During spring semester 2026, the following sections are offered:

• ISS 310 – section 1, meets Monday/Wednesday, 3:30-4:20 p.m. (March 30-May 22, 2026)
• ISS 311 – section 1, meets Monday, 2:30-3:30 p.m. (Feb. 4-May 22, 2026)
• ISS 311 – section 2, meets Thursday, 8:30-9:30 a.m. (Feb. 4-May 22, 2026)

Questions? Contact Dr. Steven Duke, IOP Director, at stevenduke@augustana.edu.

Impact on students

Students who have taken ISS 310 have reported that they feel much better prepared for their study abroad programs and have learned much more about their host country than they would have done without the course.

Students who have taken ISS 311 say that the course helped them unpack their experiences abroad and identify the skills they developed. They felt more confident in presenting their experiences abroad in a job application and more aware of the skills they developed through their international experiences.