International travel and study is a required component of the School of Art & Design curricula. Why?
Study and travel outside of the U.S. is essential for aspiring artists and designers. An international experience prepares A&D graduates to enter the globalized economy, makes them more competitive for graduate study, fellowship opportunities, and employment, and helps them to become informed global citizens. International study provides first-hand knowledge of other cultures, fosters creative insights and new life experiences, encourages independence and flexibility, and prepares students to negotiate difference, adapt to changing situations, and to solve problems from a new perspective.
Read a student's essay about her work in Madagascar.
International Requirement
All BA and BFA degree students admitted in Fall 2010 and later are required to participate in an international experience during their undergraduate study.
Experiences count only if they occur while the student is a degree candidate at the University of Michigan and earn UM degree credit or have prior approval before commencing a non-credit international experience. The following qualify for the International requirement:
1. A substantive international experience that results in University of Michigan credit. Students must apply for UM programs or register non-UM programs through M-Compass. For-credit programs include:
- An A&D or other UM study abroad program
- A work, internship, or volunteer program which bears UM credit:
- A non-UM study abroad program for which UM transfer credit results:
2. An approved substantive international experience that does not result in University of Michigan credit. The experience must be at least three weeks in duration and must include documented reflection through journaling, sketchbook, reflective writing, and/or readings. Students submit independent international proposals for approval. Non-credit experiences include:
- A study abroad program that does not result in UM credit
- An international internship that does not bear UM credit.
- Work abroad.
- An independently proposed international research or service project.
 |
 |
 |
M-Compass is a University of Michigan web site where students can learn about, prepare for, search and apply to international programs. Use M-Compass to:
- Search: All international programs sponsored by the School of Art & Design
- Search: All U-M international programs open to A&D students
- Advanced Search: Options include global/regional location, language of instruction and more.
- Register for a for-credit, non-UM international study program offered by another college, university, or academy using the Non-UM Study Abroad Registry
- Register an independent, non credit international experience
- Apply for scholarships
- Finances: Learn about financial aid and scholarships that can be used to help pay for an international experience.
- Health & Safety: important information on travel warnings and security; immunizations and medical tips; health insurance coverage and health care providers outside the United States; and registering your travel with the University of Michigan, State Department and US Embassies abroad.
- Information for Parents and Families: learn more about the benefits of study abroad and review our policies and resources.
All lectures take place at 5 pm on Thursdays at the historic Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor.
The PLAY Blog takes you inside A&D’s community of makers, with posts by students, faculty and staff.
Website © 2012 Regents of the University of Michigan. The A&D website is produced with funding from Susan Smucker Wagstaff and Reid Wagstaff.