Allocating GEA 2952 as a Supplemental Course
Strategic Benefits
The structure of GEA 2952—Globalization: Study Abroad Experience as a 1-credit, 16-contact-hour supplemental course to a corresponding 3-credit academic course is designed to maximize enrollment opportunities, prevent course cancellations, and create a more inclusive and interdisciplinary study abroad experience.
If study abroad courses were assigned as independent sections—such as HUS 1001-SA (where “SA” denotes Study Abroad)—there would be significant risks and limitations. For example, if Dr. Smith were assigned HUS 1001-SA as part of her standard course load, it would count as one of her assigned courses for the term. If that section failed to meet the required enrollment threshold (e.g., only five students registered), the course could be canceled, jeopardizing Dr. Smith’s full teaching load and leaving students without a viable option to fulfill their degree requirements. Additionally, students who had specifically registered for the HUS 1001-SA section would be forced to wait until the next semester to re-enroll in HUS 1001, potentially delaying their graduation timeline.
To prevent such issues, the Office of International Education (OIE) designed GEA 2952 as the centralized and structured nucleus of study abroad programming. Instead of requiring students to enroll in a separate, stand-alone study abroad section of a course, this model allows professors to recruit from all their existing course sections. For example, Dr. Smith’s study abroad eligibility extends across all her HUS 1001 sections—whether Online, Live Online, On-Campus, or Hybrid—so long as she is the instructor.
This approach significantly enhances flexibility and enrollment stability. Suppose that in a given semester, Dr. Smith has students distributed across five HUS 1001 sections as follows:
- HUS 1001-1: 5 students enrolled in Study Abroad Program
- HUS 1001-2: 3 students enrolled in Study Abroad Program
- HUS 1001-3: 1 student enrolled in Study Abroad Program
- HUS 1001-4: 7 students enrolled in Study Abroad Program
- HUS 1001-5: 4 students enrolled in Study Abroad Program
Total Study Abroad Participants: 20 students
Rather than isolating study abroad enrollment into one designated section (HUS 1001-SA), students from all five of her courses can seamlessly participate in the study abroad program by enrolling in the centralized GEA 2952 course for that term. This ensures that no single course section is at risk of low enrollment, reducing the likelihood of cancellation while still allowing students to earn their required academic credit.
Inclusivity for Non-Enrolled Students
One of the most innovative aspects of this structure is its inclusivity. Not all students interested in study abroad will necessarily need to take HUS 1001—some may have already completed it, while others may not require it for their degree track. In such cases, with instructor permission, students can enroll directly in the GEA 2952 course, allowing them to fully participate in the study abroad experience. These students will complete the same qualitative and reflective assignments as their peers in HUS 1001, ensuring an equitable and engaging academic experience while earning the 1-credit hour tied to experiential learning abroad.
This model preserves course load integrity for faculty, provides students with uninterrupted academic progress, and fosters a multidisciplinary and well-rounded study abroad experience.