Academics

Alliance is a cosponsored program. You receive resident credit for the courses you take. Your grades count toward your University of Minnesota GPA and each course appears on your transcript. More information can be found in the Academics Policy.

Coursework

Classes are based at the International Cultural Exchange School (ICES) of the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. All students are required to take a Chinese language course and complete their course load with electives in Chinese culture and business courses. One important and distinctive component of the Alliance programs is the Capstone Project, which challenge students to engage with Chinese people from various walks of life and deepen their understanding of an aspect of Chinese society, culture, business practices, or current policy. An optional business internship is also available.

The summer program offers an opportunity to study international business in China along with Chinese language courses at the beginning through advanced level.

Typical credits: 30 for academic year, 15 for fall or spring semester, 8 for summer session.

How to Find Academic Information

Some program websites offer short course descriptions while others offer full syllabi. Course information is available on the cosponsor’s website, and, if applicable, on the host university’s website. For more tips on terminology and finding course information, go to Finding Course Information for Host Universities.

When choosing courses, work closely with your college and/or major or minor adviser(s) to select courses that fulfill specific requirements. You can also consult the Liberal Education database to find courses that fulfill Liberal Education core and theme requirements, or submit courses online for approval. Use the Academic Planning for Study Abroad form (pdf) as a tool for selecting courses with your adviser. Visit the Advising webpage for more information and resources on choosing courses.

Navigating Alliance's Website

• Navigate to the program's main page from The Alliance for Global Education's web site.
• Within the "Coursework" section look for the course information links.
• Use the link to access course syllabi and faculty details.

If you have any questions about this process or about specific course availability, contact The Alliance for Global Education.

Academic Fit with a University of Minnesota Degree Plan
With good academic planning this program can fit well into the degree plans for many majors. Search for courses that fulfill Liberal Education Requirements or submit a course you want to take for review. Study Abroad in Your Major advising sheets explain why study abroad is important for a major, indicate what the department wants students to consider when selecting a program, and provide academic planning hints. This program may appear as a special recommendation on an advising sheet. If your major is not listed, talk to an adviser—this program may still fit your academic, career, and professional goals.

Last modified on November 21, 2008