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International Education
O'Dowd Hall, Room 328
586 Pioneer Drive
Rochester,
MI
48309-4482
(location map)
(248) 370-2889
ie@oakland.edu
Office hours
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Virtual advising hours
Mon - Fri: 9 a.m. - noon and 1 - 4 p.m.
Alex Zimmerman, Director
(248) 370-2843
azimmerman@oakland.edu
News
- ‘It opens your mind’: OU student touts the benefits of studying abroad
- Students study diverse ecosystems in Ecuador
- OU earns grants to support teaching and research initiatives in Pakistan and Guatemala
- International relations major studies Arabic in Morocco
- England study abroad captures ‘history in motion’
- OU students participate in historic archaeological dig
- Students study tropical field ecology in Costa Rica
- Seoul Sisters
- Oakland University dancers and Take Root display ‘top-notch’ talent in Berlin
- Students study tropical field ecology in Ecuador
International Education
COVID-19 Update
While international travel and study has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, we are working towards the day when we can safely return to full operations. Many Summer 2021 programs are currently planning to operate on schedule, and we anticipate that programs in Fall 2021 will face few disruptions from the coronavirus. It is never too early to begin preparing for study abroad, so whether you are interested in studying abroad in 2021 or further in the future, we are here to answer your questions and guide you through the process.
The staff of the Office of Global Engagement is handling all requests virtually. We offer virtual advising sessions and advisers are available to answer all of your questions about study abroad during this time. If you would like to schedule an advising appointment or contact our office, please email ie@oakland.edu or fill out our request form online. We are monitoring requests during normal business hours from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Monday - Friday and will respond shortly.
OU students can study abroad in more than 40 countries around the world or study away at nearly 200 universities in North America. From foreign language and art to business and engineering, OU offers a variety of international education options for all interests. You’ll have the opportunity to live, study or work side-by-side in communities or universities throughout the world. For more about finding a program right for you, click the Study Abroad at OU video. (Video transcription)Broaden your horizons. Find your place in our global society. A world of opportunity awaits you!



Congratulations 2017 Vlogging Contest
Winner Maggie Schneider!
Winner Maggie Schneider!
Experience Maggie's exciting study abroad program,
CIEE Summer Language and Culture in Buenos Aires, Argentina,
through her three-minute production.
CIEE Summer Language and Culture in Buenos Aires, Argentina,
through her three-minute production.
Transcript
As cliche as it sounds, my trip to Buenos Aires was the most challenging yet rewarding whirlwinds of a month I have yet faced in my life. Everything from the combination of culture shock, classes and overwhelming city life presented in itself a rewarding kind of obstacle.To start, I didn’t originally think culture shock would effect me much, being an Anthropology major I thought I would have a better cultural understanding than most. Well I’m sure it helped, I was still quite literally shock by how different another nook of the world could be. It made me realize how important experience truly is. My anthropology books just couldn’t cut it. Everything from the smaller coffee cup sizes, the required ten o’clock family dinners and blatantly honest conversation topic of Argentina forced me out of my comfort zone. In retrospect it was amazing but I was surprised how much the little adaptations altered my daily American routine.
A whole other dimension of adaptations that I faced on my trip was the culture life of the city itself. Growing up in the small rural town of Davidson, I had never even been in a taxi before. Trying to navigate the subways and the one hundred plus bus routes within Buenos Aires was beyond overwhelming. The first time I made it home by myself to my university using public transportation was one of my proudest moments. The daily challenges of the city taught me to relax and go with the flow. Though once I got the hang of transportation I could take advantage of the endless byous of the city. Every spare minute I wasn’t spending studying or with my host family I was exploring some of Argentina’s beautiful, historical and nationally important sites, including Patagonia.
Of course I have to mention the whole reason I was in Buenos Aires, to study. I decided to take the international relations class offered at the host university, even though it was taught only in Spanish by local professors and I was a semester behind in the required Spanish class experience. I wanted a challenge and I wanted to better my Spanish and I definitely got both. I’ve never had to put so much effort into a class, both in assignments and in class participation. On top of it all, the laid back Argentine attitude carries over to school as well. The absence of rubrics and class starting twenty minutes late was another cultural adjustment and my stingy personality had to accommodate. I ended up receiving my first A minus ever in my high school and college career, yet it is the grade I am the most proud of.
Looking back at my time in Buenos Aires it was just a tiny blip in my life as far as time is concerned. However the significance of this particular time clip is insurmountable. I learned so much from the culture, the city and the class I took itself. Thank you to everyone who made it possible.