What is LAS Study Abroad?

Updated

LAS Study Abroad is the study abroad office of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) at Iowa State University. It provides international study, work, and service opportunities for all Iowa State students — not just LAS majors — and also supports faculty and staff in running learning opportunities abroad. Through partnerships with outside organizations, it offers programs ranging from short-term breaks to a full academic year. If you want to know who can use it, what kinds of programs exist, and how to get started, this covers the essentials.

Who it serves

  • All Iowa State students, regardless of college or major. The office explicitly states its opportunities are open to all ISU students.
  • Faculty and staff, who receive support to facilitate learning opportunities abroad.
  • Partner organizations, which help broaden the range of program options available.

Program formats

LAS Study Abroad organizes its offerings by length and timing, so you can match a program to your schedule and appetite for immersion.

Program type Timing What it's for
Break programs Fall, winter, and spring break A shorter option that still gives an immersive cultural experience
Summer programs Summer Faculty-led and partner programs; the site cites examples such as studying Berlin's tech industry's impact on German artistic culture, and a 6-week ISU faculty-led program at Universidad de Valencia in Spain
Semester programs One semester Intensive language programs or deep immersion in a country's art and culture; examples include Cáceres, Spain and Urbino, Italy
Academic year Full year Longest option, listed among the program lengths the office provides

There is also an all programs view for anyone who wants to browse every option or filter by a particular time period. If you want an even wider set of choices beyond LAS, the site points to the broader ISU Study Abroad site.

How to get started

  1. Browse the program types (break, summer, semester, all programs) to see what fits your timeline.
  2. Schedule an appointment with LAS Study Abroad to talk through options — this is the office's main call to action.
  3. Contact the office to set up an information session if you have questions before committing.
  4. Check upcoming events and deadlines so you don't miss application windows.

What to keep in mind

  • The office is a college-level unit (Liberal Arts and Sciences) but its programs are open to all ISU students, so you don't need to be an LAS major to participate.
  • Program lengths span short-term, semester-length, and academic year, so there's a fit for most schedules.
  • Specific costs, eligibility requirements, and application deadlines are not detailed on the page itself — you'll need to schedule an appointment or check the events and deadlines section for current information.

The clearest next step is to schedule an appointment or attend an information session, then browse programs by the time period that works for you.