Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Languages Program (UISFL)

The Office of International Studies at Montana State University Billings has been awarded a major three-year Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language (UISFL) grant from the International and Foreign Language Education program at the U.S. Department of Education.

This will further internationalize the university by developing new Study Abroad programs in East Asia, creating a new Global Studies Certificate Program, and developing faculty expertise in international studies.

MSUB is one of only 32 U.S. universities to receive such funding, and is the only university in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota to be funded, further promoting MSUB as the regional center of excellence for international studies. Importantly, Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, a long-time recognized leader in international studies in the region, is the key partner in this grant. Both universities will develop programs to support their students and faculty.

Spring 2023 Semester

• Feb. 15, 3-4pm, LA 716: UISFL Faculty Travel Grant Information Session
• March 3: UISFL Faculty Travel Grant Proposals Due
• March 3: UISFL Student Study Abroad Scholarship Applications Due
• April 3: UISFL Faculty Travel Grant Awardees Announced
• April 3: UISFL Student Study Abroad Scholarship Awardees Announced

Check back for updated information about the Spring 2023 Global Studies Seminar.

Fall 2022 Semester

• The Global Studies Seminar - France Themed Semester ran from mid-September to the week before Thanksgiving and entailed a multitude of events on a near-weekly basis.

 

• Sept. 22, 4-6pm, LI 148: Faculty Fellows Presentations and Travel Grat Information Session -
  More Information

 

 

The objectives of the project are to strengthen and improve undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign languages at both institutions. Grant funds are being used to revise and update curricula, develop faculty expertise and add language instruction at both institutions. Some funds support student study abroad in East Asia. The MSU Billings UISFL project is greatly enhancing faculty expertise in international studies, with an emphasis on East Asia, in Montana and Wyoming. Over the course of the grant period, faculty will be receiving funds to revise curricula and to travel to partner universities. Over 6,000 undergraduate students in a largely under-represented area will have full access to the activities and outcomes of the project (Global Studies Certificate, International Studies Minor –East Asia Track, Study Abroad, language instruction), thereby increasing their career prospects, especially in relation to service in areas of national need.

MSUB and NWC are using grant funds to increase opportunities for undergraduate students to grow their global skills by: 1) accessing a new interdisciplinary Global Skills Certificate Program and International Studies Minor, focusing on East Asian studies and 2) increasing faculty expertise in Global Skills learning outcomes and East Asian studies in service of these programs. There are seven main objectives of this project: 1) increase faculty expertise in global studies, with priority given to East Asia; 2) create new and revise existing MSUB and NWC courses with focus on global studies; 3) develop and implement an interdisciplinary Global Studies Certificate Program; 4) increase participation in Study Abroad Programs in Korea, Japan, and China; 5) develop language programs in less commonly taught languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean); 6) develop a bi-annual Global Studies Seminar; and 7) form a Global Studies Advisory Committee.