International Understanding (9 credits)

Revised September 24, 2020

All undergraduate plans of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Forestry, or Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture must include a minimum of nine credits from the international understanding selectives list on this page, or equivalent study abroad programs, international travel courses, or international work experiences. Six credits are required in programs of study leading to the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering or Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering degree.

International understanding selective credits may be used to fulfill written and oral communication, social sciences and humanities, or departmental requirements.

In today's rapidly changing international environment, students must broaden their understanding and appreciation of the historic, cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity of the world's peoples, while enhancing their ability to interact effectively with people from other cultures. The objective of the international understanding component of the core curriculum is to stimulate students to explore the world and responsibly apply their learning and knowledge to global challenges.

Study Abroad Programs or International Travel Courses

In lieu of including nine or more credits of international understanding selectives in a plan of study, students may partially or totally fulfill the international understanding requirements by earning credits in an approved study abroad program or international travel course.

Regardless of the academic discipline, all credits earned in an approved study abroad program or international travel course may be used toward the nine-credit international understanding requirement.

International Work Experience

Successful completion of an approved noncredit international work experience (AGR 49500) may be used as follows:

  • An experience of 4-7 weeks may be used in lieu of three credits of international understanding selectives to fulfill the international understanding requirement.
  • A minimum eight-week summer session experience may be used in lieu of six credits of international understanding selectives to fulfill the international understanding requirement.
  • An academic semester experience may be used in lieu of nine credits of international understanding selectives.
Total number of credits required for graduation are not reduced when students fulfill international understanding requirements through participation in approved noncredit international work experiences.

Military Service in Other Countries

Military service in other countries may be used as follows:

  • Documented military service of 4-7 weeks may be used in lieu of three credits of international understanding selectives to fulfill the international understanding requirement.
  • Documented military service in other countries equivalent to an eight-week summer session may be used in lieu of six credits of international understanding selectives to fulfill the international understanding requirement.
  • Documented military service in other countries equivalent to an academic semester may be used in lieu of nine credits of international understanding selectives.
Total number of credits required for graduation are not reduced when students fulfill international understanding requirements through military service in other countries.

Foreign Citizens

Foreign citizens who have lived in their native country prior to enrolling at Purdue University fulfill the College of Agriculture International Understanding core requirement.

International Understanding Selectives

International understanding selectives have been approved by the Agriculture Curriculum and Student Relations Committee. The courses meeting this requirement are identified in the Ag Core course listing:

Ag Core Courses in (filterable) Excel format

Often, students meet the international understanding requirement by wisely selecting communications, humanities, and/or social sciences selectives or other courses which apply to toward the major.

Advisors may nominate additional courses for inclusion as selectives by submitting course information to the Curriculum and Student Relations Committee. Nominated courses must meet at least one of the following criteria to merit inclusions as an international understanding selective.

  1. Engage appropriately and effectively with people from other countries and cultures.
  2. Communicate with people from other cultures including those who speak languages other than English.
  3. Identify and understand both similarities and differences in values and social norms across countries and cultures.
  4. Demonstrate awareness of the variety of political and economic systems in different countries.
  5. Understand the influence of history, geography, ethnicity, religion and other factors on contemporary countries, societies and cultures.