Faculty are central to global learning at Cal State LA. Students are far more likely to see international learning as relevant to their education when it is introduced, encouraged, and connected to the curriculum by the faculty members they already know and trust.
Our vision of Global Learning for All extends beyond traditional study abroad. It includes international and intercultural learning in Cal State LA classrooms, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), faculty-led programs, international research and creative activity, visiting scholars, international partnerships, exchange, and opportunities for students to learn with and from people around the world.
Faculty make that ecosystem possible.
Global Learning for All
International education should not be available only to students who can spend a semester overseas. Cal State LA can create global learning at multiple levels and in multiple forms.
A student might study abroad for a semester, spend two weeks abroad with a Cal State LA faculty member, collaborate online with students in another country through COIL, learn from a visiting international scholar, work with international research partners, or encounter global perspectives intentionally embedded within a Cal State LA course.
Faculty are the connective tissue across all of these experiences.
How Faculty Can Engage
Promote Study Abroad
Help students see international learning as something that belongs in their academic plan and is open to them.
Build a COIL Experience
Connect your Cal State LA course with a course and faculty partner at another university without requiring students to travel.
Lead Students Abroad
Develop an academically meaningful Faculty-Led Program connected to a Cal State LA course.
Host a Visiting Scholar
Bring an international colleague into the intellectual life of your department, college, laboratory, center, or classroom.
Build Global Research
Find international collaborators, research mobility opportunities, fellowships, grants, creative residencies, and funding networks.
Build International Partnerships
Existing faculty relationships abroad can become the foundation for COIL, research, visiting scholars, exchange, and broader institutional collaboration.
Help Students Discover Study Abroad
One of the simplest ways faculty can expand global learning is to talk about study abroad in class.
Many students will never walk into the Office of Study Abroad because they assume international study is too expensive, will delay graduation, is not relevant to their major, or is simply not intended for students like them. A brief recommendation from a professor can change that perception.
Put Global Learning in Front of Your Students
Faculty can help by:
- Including study abroad information in the course syllabus
- Posting a study abroad resource in Canvas
- Mentioning international opportunities during class
- Encouraging students to complete Study Abroad 101
- Connecting study abroad to the discipline, major, and career pathways
- Encouraging students to begin planning early
- Inviting the Office of Study Abroad to speak with your class
Ready-to-Use Language for Your Course
Suggested Syllabus Statement
Global Learning and Study Abroad
Cal State LA students can build international experience into their education through semester and academic-year study abroad, exchange programs, faculty-led programs, and other global learning opportunities. Programs vary in length, cost, location, academic focus, and eligibility, and scholarships and other funding may be available.
If you are interested in studying abroad, begin with Cal State LA's Study Abroad 101 course in Canvas and explore current opportunities through the Office of Study Abroad.
Suggested Canvas Announcement
Interested in Studying Abroad?
Cal State LA offers several ways to add international experience to your degree. Opportunities range from semester and academic-year programs to exchange and shorter faculty-led experiences.
Your first step is Study Abroad 101, a self-paced Canvas introduction to program options, costs, scholarships, academic planning, and the study abroad process.
Help Make Study Abroad Academically Possible
Faculty support matters after a student becomes interested, too. Questions about degree progress, major requirements, electives, course equivalencies, and sequencing can determine whether a student ultimately participates.
Faculty and departments can help students think strategically about where international coursework may fit within the degree and encourage students to begin academic planning well before departure.
At the department and program level, identifying semesters or degree milestones that are especially compatible with study abroad can make international participation significantly easier for future students.
Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
COIL brings students and faculty at Cal State LA together with a class at an international partner institution for structured collaborative learning. Students remain enrolled in their regular Cal State LA course while working across cultures, time zones, institutions, and perspectives.
A COIL collaboration does not have to involve an entire course. Faculty may design a focused collaborative module, a multi-week project, or a deeper course partnership depending on the learning goals, partner relationship, academic calendar, and faculty capacity.
What COIL Can Add
- Intercultural communication
- Collaborative problem solving
- Comparative disciplinary perspectives
- International teamwork
- Global professional skills
- Access to global learning without travel
Where Partnerships Come From
A COIL partner may come from:
- An existing faculty collaborator abroad
- A Cal State LA international partner university
- A disciplinary or professional network
- A new institution identified through COIL partner development
COIL Foundations
Cal State LA is preparing to launch COIL Foundations, a self-paced faculty course that introduces the core principles and practices of Collaborative Online International Learning.
Once launched, faculty will be able to complete COIL Foundations at any time. It can be taken independently by faculty exploring COIL or completed in tandem with Cal State LA's COIL Training for Faculty, which is offered each spring.
COIL Foundations provides the conceptual and practical foundation. The annual spring faculty training provides a more guided opportunity to work through partnership development, course design, implementation, and the realities of building an international classroom collaboration.
COIL Foundations will introduce faculty to areas such as:
- Understanding the COIL model
- Identifying an appropriate course and collaboration model
- Finding and developing a faculty partnership
- Building trust and shared expectations with a partner
- Defining intercultural and disciplinary learning outcomes
- Designing collaborative student activities
- Managing academic calendar and time-zone differences
- Facilitating intercultural student teams
- Selecting appropriate technologies
- Assessing student learning and partnership outcomes
- Sustaining a successful COIL relationship over time
Faculty do not need to wait for the course or the spring training to begin thinking about COIL. Faculty with an existing international colleague or an idea for a future collaboration are encouraged to connect with the COIL team.
Faculty-Led Programs
Cal State LA is bringing Faculty-Led Programs back online through a clearer and more intentional development process designed to support academically strong, financially responsible, and well-planned international learning experiences.
Faculty-Led Programs connect Cal State LA coursework with short-term international learning. A strong FLP is more than a class that happens to meet overseas. The location, activities, assignments, community engagement, and excursions should contribute intentionally to the academic and intercultural learning outcomes of the course.
The goal of the new process is to give faculty a clearer pathway from initial idea to program design, University review, student recruitment, preparation, implementation, and return.
Programs That Advance Global Learning for All
As Cal State LA brings Faculty-Led Programs back online, we are particularly interested in opportunities that:
- Connect clearly to degree, major, minor, or General Education requirements
- Make international learning accessible to students who may not pursue semester-long study abroad
- Are designed with student cost and affordability in mind
- Expand participation across academic disciplines
- Engage regions and communities beyond traditional study abroad destinations
- Build on meaningful faculty expertise and international relationships
- Integrate intercultural learning intentionally into the curriculum
Faculty-Led Program Design Studio (FLPDS)
The new Faculty-Led Program Design Studio will provide a structured pathway for faculty interested in developing a Cal State LA Faculty-Led Program.
Rather than asking faculty to navigate the program-development process on their own, FLPDS will help faculty work through the major academic, operational, financial, student-support, and risk considerations that turn an international idea into a viable University program.
The Design Studio will address areas such as:
- Academic purpose and course design
- Program location and learning environment
- International partners and providers
- Student learning outcomes
- Budgeting and affordability
- Recruitment and student preparation
- Accessibility and student support
- Health, safety, and risk planning
- Program logistics
- University review and approval
- Predeparture learning
- Reentry, reflection, and assessment
Faculty do not need a completed proposal, itinerary, or budget to begin. If you are considering a future Faculty-Led Program, the first step is a conversation with the Director of the International Programs Office about the academic concept, potential location, intended students, and possible timing.
Interested in Developing a Faculty-Led Program?
Faculty-Led Program development is coordinated through the Director of the International Programs Office.
Start with the idea. We can discuss academic purpose, program concept, timing, location, feasibility, and the new development process before you invest significant time building a full program proposal.
Visiting Scholars
International visiting scholars can enrich the intellectual life of Cal State LA while creating relationships that extend well beyond an individual visit.
Faculty may serve as an academic host or collaborator for an international scholar whose work aligns with a department, college, center, laboratory, research project, or other academic activity.
A Visiting Scholar Can...
- Collaborate on faculty research
- Participate in scholarly or creative projects
- Engage with research centers and laboratories
- Give guest lectures or public presentations
- Meet with students and faculty
- Contribute international expertise to campus conversations
- Seed future research, COIL, or institutional partnerships
Faculty Host Role
A prospective visiting scholar generally needs an appropriate Cal State LA academic host and support from the relevant academic unit.
When Cal State LA will sponsor the scholar in J-1 status, the academic appointment and J-1 immigration process must also be completed before the scholar's program can begin.
Visiting Scholar & J-1 Information
Turn Faculty Relationships Into Global Partnerships
Many of the strongest international university partnerships begin with a relationship that already exists between faculty.
If you collaborate with a university, researcher, department, professional network, field site, or organization outside the United States, we would like to know about it. An existing faculty relationship may create opportunities extending well beyond the original collaboration.
| Existing Connection | What It Could Become |
|---|---|
| Faculty colleague at an international university | COIL, collaborative research, guest teaching, or a future institutional partnership |
| International research collaborator | Joint research, external funding, visiting scholar activity, or student research engagement |
| Strong relationship with an overseas university | Student exchange, faculty collaboration, or broader institutional cooperation |
| International field site or community partner | Faculty-led learning, research, community-engaged scholarship, or future student opportunities |
Have an International Connection?
International faculty relationships may have potential beyond an individual collaboration. They can become the foundation for COIL, visiting scholars, student mobility, collaborative research, faculty-led learning, or a formal institutional partnership.
If you have an international university or faculty relationship that may have broader potential, connect with the Director of the International Programs Office.
International Research, Creative Work & Funding Opportunities
International research and creative funding exists across far more organizations than the major federal agencies most faculty already know. Opportunities may support collaborative research, research stays abroad, artistic and creative work, fieldwork, visiting appointments, conferences, scholarly exchange, international networks, public scholarship, and globally focused research.
The resources below are intended as a discovery starting point. Programs, eligibility rules, funding levels, and deadlines change frequently.
Start With ORSCA
Cal State LA's Office of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities (ORSCA) supports faculty with funding searches, proposal development, submission requirements, research compliance, and other aspects of externally funded research.
Faculty considering an external proposal should engage ORSCA early, particularly when a project includes international collaborators, institutional commitments, human subjects, international travel, export control, or other compliance considerations.
Cross-Disciplinary & Global Opportunities
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
International teaching, research, professional projects, and academic collaboration across a wide range of countries and disciplines.
National Geographic Society
Competitive opportunities supporting research, conservation, exploration, education, technology, and storytelling.
Grants.gov
Search U.S. federal grant opportunities across agencies, including internationally focused research, education, health, science, humanities, and development programs.
STEM, Engineering & Global Health
NSF International Collaboration
International science and engineering collaboration opportunities, including bilateral, multilateral, and program-based research.
NIH Fogarty International Center
Global health research, international research collaboration, and research-training funding opportunities.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
International and interdisciplinary research partnerships and staff exchange opportunities involving institutions participating in European research consortia.
Humanities, Social Sciences, Education & Community Research
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)
Fellowships and research support for humanities and interpretive social science scholarship.
Social Science Research Council (SSRC)
Fellowships and grant programs addressing social, political, technological, cultural, regional, and global questions.
Spencer Foundation
Research funding focused on education, teaching, learning, institutions, communities, policy, and educational change.
Wenner-Gren Foundation
Research, engaged scholarship, writing, conferences, and international opportunities in anthropology.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Collaborative humanities research and other competitive funding programs with potential for international scholarly participation.
Country & Region-Specific Opportunities
Some of the most interesting international research and creative opportunities are offered through organizations focused on a particular country or region. Faculty may want to explore these resources even when they have not previously considered themselves specialists in that region.
American-Scandinavian Foundation: Nordic Region
Fellowships and grants for Americans pursuing research or creative-arts projects in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Sápmi. Opportunities extend across academic, professional, artistic, design, humanities, science, and other fields.
Explore American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships & Grants
DAAD: German Academic Exchange Service
Research grants, academic mobility, institutional collaboration, and other opportunities involving Germany.
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: Germany
International research fellowships and collaborative research opportunities in Germany across academic disciplines.
Villa Albertine / Albertine Foundation: France
Supports French-American research, academic mobility, arts, cultural exchange, translation, performance, visual arts, and higher education. The Transatlantic Research Partnership supports collaborative research between U.S.- and France-based scholars.
Camargo Foundation: France & the Mediterranean
International residencies supporting artists, scholars, and thinkers working in the arts and humanities, including projects connected to French, Francophone, Mediterranean, and cross-cultural research and creative practice.
American Academy in Rome: Rome Prize
Prestigious residential fellowships supporting advanced work in the arts and humanities, including visual arts, architecture, design, literature, musical composition, historic preservation, environmental arts and humanities, and several areas of historical scholarship.
Bogliasco Foundation: Italy
Residential fellowships on the Italian Riviera for advanced creative and scholarly work in the arts and humanities, including literature, music, visual arts, film, architecture, history, philosophy, theater, dance, classics, archaeology, and public humanities.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
Research fellowships and collaborative opportunities connecting overseas researchers with scholars and institutions in Japan across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
Japan Foundation
Japanese studies, intellectual exchange, collaborative dialogue, cultural exchange, arts, and selected research initiatives connecting Japan with international partners.
Korea Foundation
Fellowships and support related to Korean studies, field research, academic exchange, policy research, arts and culture, and global scholarly networking.
Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange
Supports humanities and social science scholarship related to Chinese culture and society through research grants, conferences, publications, institutional projects, and fellowships.
MOFA Taiwan Fellowship
Supports overseas scholars conducting advanced research in Taiwan in areas including Taiwan studies, cross-strait relations, the Asia-Pacific region, Chinese studies, and related social science and humanities topics.
American Institute of Indian Studies
Research fellowships for scholars working in India, along with opportunities supporting language study and the performing and creative arts. Programs include opportunities for established scholars and creative practitioners as well as emerging researchers.
American Research Institute in Turkey
Research fellowships supporting work in Turkey across ancient, medieval, and modern topics in the humanities and social sciences. Funding availability varies by competition.
American Institute for Maghrib Studies: North Africa
Research grants supporting U.S. scholars conducting primary research on North African topics, including work in countries of the Maghrib. Opportunities vary by annual funding cycle.
American Center of Research: Jordan
Fellowships and research support in Jordan across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, archaeology, heritage, arts, and interdisciplinary Middle East studies.
American Center for Mongolian Studies
Field research and other fellowships supporting faculty, researchers, students, and professionals conducting research and academic exchange in Mongolia across a wide range of disciplines.
Council of American Overseas Research Centers: Explore Even More Regions
CAORC connects a network of American overseas research centers across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Individual centers offer region-specific fellowships, grants, language programs, research support, faculty development, and scholarly networks.
This is an especially useful resource when a faculty member has a particular country or region in mind but does not yet know which research institute or funding organization serves it.
International Scholarly & Creative Residencies
Faculty working in the arts, humanities, public scholarship, writing, and interdisciplinary fields should also consider international residency programs. These opportunities may provide something different from a traditional research grant: dedicated time, workspace, intellectual community, and an international setting in which to advance a major scholarly or creative project.
Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center
An international residency program at Lake Como supporting scholars, artists, practitioners, and other leaders advancing significant projects with public or social impact.
Civitella Ranieri Foundation
International residency fellowships in Italy supporting visual artists, writers, and composers. Selection is nomination-based rather than a standard open application, but the program is worth knowing as part of the international creative-fellowship landscape.
Found Something Interesting?
External opportunities differ substantially in applicant eligibility, institutional requirements, indirect costs, international partner requirements, deadlines, and submission procedures. Some opportunities are designed for individual applicants while others require an institutional submission.
Before preparing an institutional proposal or committing Cal State LA as a project partner, connect with ORSCA so the opportunity and submission pathway can be reviewed.
Global Learning Does Not Require Travel
Faculty can internationalize an existing course even when COIL or study abroad is not the right fit.
Ideas for the Classroom
- Use comparative international cases or datasets
- Include scholarship produced outside the United States
- Invite an international colleague to join a class virtually
- Design an assignment requiring students to examine an issue from multiple national or cultural perspectives
- Use global professional standards or practices within the discipline
- Connect students with international research, media, archives, or cultural resources
- Bring a visiting scholar into a course or departmental event
- Develop a future COIL module around an existing course assignment
These practices can expand access to global learning while also preparing students for deeper international experiences later.
Faculty & International Students
Cal State LA's international students and exchange students also bring global perspectives directly into our classrooms and campus community. Faculty play an important role in creating an academic environment where those perspectives can contribute naturally to learning.
Immigration Questions
When an F-1 or J-1 student has a question about immigration status, enrollment requirements, employment authorization, travel, or another immigration matter, connect the student with the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). Academic decisions such as dropping a course can sometimes have immigration consequences, so students should speak with ISSO before making a change that may affect their status.
What Can You Do This Semester?
Start Small. Build From There.
- Add the study abroad statement to your syllabus or Canvas course
- Share Study Abroad 101 with your students
- Invite the Office of Study Abroad to speak with your class
- Identify one course that could eventually include a COIL collaboration
- Tell us about an international faculty colleague or university connection
- Consider whether a future Faculty-Led Program fits your discipline
- Explore hosting an international visiting scholar
- Browse an international research or creative funding source you have not previously used
- Help a student think about how international coursework could fit the degree
Global Learning for All will be built through many faculty actions, large and small, across every college and discipline.
Connect With Us
Office of Study Abroad
Student study abroad advising, semester and academic-year programs, exchange opportunities, classroom presentations, and study abroad planning.
Faculty-Led Programs
Faculty-Led Program concepts, development planning, feasibility, and the Faculty-Led Program Design Studio.
COIL
COIL Foundations, spring faculty training, international faculty partnerships, course collaboration, and COIL development.
Global Partnerships
International university relationships, faculty connections, partnership concepts, and opportunities that may grow into broader institutional collaboration.
International Students & Scholars Office
F-1 and J-1 immigration questions, J-1 visiting scholar immigration processing, and immigration compliance.
Faculty Make Global Learning Possible
Global learning grows when it is connected to what students are already studying, the faculty they already know, and the academic communities to which they already belong.
Whether you are ready to develop an international program, interested in collaborating with a colleague abroad, looking for research or creative funding, or simply willing to put a study abroad opportunity in front of your students, there is a place for you in Cal State LA's growing global learning ecosystem.
Have an idea, question, or international opportunity you would like to explore? Connect directly with the Director of the International Programs Office.