CIEE and ASU lead change in study abroad, eliminating curriculum barriers with ASU Online
Photo by Jinda Noipho/iStock
The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) and Arizona State University have joined forces to ensure that every student can study abroad wherever they most desire and still complete the coursework they need to stay on track for graduation.
The partnership allows students from hundreds of America’s leading colleges and universities enrolled in any of CIEE’s 300 study abroad programs offered at 40 international locations to take in-person classes at highly respected international universities, locally with highly rated CIEE faculty, or online through ASU’s world-leading portfolio of online courses. The goal of the partnership is to eliminate curriculum barriers for every student who wishes to study abroad.
“Research has shown that study abroad is one of the most transformational college experiences a student can have,” said ASU Executive Vice President and University Provost Nancy Gonzales, as members of CIEE visited the university this week to meet with select deans and stakeholders.
“For this reason, ASU has made it our priority to expand access to study abroad opportunities by reducing barriers like cost and curriculum requirements — both of which have prevented students from participating in international study. We are proud to partner with a leader in international study abroad that aligns with our goal of providing an excellent and impactful education that is accessible to all.”
ASU Online offers over 4,700 college courses that support more than 300 programs of study and are taught online by the same ASU faculty who teach in-person sections. The ASU Online course catalog includes thousands of high-demand courses in engineering, technology, science, business, entrepreneurship, health care, education, social sciences, environmental science and sustainability, and more.
Beginning in January 2025, students will be able to enroll in CIEE’s 300-plus global programs as currently offered, with courses delivered by local host universities or by CIEE faculty, and they will also have the option of augmenting their program with courses from ASU Online. This additional online option will eliminate the curriculum barrier for any student whose home university accepts online credit and provides an infinite number of ways a student in any major can study abroad and stay on track for an on-time graduation.
CIEE will offer ASU Online courses to students at no additional cost, keeping CIEE programs the most affordable study abroad programs available.
“It’s an honor to partner with ASU, the recognized leader in higher ed innovation, on our shared goal to expand access to global education for all,” said James P. Pellow, president and CEO of CIEE. “Together, ASU and CIEE are leading change in study abroad to ensure that all students, regardless of their academic course requirements, have the opportunity to embrace the transformational experience of study abroad, which is widely known to be a high impact experience for undergraduates, helping them perform better academically, retain at higher rates, and prepare them for future career success in today’s globally interconnected world.”
More Arts, humanities and education
ASU course explores culture through an interdisciplinary lens
When Razieh Araghi joined Arizona State University in fall 2025, she wanted to show students the power of humanities. Her course — SLC 202 Exploring Cultures: Words, Images, Stories — aims to do…
ASU launches ‘AI-Informed Writing Classroom’
“How do I know what I think until I see what I say?”This question, attributed to novelist E.M. Forster, alludes to the role of writing in discovery and cognition.In 2026, the existence of large-…
Fluent Futures Lab teaches what English textbooks miss
Learning English is about more than mastering key vocabulary and demonstrating verb tenses — it’s about knowing what to say, how to say it and when. At Arizona State University,…