Major Advising Page: Information Science
Information science is a global field. Studying abroad is an opportunity to gain a global perspective and understanding of technology, data, and information. Computing, data, and information technologies have become an integral part of our world, and communicating across cultures is essential to tackling the technologically complex and information-rich questions facing society.
Course considerations
Though the structure of the information science major is flexible with many course options, careful planning can ensure you are on track for completing major requirements.
Information science students need to keep in mind that at least 15 credits of work in the major need to be completed on campus. Beyond that, there are no requirements for particular coursework you need to take at UW–Madison versus abroad.
There are courses abroad that may transfer back as Library and Information Studies (LIS) special topics courses rather than being a direct equivalent to a UW–Madison course.
- LIS 340: Topics in Information Studies – Social Aspects
- LIS 341: Topics in Information Studies – Technological Aspects
- LIS 640: Topics in Library and Information Studies
These special topics courses may be eligible to count towards fulfilling major requirements. Please contact your Information Science advisor with any questions.
Participating in career development, an internship, and/or community engagement is an important part of the information science major. Students can meet this requirement abroad. Learn more about interning abroad.
Map your experience as an
information science student
The information science major is designed to be customizable, and thus, students can integrate a study abroad experience during their academic career. If you are interested in majoring in information science and studying abroad, we encourage you to start learning about the study abroad process.
Once you have some ideas, be sure to consult with your Information Science advisor. It is encouraged to declare the major prior to studying abroad. The more complex your undergraduate program is (the number of additional majors or certificates, athletic or other heavy extracurricular involvement, etc.) the more you will need to plan in advance to fit study abroad in your academic career.
Due to the iSci major’s flexibility, some students have opted to take information science coursework abroad, and others have not.
Although junior year is the most popular time to study abroad, students also go during their sophomore or senior years, or during summer or winter break. If you are pursuing another major or a certificate, it will be important for you to work with all of your program advisors on the timing.
If you decide to go during your senior year, make sure that your program will fulfill all of your remaining academic requirements. Remember: studying abroad in your final senior semester may cause you to miss your UW–Madison graduation ceremony because semester-end dates vary from country to country.
Also, keep in mind that a lot of post-graduation recruitment in tech happens in the fall of your senior year. Going abroad in my senior year will mean doing most of this remotely. Please contact SuccessWorks with any questions.
Ask questions
- What classes should I take here at UW–Madison, both for the major and my degree?
- Do I need to be on UW–Madison’s campus for any courses in my major?
- How many electives do I have outside of my major?
- What classes can I take abroad?
- How and when do I select courses for my program?
- When will I know course equivalents for my program?
- What is the class structure like abroad?
- What skills do careers related to my major require, and how might participating in a particular program help me gain those skills?
- When would be the best time to participate in a program based on my career goals?
- How will participating in a study abroad, study away, or international internship make me stand out?
- Why do I want to study abroad?
- How long do I want to study abroad for — a few weeks, a semester, a year?
- How does studying abroad fit into my academic, personal, and/or professional goals?
- What career skills or proficiencies will I strive to acquire or enhance on my program?
Discover programs that are right for you
The following are programs that may be of interest to you! Durations and courses vary and may count toward electives or degree requirements. If you do not have specific requirements, there’s more flexibility in program type and location.
In this section
These opportunities are not an exhaustive list of all programs.
Semester and academic year programs
Australia
Czech Republic
Denmark
DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia (semester and summer)
England
- University of Leeds
- London School of Economics (year and summer)
- University of Manchester
Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong (year and summer)
Japan
Netherlands
IES Amsterdam (semester and summer)
(Psychology & Sciences track)
United States
UW Wisconsin in Washington, DC Internship Program (semester and summer)*
Wales
Short-term programs
Denmark
DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia (semester and summer)
England
London School of Economics (year and summer)
Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong (year and summer)
Japan
AIP Internship in Tokyo (summer)*
Netherlands
- Sage Corps Internships (summer)*
- IES Amsterdam (semester and summer)
(Psychology & Sciences track)
South Korea
AIP Internship in Seoul (summer)*
Spain
Sage Corps Internships (summer)*
United States
UW Wisconsin in Washington, DC Internship Program (semester and summer)*
International Internships
International internships are another way to gain valuable professional experience abroad while earning course credit. Study abroad programs marked with an asterisk (*) above include a required or optional internship alongside your coursework.
Some internships abroad can also fulfill the Career/Community/Internship requirement for the information science major. The opportunities listed below include the internship course International Studies 523, which will meet this requirement. These are UW Signature Internships, which are generally offered in spring and summer terms and are developed exclusively for Badgers.
Internships that might be of interest to you include:
- Belgium: HELHa Electronics Research Intern
- Chile: GobLab Public Sector Algorithms & Data Science Research Assistant Intern
- Finland: FSE Marketing & Communications Intern
- India: Sehgal Foundation Rural Development Intern
- Puerto Rico, USA: Vieques Historical Archive Intern
- Spain: Cátedra del Tajo Water Pollution Data Analysis Intern
- Spain: Xross Connect Business & Marketing Intern
- Tanzania: FIEN Foundation Web Development or Information & Communications Technology Intern
Hear from students in your major
Explore student blogs and reflections to see how your peers have connected international experiences to their studies. Discover real stories about the skills, challenges, and professional insights gained through our programs.
Photo credit: Benjamin Plum (Denmark)
Want more information?
Dive deeper into how courses and credits work on our programs, or connect with an advisor to find the best fit for your goals.
Last updated: