In keeping with Butler University’s mission to boldly innovate and broadly educate, Butler Overseas provides a highly structured yet expansive global degree experience. Butler Overseas’ inaugural majors and minors are Environmental Science and International Business, with an exploratory track and more programs to come as demand for globally informed perspectives continues to grow across industries and professions.
Centered on travel and high-quality educational programming, Butler Overseas is a cutting edge pathway for students seeking to graduate in three years while learning in the context of international experiences. The program is designed to build both career confidence and cultural competence through five key pillars:
An Interdisciplinary Approach rooted in Butler’s liberal arts foundation, which challenges students to explore complex problems with creativity and collaboration
An emphasis on International Perspectives, which students gain by studying in diverse locations across six continents as they earn their degrees
Innovation through Place-Based Learning, as each location becomes a living classroom and local culture, history, and context shape personal and academic growth
A continued commitment to Experiential Learning and Career Development, preparing future leaders through internships, research, and other immersive experiences
This unique degree model would not be possible without Butler’s 30-year partnership with the nonprofit Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA). Students and their families can expect a highly vetted, academically challenging, and rewarding degree program with the infrastructure to help students succeed.
IFSA’s mission is to create global learning environments that help students foster the critical perspectives, knowledge, and skills they need to thrive—now and in the future. The Institute champions inclusive, impactful study abroad programs because students grow in curiosity, independence, and empathy when they learn in new cultural settings.
Butler Overseas students will study at IFSA-supported locations while abroad. These locations have onsite staff, in-person instruction, and robust student services.
This program was made possible through the collaborative efforts of more than 60 faculty and staff from Butler and IFSA, with significant leadership provided by the following individuals:
Jill McKinney (Center for Global Education)
Stuart Glennan (Academic Lead; Science, Technology and Environmental Studies Director)
Jesse Van Gerven (Environmental Studies)
Marleen McCormick Pritchard (International Business)
Elise Edwards (Academic Leadership, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences)
Hilary Buttrick (Academic Leadership, Lacy School of Business)
A Degree Program Like No Other
Most universities have study abroad programs with both short term and full semester options. Why choose Butler Overseas?
