Undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to consider taking part in study abroad. Below is a list of study abroad opportunities of particular interest to CDM students. Please visit the Study Abroad site for the schedule of all available programs at DePaul.
You may also be interested in participating in a Global Learning Experience, which allows you to partner with students oversees on a collaborative project without leaving your home.
Atlantis Dual-Degree Program
Atlantis is a full academic year study abroad program leading to a bachelor’s degree in Business from Linköping University in Sweden. DePaul CDM juniors take business courses at BBA INSEEC in Lyon, France in the fall, followed by spring semester courses at Linköping University in Linköping, Sweden. That coursework is combined with freshman and sophomore credits so the student can be awarded a standard three-year European bachelor’s degree before returning to the US. European courses count toward the student’s DePaul CDM degree, so when the student returns senior year to complete the CDM major, they will receive a second bachelor’s degree, this one from DePaul.
Students interested in Atlantis are encouraged to contact Janine Spears, the Atlantis Program Director, for more information and advising.
Berlin in Cinema
Berlin in Cinema is a ten-day trip to Berlin with side trips to Potsdam and Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. Berlin has a rich history of filmmaking and as a city has been photographed through the many tumultuous changes the city has endured. Students will have the opportunity to observe the filmmaking industry in action and also visit many iconic Berlin locations that have been immortalized on film. Pre, post, and during the trip, students will compare their assumptions and learned experiences of German cinema and culture to American cinema and culture. Students will visit sites of cultural significance including museums, galleries, and historic venues. Additionally, they will explore the similarities and differences in the architecture and urban planning between Berlin and Chicago, both homes to many Bauhaus buildings.
Contact Rob Steel or Lori Felker for more information.
Croatia: Immersive Film and Storytelling Workshop
Experience filmmaking in the heart of Europe through this intensive, 3-week study abroad program hosted by the Academy of Dramatic Art (ADA) at the University of Zagreb—one of the leading institutions for theatre, film, and performing arts in the region. Participants will develop advanced skills in screenwriting, directing, cinematography, sound design, and editing through a combination of lectures, hands-on workshops, on-location production, and personalized mentorship.
The program takes students to Zagreb, Croatia’s lively capital, and Grožnjan, a picturesque hilltop village in Istria known for its vibrant arts community. Students collaborate in small teams to take their projects from concept to pre-production and through principal photography, supported by ADA faculty and Croatian film professionals. Students will then complete post-production, participate in industry meetings, and present their finished short films at a celebratory showcase. Along the way, they will engage in cross-cultural collaboration with ADA students, gain valuable international production experience, and build lasting professional connections. By the end of the program, each participant will leave with a completed short film, an expanded creative toolkit, and a deeper understanding of how place, culture, and collaboration shape compelling cinematic stories.
Contact Michael Flores for more information.
Design, Landscape, and Society in Scandinavia
This program offers new perspectives on designers’ relationships to society and the natural world. Through visits to design studios, design centers, museums, and galleries in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, students will examine unique relationships among Scandinavian society, landscape, and culture with a focus on how they have affected the development of modern design in Scandinavia.
Contact Nathan Matteson for more information.
Documentary Filmmaking in India: Beyond Bollywood
For three weeks in December, students study India and its culture through documentary filmmaking. Students prepare for their Bollywood experience during the fall quarter in the Beyond Bollywood course (DC 370/DC 470). Documentary techniques taught in the fall prepare students for the intensive cultural immersion and hands-on workshop during the December Intersession (DC 396/DC 496). Students collaborate with an NGO under the guidance of filmmakers located in the heart of Bollywood. They also create an original visual media project while exploring the Taj Mahal, the palaces and forts of Jaipur and the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. Students with all levels of experience and from every discipline are welcome.
Contact Shayna Connelly for more information.
Games and Animation in Japan
Computer Games and Animation in Japan is a two-week trip to Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya. Students will visit game and animation companies to learn about the processes of crafting culturally-significant Japanese entertainment from creative industry professionals. Students will be given the opportunity to examine how Japanese games/animation/motion graphics have mutually influenced specific aspects of Japanese culture including art, design, fashion, advertising, television and everyday life in Japan. In addition, students will visit museums, galleries, restaurants, temples, cultural centers, and historic sites fostering meaningful experiences in their chosen areas interest and gather research materials they will later use to craft personal projects inspired by their impressions of the trip. In Nagoya, students will visit Trident College of Computing to work collaboratively with Japanese game/animation students on a festive and fun two-day game/animation jam.
Contact Brian Schrank or Shiro Akiyoshi, co-directors of this program, if you are interested in participating.
Iceland: A Cinematic Journey through Film Locations, Sustainable Practices, and Cultural Heritage
Spend two unforgettable weeks in Iceland exploring the world of film, animation, and storytelling in one of the most breathtaking settings on earth. This immersive program takes you behind the scenes of Iceland’s creative industries, with visits to iconic film locations, production studios, and conversations with local professionals. You’ll discover how Iceland’s dramatic landscapes inspire visual storytelling while learning about sustainable practices shaping the future of filmmaking. On this trip you will gain fresh perspectives on how culture and environment shape the stories we tell.
Contact Wendy Roderweiss or Josh Jones with any questions.
Japan: Design and Culture
photo by Jezael Melgoza/Unsplash
Design and Culture in Japan is a two-week trip to Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanazawa. Students will have the opportunity to observe visual communication on a global scale and across various media platforms. Additionally, the trip will introduce students to the intricacies of Japanese design in both historic/traditional and contemporary culture by examination of how Japanese design has mutually influenced specific aspects of Japanese culture including art, design, fashion, architecture, advertising, television and everyday life in Japan.
New Zealand: Creating New Worlds on Film
Join us on a two-week adventure to New Zealand, as we explore the world of cinema through the lens of films shot there. From the mountains to the coastlines, New Zealand's diverse topography has provided stunning backdrops for films such as The Lord of the Rings, Whale Rider, and The Piano. New Zealand on Film: Creating New Worlds offers students a unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience and knowledge about New Zealand’s live-action and animation industries and the artists who create these worlds.
Students will begin their journey in Auckland, a vibrant city influenced by Asia, Europe, and the Pacific. They will experience its cultural richness and natural beauty while exploring its cinematic significance. The trip continues to Rotorua, renowned for its geothermal activity and Maori heritage, where students will deepen their understanding of the intersection between culture and cinema. The adventure concludes in Wellington, the heart of New Zealand's film industry, with a visit to the world-famous WETA Workshop to witness the creative process behind groundbreaking visual effects and props used in the Lord of the Rings and Avatar series and other iconic films.
Contact Wendy Roderweiss for more information.
Ottawa International Animation Festival
This annual trip to Ottawa, Canada is designed for undergraduate and graduate animation students who have an interest in attending the Ottawa International Animation Festival, the largest and most prestigious animation festival in North America, taking place every September. At the festival, students will have the opportunity to see screenings of competition, feature, showcase, and student programs; attend industry events, panels, and talks; and meet animators, critics, teachers, and animation directors from around the world. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the state of animation industry both domestically and internationally and increase their awareness of the international film festival circuit.
Students interested in participating in this program may contact Meghann Artes or Josh Jones for more information.