With the growing popularity of American students choosing to study abroad, the topics of cultural understanding and global diversity are being discussed now more than ever before. Northern Arizona University recognizes the importance of incorporating international curriculum with more classes and exchange programs being offered every year. Currently, students cannot graduate without global awareness and ethnic diversity courses. Also, NAU's 35 units of liberal studies requirements include aesthetic and human inquiry and cultural understanding blocks.

One of the unique minors offered at NAU is in international communication. Commonly combined with a major in journalism, film or public relations. However, this minor can be added to any degree at NAU to enhance knowledge of international communication through coursework and experience while interacting with people from other cultures. There are many exchange opportunities for this minor offered by the school of communication. "If you're going to be working in any field you to need to know what is done internationally…you need to know how it's done in other parts of the world, you need to know how to work with people and it's helpful to have that in your back pocket," sophomore at NAU studying film, Chloe Greeley said.

NAU has become known for their successful exchange programs both in sending American students abroad as well as welcoming international students to Flagstaff. Education abroad gives students the opportunity to see the world and have unforgettable adventures and memories to last a lifetime. NAU students still pay their same tuition while studying abroad in another country which makes it an easy and affordable decision. Depending on the program, existing loans and grants may be applied. However, there are various scholarships specific to education abroad available to students on the NAU Education Abroad website. Exchange programs not only diversify college students education but also help to build resumes for future dream jobs. Global skills like being fluent in another language or understanding a multicultural environment creates a deeper understanding in any field of study. "I teach a class of 25 students and then my colleague at the University of Wollongong has a class…and we combine those together and online our students communicate together and learn together," cultural and film studies professor at NAU, Janna Jones said.

Today there are three different types of education abroad programs offered at NAU. First, studying abroad which includes taking classes in a foreign country. Second, international internships and research where academic credit is gained in a foreign country. Lastly, national student exchange which allows students to study at another United States or Canadian university. Studying abroad is by far the most common choice for NAU students and there are hundreds of programs available. These programs include studying in various regions of the world such as Asia and Latin America with Europe being the most popular destination.

In 2008 a panel was formed at NAU to discuss aspects of campus internationalization. Then, two years later the faculty senate embraced three ideas which included: environmental sustainability, global engagement and diversity. Administration asked all six colleges to research the global elements that already existed in their curriculum and the various departments gave ideas on how to improve them. Successfully globalizing the curriculum will not simply come from providing more oversea travel opportunities. It will require the academic departments to merge together to create more courses that incorporate global themes which then could lead to a wider change and more globally competent students at NAU.