Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota
Why Study in the Twin Cities?
Discover a different kind of study-away experience in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Explore diverse communities, learn from local changemakers, build professional connections, and experience the culture, creativity, and natural beauty of the Twin Cities.
If you are applying to HECUA from a school outside Minnesota, you may be wondering what makes the Twin Cities a great place to study away. Explore the reasons to go beyond the classroom in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Explore the Twin Cities
Why Study Away in the Twin Cities?
There are many reasons to consider studying away in the Twin Cities. From multicultural communities and community organizing to professional networks, great food, green spaces, and a thriving arts scene, Minneapolis and St. Paul offer opportunities to learn through real-world experiences.
You don’t have to study abroad to have a cross-cultural experience. You don’t have to study abroad to hear a different language. You don’t have to study abroad to discover something new about yourself.
The Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area is home to many diverse cultures and communities. The cities are located on unceded Dakota land. Many Dakota and Ojibwe people call this place home.
The Twin Cities also have the largest Somali population in the United States and the second-largest Hmong population in the United States, according to the supplied source material, alongside a growing Latinx/Hispanic community.
You will hear many languages while walking down the street. You may see different festivals and celebrations or encounter interfaith groups engaging in activism for social justice.
Because HECUA programs are experiential by design, you will meet diverse communities through field visits, guest speakers, and an internship with a local organization.
- Cross-cultural learning close to home
- Indigenous Dakota and Ojibwe communities
- Somali, Hmong, Latinx/Hispanic, and other cultural communities
- Languages, festivals, and community celebrations
- Interfaith engagement and social justice
- Field visits, guest speakers, and internships
Great food is easy to come by in the Twin Cities. Check out the many vendors at Midtown Global Market. Dine in or take out from restaurants such as Pimento Kitchen.
You can find authentic global foods across the Twin Cities. Whether you are in the mood for Mexican, Ethiopian, or Thai food, vegan cuisine at J Selby’s, or a Juicy Lucy—a Minnesotan cheeseburger delicacy—you will have plenty of options.
Don’t forget to check out the array of local coffee shops. For those who like to dine in at home, you can get your produce from a local co-op or farmers market while they are in season.
- Midtown Global Market
- Pimento Kitchen
- Mexican, Ethiopian, and Thai cuisine
- Vegan cuisine at J Selby’s
- The Minnesota Juicy Lucy
- Independent coffee shops
- Community food co-ops
- Seasonal farmers markets
Official business links can be added after their destinations are verified.
The Twin Cities enjoy some of the highest quality of life in the country. However, there are also significant economic and educational disparities between BIPOC Minnesotans and their White counterparts.
These disparities prompt important questions: Who really benefits?
The murder of George Floyd was a key mobilizing moment, and the summer 2020 uprisings revealed to the world that racial and economic justice in Minnesota and across the United States remained far from reality.
At the same time, the Twin Cities are home to bold leaders and communities organizing for justice.
Labor, environmental, policy, education, healthcare, and racial justice activists are shaping conversations locally and nationally.
Through HECUA, the Twin Cities become your classroom for studying movement-building as you work alongside community organizations and develop your own capacity to make change.
- Racial justice
- Economic and educational disparities
- Community activism and labor organizing
- Environmental justice
- Education and healthcare advocacy
- Policy and political engagement
- Movement-building and social change
Studying off-campus in the Twin Cities allows you to begin building professional connections.
Whether you intern with a political advocacy organization, an arts organization, an urban farm, or a local media outlet, you can complete the semester with skills and connections to include on your resume.
All HECUA semester-long programs include an internship, according to the supplied source material.
HECUA has a 50-year history and a well-known reputation in the Twin Cities and across the nation, according to the source material. You will join a network of HECUA alumni working across many sectors and fields.
Getting outside is important for health, recreation, and enjoying the local environment. The Twin Cities are home to accessible public parks and green spaces.
There are 22 lakes in Minneapolis, according to the supplied source material. You can rent a bike on the weekend and travel along miles of trails. Spend your free time kayaking, hiking along the Mississippi River, or skiing.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in different seasons. Parks, lakes, and trails are part of the wider Twin Cities experience.
Check out the Three Rivers Park District system to explore opportunities for getting outdoors.
- Minneapolis lakes
- Biking and connected trails
- Kayaking
- Hiking along the Mississippi River
- Skiing and seasonal outdoor recreation
- Local parks and nature areas
- Three Rivers Park District
The official Three Rivers Park District link can be added after its destination is verified.
The Twin Cities are known for their thriving art scene and public support of the arts.
For artists and non-artists alike, the Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden and the Minneapolis Institute of Art are popular destinations.
Organizations such as Pangea World Theatre, Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center, and The Loft Literary Center support a vibrant arts community.
The Twin Cities also boast a thriving local music scene. Venues ranging from First Avenue to the Cedar Cultural Center provide a stage for local talent and draw well-known artists as well.
Whether concerts and performances take place in person or virtually, students can explore Minnesota’s music scene and discover artistic expression across the region.
Through murals, theatre, and music, students will find abundant opportunities to engage with artistic expression in the Twin Cities.
- Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Pangea World Theatre
- Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center
- The Loft Literary Center
- First Avenue
- Cedar Cultural Center
- Murals, public art, theatre, literature, and live music
Official venue and organization links can be added after their destinations are verified.
