It's Your World

This section provides information that will help you answer these questions.

Getting the most from any study abroad program requires open-mindedness, flexibility, dedication, independence, and above all, a spirit of adventure. Some programs, however, require more of these characteristics than others. Also keep in mind your adventure quotient when considering programs. Challenge yourself, but be realistic.

Your Study abroad Office Find out if your campus has a study abroad office. (It probably does if it sends more than just a few students abroad to study.) Study abroad advisors are experienced guides, especially in knowing what your campus supports and encourages. They can assist you in exploring all reasonable alternatives and help you sharpen your objectives for a foreign study program. He or she will help determine whether the courses you are considering will mesh with your educational goals--and whether you will receive academic credit for them. If your school doesn't have a study abroad advisor, consult the office of the academic dean, the office of academic advising, or a faculty member who is knowledgeable about foreign study programs. As described below, access to study abroad resources via written materials and the Internet is easy.

Field of Study

What do you want to study? The largest percentage of U.S. students abroad take some courses in their major, while others take a broader selection. The most prevalent course work available overseas is in social sciences and humanities areas, followed by business and management; third in popularity are foreign languages. But programs exist in nearly every subject, from art to zoology. There are courses in animation, classical studies, chemistry, development studies, historical preservation, literature, marine biology, mathematics, the performing arts, physics, social anthropology, TEFL/TESL (Teaching English as a Foreign (or Second) Language), and women's studies. You can learn or polish a foreign language, including Aramaic, French, Kannada, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Xhosa. And you can study the people and culture of another country or region.

Explore a New Subject
You might like to take an opportunity to explore an entirely new subject. Some students go abroad to take courses that aren't available at their home campuses. Others want to pursue subjects that can offer a richer experience when they studied in another country -- political issues of the Middle East, for example, or the marine biology of Jamaica. If you are considering this option, find out how it will affect your graduation plans. Will you be able to meet your graduation and major departmental requirements? Will you need to spend an additional semester or year on campus?

Foreign Language Courses
Many students take part in study abroad to learn a new language or to perfect their skills in a language that is their major or minor. Living in a foreign country can make learning the local language much easier, thanks to abundant opportunities to hear it and practice speaking it. In addition, you may want to study a language or a dialect that is rarely taught in the U.S.

If you are interested in foreign language study, make sure any programs you consider are taught at your level of proficiency. Check program facilities: Is there a language lab? Is it well-equipped? Will you have access to a multimedia center or library? Will the credits be accepted by the appropriate language department at your home university?

ACADEMIC CREDIT

It is as important to make sure you are able to earn the maximum academic credit for your program abroad as it is to decide what or where to study. With the ever-increasing cost of a college education, no one wants to discover upon return home that credit for a semester or academic year spent studying abroad will not be accepted. Even if the program is offered by your home university, having the credit accepted and counted toward graduation, is seldom automatic.

It is essential to get approval in advance--and in writing. This may be routinely done on your campus or you may need to take an active role in getting approval for your study abroad program. Most colleges and universities only accept credit from programs that they authorize in advance. In fact, if you're receiving financial aid of any kind, pre-approval is required.

Find out if your campus has a procedure (or a requirement) for arranging pre-approval of the academic work you intend to take abroad. A study abroad advisor is the best source of help in this process. If your school doesn't have one, check with your registrar , faculty advisor, dean or admissions officer. These are the questions to ask:

-The number of contact hours of the program: hours spent in lectures, labs, field work, etc.
-The course format
-Course outline and reading list
-Information on the level of the course
-The academic credentials of the teaching faculty
-Method of course assessment (exams, essays, projects, etc.)
-The grading system ( ABCDEF, numerical scale etc. ) and the lowest passing grade
-After you return, you may be asked to furnish your course notes, exams, papers, etc., before credit
is granted or a course is certified as meeting a particular graduation requirement.

Amount of credit will also depend on whether the study abroad program is on a quarter or semester basis. If your home school offers classes by semester, and the overseas program is on a quarter system, ask your advisor how transfer credit is calculated.

In addition, universities may (or may not) grant credit for independent study, internships and other experiential study, as well as dissertation credit for graduate students who do research abroad. If you are interested in these types of credit, discuss the possibilities and the requirements with your academic advisor and the registrar.

In sum, be sure you know how much credit will be awarded for all overseas study and whether there are any tuition fees that must be paid to your home institution in addition to the fees for the study abroad program.

Grades
Foreign universities may give a number grade rather than a letter, or even give comments in place of a grade. In addition, grading in some overseas universities can be much stricter than in the U.S. Transferring of grades to an American system can be complicated. Therefore, some colleges show only the courses and the credits you take, without recording the grades on the transcript. In other cases, grades earned abroad are listed on the home transcript but not included in the grade point average (GPA). Be sure to ask whether your home institution figures grades earned abroad in your grade point average, as this might affect which courses you decided to take.

Note: Most graduate schools, medical schools, and law schools will ask to see the original transcript from your international program. These institutions may convert the grades from abroad and include them in your GPA, even if your home institution does not.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

An important factor when considering a study abroad program is its language of instruction: do you need to know the local language in order to begin (or complete) the program? If so, how well? In some programs, some courses are offered in the native language, and others in English. For a number of overseas study programs, a specified degree of fluency in the host language is required for entry. Others require that you be willing to study the local language, perhaps at the beginning level. This, of course, is not an issue in English-speaking countries, or with programs in other countries that teach courses for foreigners in English.

You can evaluate your language skills either by taking a language proficiency or placement exam or by taking an appropriate foreign language class. Sometimes testing is done on the home campus, and sometimes programs themselves will test applicants (or accepted students, after arrival, to judge the level of their placement). How well can you understand and communicate in a foreign language? It is wise to be completely realistic about your level of competency. Being able to carry on a simple conversation in another language is no guarantee that you can do academic work in it. On the other hand, opportunities to make quantum leaps forward in your language proficiency are one of the reasons for studying overseas. You might be amazed at how much you will learn once you are surrounded by a language other than English and have ample opportunities to speak, read, and write it.

Many study abroad programs sponsored by American colleges and universities are conducted in cooperation with a foreign university or offer special courses taught by foreign faculty. In such arrangements, courses are typically taught in the language of the host country language, and generally require a minimum of two years of college study or the equivalent in that language. Some American colleges and universities offer language immersion programs to prepare their students for this course work.

A second choice is to enroll directly in a foreign university, where courses are usually taught in the host country language -- or in an institute set up to meet the needs of foreign and visiting (non-matriculated) students. In either instance, you will need to be sufficiently fluent in the local language in order to be able to comprehend lectures--including academic and technical terminology--and read scholarly books and other publications. Most foreign universities and institutes require U.S. students to take a language proficiency exam before admission. If your language skills need some brushing up, many foreign universities offer visiting students special courses in the language, and others on the native culture and history. Note: direct enrollment typically means more effort on your part to ensure your home college/university approval of credit and financial aid transfer.

A number of study abroad programs offer some classes in English and some in the local language. With these, you'll be able to understand and participate in classes while you polish your foreign language skills.

Consider a program that offers all course work in English, plus a foreign language class (which is typically taught in the language being studied). This is an option within many study abroad programs, including short-term overseas programs, often held in the summer or a winter interim. But review the course offerings carefully, as such programs typically offer only a limited selection of courses. Whatever your foreign language skills, you're likely to have a better understanding and appreciation of your host country if you make an effort to learn the local language. Learning a foreign language in a country in which it's spoken is an entirely different experience from learning it at home. Because you are surrounded by the language in everyday life, what you learn in the classroom can be practiced everywhere you go. Even if you acquire only "survival" language skills, the people you meet will appreciate your efforts. This is likely to open up even more opportunities to practice your proficiency.

TIMING AND DURATION

When would overseas study be best for you? How much flexibility is there in your academic schedule? How long a sojourn can you afford with your economic resources, even with financial assistance? These are major considerations you need to think about before choosing a program. In the past, most undergraduates who went abroad typically did so during their junior year, for the entire year. The majority were foreign language majors, or studied in English-speaking countries. Today, many options exist for study abroad across the curriculum; for participating in programs which vary in duration from a few weeks to a calendar year; and for studying abroad at almost any point during undergraduate degree studies (or after one has graduated). All of these options exist -- at least in theory. In practice, your college or university may have rules and requirements which restrict your choices a little or a lot.

Timing
When is the best time to study abroad? That depends on you and your degree program.. Study and living abroad can give you new insight into your academic goals, so taking part in this experience early in your undergraduate education--typically at some point in the sophomore year--can help provide academic direction. If, however, you have strong academic interests that you would like to explore beyond the boundaries of your home campus, study abroad might be more appropriate in your junior or senior year. Be aware that some universities don't allow senior year study abroad, and some allow it only in the first semester of the year. Be sure to check with your campus study abroad office regarding institutional policies.

Duration
How much time do you want to spend studying abroad? Study abroad advisors, from long experience listening to returned students generally counsel that the longer the program and the more immersed in the local culture you are, the greater the long-range benefit.

Academic Year or Semester: About half of all U.S. students current studying abroad are participating in semester or academic year abroad programs. Such programs, because of their length and opportunities for true immersion in a foreign culture, are likely to make the strongest and most long-lasting impact both academically and in terms of cross-cultural understanding and career preparation. It takes time to adjust to a new living and learning environment, and many would say that the best learning takes place after such adjustment has taken place. But there are other issues to consider. Do you have the discipline to pursue your studies for a semester or year away from home? Can you afford to spend that much time away from your academic program? If the answer to either of these is "no," there are still plenty of study abroad options available to you. About half of all U.S. students now studying abroad do so on short-term programs; that is, programs shorter than an academic semester. Shorter programs, if well-planned, can offer a more intensive and focused experience-- and may be the only realistic alternative in terms of the demands of your degree studies and economic resources.

Summer study programs range in length from two weeks to three months, with the largest number offered for one to two months. You can combine academic course work with program-related travel, or course work can be followed by vacation travel. Sometimes the program is entirely travel (in which case earning credit may not be possible). Such programs are sponsored both by American higher educational institutions, as well as by overseas universities, agencies, and organizations. So-called 'vacation' study programs are enormous in number and variety. Such programs are offered all over the world. You can study business law in Australia, fashion design in London, U.S.-Mexico relations in Mexico, and international finance in Tokyo. Programs range from two- or four-week courses to those that last two or three months. Courses of study vary from those with a strong focus on academics, with the addition of a few field trips, to a study tour, in which travel and learning are combined. Vacation and summer study programs are sponsored by U.S. colleges and universities and foreign higher educational institutions. Many specialized institutes abroad focus on the art, language, and culture of their home countries and offer short-term programs to U.S. nationals.

Interim study programs are held in the period between semesters, especially for universities on the 4-1-4 calendar, or between academic quarters for those operating on the quarter system.

Pre-freshman year programs are available for students who feel they need a breathing period between completing high school and beginning college.

Follow-up or Lab programs, led by the instructor, are held to supplement what was learned in class with first-hand, on-site, exposure to what was studied.

Some language study programs are sponsored by language-teaching institutes, e.g., Alliance Française, Goethe Institute.

Also available are 'study tour' programs in which a U.S. professor leads a traveling group of students, alums, or others within one country or to several countries, for credit or just the educational exposure.

LOCATION

Europe or Elsewhere Throughout the World?
Where is the best place for you to study? The answer obviously depends on many different personal, curricular, and institutional considerations. Think this through carefully, as no given place is likely to answer all your needs, and yet each place has something unique to offer. Western Europe is the traditional destination for American students going abroad, and now accounts for about two-thirds of all students. One of the reasons students head for Western European countries is because there are so many well-established program sites there. Yet programs now beckon from all over the globe.

But, in increasing numbers, students are also deciding to consider other regions, sometimes based on course work, sometimes on language, cultural, or career interests. Excellent programs are available in the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America, South America, the Caribbean and the islands of the South Pacific. In fact, almost (but not quite) everywhere! You can study volcanology in Costa Rica, political change in South Africa, Buddhism in Tibet, or indigenous music in Zambia. Nothing can compare with learning a foreign language in a country where it's spoken, whether that means learning Spanish in Spain or Wolof in Senegal.

Living and learning in a culture that is dramatically different from one's own can provide an incomparable learning experience, challenging customary assumptions about one's own society and values and providing a unique perspective on the larger world. The fact that nearly three-quarters of the world's population live in 'developing' nations is bound to have a significant effect on the course of history. From an economic standpoint, it is worth noting that U.S. trade with developing countries now approaches 40 percent of all U.S. imports and exports. In today's economically interdependent world, knowledge of developing nations may prove to be a tremendous career asset. One legacy of colonialism in these culturally diverse and economically emerging countries is that the language of instruction in higher education is often English, Spanish or French rather than the native language. This does not apply, however, to countries like China, which has an extensive scientific and technical literature of its own, and which draws large numbers of students to study its literature, languages and cultures.

In Search of Roots
Some students go abroad in search not of the new, but of what they hope and assume will accord with their own family background, whether ethnic, religious, or national. Students from Arabic-speaking families thus sometimes wish to study in the Middle East, Hispanic students might select any of the countries where Spanish is spoken, Jewish students might opt for Israel, African-American students might be interested in one of the many programs in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asian-American students may look to programs in the Orient. If this is part of your motivation, you are likely to find rewarding connections to your background. But be prepared to find that, no matter how fluently you speak the local language or how closely you resemble the local people, you will first of all be treated as 'an American' by the local population.

Big City Vs. Small Town
Do you want to study in a big city? A small town? A rural area? A large city offers a wide array of social choices and many cultural opportunities, but it can also be expensive, impersonal, and more cosmopolitan than national in its identity. Aix-en-Provence is perhaps a more 'French' city than Paris, Tampere a more 'Finnish' city than Helsinki, for instance. On the other hand, a provincial town or rural area can offer a traditional way of life and more contact with local residents, but its narrower lifestyle may be too confining for some.

One place or many?
Do you want to spend most of your time in one place, or travel to several places? Would you like full-immersion in one culture or comparative glimpses of many, in pursuit of common themes or issues - e.g., environmental pollution, national health care systems, the treatment of minorities, etc.? While the majority of study abroad programs are based primarily in one location, with occasional excursions to other nearby cities, a few programs involve some or even considerable travel. A program of studying wildlife ecology in Kenya, for example, will probably include a number of excursions from the classroom to game reserves. Other programs use travel as a means of comparing and contrasting differences. One program on Ecuadorian ecology takes students from the capital city of Quito to a small village, through the Amazon rain forest, and to the Galapagos Islands. Another looks at issues affecting women in England, the Netherlands, and Germany. Yet another contrasts business management assumptions and policies in Korea, China, and Japan.

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