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Students choose to study abroad for many reasons. Some want to see the world, others want to learn about new cultures and/or work on their language skills, while others want to build skills that are attractive to future employers. Whatever the reasons, study abroad complements academic study and is an essential part of preparing to thrive in an increasingly global 21st century world community.

Faculty-Student Academic Travel (FSAT) programs provide ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps the opportunity for a short-term, faculty-led experience abroad. Most FSAT program courses carry college credit and can fulfill a requirement in the REACH core curriculum and/or the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp’s major, depending on the program. Each course is linked to its own custom travel component that brings the classroom to life. Together, ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps and faculty travel abroad to amazing destinations to make a valuable connection between the classroom and real-world experience. These programs are great options for first-time travelers and ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps whose personal, professional, or academic situation does not allow them to be out of the country for an extended period of time.

The ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp in Ireland Program is a full-term experience that takes ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps and faculty to the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp University Ireland facility in Dungarvan, Ireland for eight weeks. If accepted, ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps take 2-3 courses onsite in Ireland, live in university-leased accommodations, and travel/study throughout Ireland and Europe as part of the program.

Independent Programs offer many options for ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps in all majors for summer, semester, and full-year study abroad. These programs are administered by "affiliates," which are approved providers (i.e. international study abroad programs such as AIFS, Global Experiences, API, CEA, CIEE, CIS, ISA, Semester at Sea, Spanish Studies Abroad).

An undergraduate with at least 30 credits who meets the minimum GPA requirement and who is not on academic program or disciplinary sanction, is eligible to apply to study abroad through the Office of Global Programs. Qualifying ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps can apply to study abroad for a full academic year, a single semester, or during the summer. There may be curricular limitations on when ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps can study abroad, and most study abroad programs have a GPA requirement of 2.5 and many require at least a 3.0.

Not only are there programs in locations where English is the primary language, many study abroad programs offer courses taught in English while providing introduction to and support for the development of a second language.

A number of the university's affiliates (i.e. international study abroad programs such as AIFS, Global Experiences, CEA, CIEE etc.) offer programs that facilitate ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps seeking to do community/service learning or completing internships. Students interested in learning more about these opportunities are encouraged to consult with staff in the Office of Global Programs at least one year prior to the targeted study abroad term.

There is no correct time to study abroad, although most ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps study abroad in either their sophomore or junior years. Freshmen are not permitted to study abroad with affiliate programs but may participate in ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp-sponsored programs such as FSAT and Ireland.

Depending on the program and/or study destination, the cost of studying abroad could be similar to tuition fees at ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp, or more expensive. Students need to consider a number of factors when calculating study abroad expenses, including what the program fee does or doesn't include (i.e. airfare, housing, meals), as well as differences in the cost of living in various locations. Programs like AIFS, API, CEA, Athena Abroad, CIEE, CIS, ISA, Semester at Sea, Spanish Studies abroad and many others offer scholarships to ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps studying abroad with their programs.

It depends on how and when a ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp wants to study abroad and on the kinds of financial aid a particular ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp might be eligible for, but typically, some part of a ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp's financial aid may be applied to study abroad.

Students need to begin planning at least two terms before they hope to study abroad! The earlier a ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp starts, the more successful the study abroad experience.

The vast majority of ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps have plenty of room to fit study abroad into their four-year curriculum plans. Moreover, there are ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp sponsored programs, such as FSAT and Ireland, that are designed specifically to meet the needs of ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps who have particularly stringent academic requirements.

Most applications are available online and/or in the Office of Global Programs. Students need to begin by meeting with a study abroad advisor to learn about the application and approval processes. Application submission processes vary widely, but ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps can expect that they will have to submit general information, possibly an essay, an official university transcript, and one or more letters of recommendation.