Study Abroad
Key Information
Students should consult with their adviser and program OCS liaison about the off-campus program(s) that can best meet the students academic goals, and the best semester to study abroad. The program has no preferred semester for off-campus study.
All classes to be credited toward the major must be pre-approved by the chair of the program.
The Off Campus Liaison for Global Studies is Professor Jennifer Yoder.
What if I don’t have a 2.7 GPA for study abroad?
Remember you must have a 2.7 GPA to study abroad. If you are below the 2.7 but above 2.5 you may petition the Off Campus Study advisory committee to waive the 2.7 requirement. However, it is not automatic that you will be allowed to go; if your petition fails, you will be required to drop the global studies major unless (a) you completed a first year freshman program abroad or (b) you take an approved, 9 credit summer program.
How do I get my study abroad classes preapproved?
You will find preapproval form on the web page. You must submit these forms in paper copy with printed course descriptions appended. The director will review the forms and let you know the outcome. Please remember to put your email address and your campus phone number on the form to make it easier to contact you. Please do NOT email these forms to the director. The director is not a printer, and for your own protection in verifying graduation requirements, we need signed, paper copies in your file. You do NOT need to make an appointment to get your forms preapproved. Drop them off outside the director’s door. Give the director AT LEAST a week to turn the forms around. If you haven’t heard back from the director in two weeks, please send a gentle email reminder that you had dropped the forms off and you were hoping to hear whether the courses were approved.
What if I didn’t pre-approve my study abroad classes or if the class I approved changed?
You may post-approve classes, but you have assumed the risk if the class is not approved to count for either policy or area for the major. You will find the post-approval form on the web. You must supply a full course description, a syllabus (which often contains a description) and any material you believe will substantiate your case to the Director of the IS program (not your advisor). Please leave this in hard copy outside the director’s door.