UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT GLOBAL AND REGIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM STUDY ABROAD ADVICE FOR MAJORS AND MINORS

The Global and Regional Studies Program (GRS) considers study abroad to be an integral aspect of any high quality undergraduate education. But it is an especially crucial element of your area studies major or minor. With very few exceptions our students study abroad, for a minimum of a semester, and in some cases, a whole year. We try to make it easy for you to fulfill your major and/or minor requirements through study abroad by accepting up to one-half of the credits toward your major or minor as transfer credits.

Study abroad provides you with the opportunity to move from learning about the world to learning in the world; refines language and intercultural communication skills; and provides a context and depth for the specific themes you have been studying on campus. With the right program and frame of mind, you can gain invaluable linguistic, cross-cultural, and field research experiences that will enhance your studies, career prospects, and outlook on life.

Planning for Study Abroad

When to go? As long as you have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, sophomore status, and good social standing at the university, UVM will grant you permission to study abroad. Most students go during their third year. A handful go during their sophomore year, and others their senior year, but remember that the university requires you to take 30 of your last 45 credit hours at UVM.

Keep in mind that some courses required for your major and/or minor might be offered only during certain semesters. Plan out your major and/or minor in advance, and consider how study abroad will help fulfill those requirements.

Seek Advising: In order to study abroad, you must attend an information session and meet with a Study Abroad Advisor, both at the Office of International Education (OIE). You should also meet with your academic advisor as early in your planning as possible to discuss programs, the application process, and your plan for completing the major or minor.

Prerequisites: Different programs have different prerequisites, which may include language and certain specialized coursework. Be very clear about what you need for your desired program and prioritize those courses in semesters leading up to the time you want to be abroad. Some programs also have minimum GPA requirements.

Choosing a Program

The UVM OIE (http://www.uvm.edu/~oies/?Page=sa_index.php¹) maintains a list of approved programs and exchanges. While you can petition to receive credits from a non-approved program, we strongly advise against it. The reason OIE approves programs is that they meet certain minimum educational standards. If the program that interests you is not approved by OIE, chances are good that it does not provide a quality educational experience.

GRS does not recommend any programs in particular. Our students have gone on virtually every kind of program. We suggest that in addition to asking other students in your area what programs they have gone on, you also discuss specific programs with the director of your area studies program and other faculty members who teach in the program.

Location: For obvious reasons, most GRS students choose stationary programs in the region they are studying. Unlike comparative/multi-country programs, stationary programs tend to emphasize language learning, and can usually transfer back easily into your GRS major or minor.

Program Type: Do you want to go for an academic year? One semester? Summer? Winter break? Do you want direct enrollment in a foreign university or to be in a group with other Americans? Do you want homestays or dormitory/independent residence? Do you want language immersion or English language? Do you want a program with a field study component, or primarily classroom based?

Above all else, we recommend that you seek out programs that offer sustained immersion in a culture and language different than your own. Many programs are merely “American Bubbles” overseas and offer very little or no true cross-cultural immersion. Such programs offer very little for an area studies education. Many of these programs are so-called “third-party programs” because they are offered by a U.S.-based organization or university. But beware that even exchange programs, which often have U.S. students living in dorms with other foreign students, are often not much better in terms of immersing you in the local culture because you live with other foreigners.

Credit Transfer: Find out from the registrar’s office how the credits from the program you want to apply to transfer back to UVM: http://www.uvm.edu/~rgweb/²

Financing Study Abroad

Financial Aid: If you participate in a UVM-approved study abroad program, you will be able to receive
aid while abroad. However, UVM institutional-based financial aid no longer covers the costs of some programs. For more information contact the Financial Aid office and see http://www.uvm.edu/oie/?Page=sa_cost.php³. UVM institutional aid can usually be applied to bilateral exchange programs, ISEP, and UVM faculty-led programs. In addition, UVM now offers two semester-length programs abroad—in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Belize—and because they are UVM programs ALL of your financial aid travels with you. Many non-UVM programs offer scholarships.

Your Application

References: Most programs require one or several faculty references. You should get to know several teachers well in advance of your application deadline, and give them plenty of lead time to write their letters. Do not wait until the last minute on this one!

Essay: Different programs require different kinds of essays. Share your essay with your advisor
and other reference letter writers for feedback well in advance of deadlines.

Suggested Timeline for Applying

Two semesters before you want to go:
- Visit the OIE. Attend a mandatory information session and meet with a Study Abroad Advisor.
- Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your plans.
- Begin researching programs and their deadlines at OIE, on the web, and by talking to faculty and other students who have studied abroad.
- If the program has an early deadline, begin completing the application and request reference letters.
- Contact the financial aid office to discuss your specific aid situation. Identify financial aid deadlines.

One semester before you want to go:
- If the deadline hasn’t passed, complete your application.
- Once accepted to a program, you will need to complete a Study Abroad Approval Form, which requires a number of signatures, and attend a mandatory pre-departure meeting at OIE.

While You Are Abroad

Journal: You are likely to experience some culture shock, even if you study in a country with strong cultural similarities to the U.S., like England or Australia. We strongly recommend that you keep a journal in which you can work through the processes of cultural adjustment, reflecting on the ups and downs of your experience.

Planning for Future Work: Planning for a study abroad location and experience can provide the basis for a senior thesis, future work, independent study, or term paper after you return. If you need help thinking through possible topics to pursue when you get back, or help identifying materials and information to collect while you are there, talk with your program’s academic leaders and contact your advisor back here at UVM.

Save Everything! Bring ALL your syllabi, copies of papers, and other documentation back with you to ensure smooth transfer of credit.

Bringing the Experience Back Home

Adjustment: Coming back home can be just as challenging as going. You will have changed in relation to your own culture, and wonder where you fit in back here. You will probably also miss your lifestyle and friends from abroad. There are several keys to settling back into life here:

Share your experience with others: Attend an OIE study abroad returnees’ gathering; become an OIE study abroad peer advisor; organize a round table discussion with other students to discuss your experience; or hold a slide show for friends or other area studies students.

Use your new skills: Keep your language skills up by seeking out others who speak the language; hone your cross-cultural communication skills by tutoring an international student or volunteering in town with groups you might not normally get involved with (immigrants, community outreach, etc.)

Don’t assume that you are the only one who changed: Friends and family will have experienced new things and changed while you were away too. Don’t assume you’re the only one with good stories and be a good listener.

Keep learning about the places you went: Take more coursework that focuses on places and issues you encountered abroad, and try to use course writing assignments to deepen your knowledge of these themes.