For Academic Advisors

As a professional or faculty advisor, you are in a unique position to help students choose a study abroad program that is well-suited to their academic goals and requirements. Students may come to you asking where or when they can study abroad in order to fulfill requirements, how a particular program will help them progress towards their degree, or whether they can even study abroad at all without postponing graduation. Perhaps some of your advisees have never considered studying abroad, and your encouragement may be all that's needed for them to begin exploring this exciting new possibility. Therefore the Center for International Studies has created this Web page as a guide especially for academic advisors so that you have the resources you need at your fingertips to assist students in finding the overseas program that is right for them.

Eligibility: All study abroad programs are open to students in any major and at all levels of study, including first-year and non-degree-seeking students. However, some programs offer only courses that are very major-specific and tend to attract only students in a particular major. Some winter programs, in particular, can be quite competitive and actually fill in the spring. Faculty directors of these programs often place high importance on students' academic background and may favor students in a particular major. Finally, it's important to remember that although a particular program might not be very competitive or major-specific, one or more courses on that program may have prerequisites that prevent some students from applying. Before making a commitment to a particular program, students should check the course catalog to make sure they have met any existing course prerequisites.

Starting early: Unlike some institutions which require a minimum number of credits earned in order to study abroad, UD encourages students to participate in overseas study as early as possible in their academic careers. Yet some students may prefer to wait one or more years before seriously considering study abroad. We hope that as advisors you will make students aware of the many study abroad options that are very appropriate for first- and second-year students, and for those who have not yet chosen a major. Studying abroad early can open to students a new area of interest which may lead to declaring a minor or a second major. The experience abroad can also enrich the remainder of the students' academic career on campus as they view their learning from a much broader perspective and perhaps even become involved with international activities and global issues. Finally, many students who study abroad decide to go overseas again (in fact, over 10% of UD's study abroad participants are "repeaters"), which becomes more difficult as students progress towards graduation and take on greater extra-curricular responsibilities.

Finding courses that fit: Use our search engines (search by country, by department, requirement or by type) to find programs that fulfill Arts and Sciences or University requirements, or that offer courses in specific departments. Note that not all winter and summer programs are offered every year (though semester program offerings are fairly stable). Check with our office (x2852) or individual faculty directors about the likelihood of recurring offerings.

Course load, Honors, and independent study: Students are required to enroll in a minimum of six credits on summer and winter programs, twelve credits on semester programs, for a full grade (no auditing or pass/fail). If there is no existing Honors section for a course offered abroad, students may contact the program faculty director or study abroad coordinator to see if it's possible to set up an Honors section. Depending on the program, it may be possible to arrange for an independent study course in lieu of one of the regular courses.

Studying abroad through another institution: Some students may not find what they are looking for among UD's programs and may choose to study abroad through another U.S. college or university, or to enroll directly at a foreign institution. Tips and guidelines for students considering this option can be found here.

Advising students with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions: The University of Delaware is committed to providing overseas study opportunities to all qualified students. However, please be aware that we cannot guarantee that facilities, support services or accommodations will be available at each location abroad in the same range and quality as on the UD campus. We cannot alter architecture, transportation or laws in other countries. We can, however, rely on the expertise of the Academic Enrichment Center and/or the ADA Office to make an individual assessment of the availability of accommodations overseas.

Students with psychiatric conditions should be strongly encouraged to consult with their doctor and disclose their condition to CFIS staff early in the process of selecting a study abroad site. Studying abroad is by nature stressful, and students with mental health issues should understand that their condition will not dissipate while abroad; indeed, stress factors may be magnified in the foreign environment. Not all overseas sites offer English-language counseling and other psychological and psychiatric support to which students may be accustomed on campus.

General questions: You or your advisees will find answers to general study-abroad related questions at our FAQ page.