Study Abroad Q&A

What advisors need to know about Study Abroad:
General information - Programs - Application process - Course work and credits

These questions were generated by academic advisors and answered by Dean Margaret Riley
http://studyabroad.duke.edu/

General information

What proportion of Duke undergrads go abroad?
By the time a class graduates, approximately 43-46% will have studied abroad. For the class of 2007, about 47 percent of Trinity students and 28 percent of Pratt students studied abroad, for an overall class participation of 44 percent.

When do students go abroad?
On average, 54% go in the fall, 12% in the spring and 34% in summer. Most juniors study abroad in the fall. The Office of Study Abroad (OSA) encourages students to consider second semester sophomore year as well as spring in their junior year, so as not to limit their opportunities, but a culture has evolved around the fall junior year study abroad experience. Summer study abroad accommodates rising sophomores and above.

Do most students do a single semester, rather than a full year?
Yes. Very few students study abroad for a full academic year. In 2006-07, 475 studied abroad one semester and 13 went for the whole year, though we would certainly encourage students to study abroad for a full year if their academic plan can accommodate it.

Do students ever do multiple study abroad programs?
Yes. The most common combination is summer and fall, or multiple summer programs.

Are more students are interested in study abroad than last year?
The numbers of Duke students participating in study abroad are generally very steady. The percentage of Pratt students studying abroad is increasing. You may view OSA statistics at http://studyabroad.duke.edu/statistics.html.

Programs

Are there a few preferred study abroad sites?
In the 2006-2007 academic year, 104 students went to Spain, 92 to Italy, 76 to Australia, and 64 to the United Kingdom. During summer 2007, 59 went to the UK, 29 to Italy, 25 to Switzerland, 23 to Greece, and 23 to China. Approximately 2/3 of our students go on non-Duke study abroad programs and Western Europe is the most common destination.

What is the difference between Duke Administered (sometimes referred to as Duke In) Programs and Duke Approved Programs?
Duke Administered/Duke In Programs are staffed and run by individuals hired by Duke. Generally the courses are treated as regular Duke courses for credit, and carry all relevant coding, including Modes of Inquiry, and are graded. In contrast, Duke Approved Programs are offered by foreign universities or third party providers. Students generally earn transfer credit for courses in which they earn the equivalence of a C- or better. The grades do not count into their GPA. Instead, a "TR" is recorded on their transcript. Transfer courses may carry Areas of Knowledge coding only, although Modes of Inquiry coding can be requested retroactively. Note that three Duke In Programs (Duke in Glasgow; Duke in Berlin, second semester; Duke in France-EDUCO) are "hybrid" programs in which students receive a combination of Duke credits and transfer credits.

How many Duke Administered/Duke In study abroad programs do we currently have? What are they and how many students attend each year?
There are currently 12 Duke In programs offered during the fall and spring semesters and about 20 Duke In summer programs. Among Duke students, the most popular semester Duke program is Duke in Madrid and the most popular summer program is Duke in Oxford.

Are there international programs not listed/included in the Duke study abroad or Duke approved programs? If a student was interested in a non-mainstream location, how does it get approved and what are the guidelines?
There are more than a hundred study abroad programs on the Duke-approved list. If a student is interested in a program not approved or administered by Duke, s/he must meet with a study abroad advisor to discuss the viability of that program. If it appears to be a viable program, a petition packet will be provided. The student must complete this packet, which involves providing more complete information for the program, obtaining DUS approval for the courses they wish to take, and writing an essay describing the academic reason this program meets their needs. The packet is submitted to the OSA, and reviewed by the Faculty Study Abroad Committee, where the petition will either be approved or not.

Are the summer programs just like fall/spring programs only shorter and with fewer classes? Are there advantages/disadvantages to summer and semester?
The GPA requirement is more flexible for summer programs and admission requirements can be less stringent. More summer term classes are taught in English versus a foreign language. Also, the Duke summer programs are led by Duke faculty who teach at least one of the courses abroad, whereas most of our semester programs are administered and taught by host nationals. A disadvantage to a summer program is that the students do not have as much time to fully immerse themselves in the host culture.

How can we find out what programs offer what classes?
The study abroad website includes a list of all the approved programs, with links to those programs that generally include the academic courses available. Another resource is the Database of Approved Courses on the study abroad website. This lists courses that have been approved and is searchable by department, country, and program. This is NOT a comprehensive list of available courses. It represents only those courses that have been approved. Additional courses can be approved by working with Cathy Penny, the OSA staff assistant who works with department DUSes to obtain course approvals.

Do study abroad programs generally run August-December and January-May like our semesters, or can they overlap with existing semesters here?
Program beginning and ending dates vary considerably. Programs in the southern hemisphere (e.g. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America) start in early July and run through November/December and then from February until June. Program dates are available on the web.

Are there general evaluations of the study abroad programs? Do the students equally enjoy the programs?
Students generally speak highly of their academic and personal experiences abroad. Evaluations are kept on file in the Office of Study Abroad and are available to all who visit our Reference Room.

What are the costs of studying abroad vs. study at Duke?
Program costs vary considerably. Duke Administered/Duke In Programs charge Duke tuition plus a program fee. Students studying on Duke Approved Programs pay the tuition and fees of the host institution, and a study abroad fee to Duke.

Is there financial aid for study abroad?
Financial aid applies to all approved programs abroad during the fall and spring. Limited aid is available for up to two summer sessions on Duke Administered/Duke In Programs. There are also some specific scholarships available for summer study on Duke In summer programs.

Do most students get into the program they want?
This depends on their academic records and whether they meet the admission requirements. Some programs are more selective and competitive than others, but generally Duke students fare very well in the admissions process.

Are there security issues in some countries?
Yes. We do not operate our own programs in areas under a US Department of State travel warning. If students insist on going to a program in an area under a travel warning, they and their parents must sign a waiver indicating they have been advised not to, and absolving Duke of responsibility for their safety.

What about SARS?
This is currently not an issue, but several years ago we relocated and postponed programs to deal with the SARS epidemic.

Application process

How do students apply?
Students must complete the online Duke application by the appropriate deadlines. They will receive additional instructions they must follow, dependent on the programs to which they are applying.

When do students apply?
Generally students apply early in the semester before they plan to study abroad. In general terms, an approximate deadline might be March 1 for fall study abroad and October 1 for spring study abroad.
However, deadlines vary with the program and some may be much earlier. All Duke deadlines are posted on the study abroad website.

What GPA must a student have to go abroad?
For fall and spring semester applicants, the Duke requirement is a 2.7 GPA minimum. Some non-Duke programs, however, require a 3.0 GPA or higher and are very competitive. Borderline students may discuss a waiver with their academic dean. There is no minimum GPA for summer programs, but students must meet continuation requirements.

Are there other eligibility requirements?
A student must be in good standing, e.g., not on academic probation, disciplinary probation, or in violation of semester or annual continuation requirements. If a student has been dismissed for any disciplinary reason or academic reason, the student must successfully complete a full semester on campus at Duke before becoming eligible for study abroad. Transfer credit will be awarded for work completed satisfactorily abroad when these conditions are met. In addition, each program may have its own eligibility requirements.

How do students get credit for their course work abroad? Is it 1 course to 1 course in all programs?
If the course they wish credit for is in the OSA database of approved courses, they don’t need to get additional approval. If the course is not in the database, they will need to contact Cathy Penny in the OSA to request assistance obtaining DUS approval for a course. This should be done before going abroad. Some departments require approval directly from the department. There is not always a 1-for-1-course equivalency. We expect a student to take a "full load" abroad. This often means taking five courses, which, if all are successfully completed, can count towards major, minor and curriculum requirements, but only four of which will count towards graduation.

Do students really have to declare a major before applying for study abroad?
No, they do not have to declare their major before the initial application to a program, but students must declare their major before they complete the study abroad packet for a semester study abroad experience. The major does not have to be declared before participating in a summer program.

How should students make thoughtful decisions about whether or not study abroad is right for them?
Students need to discuss their plans with their advisors, research the options available to them, and determine how study abroad can complement their academic plans at Duke. They should choose the program that best contributes to that plan. Students should also feel free to discuss their options with advisors in the Office of Study Abroad. We encourage students to incorporate their plan for study abroad in their Long Range Plan. There is a Step-by-Step Guide to the study abroad process on the "Forms" page of the Office of Study Abroad website: www.aas.duke.edu/study_abroad.

When should advisors discuss study abroad with their advisees?
Some students will enter Duke with a keen interest in study abroad. For these, it would be best to discuss places and plans in the first semester or in the first year. Study abroad can be incorporated into development of a major and can expand secondary interests. Rather than being viewed as a "semester away", it should be seen as a unique and individualized educational program in an international setting. Encourage your advisee to look into available programs, attend the study abroad fair each September, perhaps confer with the DUS in a prospective major department, and visit the Study Abroad Office with specific questions. For students whose interest in study abroad evolves after they arrive at Duke, remind them that deadlines come up quickly and that they should explore their options as soon as possible. We encourage advisors to discuss study abroad with students at each encounter, with particular attention during registration periods, considering how the next semester's courses will relate to their advisees' overall academic plan and study abroad. Also mention the enhanced experience they will gain through study abroad if they enroll in the half credit ICS 195 course "At Home Abroad" in the spring before they go abroad, and the half credit complementary ICS 196 "Coming Home" course when they return. Taking both of these courses will complete a "W" requirement.

Are there students who really should go abroad and are there some who shouldn’t?
While some might argue that every student should study abroad, we realize that is not really the case. Some find it impossible due to their schedules (e.g. athletes) or to medical or personal reasons. Students on disciplinary and/or academic probation are not allowed to study abroad.

Any special requirements/suggestions for students with chronic medical or psychological problems?
Students should consult with their physicians, psychologists and counselors extensively regarding study abroad plans. They should also self disclose to the program administrators about their circumstances. This will allow the program administrators to appropriately assist the students. Students should also stay on their prescribed medications while abroad, which may mean bringing a supply sufficient for the duration of their sojourn.

Course work and credits

Is there a limit to the number of courses a student may transfer back to Duke?
Yes. A Trinity student can be awarded a maximum of 10 transfer credits from domestic and Duke-approved study away. Two credits are allowed for domestic transfer (courses taken in the US or in a home country). If a student does not do any domestic transfer credit, then all 10 credits can come from Duke Approved Study Abroad courses. If a student has 2 domestic transfer credits, then 8 can come from Duke Approved Study Abroad. Note that Pratt students may transfer up to four domestic courses. Duke Administered/Duke-In Programs which award Duke credits generally do not fall under these guidelines at all, as these courses are considered Duke courses and not transfer courses. Exceptions are the Duke in Glasgow, Duke in Berlin (second semester) and Duke in France-EDUCO "hybrid" programs in which students receive a combination of Duke credits and transfer credits.

Can students do study abroad in a foreign language-speaking country, but where the courses are taught in English?
Yes. If they participate in such a program during the fall or spring semester, they are required to take one course in the host country language. There is no such language requirement for summer programs.

If a student plans on studying in a foreign language, does this mean they need 3 semesters or more of the foreign language here at Duke? How easy is it to complete the foreign language curriculum requirement on a study abroad program?
It depends on the program. There are foreign language programs available at all proficiency levels. Students studying language on a Duke Administered/Duke In Program that awards Duke course credit will be taking language courses already given an FL code (because these are fully coded Duke courses). However, many of our Duke programs that focus on language require a level of proficiency that only students who have already completed their foreign language requirement can meet. Students studying language on a Duke Approved Program will have to petition the Transfer Course Coding committee for an FL code. This requires detailed information and awarding of the FL code is not guaranteed. See http://t-reqs.trinity.duke.edu/transfercredit.html for more information. If a student needs to continue a foreign language when they return to Duke, the student can take placement tests to determine the level of foreign language placement.

What happens if a student goes on a study abroad program and then has great difficulty with the language? Does this ever happen?
Students who choose to go on language immersion programs generally are placed into the level most appropriate to their skills. We are not aware of any problem with students going abroad and having problems just with the language component.

Is it possible to take courses for a major while on a study abroad program? Or should students plan on taking courses representative of that country and wait to do major and curriculum requirements when they return to Duke?
Yes, it is possible to take credits for major, minor and certificate programs. Students should check with (1) the DUS of their major departments regarding the guidelines for credits earned abroad, (2) the Office of Study Abroad as they have lists of study abroad opportunities for students majoring in ICS, history, biology and physical sciences, PPS, religion and other areas, and (3) their advisors to discuss what plan of action might best work for them.

Can students fulfill science requirements on study abroad?
There are programs and locations with science classes, as well as science themes. Students may take science classes abroad and have them count toward a science major. They should discuss their interests and options with advisors in the relevant areas.

What about engineering students who want to go abroad?
We have various programs for engineers, and Berlin offers an intensive "German for Engineers" course in the spring.

Are pre-med students able to study abroad?
Yes. They may study abroad, but they should be careful to take the required core science courses at Duke or in the United States. (Other science courses can be taken abroad.) This can require careful planning. Students can move some pre-med coursework into the summer to free up a semester for study abroad. Or they could delay their application by a year so that they complete their pre-med courses in their senior year. Some pre-med students will do their study abroad in the summer. All are acceptable options. It's important to note that medical schools consider the four years at Duke to be a special time for a student, where they can read and explore and study what they find fascinating. It is most likely the last time a student will have to freely explore non-science areas. Some non-science interests will help them in medicine (like speaking a foreign language, being computer-proficient or using good writing skills) and others will provide outlets for a demanding career. Study abroad fits in well with these goals and students are encouraged to do study abroad if they wish. However, study abroad should be an extension of their educational program and an immersion in foreign culture and language, and not simply a semester away to have fun.

Are there courses students could take to help prepare for the experience?
While there are many relevant courses across various disciplines, two half credit courses have been specifically designed to enhance the study abroad experience. ICS 195 "At Home Abroad?" looks at ways that students can better prepare to move across cultural boundaries, exploring the relationship between the personal and the academic, with the particular goal of assisting students to be alert to the research possibilities of their time abroad. Each student will develop a potential research project that joins their particular interest in study abroad with their academic interests. The complementary ICS 196 "Coming Home" course, taken when they return, will provide students with the opportunity to reflect on their study abroad experiences from a number of perspectives, and complete a research project that relates to those reflections. Taking both of these courses will complete a "W" requirement.