National and International Study Programs

Allegheny recognizes the enormous value of off-campus study and is proud to offer a variety of programs and services to its students in order to facilitate participation in such opportunities. Allegheny students have studied in almost every corner of the world on programs that only lasted two weeks to programs that lasted almost a year. Detailed information regarding all off-campus study programs may be found on the ACCEL Off-Campus Studies page, or at International Programs and Services, ACCEL, Reis Hall 200.

Allegheny-sponsored programs

International Programs

• Allegheny-in-Cologne, Germany (fall semester only)
  Students and faculty from Gettysburg College and Lebanon Valley College join Allegheny students and faculty in this language and area studies program; college level German required; students live with host families.
• Arava Institute for Environmental Studies at Kibbutz Ketura, Israel
  Students from an array of Middle-Eastern countries study and work together; program taught in English focuses on environmental issues, including ecology, conservation, technology, politics, religion, art, psychology and economics.
• Boston University, Paris Internship Program, France
  Program students take French area studies courses together for seven weeks, then engage in internships related to their major for seven weeks; college level French required.
• Center for Cross-Cultural Study in Seville, Spain
  Program students take area studies and language courses together; meet Spanish university students through translation program; college level Spanish required; students live with host families.
• CIEE at the Monteverde Tropical Biology Institute, Costa Rica
  Program students engage in a structured curriculum and field experiences taught in English centered around tropical biology and ecology.
• Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Germany
  Program students take intensive German language courses, then enroll in area studies courses for foreign students and/or regular university courses in most majors offered at Allegheny; college level German required.
• ITESM, Campus Querétaro, Mexico
  Students may enroll in language and area studies courses for foreign students or regular university courses in some majors offered at Allegheny; college level Spanish required; students live with host families
• James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
  Students enroll in regular university courses in all majors at Allegheny; housing is in on-campus halls.
• Lancaster University, Lancaster, England
  Students enroll in regular university courses in all majors at Allegheny; housing is in on-campus halls.
• L'Université Catholique de l'Ouest in Angers, France
  Program students may take intensive language courses, or enroll in both area studies courses for foreign students and/or regular university courses in some majors offered at Allegheny; college level French required; students live with host families.
• Center for Sustainable Development (SFS), Costa Rica
  Program students live and work together; courses taught in English focus on ecological, social, and political aspects of sustainable development; one semester of Spanish required.
• St. Peter's College, Oxford University, Oxford, England
  Junior Year Abroad; direct enrollment in major subject; students live in college.
• University of Haifa, Israel
  Program students may take intensive language courses, or enroll in both area studies courses for foreign students and/or regular university courses given appropriate language skills.
• Minnesota Studies in International Development
  Field placement/internship programs in Quito (Ecuador), Jaipur (India), Nairobi (Kenya), Dakar (Senegal); program students enroll in language, area studies, international development courses for eight weeks, then participate in eight week (or additional semester) internships in grassroots organizations, local government or field stations.
• University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, campuses in Pietermaritzburg or Durban, South Africa
  Students enroll in regular university courses in all majors at Allegheny (courses taught in English); housing in on-campus residence halls.

National Programs

• Duke University Marine Lab, Beaufort, North Carolina
  Through Allegheny's membership in Duke University's Marine Sciences Education Consortium (MSEC), juniors may spend fall semester at the Beaufort marine station and/or participate in the spring program split between Beaufort and the Bermuda Biological Laboratory. The major designation on student transcripts will be annotated "with an emphasis in the Marine Sciences" upon completion of at least 16 semester hours of coursework at Duke.
• Washington Semester at American University, Washington, D.C.
  Program students enroll in one of 12 tracks (e.g., politics, justice, law, journalism, economics) and also complete an internship relating to their academic focus.
• Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory, Massachusetts
  Intensive studies in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in a premier research institution.

The term "Allegheny-sponsored program" indicates that Allegheny participants in these programs are charged Allegheny rates for program costs, and Allegheny financial aid, with the exception of work-study, can be applied to program costs. The program fee always includes tuition; if the program fee includes room and board, students will be charged Allegheny room and board rates (the room charge is the double room rate, and the meal plan charge is "Plan C"). Depending on the program, student may pay for room and board directly to the host institution.

Independent Programs

Students participating in "independent programs" will pay program costs (e.g., tuition) directly to the program in which they are participating. Allegheny financial aid is not applicable to independent programs; however, most state and federal aid can be applied. Students going on independent programs are responsible for notifying the Office of Financial Aid in order to make arrangements for the transfer of state and federal aid (e.g., student loans).

Students participating in sponsored programs will pay a $300 off-campus fee and students studying independently will pay an $800 off-campus fee.

Application Process

The application process for fall and spring semester programs is as follows:

1. Allegheny approval
   All students interested in off-campus study must file for approval by September 20 for the following spring, and February 20 for the following fall (the Oxford program follows the September 20 deadline). In order to be approved for off- campus study, the students must submit a letter of approval for program participation from their academic advisor, an information form (including an essay closely relating the program of choice to the student's major, minor or other academic goals), and unofficial transcripts. They must also meet specific program eligibility requirements and meet the filing deadline. Any exemptions to these requirements must be reviewed by the Dean's Exemption Committee.
2. Pre-departure orientations
   ALL students approved for off-campus study (national and international programs, Allegheny-sponsored and independent programs) must attend the pre-departure orientations. Program applications are distributed, and information such as credit transfer; travel; safety and responsibility; program goals; and cross-cultural learning is discussed.
3. EXL 300 Off-Campus Study
   Students on Allegheny-sponsored programs are required to enroll in EXL 300 Off-Campus Study, a one-credit course that comprises activities, readings, and assignments that are completed for the meetings prior to departure, and upon return to campus. The focus of the course is cross-cultural learning and communication.

EL Seminars

Allegheny also offers summer national and international programs. These are generally three-week for-credit "EL Seminars" led by Allegheny faculty. The seminars offered during summer 2006 will include England, Mexico, Canada, Ukraine and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Allegheny also offers summer national and international programs. These are generally three-week for-credit "EL Seminars" led by Allegheny faculty. The seminars offered during summer 2004 included destinations such as Fiji; Greece; New York City; Poland/ Germany/Czech Republic; South Africa; and Yellowstone. Summer 2005 seminars will be announced in November 2004. Students must be approved by faculty leaders and ACCEL in order to participate. Application deadline is February 2. See detailed information at http://www.allegheny.edu/accel/summer.php.