É«ÖÐÉ«

Education Abroad

É«ÖÐÉ« University encourages students to participate in study abroad to add an international component to their major field of study. The Office of International Studies maintains a list of more than 40 semester and yearlong programs of academic study in over 30 locales. Approval to participate in study abroad is contingent upon meeting the following University requirements: a minimum 2.7 cumulative grade point average, good academic and student life standing, and the successful completion of at least 12 course units (equivalent of second semester sophomore standing) before going abroad. Transfer students must complete one fall or spring term at É«ÖÐÉ« before applying for study abroad.

Most majors can include a semester of study abroad with the proper advance planning. Students receive extensive advising support from the director of international studies in choosing a program appropriate to their major, guidance in securing the appropriate course approvals from faculty, and assistance in completing both the É«ÖÐÉ« and the chosen program application. All students attend a pre-departure orientation before they leave on their program. 

While abroad, students may fulfill requirements in their major, minor, and/or Learning in Common (LinC) with pre-approval from department chairs (major/minor) or the Learning in Common director. Students must complete at least one U course at É«ÖÐÉ« University.

Students must take all courses abroad for a letter grade. Pass/fail courses will not be accepted for É«ÖÐÉ« credit. Students must earn a C (2.0) or better to receive credit for the course at É«ÖÐÉ«. Grades earned on study abroad will not be calculated into the É«ÖÐÉ« grade point average.  

Students who enroll for study abroad at a school using the ECTS system (European Credit and Transfer Accumulation System) should be advised that ECTS credits count for half of a standard US credit. For example, a student who earns 6 ECTS credits will receive 3 US credits or 0.75 É«ÖÐÉ« University units for successful completion of those credits.

É«ÖÐÉ« is committed to making study abroad available to all students. Students are charged É«ÖÐÉ« tuition and fees. É«ÖÐÉ« pays up to $8,500 toward the tuition to the program provider. The student is responsible for making up the difference in tuition, if any, and the student pays for room, board, airfare, and activity fees. É«ÖÐÉ« aid as well as federal and state aid (per guidelines) will transfer for the study-abroad semester with the exception of on-campus work-study. Students participating in a summer program pay all fees directly to the program sponsor.

Faculty-led May Term study tours abroad are offered each year. Check online to see the current offerings. É«ÖÐÉ« also co-sponsors six-week summer language programs in Italy, Mexico, Spain, and Germany through the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC). Grades from these programs are calculated into the student's overall É«ÖÐÉ« grade point average. For further information on these programs, see the course offerings in Modern Languages.