EA411: NEWS FOR ACADEMIC ADVISORS

UMD Academic Policies 
  Guidelines for Specific Colleges
EA Workshop for Academic Advisors .pdf

For Advisors

Study abroad is part of the academic experience at Maryland.  For that reason we are working to improve the information available to you.

During Spring and Summer 2012, an improved Academics section of the Education Abroad website is under construction. Look for:

  • user-friendly resident credit course search
  • improved guidelines for specific majors
  • new EA manual for academic advisors
  • clear guidelines for course articulation and evaluation

For now, click on EA411 to the right to read updates relevant to you - new programs and interpretations of campus academic policies will be posted there as they happen.  Please post comments with questions you have about the posts.

For now, click on the links below to see the lists of approved Maryland resident credit courses for Maryland-in- semester study abroad programs, along with their equivalencies at Maryland.  These lists are updated periodically, as Education Abroad receives new approvals from faculty.

The above lists include ONLY courses approved by Maryland faculty for Maryland resident credit.  For transfer credit equivalencies, please see the listing for the host institution in the Transfer Credit Equivalency Database (go tceq in SIS).

Click here to see a list of who to contact for questions about specific programs or advising regions. 

Are you a faculty member?  Create a short-term study abroad course! 

Why does Study Abroad matter?

Nationwide, 75% of entering college freshmen state that they plan to study abroad during their time in college. Only 1% actually manage to do so. This is usually due to a number of perceived barriers that students confront during their time in college. Academic advisors are uniquely situated to help students understand that study abroad is possible and that most of the barriers are perceived rather than actual. The Study Abroad Office, therefore, relies on academic advisors to discuss study abroad with their advisees and to work with each and every student to find a unique international experience that suits their academic and personal needs.

So, why should you spend your time advising on study abroad? The answer is simple. Research indicates that study abroad has enormous professional and personal effects on college students. Employers are increasingly looking for “globally competent” applicants. Globally competent citizens are defined as having:

  1. internationally oriented substantive knowledge
  2. empathy with and appreciation of other cultures
  3. foreign language proficiency
  4. the practical ability to function in other cultures

Study abroad students consistently demonstrate these traits. In addition, research indicates that study abroad has an impact on intellectual development, language learning, international perspectives and personal maturity.

Furthermore, Study Abroad has been identified as a priority on UM’s campus. President Mote has stated that every UM student should have an international experience before they graduate and has identified study abroad as one of the special experiences available to UM students through the President’s Promise.

So, given that Study Abroad is important for UMD students, how can advisors help?

This section of our site is designed to assist you in advising students interested in studying abroad. Please use the links on the right-hand side of the page to learn what programs are available to UMD students, how the Study Abroad Process works at UMD, and how academic advisors and Education Abroad can work together to ensure a seamless transition between College Park and the rest of the world.

Do you ever take students abroad?

If so, please read this important note. The Risk Management Committee for Education Abroad must approve all institutional sponsored international travel for undergraduate and graduate students to countries with a State Department Travel Warning or Travel Alert. 

If it is determined that the health or safety risk to students, faculty or staff is prohibitive, travel will not be permitted until conditions improve and the approval process is completed.  If a State Department Travel Warning or Travel Alert is issued for a country while students are abroad, the Risk Management Committee will assess the situation and take appropriate action, including the option to cancel the program.