University System of Maryland in Rome

Study Abroad in Italy at the American University of Rome

Students in the University System of Maryland (including University of Maryland, College Park) are eligible to participate in the University System of Maryland's Program in Rome, administered through Towson University.

Students on the program take courses at the American University of Rome (AUR), an independent, four-year, degree-granting American institution of higher education. Students at the University of Maryland, College Park, receive transfer credit from Towson University for courses taken at AUR through the USM Program.

All UMCP students planning to attend the USM Program in Rome will apply directly to Towson University. For additional information about the program and to download the application, please visit the Towson University website.

How to Study at AUR: The Process for UMCP Students

All UMCP students participating in the USM program will work with Shoshana Griffith, an advisor in the Study Abroad Office and representative of the USM program in College Park. She is available to meet with students for individual advising appointments to talk about Rome and other study abroad options in Italy.

Once you have selected the USM program in Rome and are ready to apply, there are THREE steps that you will need to complete with the Study Abroad Office in College Park:

1) Fill out our online ELF Application for Study Abroad form. Enter your program information as "Other University System of Maryland Program" - "American University of Rome (Towson)".

Note: This online form is NOT your application to the program. It will be used to create a record for you with the Study Abroad Office. You must still submit a paper application to Towson

2) When your ELF form is approved, you will receive an e-mail confirmation and may come to the Study Abroad Office to pick up a signed Approval of Home Institution form. You must submit this page of the USM application to Towson with the rest of your application materials.

3) Notify Shoshana Griffith when you have been accepted to the program by Towson. During the semester before you depart (early November for Spring or early April for Fall and Summer), she will contact you to meet with her and fill out a Permission to Study Abroad Form. You will then meet with your academic advisors to determine how your AUR courses will count toward your UM degree.

Classes at AUR: How Will My Credits Transfer?

To see a current course catalog, please visit the American University of Rome's website, http://www.aur.edu/. Usually the coming term's courses are not available until 2-3 months beforehand, but you may view catalogs from previous semesters. Usually the same courses are offered during the same term (i.e., Fall or Spring semester).

If you would like to see a list of pre-determined UMCP equivalencies of AUR courses, you may browse the Transfer Credit Center's online Transfer Equivalency Database.

Please Note: All courses through USM-Rome are accepted for transfer to UM. Because new courses are added every year, the database cannot list every class offered at AUR. You may still work with your advisors and UM departments to determine the equivalency of new courses.

How Do I Pay for a Semester at AUR?

UMCP students will pay the published program fee to Towson University. Certain costs, such as housing, are paid directly to AUR when you arrive in Rome.

You will pay no tuition at UMCP for your semester on the USM Program. Instead, you will pay a $400 Study Abroad fee to maintain your enrollment at UMCP and transfer your credits from abroad.