Study Abroad

Becker will award transfer academic credit for pre-approved overseas courses and programs students wish to pursue on their own, as long as they meet the requirements for transfer credits.

Announcements:

Summer 2010 Deadline extended to February 5th: The deadline for eligible students to enter the Study Abroad Exploration Process for a Summer 2010 program has been extended to Friday, February 5th. Please review information on this page and contact Career Services before 2/5 to comply with this deadline.

Fall 2010 Deadline extended to February 15th: The deadline for eligible students to enter the Study Abroad Exploration Process for a Fall Semester 2010 program is FridayServices before 2/5 to comply with this deadline. Please review information on this page and contact Career Services before 2/15 to comply with this deadline.

Overview of Study Abroad at Becker College

Students are responsible for:

1. Meeting all student eligibility criteria
2. Entering the Study Abroad Exploration Process prior to the deadline for an academic term..
3. Locating a program and site that matches his/her academic pursuits at Becker, and is operated by a reputable provider
4. Understanding and complying with all student responsiblities throughout the entire Study Abroad Exploration process, the provider's application process, the Study Abroad experience, and after their return.

Student Eligibility Criteria

• Class Year: Must be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at Becker, and completed at least 60 credits (sophomore year) before the start of prospective program; at least 30 of the credits must have been completed at Becker.
• Enrollment status: Must be a full-time student enrolled in classes at Becker the semester prior to desired Study Abroad period; must plan to return to Becker the semester after the Study Abroad period
• GPA: At least 2.5 at to enter the Study Abroad Exploration process; GPA must remain 2.5+ at the start of Study Abroad experience.
• Standing: Student must be in good financial and judicial standing with Becker College.

If you meet all criteria, you may enter the Study Abroad Exploration Process before the corresponding deadline. Start by scheduling an appointment with Career Services. (If you are unsure of your "standing," you may still schedule an appointment.)

Study Abroad Exploration Deadlines

Below are the deadlines to enter the Study Abroad Exploration Process.

How do I enter the Study Abroad Exploration Process?:

The first step is to book an appointment with Career Services, or to discuss it with your Academic Advisor by the corresponding deadline.

Locating a Study Abroad Program

Center for International Studies is a Study Abroad Provider that Becker students have worked with in the past; we recommend you start by checking out their web site. As you peruse their web site, keep in mind that you must explore programs that are related to your major.

What if CIS does not have any programs that fit my major, or that interest me?

Check out this web site: www.studyabroad.com This site contains a search database and information on many reputable Study Abroad programs and providers.

It is also possible that you have located a program that interests you through a different source; your chosen program might be considered; however, it must meet all standards below.

Standards for Study Abroad Provider, Program, and Sites:

• Professional Affiliation: Program provider must be a member of NAFSA Association of International Educators or Forum on Education Abroad; these are industry professional associations and evaluation bodies.
• Site Accreditation: Program site must be on the campus of an accredited college or university.
• 24/7 On-site staff/support: Program must include on-site employees who assist in academic, cultural, adjustment/assimilation, and more.
• Housing: On-site housing in dormitories or supervised, commercial residency with other program participants must be included.
• Insurance: Medical, Accident, and Liability Insurance coverage must be part of the program provider's
• Academic Relevance: Program/coursework must be related to student’s major. Even when the program is fully relevant, the scheduling of required courses may make it difficult for students to complete their degree within the typical number of semesters

Study Abroad Exploration Process

The Study Abroad Exploration Process is a series of self-directed research, advising appointments, and approvals by Becker administrators. Your first step is to contact Career Services before the deadline for the semester that you are interested in, 508-373-9545. Your appointment with Career Services will consist of reviewing the entire process, obtaining/signing the necessary paperwork, and answering your initial questions.

Preparing for your first appointment: It is a good idea to research potential Study Abroad Programs on your own prior to arriving for your first appointment, and come with an idea of which program(s) you'd like to explore. Additionally, if you would like to review the paperwork that will be involved prior to your first appointment, feel free to check out the "Study Abroad Exploration Process Documents" on the right of this page.

Study Abroad Exploration and Application Process Responsiblities, Conditions, and Considerations:

Exploration Process

• Students are responsible for locating a reputable Study Abroad program that fits my major and degree program at Becker College.
• Students are responsible for conducting the Exploration Process and meeting all exploration deadlines administered by the college; failure to comply or meet deadlines might result in termination of the process

Application Process

• Approval by Becker during the exploration process does not mean the Study Abroad provider will automatically accept my application; and that Becker does not make or influence the provider’s decisions.
• Students are fully responsible for submitting the application and associated fees to the provider in the format that fits their requirements; and that I am responsible for all follow-up communication with the provider.

Financial Considerations

• Students are fully responsible for fulfilling all costs associated with Study Abroad provider, programs, and experience that I pursue, which include but are not limited to: Application fee, tuition, room/board, program fees, transportation, coursework accreditation fee (after returning), and more.
• Limited Financial Aid is available during Study Abroad term for those students eligible for federal aid; need to provide Becker’s Financial Aid office with a signed Consortium Agreement for those attending a summer term.
• Financial Aid will be reduced for the following year. At this time, institutional and state aid is not available for these programs.

Academic Considerations

• Completed overseas courses must be evaluated by an International Academic Accreditation service, before I can apply to have courses transferred to Becker; and that the services’ approval might not result in a full academic semesters’ worth of coursework on my Becker transcripts.
• Students must pass all overseas courses for them to be considered for transfer credit upon my return to Becker College.
• A semester abroad might result in extending my originally intended graduation date from Becker College to a later semester, depending on the result of the accreditation service’s report, and registrar’s final decision on the transfer of credit.