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New Approved List
Frequently Asked Questions
General student advising
Information about study abroad is disseminated in a variety of ways. Each year, usually in mid-September, the Office of Study Abroad organizes a study abroad fair, inviting representatives from many of the programs used by our students. We also hold regular group information sessions, make presentations in the residence halls, speak at departmental events, meet with a variety of student organizations, and post announcements to the student list-serve. In addition, we are available to meet individually with all students interested in studying abroad. During these one-on-one sessions, we will discuss with students the following:
- Their academic goals and expectations for study abroad
- Program options
- Credit transfer and financial aid policies
- The application process and deadlines
- Academic planning issues (Have they met the pre-requisites for their preferred study abroad program? Will they need to fulfill any requirements while abroad? When is best time to go abroad?)
As part of the advising process, we will also encourage students to discuss their plans with their academic advisor.
Program types and differences
Colorado College students are able to study on the following three types of programs:
Colorado College Semester and Year Programs - These programs are developed and run directly by Colorado College. They include programs organized by the College's academic departments as well as exchange programs offered in partnership with overseas universities. Classes are normally taught at a local university by faculty from Colorado College and/or from the host institution. Students may apply their CC financial aid to the cost of these programs.
Colorado College Affiliated Programs - Colorado College also maintains affiliations with other programs. Affiliated programs include those sponsored by the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) as well as several other organizations. All affiliated programs have a faculty advisor at CC who works closely with students throughout the application process. Students may apply their CC financial aid to the cost of these programs.
Non-Affiliated Programs - Some programs that are not directly affiliated with Colorado College are also available to students whose academic goals would not be met by existing study abroad options. The International Studies Oversight Committee has approved approximately 60 non-affiliated programs. Students participating in non-affiliated programs will not pay Colorado College tuition or room and board, but will instead pay the program sponsor directly. Students are not able to transfer their Colorado College financial aid to the cost of these programs and will be assessed a $300 administrative fee by the College.
In addition to the programs above, the College offers a number of one and two-block courses taught outside the U.S. These courses are offered during the regular academic year and over the summer.
Read program descriptions.
Program selection/review of programs
The College has recently reduced the number of approved study abroad programs. The new approved list now includes 29 Colorado College and affiliated programs and approximately 60 non-affiliated programs. We believe this smaller approved list will allow us to improve our student advising, be more responsive to student feedback, provide orientation and re-entry support that is more tailored to the needs of students and ensure that all our programs are regularly reviewed and visited by Colorado College faculty.
The programs that appear on the approved list were selected for their high academic quality, their fit with the Colorado College curriculum, and the high degree to which participants are integrated with the host culture (through home stays, language training, course work and other components). In addition, approved programs provide strong student support services, including on-site orientation, personal and academic counseling and assistance with language development.
The International Studies Oversight Committee will review the approved list annually; programs may be added to or removed from the list as more appropriate opportunities become available. Programs in which no CC student has participated for five years will be removed from the list.
We welcome your feedback about any programs that appear (or do not appear) on this list. Please feel free to share any comments about specific programs with the Director of Study Abroad.
Eligibility for study abroad
Study abroad is a serious academic experience, intended for those students with sufficient preparation and the maturity and flexibility to adapt to a new culture. Study abroad is normally open to:
- Second-semester sophomores, juniors and seniors
- Students in good academic, disciplinary and financial standing with Colorado College
- Students with a 2.75 grade point average or above
- Students who meet the eligibility requirements of their proposed program
Studying abroad in the senior year: Students who wish to spend the fall semester of their senior year on a non-affiliated program must petition the Associate Dean of the College for a waiver of the "8-unit rule," which requires students to complete their last 8 units on campus, or on Colorado College or affiliated programs. It is not recommended that students study away during the spring semester of their senior year.
Studying abroad more than once: Students who enter Colorado College as first-semester, first-year students must complete 24 units at Colorado College or through Colorado College and affiliated programs abroad. Transfer students are required to complete a minimum of 16 units at Colorado College or through Colorado College or affiliated programs. This means that most students will be able to complete no more than two semesters or one academic year abroad on non-affiliated programs.
Application process and deadlines
Applying to study abroad is a two-step process: students must submit an application to Colorado College for approval to study abroad and they must apply separately to their program. The CC deadline is February 10 for the fall semester/academic year and October 10 for the spring semester. All students planning to study abroad for one semester or longer, even those applying to CC programs, must complete the internal CC application.
The Study Abroad Committee, comprised of representatives from our office, the Registrar's office, and the International Studies Oversight Committee, will review all applications. Students will receive written notification of the committee's decision no later than March 1 for programs that begin in the fall and by November 1 for programs that begin in the spring. Find out more about the application process.
Petitioning for a non-approved program
Students whose needs are not met by the existing options may petition to participate in an alternate program. Only those students with compelling academic reasons will be approved to attend an alternate program. Students should be aware that the petition process is lengthy; they will have to complete a significant amount of their own research on the program, as well have the support of at least one faculty member at CC. Students should begin the petition process by meeting with the Director of Study Abroad.
Faculty signatures/recomendations
As part of the study abroad application process, students are required to obtain the signature of their faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to visit their advisors early and to discuss their plans in detail with you. You should not feel obligated to sign off on a student's application if you do not have enough information about your advisee's plans, or if you have any concerns about the suitability of a program or the student's preparation for study abroad. Please feel welcome to contact the Director of Study Abroad with any questions.
Most programs ask for at least one faculty letter of recommendation. Letters written for CC or ACM programs may be sent directly to our office. Recommendations for all other programs should be mailed to the program or returned to the student.
Credit transfer
Most students will be able to pre-register for their study abroad courses well before their program begins. Before leaving campus, all students will complete a Course Approval Form, giving them a good idea of how credit will transfer back to Colorado College.
In many cases, it is possible for students to fulfill requirements while abroad. The Registrar's Office will determine whether or not a course meets all-College requirements and the appropriate department chair will determine whether or not a course meets major or minor requirements. Students are told to visit the department chair well in advance if they intend to fulfill major or minor requirements while abroad. We also advise students to bring the most detailed information about a course they have, including a syllabus, if available. If you need additional information about a course, feel free to contact the Office of Study Abroad for assistance. Keep in mind that your approval of major or minor credit on the Course Approval Form is preliminary; students are encouraged to save and bring back as much of their work as possible (course syllabi, papers, exams) in case you would like to review their work upon their return.
Grade transfer
All credit earned on CC and affiliated programs, with the exception of direct exchange programs, is considered Colorado College credit. Grades earned on these programs will appear on a student's transcript and will be included in determining the student's cumulative grade point average. Students will have the same grade track options that they have on campus.
Grades earned on exchange programs (Fudan, Göttingen, Jönköping, Juiz de Fora, Nevksy, Regensburg and Wales) will not appear on a student's transcript. Students on these exchange programs may not opt to take classes on a "pass/nocredit" basis. Likewise, the grades earned on non-affiliated programs will not appear on the CC transcript or be factored into a student's grade point average. Students must take all courses for a grade and earn the equivalent of a C- or better in order for course work to transfer.
Costs and financial aid
For most students, a semester abroad will cost roughly the same as a semester on campus. However, students should be aware that costs do vary by program, and financial aid is not available for all programs.
If a student is participating in a Colorado College or affiliated program, in most cases they will pay regular Colorado College tuition, plus a program fee that normally covers the overseas room and board, and may also cover field trips, airfare, and other expenses. Students may use their institutional and federal financial aid awards for study on Colorado College and affiliated programs.
If a student is participating in a non-affiliated program, they will not pay Colorado College tuition, or room and board fees, but will instead pay the program sponsor directly. Tuition and fees may be more or less than what Colorado College charges. Students may not use their Colorado College scholarship awards to pay for these programs. However, federal Pell Grants, SEOG, Stafford, Perkins, other alternative loans, and PLUS Loans will transfer to non-affiliated programs. Students studying abroad on non-affiliated programs will also be assessed a $300 administrative fee.
Personal leaves
Students who wish to travel abroad for personal reasons (to complete an internship, do volunteer work, etc.) must take a personal leave of absence. The deadlines for requesting a personal leave are November 1 (for the spring semeser) and March 1 (for the fall semester). Students should consult the Office of Student Life for additional information.
Orientation
The Office of Study Abroad will hold general orientation sessions for all students studying abroad. Sessions will be held in May for students studying abroad in the fall and in December for students studying abroad in the spring.
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