All students approved to study abroad in a semester or academic-year program are required to complete a 1.0 credit pre-departure orientation course. This course, IDS-210 is designed to help students prepare for the academic, intellectual and personal challenges associated with study abroad. The course meets for 75 minutes per week during the last seven weeks of the semester. Students take the course before studying abroad for the first time only. Students planning to study abroad in fall or for the entire academic year must register for and take this course upon acceptance in spring of the previous semester. Students preparing to study in Japan take EAS-398 instead of IDS-210.

Orientation for Short Term (Summer or Winter Interim) Study Abroad

Students approved to study abroad in a short-term (winter or summer interim) program must attend at least one pre-departure orientation meeting  held on campus at the end of the semester prior to study abroad. Announcements will be made about sessions. In addition, individual programs may require students to attend program-specific meetings. These orientation sessions will cover basic information on academics, travel documents financial matters, health and safety, codes of conduct and cultural adjustment.