Education Abroad 101:
First Steps
PRESENTED BY CUABROAD
THE CENTER FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION
T H E C AT H O L I C U N I V E R S I T Y O F A M E R I C A
What is CUAbroad?
 A unit of the Center for Global Education
 Administers a variety of study and internship
program options for US students abroad
 Coordinates education abroad and exchange
options within the university
 Location:
McMahon Hall 111
Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm
http://cuabroad.cua.edu
Services we Provide
 Education abroad advising
 Program review and approval
 Course registration and credit transfer assistance
 Weekly information sessions
 Pre-departure orientations
 International health & evacuation insurance
 International Student ID Cards
 Advice on obtaining visas
 Re-entry programming
Benefits of Study Abroad
 Academics:
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Courses are available for all majors.
Fulfill degree requirements (major, minor, distribution, electives).
Unique experiences that enrich a student’s course of study, e.g.
studying ecology in Costa Rica, business in Shanghai, or music in
Vienna.
 Career:
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Demonstrates skills that emloyers value: flexibility, adaptability,
interpersonal communication, organization, self-reliance, teamwork,
etc. Can make a resume stand out, especially if it includes education
abroad at a non-traditional destination.
Networking and international employment opportunities.
Additional Benefits
 Graduate School:
 Demonstrates a high degree of initiative.
 Internships, field experience, volunteer, service learning or
research opportunities.
 Personal Growth:
 Discover new places and meet new people.
 Experience different cultures, politics and lifestyles.
 Challenge one’s own world view.
 Develop a more sophisticated understanding of what it means
to be American in a global world.
Where can I study abroad?
 28 countries on 5 continents across the globe.
 Search by location or by discipline.
 Programs are available for every major.
 Over 75 affiliated program options to choose from.
Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Chile China
Costa Rica Cuba Czech Republic Ecuador Egypt France
Germany Greece Hungary India Ireland Italy Japan
Jordan Mexico Morocco New Zealand Poland South
Africa Spain United Kingdom
Most Popular Program
CUA in Rome : CUA’s Flagship Semester Program
Popular with CUA Honors Students
Oxford Semester
Spring Break 2014 in Madrid, Spain
March 7-15, 2014
With Dr. Daniel García-Donoso
What are the requirements to study abroad?
 Short-Term & Summer Programs
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Good academic and disciplinary standing
Minimum 2.5 GPA
 Semester & Academic Year Programs
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Good academic and disciplinary standing
Minimum 2.5 GPA (many programs require higher)
Full-time student at the time of application
Completed at least 45 credits by the time program begins
Language requirement: must be completed by the time the
program begins (students may petition for deferment)
 Additional Requirements
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Vary by program, are listed on the program web page
Examples: higher minimum GPA, specific major, previous
language experience, etc.
When can I study abroad?
 Spring Break:
 As early as freshmen year or anytime after that
 Summer:
 Following freshman, sophomore, or junior year
 Semester:
 Second semester of sophomore year and after
 Academic Year:
 Sophomore or junior year
What types of programs does CUA offer?
 CUA-Administered
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Programs directed on-site by CUA, with CUA courses taught by
CUA professors or local faculty. Examples include the CUA in
Rome Semester and the London Parliamentary Internship.
 CUA Faculty-Led
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Summer or spring break courses taught by a CUA professor
 Affiliated Provider-Sponsored
 Run by an affiliated organization that specializes in education abroad
programs. Courses may be taught by the provider, at a local
university or in combination.
 Internships
How much does it cost?
 A semester abroad cost is surprisingly affordable
 For students on CUA programs:
 $100 Application fee
 CUA Tuition (financial aid applies)
 Program fee:
Usually $5,000 for a semester and $2,500 for a summer.
 Covers the cost of housing, insurance, credit transfer, etc.
 A $500 deposit on the program fee is required within 2 weeks of
being accepted to the program.
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Cost of non-CUA programs
 For students on non-CUA programs:
 Cost of the program, paid directly to the program provider
 CUA Administrative fee:
$500 (summer), $1,000 (semester), or $1,500 (academic year)
 Covers the cost of insurance, credit transfer, etc.
 Billed to the student’s CUA account
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Will my financial aid apply?
 Students on CUA programs may apply all of their
financial aid, except work-study.
 Students on approved non-CUA programs may apply
any state/federal financial aid, but not their CUA aid.
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Students should contact the Office of Financial Assistance to
arrange for the continuation of this aid.
Are there scholarships available?
 Scholarships through CUA:
 CUAbroad Autumn Advantage
 Fall Into Rome
 CUAbroad Diversity Scholarship
 Crisafulli Fund: Language or Italian Studies majors.
 Many other scholarships are also available.
 Affiliated programs also offer scholarships.
 Gilman, Boren, Fulbright, etc.
What are the deadlines to apply?
 CUA Programs:
 October 1 (Spring Programs)
 March 1 (Fall, Summer, & Academic Year Programs)
 Exceptions:
 Some programs have earlier application deadlines
 Non-CUA Programs:
 October 15 (Spring Programs)
 March 15 (Fall, Summer, & Academic Year Programs)
Application Materials
 Academic Eligibility Form (A&S Students)
 Credit Approval Form
 CUAbroad Online Application
 CUA Transcript
 Letter of Recommendation
 ID-Style Photo
 Passport Scan/Photocopy
 $100 Application Fee (CUA Programs)
 Resume and Police Clearance (Westminster
internship)
How do I select a program?
 Plan ahead! It is never too early to start.
 Look for a program that fits your major and career
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objectives.
Consider various housing options.
Talk with past participants.
Consult both an education abroad advisor and your
academic advisor on course selection.
Save some of your distribution courses & electives.
Be sure to discuss financial aid implications.
Research scholarship options.
How do I Contact CUAbroad?
CUAbroad
The Center for Global Education
111 McMahon Hall
The Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Ave, NE
Washington, DC 20064
Tel: 202-319-6010
Fax: 202-319-6673
cua-cuabroad@cua.edu
Ella Sweigert, Director of Education Abroad
sweigert@cua.edu
Grace Schneider, Education Abroad Advisor
schneiderg@cua.edu