INDEPENDENT STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM (WINTER and/or SPRING TERMS ONLY)

The Independent Study Abroad (ISA) program is designed primarily for students in their junior year who develop a passion for going where Union does not have an international program and/or who want an autonomous experience in a foreign culture.  The program is consistent with the strategic vision of the College for its students—a vision that includes increased global and interdisciplinary experiences, innovative research and creative scholarship, the integration of academic and personal development, and continuous engagement in a process of self-discovery.  The program reinforces the College’s renewed commitment to encourage students to “find their own path toward a world of many cultures.” Placing the emphasis on independent study and the responsibility for program design on the student will likely foster much greater cultural immersion during the time abroad.

A wide variety of individual program designs can be accommodated within this framework.  Course credit may be given for courses taken at other institutions, for research and service learning projects, and for independent study projects conducted abroad but overseen by a Union faculty member.  In all cases, students will work with a Union faculty member to ensure that each program design is appropriate to the particular student’s academic program.  In special cases, programs conducted within the U.S. may be permitted.

ISA projects may be done during winter or spring term.  (In special cases, a winter and spring ISA is possible.)  Applicants will submit a proposal by Friday of the fifth week of winter term in the academic year preceding the year in which the foreign study project will be undertaken.  In preparing the proposal, a student will work with a faculty member and the ISA director (currently the Director of International Programs) to establish the academic and logistical feasibility of the project. The Liaison Committee on Study Abroad (LCOSA) will review the proposals and give tentative approval by the end of the winter term. If the preliminary proposal is accepted, the student will submit a detailed outline of proposed activities, the nature of any association with institutions in the host country, living and travel arrangements, and the project requirements for LCOSA approval by the end of the spring term .

The principal criteria of evaluation are the relation of the proposal to previous academic experience (e.g., language study or research project) and its contribution to the applicant’s overall academic program.  [Note: Union Scholars can tie their sophomore research project on campus to field work that they will subsequently do abroad.]  Other criteria include: enhancement of personal development; evidence of cultural immersion; reason that traditional (faculty-led) group programs cannot meet the need; institutional arrangements and provisions for oversight of project at the site(s) abroad; extent of deliverables—blog/journal, paper, on-campus presentation; and, letter of support from faculty mentor.

Academic credit for the research project per se will normally consist of 1-2 courses, depending on the project’s scope.  Students will typically arrange to take a course or two at a host institution in order to obtain the three credits equivalent to a full trimester at Union. LCOSA must give prior approval of the academic credit to be granted for the research/independent study. Other course work for credit will be approved by the Dean of Studies in consultation with the ISA director.

The student must pay the comprehensive fee for the term(s) of the proposed ISA.  The College will provide a stipend equivalent to room and board expenses at Union, payment for applicable tuition, and reimbursement for project-specific, out-of-pocket expenses (including travel at the foreign site).  Travel to and from the foreign site is the student’s responsibility.

Students who have already participated in a Union College Term Abroad are allowed to apply for an Independent Study Abroad but must provide a compelling reason why they should be approved. Past examples include study of a difficult language, or an innovative approach that could be used as a template for future ISAs. Category III and Category IV languages as ranked by the Defense Language Institute are considered more difficullt for native speakers of Englisn to master. Category III languages are Czech, Greek, Hebrew, Persian-Farsi, Polish, Russian, Serbian/Croatian, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukranian, and Vietnamese; Category IV are Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean.

It is extremely important that students planning on participating in any international program are thoroughly familiar with the general forms and policies, as well as the specific forms and policies for the international program being undertaken.

Eligibility

  • An overall cumulative average of 2.5 at the time of application.
  • Certification by the Dean of Students that the student is well prepared to participate in foreign study.

  • Be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 for the term prior to the program.

Applying

Click here to download the application form.

Click here to download the budget instructions.

Click here to download the budget template

Due Date

ISA applications are due in the International Programs office, Humanities 211, not later than close of business on the fifth Friday of winter term in the year prior to the proposed program.