Davidson's Study Abroad Office, based upon the recommendations of the College's Strategic Plan, has established two new procedures that will dramatically improve the quality of students' experiences abroad and here on campus.

1) Approved List of Study Abroad Programs
2) Intent to Study Abroad Form (due October 1)

Why an Approved List?
As the national trend of students studying abroad has significantly increased, so has the number of study abroad options.  An approved list will help students know they have selected a high quality program that will receive Davidson credit.


Will all of my courses automatically be approved for transfer credit since my program is on the Approved List?
No. Individual courses still must be pre-approved by the Registrar.


How was the Approved List created?
The Approved List currently consists of those study abroad programs from which Davidson students have transferred credit during the past five years; the list has been adjusted to reflect the following criteria adopted by the Davidson College International Education Committee on October 13, 2005.

1)  The program sponsor must be an accredited U.S. college or university, or an institution of higher education of legitimate standing within the foreign country where it is located, or an approved Davidson College program provider.

2)  The Registrar of Davidson College must judge as acceptable the academic standards of the program.

3)  The program must offer courses of a general liberal arts nature.

4)  If Davidson students have previously gone abroad on this program, the majority must have judged it academically and experientially valuable, as well as adequately administered.

When does the Approved List take effect?
Beginning fall 2011, all students who plan to study abroad during the academic year must select a program from the approved list.

How many choices will I have?
The list is generous. It is intended to inform student choices rather than restrict them. Programs led by Davidson faculty are favored, but there are over 240 additional options in 54 countries around the world. The options reflect different locations, GPA requirements and program costs.

What if I want to study with a program that is not on the Approved List?
Students who have a compelling academic reason for studying with a program that is not on the list may file a petition, which will be reviewed by the International Education Committee. Petitions will be due September 1.

Where can I find a list of approved programs?
A list of approved programs can be found in the Study Abroad Office. After students attend a general information session, they may schedule an individual appointment with a study abroad counselor to discuss their education abroad options. General information sessions are held every Monday at 1:30 and every Thursday at 4:00 in Duke Meeting Room 110.

Will the list change over time?
Yes, it will. The International Education Committee will evaluate suggested additions to or deletions from the list every spring. If you are approved to study with a program that gets deleted from the list at the end of the year, you will still be allowed to study abroad with that program.

What is the Intent to Study Abroad Form?
The Intent to Study Abroad Form is a short form which will allow Davidson's Study Abroad Office to know about all students who would like to study abroad during the 2011-2012 academic year. Along with the Approved List, the form will ensure that students receive high quality guidance as they evaluate their study abroad options.

Why do I have to file it?
Currently, Davidson struggles with an imbalance between fall and spring study abroad enrollments. Two to three times as many students study abroad in the fall as in the spring. This imbalance contributes to several issues across campus including housing, courses, and student activities.

By filling out the Intent to Study Abroad Form, students are helping the Study Abroad Office plan enrollment for the next year. The forms will facilitate conversations between the Study Abroad Office and students about their preferred semester for study abroad. If more students don't choose to study abroad in the spring, we will have to develop and enforce a cap on fall semester study abroad.

Knowing about all students who plan to study abroad also will help to ensure that all students benefit from high quality orientation programs before they go abroad and strong re-entry orientations when they return to Davidson. Conversations with students over the past few years suggest that these pre-and post-orientations greatly enhance the quality of the study abroad experience.

When is the form due?
The form is due October 1.

Where can I get the form and where should I hand it in?
You can download the the Intent to Study Abroad Form, or you can pick one up in the Study Abroad Office in Duke Residence Hall. Forms should be handed in to the Study Abroad Office in Duke Residence Hall.