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Study Abroad through
Marymount Manhattan College
Contact:
Cynthia Sittler
Study Abroad Coordinator
Office of Academic Affairs
Marymount Manhattan College
221 East 71st Street
New York, NY 10021
Office phone: 212-517-0525
Fax: 212-517-0528
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?
Studying abroad is a rewarding and life-changing experience. Students who incorporate overseas study into their academic careers deepen their knowledge and understanding of international, political, and cultural affairs. You may return from your sojourn abroad with a better perspective on world issues as well as a broader understanding of the U.S. and its way of life. Most significantly, when you spend time in another culture, you learn a great deal about yourself. Regardless of what major you are pursuing, from Biology to Theater Arts, you can benefit from study abroad.
Please note: the Application to Study Abroad (link on the left) has been revised as of 6/8/2010. There are some changes to procedures and forms, please check the Application for the latest information. The Study Abroad Guide below will be updated shortly.
ELIGIBILITY
To obtain permission to study abroad you must:
- have completed at least 30 credits at MMC by your departure. (Transfer students must have completed 15 credits at MMC.)
- have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Check this on MMC Connect.
- have declared a major.
The credits and grades you earn abroad will appear on your transcript and be calculated into your GPA.
You may take a maximum of 30 credits on study abroad, 15 credits per term.
You may not take study abroad courses on Pass/Fail basis.
HOW TO CHOOSE A PROGRAM
Take some time to answer the following questions to assist you in choosing a study abroad program.
- Why do you want to study abroad? You may want to learn about another culture, to enhance your education, or to improve language skills.
- Where do you want to go? Why?
- How much time do you want to spend abroad?
- How will study abroad fit into your academic program? Will the courses you take fulfill your major requirements or count as electives? Will going abroad alter your graduation plans?
- How will you finance your study abroad?
- Do you want to attend classes with students from the host country or mainly with other Americans? Do you want classes to be on the U.S. model or on another model that may involve more independent work on your part?
- Do you want to live with a family, with students from the host country, or with fellow American students?
WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?
You have a wide range of programs to choose from including summer programs, programs for a semester abroad, and opportunities to spend a full year abroad. MMC is affiliated with two consortia which offer programs in 50 countries. In addition, there are programs sponsored by U.S. colleges and universities; others are sponsored by private organizations focused exclusively on study abroad; finally, you may participate directly with a foreign college or university. For the most part, academic credit from institutions and organizations offering study abroad programs is transferable to MMC. However, in all cases, to ensure the credit you earn will apply to your MMC degree, you must receive appropriate permission for each of the courses you will want to transfer.
Many factors may influence your choice of program, such as course content, location, your financial situation, your degree requirements, language proficiency, and the amount of time you have available. Keep these factors in mind as you evaluate the programs in which you are interested. Listed below are some of the major types of programs you may consider.
MMC affiliations
MMC is a member of two consortia, the Academic Consortium of the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) and the College Consortium for International Studies (CCIS). Together these consortia offer programs in 50 countries. Information is available on their Web sites at ciee.org and ccisabroad.org respectively.
In addition, MMC has a bilateral exchange agreement for Dance majors with de Theaterschool in Amsterdam, a premier dance academy.
Programs sponsored by a U.S. college or university
Many MMC students have participated in study abroad programs organized by other U.S. colleges. Transferring academic credit is easily arranged in these programs. Program sponsors usually make some or all of the academic, housing, and travel arrangements for students. One good example of a U.S. university that has such programs is Syracuse University, which has programs in several countries. There are many such colleges and universities that make programs available.
Programs sponsored by an organization other than a college or university
Nonprofit and proprietary (for profit) organizations, both U.S. and foreign, sponsor study abroad programs. Some of these organizations have agreements with colleges and universities that allow students to be registered on their home campuses. An example of this type of an organization is the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), a for profit organization offering many and varied opportunities for study abroad. Though AIFS programs are accredited and usually of high quality, the cost is often higher than that for study through nonprofit institutions and organizations.
Programs at foreign universities
Students may enroll directly at foreign universities and colleges. Some programs sponsored by foreign universities are especially designed to meet the needs of English-speaking students, with courses offered in English as well as the language of the host country. Some foreign universities admit undergraduates as special students, which is similar to taking classes in the country as a auditor or part-time student. In these cases transferring credit from foreign universities may be more difficult.
FINANCING STUDY ABROAD
If you are currently receiving financial aid, you may be able to use it to study abroad. Federal aid which can consist of loans, grants, or scholarships may be used for study abroad. Some State aid may also be used. MMC grants and scholarships may not be used for study abroad.
In addition there are many scholarship opportunities for funding your study abroad, but you have to start early and be persistent. Information on scholarships and awards for study abroad may be found on the following two Web sites: Study Abroad Funding and Study Abroad Scholarships.
THE PROCESS TO OBTAIN PERMISSION TO STUDY ABROAD
Begin planning as soon as possible-a year is not too early! First, review this Study Abroad Guide and the Application to Study Abroad form, which includes the Student Assumption of Risk, Waiver and Release, the Emergency Contact Information form (Attachment C), and the Study Abroad Financial Aid Application at the end of this page or from the links at the left, and then start the process that is outlined below.
1. Make an appointment with the study abroad coordinator in the Office of Academic Affairs on the 8th floor Main by calling 212-517-0525.
You can review any questions you have about study abroad during the meeting. If you have selected a study abroad program already, bring all of the information with you.
2. Select a study abroad program. The program you select must be affiliated with an accredited educational institution. It is strongly advised that you select at least one alternate program in case your faculty advisor does not approve of your first choice. Print all of the course descriptions and other relevant information from the program's Web site. If you have any questions about a program or the institution that is sponsoring the program, seek additional help from either the study abroad coordinator or your faculty advisor. A number of publications about study abroad programs, such as IIEPassport: Academic Year Abroad and IIEPassport: Short-Term Study Abroad, are good sources of information. The Web sites listed below are a good start. They are not all alike so it is best to look through two or three of them:
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is the established leader in the exchange of people and ideas for over 50 years.
GoAbroad.com provides a good site on international education and alternative travel.
StudyAbroad.com is another good site that even offers a Parent's Guide to Studying Abroad!
For students with physical disabilities, an additional resource is MIUSA:
3. Get permission from individual faculty members for each of the courses you intend to take abroad. Your course of study must be approved to ensure that your courses abroad will be accepted and transferred to MMC. Your faculty advisor will direct you to the appropriate faculty members. You may need to consult the Chair of the Division offering the MMC equivalent of the course for approval. The Division Chairs will either approve your courses or tell you who can help you.
Dr. Vandana Rao (Accounting and Business Management)
Dr. Mary Fleischer (Fine & Performing Arts)
Dr. Peter Naccarato (Humanities) [Fall 2009: Dr. Mark Conard, acting chair]
Dr. Ann Jablon (Sciences)
Dr. Rosemary Nosiff (Social Sciences)
In order to obtain all of the necessary approvals you may have to talk with several people so please start early and do not attempt to do this during vacation periods.
Fill out the second page of the Permission to Study Abroad form (Attachment A). On the left-hand side write in all of the courses you plan to take abroad. Select a few alternate courses just in case the ones you want are not available once you get abroad. Bring all of the information you have about the study abroad courses with you when you seek a professor's permission. The professor will indicate which MMC degree requirements your study abroad courses will fulfill.
4. Review your plans with your faculty advisor. If your faculty advisor agrees with your plans, please ask him/her to sign the first page of the Permission form.
5. Schedule an appointment for a review of your academic record or degree audit. What's a degree audit? It is a review of the requirements you have already completed and those that are still outstanding in your degree program. This information will help you select study abroad courses that will apply to your degree program and allow you to graduate on time. With this information, your faculty advisor and the staff in the Center for Student Services can better advise you as to what courses you should take on your study abroad program.
If you have 75 or more credits, make an appointment with the associate registrar in the Center for Student Services (on the lower level of Nugent), for an official degree audit.
If you have fewer than 75 credits, make an appointment for an unofficial review with one of the counselors in the Academic Advisement Center (on the lower level of Nugent).
Please ask the person who conducts the audit to sign the first page of the Permission form.
6. If you have not done so already, apply to the program of your choice.
7. Complete all of the information on Attachments B and C. Make an appointment with the study abroad coordinator. Submit these documents together with the Permission to Study Abroad form to be put into your file. You will be registered as a study abroad student for the time you are away from MMC.
8. If you are currently receiving financial aid and would like to apply it to your study abroad experience, you need to do ONE more very important thing. Complete the Study Abroad Financial Aid Application. In order to use your Federal or State grants or loans to pay for study abroad, please remember:
- You must take a full load of courses, at least 12 credits.
- You must take courses that you need to complete your degree program. You cannot take courses that will not move you toward graduation.
- If you fail a course while you are abroad, you many jeopardize your financial aid depending on the type of aid you receive.
- Courses may not be taken as Pass/Fail.
- All coursework and grades earned through study abroad, including "F" grades will be recorded on your MMC transcript and included in your grade point average.
Make an appointment to speak with the associate director of Student Financial Services (office 212-517-0481) in the Center for Student Services. She/he will help you determine what financial aid is available to finance your study abroad. Bring the Study Abroad Financial Aid Application and the letter of acceptance from the study abroad program.
Please be advised that your entire financial aid package may not apply to study abroad. MMC scholarships and grants are not applicable, but Federal and State grants and loans may be used.
PASSPORTS
You can obtain an application for a passport at any Post Office including the one on 70th Street (between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue). If you already have a passport, please check that it will not expire before you plan to RETURN home from your study abroad program. If you have to apply for the first time for a passport, please apply early-it could take four to six weeks-even longer during the peak travel season. Please check with the State Department for instructions and an application: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
VISAS
A VISA IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT GRANTING PERMISSION BY A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO ENTER AND RESIDE IN THAT COUNTRY FOR A SPECIFIC LENGTH OF TIME AND FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. Not all countries require student visas, so check with the consulate or embassy of the country you are planning to visit to determine whether or not you will need one. If you plan to study in a country that requires a visa, you may obtain one from the nearest embassy or consulate of the country concerned. Check to be sure that you passport will not expire for six months beyond your planned stay abroad. Applications for visas sometimes require a letter from the home college. Some embassies and consulates process visa requests quickly, but many do not. Some consulates accept visa applications by appointment only. During peak travel seasons, it can take two or more months to schedule an appointment. Please check with the consulate of the country in which you are going to study for visa requirements. The NYC Mayor's office maintains an online list of all of the consulates in New York City.
Note: Consulates usually have very useful information about their country on their Web sites such as, political leaders, geography, history, weather conditions, latest domestic news and trends, etc. Please familiarize yourself with the conditions of the country you are visiting.
INSURANCE FOR STUDENTS GOING ABROAD
Being insured while you are abroad is very important. Health insurance will cover you in case of an illness or accident. Travel insurance will cover your luggage and flight/trip cancellations. Sometimes these types of insurance may be purchased together in a package.
The study abroad program sponsoring your study may include the cost of health insurance in the cost of the program. Or you may have to buy a separate, short-term insurance policy for travelers or purchase a short-term extension ("rider") to yours or your parents' regular policy for health and/or travel while you are out of the country.
If you have to purchase insurance, there are several things to consider:
- Your age
- Length of time you will be abroad
- Country or countries to which you will be traveling
- Possibility of you going home for a visit during your study abroad period
- Requirements for health coverage set by the country to which you are traveling
Here is a list of six insurance companies that offer insurance to students. There are many others. All of these companies have a wide range of insurance products, so please be careful that you select the policy suited to your needs. Be sure to purchase insurance covering "Evacuation and Repatriation."
U.S.EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES ABROAD
If you are a U.S. citizen, you should register with the U.S. State Department before you leave the U.S. This is very important. Should there be an accident, attack, or natural disaster, the Embassy will be able to contact you. This step is meant as a safeguard for you. The study abroad program sponsoring your study may register you with the U.S. State Department.
U.S. State Department travel registration: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/
To find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/embassies/embassies_1214.html
STAY CONNECTED TO MMC WHILE YOU ARE ABROAD THROUGH MMC E-MAIL!
- You will have to register for classes for the semester following your time abroad. To do so you will need to e-mail your course selection for the next term to your faculty advisor for his/her permission. Let your faculty advisor know where you are.
- Space in student housing is very tight so do not wait until you return from abroad to apply for housing at MMC.
If you want to live in MMC housing in the spring and you are away in the fall, contact the Residence Life Office by November 1 at residencelife@mmm.edu.
If you want to live in MMC housing in the fall and you are away in the spring, contact the Residence Life Office by February 1 at residencelife@mmm.edu.
TRANSCRIPTS
The grades you receive abroad will be calculated in your cumulative MMC grade point average. It is very important for you to arrange to have the transcript of your grades from your study abroad program sent directly to MMC. MMC cannot request your transcripts for you-only you can do this. Please be advised:
- You must pay all of your bills before the school abroad will release your transcripts.
- Without your transcripts MMC cannot process any further financial aid for you.
- If you complete fewer than 12 credits while studying abroad, you may forfeit some financial aid.
- Because courses taken for Pass/Fail will not transfer to MMC transcripts, you may not take any course abroad on a Pass/Fail basis.
MMC needs to receive letter grades from the school abroad. If the school gives grades in some other form (some schools give number grades), ask for an explanation of how to convert the grades to letters. If the MMC registrar does not receive your study abroad transcript within a month of the end of the MMC semester, you will jeopardize your eligibility for financial aid for the following term; your application for financial aid cannot be processed until your grades for study abroad are received and recorded by MMC.
Have the study abroad institution send the official transcript to:
Study Abroad Coordinator, Academic Affairs
Marymount Manhattan College
221 East 71st Street
New York, NY 10021.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IDENTITY CARD (ISIC)
The ISIC offers savings on airfares, trains, buses, accommodations, museums, cultural events, and entertainment for students ages 12 and over who are currently enrolled at an accredited institution and matriculating towards a diploma or degree. Continuing education and language school students are not eligible. The card costs $22.
STATRAVEL(Click on Deals and Discounts)
INFORMATION ON YOUR DESTINATION
How much do you know about your destination? Are you familiar with the current social and political issues of the country? What are the important issues facing college students in that country? What do you know of the history, literature, and artistic traditions of the country? These Web sites can give you some basic information and link you with more:
U.S. State Department's Background Notes (country information),--overviews complied by the U.S. diplomatic services.
Yahoo's Directory of Countries. This Web site offers you numerous links organized by country, into almost two dozen subcategories such as cities, regions, arts & humanities, education, health, news& media, etc. Links to Web sites in the language of the host country are available. There are also links to ABC and BBC News Country Profiles, the CIA World Factbook, and more.
Study Abroad Forms:
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