The College of St. Scholastica

Study Abroad

The College of St. Scholastica encourages students to travel abroad as an integral part of achieving a broad education in today's rapidly changing world. Contact the Director of Study Abroad: Tom Homan thoman@css.edu, Tower Hall Room 2106, x2214.

Currently the College offers its own study abroad opportunities in Mexico, Germany, Ireland and Russia. These programs range from two weeks to a full year. Please click on the individual countries listed to learn more about these faculty-developed programs.

In addition to these College-sponsored programs, CSS is a member of HECUA, the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs. HECUA is a group of 17 regional colleges and universities headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. HECUA organizes learning opportunities in the USA and around the world. Any CSS student is eligible to participate in HECUA-sponsored programs for academic credit. HECUA manages learning centers abroad in Bangladesh, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia and Ecuador. For full information about HECUA programs, check with David Schuettler at DSchuett@css.edu, or visit the Web site at: www.hecua.org.

Steps for Study Abroad

  • Consult with your academic advisor about the best timing for you to spend a semester away from the campus. Be sure to save general-education courses to take while you are abroad. Most courses focus on the arts and humanities and such courses are most common for study abroad. These courses enable you to learn about the country where you will be living. Your academic advisor will determine whether the academic credits you earn abroad will be acceptable for your CSS degree program. Bring along course descriptions from the website or brochures.
  • Browse the study abroad pamphlets in the corridors or the second and third floors of Tower Hall.
  • Consult with the Financial Aid Office to determine your eligibility for aid or loans during the period you plan to study abroad.
  • Normally study abroad is done in the sophomore or junior year. Science, Nursing, PT, and Education majors should plan their study abroad timing early in close consultation with their academic advisors. It can be very difficult to fit a semester abroad into their academic programs unless carefully planned during their first year at CSS.
  • Mr. Homan will review with you the many study-abroad options available (including short periods and summers) and provide you pertinent information about program options. The best time to contact him is during October to plan Spring-semester programs and during February to plan Fall-semester and summer programs. Mr. Homan generally travels abroad to recruit international students during September, November and April. Please, e-mail him requesting an appointment during the months he is available and provide him with three times that you will be able to meet with him (he does not know your class schedule).
  • If you are interested in the CSS faculty-led programs in Russia, Rome, Germany, Mexico, Tanzania or Ireland, Mr. Homan or your academic advisor will direct you to the appropriate faculty or staff member on campus. Information about some of these programs is also available on the CSS website. Please check the website to learn about them.
  • Mr. Homan will also advise you of any special programs he is aware of that are being developed by CSS faculty in addition to those recurring programs listed above.
  • After meeting with Mr. Homan, you should carefully check pertinent websites and discuss options with your parents to be sure that they approve of your plans and financing arrangements. The semester break is a good time to review things with your parents. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of study abroad options to choose from.
  • Careful research and planning with the Study Abroad Director is the safest and surest way to prepare for a rewarding experience unless you are already focused on a CSS-sponsored program led by faculty. In that case, go directly to the faculty program leader.

Additional Information and Tips

  • Consider language study as part of your study abroad program.
  • Community service and internships are available in some areas.
  • CSS has special affiliate institutions in China and Argentina. The Study Abroad Director can tell you about the study abroad programs they offer.
  • Your CSS health plan will generally cover you during study abroad. Check with the administrator of your health plan to be sure. Other inexpensive insurance options are available if your CSS plan does not cover you while abroad in a particular country.
  • Establish e-mail contact with the institution you hope to attend. A contact person and e-mail address will be listed on their website.
  • Ask the contact person about any special visa or immunization requirements for your country of destination. These vary from country to country. Review your immunizations with your doctor or the health center on-campus. Check on any special medical support you may need abroad and the availability in your intended location. Bring prescription medicines to last through the semester.
  • Apply for a US passport either online, through the office at the Miller Hill Mall adjacent to DSW Shoes or at the US Post Office. Allow at least eight weeks for passport processing. Passports are valid for ten years and currently cost $100. You will need two passport photos.
  • When your program is confirmed, inform the housing director that you will not be living in on-campus housing during the semester of your study abroad.
  • Check out with the Study Abroad Director, your academic advisor, and the registrar to ensure that all is in order and that your contact information during your absence is up to date.
  • Be sure you have an ATM card.
  • Print this guide and keep it with your study-abroad portfolio.
  • Contact the Study Abroad Director by e-mail with any questions along the way.