Getting Started

With Bethel’s wide variety of study away program offerings, students from any major can find a program that advances their academic and career goals. No matter what your academic interests are or where you want to study abroad, we are confident that we have a program for you.

Step 1: Academic planning

It's never too early to start scheduling study abroad into your academic plan! Use this study abroad checklist to help you stay on track throughout the planning process.

Program searching

• Check out this curated list of program searching tools:
  • Map Finder
  • Program Suggestions by Department
  • Program Search Database
  • Program Match Quiz
  • Program Comparison Chart
• Explore our faculty-led and third-party program offerings
• Listen to and read about study abroad alumni experiences!
• Get inspired by past photo contest winners

Scholarship searching and finances

• Begin looking into scholarship opportunities
• View this study abroad funding webinar (5:09-9:09; 16:13-30:22)
  • PDF overview
• Start familiarizing yourself with how Study Abroad Charges work

Advising meetings

• Meet with your academic advisor
  
  • Work with your academic advisor and department chair before you go abroad to determine how your study abroad courses will transfer back.
• Meet with a study abroad advisor
  • Connect with a study abroad advisor to explore available courses and programs that may be a good fit for your academic needs.

Step 2: Course petitions*

*Third-party programs only

The courses you take abroad will transfer back to Bethel either as elective credits or as the direct equivalent of courses in Bethel’s catalog. To have credits transfer back as direct equivalents, you will need to complete the course petition process below.

It is recommended that you petition more courses than you actually plan to take in case a course ends up being full or canceled.

1. Collect and compile course information for 8-12 course options

• Visit your program provider's website to find and download syllabi
  • If syllabi are unavailable on the website, contact your provider's admissions representative or email study-abroad@bethel.edu for assistance

2. Submit course petitions

• One petition must be submitted for each course (i.e. five petitions for five courses)
• It will take 1-4 weeks (or longer over winter and summer breaks) to receive an approval or denial decision from the Registrar's Office. (You will be notified via email either way.)
  • If "Approved": You are good to go!
  • If "Denied":
    1. Contact the appropriate faculty member to gather information on why the course was denied
       • Is there information you can provide that may reverse the decision?
    2. Submit new petition(s) for alternate course options

 
3. Consider enrolling in the Intercultural Engagement Endorsement (IEE)

• Enrolling in the IEE will ensure that all courses taken abroad will count towards graduation requirments and be considered in financial aid calculations.
  • Please see Course Program of Study for more information on financial aid eligibility.

 

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