Study Abroad Programs
USD undergraduates in good standing may apply for a variety of study abroad programs affiliated with the University. USD grants academic credit and grades for the programs listed in the following pages. To ensure the proper recording of units, USD students may not enroll independently, or through another institution, in a USD-affiliated program.
Students who wish to study abroad on a USD-affiliated program must have taken a minimum of 40 units at the college level with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher, and must take a minimum of 15 units while participating in the program. Students placed on academic probation and those having a deficiency notice at midterm will be disqualified, regardless of expenses incurred. Additional questionable academic or disciplinary records will be reviewed to determine eligibility.
Tuition for the affiliated programs is paid directly to USD and is equivalent to the USD tuition rate for full-time students. All other fees are either paid to USD (Spain only) or are charged by and paid directly to the sponsoring institution. Tuition remission may not be applied to USD affiliated programs. Tuition must be paid in full to USD 10 days prior to program start date. The USD tuition installment plan is not available for study abroad. The majority of financial assistance awarded through USD is applicable for one semester abroad with an affiliated program. Some fees incurred by the sponsoring institution may not be covered by USD financial assistance. Students may study abroad for a maximum of one academic year; however, to satisfy the requirements for a degree, students must earn the final 30 units of credit at the University of San Diego campus. Application deadlines for most programs take place in February (fall semester applicants) or September (spring semester applicants). For further information and application materials, visit the Study Abroad Programs Office located in Founders Hall 106, or call (619)260-4598; studyabroad@sandiego.edu; http://www.sandiego.edu/studyabroad.
Program in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is rich in history and has a diverse population. The majority of Argentines live in or around the capital making this sprawling modern city an excellent environment for the study of politics, art, literature, business, and international relations.
Offered in collaboration with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), this program offers semester or full-year study in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The IES Buenos Aires Center, located downtown, houses a student lounge, a small reference library, classrooms, staff offices, and computer lab. Students will enroll in 4 units of Spanish language and will select additional courses from a pre-approved list of IES offerings taught in English or Spanish by Argentine faculty. Areas of study include art, environmental studies, cinema, history, international business, literature, political science, psychology, and sociology. Students with advanced language also have an opportunity to take courses with Argentine students at the local universities.
To be eligible, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and must have completed the equivalent of three college semesters of Spanish language studies prior to participation in the program.
Students live with Argentine hosts and are provided with two meals daily. All arrangements are based on information provided by the student regarding preferences and special needs. Each housing option is screened and approved by an IES Buenos Aires housing coordinator.
Program in Vienna, Austria
This program is offered in association with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES). The IES Vienna Center is situated in the Palais Corbelli, an elegant 18th century palace in the heart of Vienna. The extensive curriculum includes courses taught in both English and German, and offers qualified students the opportunity to enroll in courses at the local institutions such as the University of Vienna and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Students who wish to attend the local universities should plan to remain in Vienna for the months of January and/or June. Students are expected to enroll in a 4-credit German course and four other courses, for a total of 16 semester-units.
Students are housed in private residences throughout the city, either in independent apartments, in apartments shared with an Austrian resident-owner, or in dormitories with Austrian students.
To be considered for the program, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The student must also have attained junior standing and completed at least two college semesters of German language studies prior to participation. Students wishing to enroll in courses taught in German or in courses at the local universities in Vienna, must have a minimum of four college semesters of German language instruction. Selection for the program is based on a written application and a review of transcripts (to be submitted with the application form).
Programs in Oxford, England
Oxford is in the center of England, surrounded by beautiful countryside, and close to many places of interest. Areas such as London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath, Windsor, the Cotswolds, and Winchester are within easy reach, while Cambridge can be visited as a day trip.
The University of San Diego maintains two programs in Oxford, England, for which qualified students may enroll for either a semester or a full academic year. The Programs are offered by special arrangement with St. Clare’s International College and with the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (CMRS). Both are private institutions of higher education located in the city of Oxford. The Oxford programs, open to all USD students, are primarily focused in the humanities and social sciences. Only those students who have been formally approved by USD for enrollment in either program may earn USD credit for their course work. Selection for the program is based on a written application and a review of transcripts (to be submitted with the application form).
Students are offered housing accommodations located within walking distances or short bus rides, with shared kitchen and private bathroom facilities.
To be considered for either program, students must have attained sophomore or junior standing and must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 for the St. Clare’s college or a minimum 3.5 GPA for the CMRS program.
Programs in Aix-en-Provence and Avignon, France
By association with the Institute for American Universities (IAU), USD offers a choice of French study programs at two locations: Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. Both cities are situated in southern France near the Riviera. The area abounds in historical, cultural, and artistic treasures from the Roman and medieval eras to more recent times, with works of Impressionist and early Modern painters represented in local museums. Paris is a mere four hours away by way of the TGV (Train â Grande Vitesse).
Courses at the Avignon center are taught in French, and demand a very good background in the language, the equivalent of at least two years in college. This program, housed in a renovated 14th century chapel, meets the specific needs of French language majors.
The Aix-en-Provence center is located in a restored 17th century chapel. Two semesters of French language studies are required prior to participation. The curriculum includes two French courses per semester, with the balance to be chosen from among an array of offerings, both in French and English.
At both sites, a minimum grade point average of 2.75 is required. Qualified students with a strong background in French area studies may attend the local university at either site.
IAU will place students with host families within a short distance from either site.
Programs in Freiburg, Germany
USD, under the auspices of the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), offers two programs in Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Germany: the European Union Program and the German Studies Program.
Not far from Brussels and Strasbourg (seat of the European Parliament), Freiburg is ideally located for the European Union Program. This single-semester program is designed primarily for economics, political science, international relations, and international business majors. All courses are held at the IES center near the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität and are taught in English by German faculty. All students enroll in one German language course, a mandatory integrative seminar, and three other IES courses for a total of 16 units.
Students must have completed a minimum of two college-level semesters of German language, micro- and macroeconomics and/or introductory finance, and have a background in modern European history, international relations, or comparative management. Students intending to participate in the program must be at the sophomore or junior level and have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
The Freiburg Program offers courses in modern German history, art history, political science, business, economics, and German language and literature. All instruction is in German and IES participants are concurrently enrolled at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität (University of Freiburg). Courses are offered in a vast array of fields in the arts and sciences. Two hours of tutorials supplement two hours of course work for selected university courses. University courses are not announced until shortly before the beginning of each semester; therefore, exact course descriptions cannot be provided in advance.
Interested students must have completed a minimum of four college-level semesters of German language for fall semester attendance, and a minimum of five college-level semesters are required for spring semester participation. Students are eligible to participate during their sophomore or junior years, and must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Both programs place participants with German students in university residence halls with shared kitchen and bath facilities.
Program in Cork, Ireland
USD students with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA may choose to study (for one or two semesters) in Cork, Ireland at the University College Cork (UCC). The university offers courses in a variety of disciplines such as business, art history, literature, sciences, and more. In addition to the regular university semester, UCC offers a pre-semester seminar in the fall in business, anthropology, environmental sciences, political science, history, or literature. The two-week seminar is required for all USD fall semester participants.
The coastal town of Cork is located along the southern coast of Ireland, just approximately 165 miles from Dublin. The second largest city in Ireland, Cork offers the modern amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining the Celtic traditions and feel of a small town.
Students who attend the study abroad program at UCC will be housed with Irish students in on-campus apartments or in local apartments in the surrounding area.
Program in Florence, Italy
In association with Syracuse University, USD offers a one-semester or full-year program in Florence, Italy, to students seeking a Visual Art/Art History major and/or minor. As the jewel of Italy, this beautiful city abounds with original creations by artists from Cimabue and Giotto to Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci. Such masterpieces, however, are not the only displays of artistic splendor, as the city also contains lavish sculpture gardens and centuries of beautifully preserved antiquity.
Qualified students will have the opportunity to enroll in a broad selection of courses in art history/fine arts, in addition to courses within the areas of humanities and social sciences, Italian language, and women’s studies. Students having a strong background in Italian language may also study at the Centro di Cultura per Stranieri and the University of Florence.
Candidates for the program must have a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average and must have completed a minimum of two college-level semesters of Italian language studies. Students may also be required to have completed introductory, intermediate, and/or advanced levels of fine art/art history prior to participating. Selection for the studio art and photography courses is based on a slide portfolio of the student’s recent work. Qualified USD sophomores and juniors may apply.
All program students are assigned to an Italian host family based on information provided regarding preferences and special needs.
Program in Milan, Italy
The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), in conjunction with USD, offers sophomores and juniors two programs for semester and full-year students in Milan, Italy: an intermediate Italian program and an advanced Italian program. The IES Milan Center is located near the Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione (IULM), which provides modern facilities and multimedia rooms. As the heart of modern Italy, Milan is a center for business and fashion industries and provides students with an outstanding opportunity to study Italian language and culture.
Students enrolled in the intermediate Italian program may attend courses at the Universita Bocconi and will also select courses offered through the IES Center taught in English by Italian professors in art history, history, literature, music, theater, and political science. (All intermediate Italian program students enroll in a 9-unit block of language courses taught on an intensive basis during the first three weeks. The course then continues on a regular semester schedule.) Students with a minimum of two college semesters of Italian language and a minimum 3.0 GPA will be considered for the program.
The advanced Italian program is designed for students who have already completed four semesters of Italian language and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students in this program enroll in 4 units of Italian language and select from IES area studies courses taught in Italian by Italian university faculty, or may choose to take advantage of courses taught at several leading universities in Milan (IULM, Universita Bocconi, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, and Scuola Politecnica di Design). Areas of study include art history, cinema, design, history, literature, and political science.
USD students are housed in apartments with Italian roommates, some of whom are enrolled at the local university and others who are young professionals.
Program in Nagoya, Japan
The Japan Program, offered through a partnership with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), enrolls American students directly at Nanzan University in the Center for Japanese Studies (CJS), which specializes in intensive Japanese language instruction as well as Japanese studies courses taught in English. Students with advanced language skills may take seminars taught in Japanese.
Nagoya, with a population of 2.5 million people, is strategically located in central Japan and offers easy access to historical sites in the Kansai and Kanto regions. Students are housed in Japanese homes or independent residence halls.
Students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are eligible to apply to participate during their junior year, with the further condition that they must have completed two semesters of college-level Japanese language. Selection for the program is based on a written application and a review of transcripts.
Program in Madrid, Spain
A traditional and yet modern capital city, Madrid is the ideal location to learn about the diverse chapters of Spain’s culture and history. Located in the heart of the city, the José Ortega y Gasset Foundation Research Center (FJOG) is surrounded by museums, theaters, restaurants, and parks.
Through USD’s affiliation with the Foundation (FJOG), students who have completed a minimum of two semesters of college-level Spanish may study for one or two semesters in Madrid.
The FJOG curriculum offers a wide variety of courses, taught in both English and Spanish, in liberal arts and business. Because language acquisition is an integral part of the Program, participants are required to enroll in 6 units of Spanish language or literature. Several excursions throughout Spain are included as an essential part of this bona fide Spanish experience.
While participating in the Madrid Program, students are housed in host family homes according to their preferences and special needs. This arrangement enhances the cultural experience and allows students to practice their Spanish-speaking skills through daily interactions.
Program in Toledo, Spain
The University of San Diego, in cooperation with the José Ortega y Gasset Foundation Research Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies, offers a one-semester or full-year program in Toledo, Spain. The campus is housed in the San Juan de la Penitencia Residence, a fully renovated 16th-century convent located within walking distance from the center of Toledo. It is in the neighborhood of several major historic sites, including the home and museum of El Greco, and attracts students from Latin America as well as the U.S.
The academic program combines regular and research courses in Spanish language and literature, the humanities, and the social sciences, all taught in Spanish. (Emphasis is also placed on art history.) The program is open to sophomores or juniors who have completed four college-level semesters of Spanish language and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA. This program includes excursions throughout Spain and gives students the option to live in the “Spanish-speaking only” residence halls or with a host family.
Environmental Field Studies Program
USD, in association with the School for Field Studies (SFS), offers semester programs for qualified students majoring in marine sciences, and related disciplines, at SFS field study sites worldwide.
Students may choose to study in the Caribbean, Australia, Baja California, or Costa Rica. Depending on the site that is chosen, students have the opportunity to analyze such challenging problems as preserving ecosystems, balancing economic development and conservation, or managing and maintaining wildlife, agricultural, and marine resources. Science, policy, and resource management course work is integrated with practical field experience and directed research in addressing the environmental issues pertinent to the locale chosen.
Students wishing to participate in the program must have attained sophomore or junior standing and have an overall grade point average of 2.75. One semester of college-level Spanish language study is required for the programs in Mexico and Costa Rica.
USD students will live in unique dormitory-style housing in remote areas, although integrated within the local communities, and are expected to abide by safety rules and regulations at all times. Students and staff alike will share site maintenance responsibilities throughout the semester.
