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University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) |
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Courses and Credits
USAC has two types of programs:
Specialty (language and culture) programs
and partnership (direct enrollment)
programs. Students in the specialty
programs usually take 12-14 credits of
language per semester, and choose one or
several culture courses (usually offered in
English). At several sites, students may choose to
study mostly culture courses and take a few
language classes. USAC provides a
resident director for each of its specialty
programs. The resident director organizes
on-site orientations and program excursions,
helps you find appropriate accommodations,
answers questions, and is there to make your
stay as enjoyable as possible. All
courses are graded A-F.
USAC Specialty
(Language & Culture)
programs include:
Chile
China
(2 sites)
Costa
Rica (3 sites)
Czech Republic
England (summer only)
France
Germany
Ghana
(summer only)
India (USAC spring term and summer only)
Ireland (summer only)
Italy (2 sites)
Mexico
Spain (4 sites)
In the partnership program option, students
are enrolled in a university as a regular
student. Courses at these universities are
taught in English. These sites do not have
resident directors; however, a program
coordinator is designated by the host
institution to provide student support
services. Students should be aware that
program coordinators are faculty or staff
who deal with a wide variety of programs
(not just USAC), and so they typically
cannot provide the same level of service
that a student would receive at sites with
resident directors. All courses are
graded A-F.
USAC Partnership programs include:
Australia (2 sites)
Denmark
England
(3 sites, semester/year only)
Ghana
(semester/year only)
India (Fall and Christ College spring
term only)
Ireland
(semester/year only)
Japan (2 sites)
Korea
Malta
The Netherlands (2 sites)
New Zealand
Norway
Scotland (2
sites)
Sweden
Thailand
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Accommodations & Meals
The following countries have host family options: Costa Rica, Chile,
China (limited), France, Germany, Sweden, and Spain.
Australia, China, Czech Republic, Chile, Denmark,
France, Germany, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Japan, England, Ghana, and
Thailand have residence hall options.
Apartments may also be available at many of the sites
(such as the Italy and Ireland sites). Please consult the
USAC website for more
information on housing options.
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Program Dates
Most USAC Specialty program dates are similar to UI semester dates.
USAC Partnership program dates may differ. Check the program
information on the
USAC Website
for detailed program dates.
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Program Fees
Students pay USAC directly for USAC fees. See
the
USAC Website for
current USAC program fees and inclusions.
UI students will pay a $150 UI application fee when they apply plus the
following UI
registration/programming fees.
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UI Fees |
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Summer: |
$250 |
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Semester: |
$400 |
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Academic Year: |
$800 |
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Scholarships
USAC Scholarships for study in the Basque Country
Beginning with the 2008-2009 academic year,
scholarships will be available for study at USAC sites
in Bilbao and San Sebastian, Spain, and in Pau, France.
It is estimated that 3 scholarships of $750 each will be
available for the 2008-2009 academic year. The
amount available will increase the following year.
USAC Scholarships for study on USAC Specialty
Programs and in Ghana or India.
Beginning with
the 2008-2009 academic year,
The University of Idaho/USAC will offer
scholarships to students studying at USAC Specialty
Programs, or at USAC's partnership programs in Accra,
Ghana, or Bangalore, India. It is estimated that a
total of $5800 will be available during the 2008-2009
academic year. The amount available will increase
the following year.
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Internships, Work
Study, Field Studies, and Volunteer
Opportunities
In general, USAC internships:
- Offer credits but no financial
compensation
- Schedules and number of work
hours/credits are determined by schedule
of USAC courses
- Are only offered to students
enrolled in that particular study abroad
program
If you are attempting to meet an
internship requirement at your home
university, please obtain their approval
prior to enrolling.
In some cases the USAC programs not listed,
may be able to arrange an internship
applicable to a student’s specific interest
and studies however these arrangements would
only be made once the student is on-site.
Australia: Melbourne
Internship
Qualified students of the Melbourne,
Australia program may apply for
internships and will need to complete
the Deakin University internship
application. These internships are
available in sociology, history, media
studies, journalism, public relations,
policy, graphic design, performing arts
(dance/drama) and business. Interns
receive credits (a maximum of three) but
no financial compensation. This
internship is taken as one of the
student’s units/courses.
Requirements: enrollment in the
Melbourne, Australia program; completion
of at least two years of university
studies (junior standing), and a minimum
GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Examples: “The combination of
interning for a professional sports team
in a foreign country is something that I
could only have dreamed about and
definitely see it as the experience of a
lifetime. I assisted with a review of
the club's business sponsorship
arrangements as well as helping update
some club promotional material. Doing
this Internship let me experience parts
of Australian life that I would never
have seen". Johnny McNany, Marketing and
Communications major, USA Internship
with the Geelong Supercats (professional
basketball team); Social Work (i.e.
community health, family support
systems, hospitals); History (i.e.
archival repositories, museums, local
council library and heritage sections
and non-government organizations
involved in social and cultural
projects); Journalism (i.e. Working for
a metropolitan newspaper researching,
interviewing people, and writing
stories, a three-month Internship at
Channel 31 (community television) on
production of the television pilot
“Geelong Live" ); Sociology (i.e.
undertaking research in local government
for a new drug strategy in the local
area, targeting initiatives aimed at
youth drug use, undertaking research for
a Family Services community organization
about support for mental illness in the
local area); Environmental Science which
can be based all over Australia (i.e.
undertaking coral spawning research on
the Great Barrier Reef, dolphin behavior
research in Port Phillip Bay for the
Dolphin Research Institute, penguin
research for the Australian Antarctic
Division in Hobart and shark research
for CSIRO Marine Research in Hobart,
undertaking research for a Family
Services community organization about
support for mental illness in the local
area).
Chile: Santiago
Internship
Qualified students of the Santiago,
Chile program may apply for internships.
These internships are designed to
complement the academic program. As a
result, interns receive credits (a
maximum of three) but no financial
compensation. The schedule and number of
work hours will be determined by the
schedule of USAC courses. Students must
send their application forms at least 9
weeks in advance with a precise
definition of their field of interest.
If the specific requirements of the
student’s field of interest can not be
met, USAC will orient the student to a
comparable field of interest.
Requirements: enrollment in the
Santiago, Chile program; minimum GPA of
3.0 on a 4.0 scale; and junior standing
at time of internship. The student will
be working in a non-English speaking
environment and must be able to
communicate at the Track IV level.
Students will acquire the required
technical terms in Spanish on the job.
Spring Semester: It is important
to note that the spring semester
internships start in March, the date in
which the Chilean spring semester
begins. For this reason, the internships
during the spring are limited to the
areas of Ecology, Social Work, and Art
History & Arts Museums and are worth 1
credit.
Examples: Escuala Diferencial F
Nş 86 (school for children with special
needs) 6 1/2 weeks, 1 credit.
Pre-Colombian Museum or La Merced
Colonial Museums of Art, 10 weeks, 5
hrs/week, 2 credits. Escuela Diferencial
N° 86 (school for children with special
needs) or María Jesús Vergara´s House
for children affected from cancer, 10
weeks, 3 hrs/week, 1 credit. CODEFF:
Commission for Defense of Flora and
Fauna. This is an institution that is
dedicated to the protection of the
animals and native plants of Chile. It
also develops projects in the area of
Eco-tourism and in Ecological Education.
CREARTE: A program for the development
in the Arts for children from the 5
poorest schools in Santiago. This
institution also incorporates volunteers
in the development of its social
activities.
Optional One Credit Field Studies*
USAC offers a one credit Field Studies
course in Latin American Culture. It is
designed as an extraordinary seven-day
tour of northern Chile (Fall semester)
and southern Chile (Spring semester).
The course takes place in three phases:
1) Orientation on the research topics to
be studied and visited.
2) Participation in the cultural
activity with Licanantay Community in
San Pedro. Areas of participation:
agriculture, Andean Music, tapestry, and
Andean Architecture (Northern Chile); or
Exploration of the Native Flora, History
and Architecture (Southern Chile)
3) Writing of journal while on the trip
(including pictures, dessins,
audiovisual records, and other optional
techniques). Presentation of the project
to the instructor will take place within
three weeks after the completion of the
field studies trip. Grading will be on a
satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
USAC encourages every student to
participate in the fall and spring field
studies course. However, this segment of
the program is optional. A fee of $450
is charged for each of the two field
studies trips in order to cover
transportation, guide, breakfast,
dinner, and room. Itinerary is subject
to change in case of unforeseen
circumstances. Enrollment in the field
studies courses is necessary to
participate in the trips themselves.
*See semester/year catalog for detailed
day-to-day details of trip.
China: Chengdu
Internship
During the Spring semester, yearlong
students have the rare opportunity to
engage in some form of working
internship in a field appropriate to
their major. There is no additional fee
for the internship. The internship is
not guaranteed and the number of hours,
the field and the number of credits will
be determined after the beginning of the
semester. The Teaching of English as a
Second Language in the local schools is
often available and it doesn’t require a
high level of Chinese proficiency.
Requirements: enrollment in the
Chengdu, China program; minimum GPA of
3.0 on a 4.0 scale; and junior standing
at time of internship. Students must
write a proposal about what they plan to
do and what to expect gain from the
experience. During the internship,
students need to keep a record of what
they have learned and write weekly
reports to the supervisor. At the end,
students must write an essay about the
internship and an evaluation will be
given by the supervisor.
Examples: English teaching, 6
hours/week, 2 credits. Mingshan Hotel 3
hours/week. Pratt Whitney (air engine
company) every afternoon, 3 credits.
American Chamber of Commerce, Newspaper
Publishing House, Sichuan Environmental
Protection Bureau.
Costa Rica: Heredia
Internship
Qualified students of the Heredia
program majoring in Chemistry may apply
for internships in that field. Interns
receive a maximum of three credits but
no financial compensation. The schedule
and number of work hours/credits will be
determined by the schedule of USAC
courses.
Requirements: enrollment in the
Heredia program; minimum GPA of 3.0 on a
4.0 scale; and junior standing at time
of internship. The student will be
working in a non-English speaking
environment and must be able to
communicate at the Track IV level.
Students will acquire the required
technical terms in Spanish on the job.
Examples: Chemistry – students
will be working in a laboratory
environment conducting or assisting in
research projects, weekly reports and a
final paper will be required and each
student will be assigned a researcher
who will be his/her tutor, 6 hours/week,
3 credits.
Optional One Credit Field Studies
USAC offers three one credit Field
Studies courses in Latin America and its
Cultures (Fall and Spring semesters),
Conservation Biology (Fall semester) and
Tropical Ecology (Spring semester).
USAC encourages every student to
participate in the fall and spring field
studies course. However, this segment of
the program is optional. A fee of $150
is charged for each of the field studies
trips in order to cover transportation,
guides, lodging and some meals.
Enrollment in concurrent courses may be
required.
Costa Rica: Puntarenas
Internship
Qualified students of the Puntarenas
program majoring in Biology may apply
for internships, which are designed to
complement the academic program. As a
result, interns receive credits (a
maximum of three) but no financial
compensation. The schedule and number of
work hours will be determined by the
schedule of USAC courses. USAC will
attempt to place interested students in
internships which focus on the marine
coast environment in Puntarenas.
Requirements: enrollment in the
Puntarenas program; minimum GPA of 3.0
on a 4.0 scale; and junior standing at
time of internship. The student will be
working in a non-English speaking
environment and must be able to
communicate at the Track IV level.
Students will acquire the required
technical terms on the job.
Examples: Marine Biology –
students will be working in a laboratory
environment at the Marine Biology
Station conducting or assisting in
research projects, weekly reports and a
final paper will be required and each
student will be assigned a researcher
who will be his/her tutor, 6 hours/week,
3 credits.
Optional One Credit Field Studies
USAC offers three one credit Field
Studies courses in Latin America and its
Cultures (Fall and Spring semesters),
Conservation Biology (Fall semester) and
Tropical Marine Biology (Spring
semester).
USAC encourages every student to
participate in the fall and spring field
studies course. However, this segment of
the program is optional. A fee of $150
is charged for each of the field studies
trips in order to cover transportation,
guides, lodging and some meals.
Enrollment in concurrent courses may be
required.
Czech Republic: Prague
Internship
Qualified students of the Prague program
may apply for internships. These
internships are designed to complement
the academic program. As a result,
interns receive credits (a maximum of
three) but no financial compensation.
The schedule and number of work hours
will be determined by the schedule of
USAC courses. USAC will attempt to place
students in any major field of
work/study. The work will be done in an
English-speaking environment. The
currently available intern positions are
at the major Central-European bank,
Institute of International Relations, US
Embassy in Prague and an international
firm. The total number of positions is 6
per semester (Fall, Spring). There are
no internships positions available
during the six-week long summer term.
Requirements: enrollment in the
Prague program; minimum GPA of 3.0 on a
4.0 scale and junior standing at time of
internship. Students should notify the
USAC office about their wish to do an
internship 30 days prior to arrival in
Prague.
Optional One Credit Field Studies*
USAC offers a one credit field
studies course designed as a fabulous
five-day, four-night experience of
Vienna and Budapest, the capital cities
of Austria and Hungary. A half-day will
be spent in another capital city of the
region, Bratislava (Slovakia). One night
will be spent in the interesting border
town of Cesky Krumlov, listed by UNESCO
for its unique renaissance castle and
townhouses, and for its baroque theater
– the only one of its kind in Central
Europe.
The course takes place in three phases:
1) Research, lectures and discussions on
the following topics: Political History
of the Central European Region,
International Relations in the Region,
Literature and Art in Central Europe –
links between cities and countries,
Unification of Europe.
2) The trip and field work phase of the
course takes place as described in the
catalog. The student will write a diary
while on the trip.
3) Presentation of the project to the
instructor will take place within three
weeks after the completion of the field
studies trip. Grading will be on a
satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
USAC encourages every student to
participate in the field studies course,
which is offered in both the fall and
spring semesters. However, this segment
of the program is optional. A fee of
$410 is charged for each field studies
trip in order to cover transportation,
lodging, lectures, and entrance to
museums.
*See semester/year catalog for
day-to-day details of trip.
Denmark: Copenhagen
Internship
30 qualified graduate students of
the Copenhagen program are selected for
internships each semester. These
internships are designed to complement
the academic program. As a result,
interns receive credits (a maximum of
three) but no financial compensation.
The internship begins with an intensive
three-week period of classroom activity
that is culminated by a four hour
written exam. During the three weeks,
students are paired with a company, an
academic supervisor from CBS (Copenhagen
Business School), and a mentor in the
company. Each project is agreed upon by
both the company and the school, so that
it is a true mix of theory and practical
application. This ensures that the
project can hold up to the academic
scrutiny but at the same time is
something that can be utilized by the
company. The internship and the semester
end with the student producing a 50,000
word written project that is evaluated
and then presented to and orally
defended. Students are awarded a
scholarship of 25,000 KDD during the
internship semester.
Requirements: graduate student;
TOEFL score of a minimum of 600 (if
English is not the native language);
minimum of 2 years relevant work
experience; nomination at their home
university; excellent academic record;
and a letter of motivation.
France: Pau
Internship
Qualified student may apply for
internships for the Spring semester
only. These internships are designed to
complement the academic program. As a
result, interns receive credits (max of
3) but no financial compensation. The
schedule and number of work hours will
be determined by the schedule of USAC
courses. Internships students are
expected to stay in Pau until May 20th.
USAC will attempt to place students in
any major field of work/study.
Requirements: enrollment in the
Pau program. Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0
scale and junior standing at time of
internship. The student will be working
in a French-speaking environment and
must have taken at least four semesters
of college French in order to be
eligible. Students should notify the
USAC central office about their wish to
do an internship at least 45 days prior
to arrival in Pau.
Examples: Teaching Assistant in
local schools, Hotel/Restaurant,
Import/Export Companies, Tourism, Sales,
and Journalism. However, other
internships in different fields could be
arranged.
Germany: Lüneburg
Internship
Qualified students may apply for
internships. These internships are
designed to complement the academic
program. The schedule and number of work
hours will be determined by the USAC
course schedule. USAC will attempt to
place students in any major filed of
work/study. Many students decide to do
an internship at the conclusion of the
year program. Students who plan to apply
for this type of internship should have
at least one year of German when the
program starts and should take Business
German in the spring semester for
preparation and help with their
application. The USAC Lüneburg staff
will assist you with contacting suitable
institutions and companies. Students
must let the USAC office know what their
desired internship field is and must
also prepare a cover letter and resume
in German. These internships usually
last two to three months and may provide
a modest stipend, however they are not
guaranteed.
Requirements: enrollment in the
Lüneburg program. The student will be
working in a non-English speaking
environment and must be able to
communicate at the Track III level or
above.
Examples: American Consulate in
Hamburg, 2 or 3 months, prerequisite of
BA or equivalent. Literaturhaus
organizing stays for international
authors who come to give lectures and
help during their stay in Germany. These
are non-paying positions. Import/export
companies
Work Study
• There is one work-study position that
Lüneburg program students may apply for,
which is provided by the University of
Lüneburg. The grant compensates the
student approximately 250 Euro per month
for assisting the Resident Director up
to eight hours each week. Qualifications
for the grant are a 3.0 GPA and an
intermediate knowledge of the German
language (Track II or above). Grant
applications and information may be
acquired from the USAC central office.
Volunteer Work
• For students interested in pursuing
volunteer work while in Lüneburg, the
USAC staff will help you to contact
local charities, environmental
organizations, churches, etc. It is a
great way to meet local people and to
contribute to the community. However,
this is not a commitment to be made
lightly. You are expected to fulfill
your obligations conscientiously. One
possibility for volunteer work is at
Wichernhause, a home for people who are
mentally ill. A past USAC student
volunteered once a week by going for
walks, playing games, and talking with
the people who live in the home.
Volkshochschule
• The Adult Education Center offers
courses in art, drawing, history of
Lüneburg, philosophy, photography,
pottery, theater, women and society and
other subjects.
Interested USAC students are encouraged
to participate in these courses as a way
of acquiring knowledge in a non-academic
environment and as a way of meeting
local people.
The range of subjects cannot be
confirmed until after you arrive. The
Resident Director will assist you in
exploring these possibilities. The fees
for these courses are the responsibility
of the student.
Ghana: Accra
Optional One Credit Field Studies*
USAC offers the one credit field
studies course Ghanaian Culture and
Natural Resources during both the fall
and spring semesters. The course covers
five of the administrative regions and
takes place in three phases: 1) Kumasi,
2) Mole National Park, and 3) Daramongo/Larabanga.
USAC encourages every student to
participate in the field studies course.
However, this segment of the program is
optional and enrollment in the field
studies course is necessary to
participate on the trip itself. A $400
fee is charged for the field trip to
cover transportation, and room and
board. We do not know the fee at the
time of printing of this document.
Please contact the USAC central office
for further details.
*See semester/year catalog for
day-to-day details of trip.
Ireland: Cork
Internship
A small number of internship
opportunities are available for U.S.
students taking yearlong or semester
programs at University College Cork.
Students earn credit but are not paid
for the internships. Applications are
due at the time of acceptance to UCC and
must include an outline of the student’s
academic background, a two page
statement on the reason for applying,
and the name of a faculty advisor who
can vouch for the student’s suitability
for the position.
Requirements: enrollment in the
Ireland program.
Spain: Bilbao/Getxo
Internship
Qualified students of the Bilbao/Getxo
program may apply for internships. These
internships are designed to complement
the academic program whether it is
undergraduate or MBA. As a result,
interns receive credits (a maximum of
three) but no financial compensation.
The schedule and number of work hours
will be determined by the schedule of
USAC courses. USAC will attempt to place
students in a field related to the
student’s interest. The student will be
working in a non-English speaking
environment and must be able to
communicate at an advanced level, apart
from technical terms, which the student
will acquire on the job.
Requirements: enrollment in the
Bilbao/Getxo program; Track IV level;
minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; and
junior standing at time of internship.
The student will be working in a
non-English speaking environment and
must be able to communicate at the Track
IV level. Students will acquire the
required technical terms on the job.
Students are required to keep a daily
diary in Spanish with detailed
information about their activities in
the company. They also need to meet with
their academic supervisor once a week
and speak to him/her in Spanish. At the
end of the experience they will write a
final report in Spanish.
Examples: Placements have ranged
from advertisement and communication
agencies, TV production and multimedia
production companies, to libraries, non
governmental organizations, public
schools and hospitals, and museums. The
following examples were for 3 credits,
averaging 9-10 hours/week or 2 credits
averaging 6-7 hours/week. Please note
that these are just examples and it
doesn’t guarantee availability or that
students can request specific companies.
• Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Museo de
Bellas Artes de Bilbao (contemporary art
museums); developed and prepared
educational material for organized
school children visits, selected works
of art for catalogs and educational
materials, translated tourist and
cultural information.
• Instituto José Miguel de Barandiarán
and Escuela Publica de Lamiako
(Elementary and Secondary schools);
assisted a teacher in an ESL class,
created audiovisual materials and
prepared exams. Bilbao Public Library;
computerized the library’s filing
system, assisted with circulation needs,
issued library cards.
• GamePro (interactive entertainment
provider for multi-platform gaming
enthusiasts); supervised and corrected
English translations of games,
translated help menus, assisted with
mathematical formulas for video games.
• Villa Hederra (landscape planning &
design company), planted trees and
flowers, assisted in the bonsai section,
soil preparation.
• Inmobiliaria Chomon and Novia Salcedo,
Oficina Internacional de Acogida de
Estudiantes (state and non-governmental
agencies); helped find properties,
organized housing for university
students and staff.
• Owasys, A & L Comunicación, Lázaro
Ituarte S.A., Sanchos & Asociados
(marketing, communication and
import/export companies); created and
translated marketing materials and
scripts, completed shipments and filed
invoices, collected quotes, used
computer programs such as Excel,
PowerPoint in Spanish.
• Galdacano Hospital and Caritas
Internationalis (health and science
organizations); translated
questionnaires from specific studies and
wrote summary reports, met with
specialists, taught children proper
health and hygiene habits.
Spain: Madrid
Optional One Credit Field Studies*
USAC offers a one credit field
studies course in Spanish Culture and
Civilization. This is designed as an
exciting four day trip to Galicia (Fall
semester) and the Basque Country (Spring
semester). Grading will be on a
satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. This
course cannot be taken as an Audit.
USAC encourages every student to
participate in the fall and spring field
studies course. This segment of the
program is optional and there is no
additional cost. Transportation, guides,
museum entrances and other points of
interest, hotel accommodations, and
meals (breakfast and dinner only) are
included in the trip. See the
semester/year catalog for day-to-day
details of the trips.
Requirements: enrollment in the
Spanish Culture and Civilization Field
Study course and completion of the
assigned work. Attendance at and active
participation in 3 meetings (2 in
preparation for the trip and 1 following
for presentation of projects and
conclusions), active participation in
guided visits and individual activities
during field study trip, and completion
of travel journal, questionnaires and
final project.
Sweden: Växjö
Field Studies*
Field Studies courses are offered at
Växjö University as part of a module of
courses called programs: Applied
Economics Program; Doing Business in
Europe Program; European Business
Program; Labor, Migration and Welfare
Economics Program; Management Accounting
and Information Systems Program;
Strategic Marketing and Design; Swedish
Culture Program; and Intercultural
Studies Program.
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Application Deadlines
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