Saint Mary’s College offers students the opportunity to study for the full year, fall, spring, or summer terms at the Université Catholique de L’Ouest (UCO) in the heart of the Loire Valley. While in Angers, all students take French language courses at UCO in CIDEF, which is the Institute of French as a Foreign Language. Students enroll in language courses and several content courses toward their undergraduate degree. The program starts with a language-intensive period to fully immerse in the language; all language classes will normally apply toward a French minor. In addition to language, CIDEF course offerings taught in French include history, art history, literature, philosophy, politics, culture, and topical subjects.
CIDEF organizes five day-trip excursions in each semester to various sites within the Loire Valley of France; some of these include dinner and evening events. In the spring semester there is often a Saint Mary’s heritage excursion to Le Mans. Students in Angers generally select housing in home-stays with local families, and participate in a variety of extracurricular activities at the Université.
The Department of Modern Languages recommends that interested students study in Angers during their sophomore (preferred) or junior year or during the summer term. Since all instruction is in French, students must complete at least one semester of college-level intermediate French prior to studying in Angers. Students must have an overall 2.5 GPA and a B average in French at the time of application.
Budapest Semesters in Mathematics (BSM) is an academically rigorous program for motivated undergraduates who wish to study math in the beautiful city of Budapest, Hungary’s capital. The program is devoted to problem-solving and student creativity. Students can attend BSM during the fall or spring semesters or during the 8-week summer term. Students are expected to take 3-4 mathematics courses during the semester program (two during the summer), which are all taught in English by faculty affiliated with universities in Budapest.
Classes are held on the College international campus which is near the historic city center. Students are offered housing in BSM-approved furnished apartments nearby. They can share an apartment with other BSM students or stay with a host family. Budapest is an easy city to navigate with excellent and inexpensive public transportation. BSM students can travel and sightsee, enjoy a sporting event, or simply get immersed in Hungarian culture.
Before mathematics classes begin, students may choose to enroll in an optional two-week intensive course in Hungarian offered through BSM (one week for the summer program). Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or better to apply to the program and must have completed one semester of MATH 353 Abstract Algebra I or MATH 341 Analysis I by the time the program begins.
Saint Mary’s College offers an international program provided by International Studies Abroad (ISA) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Cape Town. The University is 12 miles north of Cape Town, which is rated as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
The program offers some excursions. Students can hike or take a cable-car ride up Table Mountain to enjoy the breathtaking view of the city and the Cape Peninsula, take a ferry to the historic Robben Island, or visit the Cape of Good Hope. The University houses the UWC-Robben Island Mayibuye Archives, which includes a collection of artifacts and the historical documents of the apartheid era in South Africa, including some about Nelson Mandela, the South Africa president (1994-1999) who won the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. The new Desmond Tutu Center for Spirituality and Society was launched in 2014 to honor the legacy of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who had served as UWC chancellor for almost 25 years and won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in resolving and ending apartheid.
UWC offers courses that will fit into anyone’s area of study. Popular areas of study at UWC include: social development studies, politics and African studies, performing arts, health studies, and environmental studies. Students can choose courses taught in English in a wide range of subject areas, Students may take four courses or the equivalent of 16 credits per semester and may enroll for the fall or spring semester. Applicants for this program must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. It is expected that participating students be in good disciplinary standing and exhibit emotional maturity and adaptability to new experiences.
The town of Ifrane is a small French-style ski resort nestled in the Middle Atlas Mountains. A semester or year in Ifrane allows students to gain accurate knowledge of the Arab and Islam world, both areas that are critical to global dynamics. Saint Mary’s students take courses for the Sophia Program requirements at Al Akhawayn University, and all classes are taught in English. Students also have the opportunity to develop language skills in Arabic or French. The average class size at Al Akhawayn University, a small American-style university, is 17, ensuring that students have the opportunity to interact with faculty and classmates. Students live in the residence halls with Moroccan and other international students. Students wishing to study in the Morocco program must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Founded on Catholic values, St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, London is an inclusive institution with a mission to provide students with an excellent education. St. Mary’s ranked number one in London for student experience and teaching excellence by Good University Guide. It has students from more than 90 countries and thus a truly global university. St. Mary’s campus is located on the historic Strawberry Hill area near the river Thames. The campus offers the perfect place to study and is only 30 minutes away from Central London by train, with easy access to Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
While in London, students are exposed to more than 40 programs to study, such as business management, creative and professional writing, drama and theatre, education and social science, English, film and screen media, health and exercise science, history, law, philosophy, politics and international relations, psychology, and religious studies, etc. The program offers a long list of courses with a wide variety that have been pre-approved to meet Sophia Program requirements. St. Mary’s University also offers opportunities for an internship within your field of study. Students can study in London for either the fall or spring semester. Students must have completed at least one academic year and an overall GPA of 2.7.
Every year 35–45 rising sophomore and junior applicants are selected to participate in Saint Mary’s Ireland Program. They travel to Ireland for the fall or spring semester at Maynooth University (MU) located 14 miles west of Dublin. The Saint Mary’s Ireland Program offers students the opportunity to enroll in courses with Irish classmates and to live in housing on MU’s campus.
Courses selected from the MU’s curriculum include anthropology, classical civilization, economics, history, literature, philosophy, sociology, and theology. A one-credit course in Irish culture, including lectures and tours, is also required of all students in the program. Mainly, the course selection fulfills Saint Mary’s Sophia Program requirements, but some advanced courses are available to students with strong backgrounds in a particular discipline. The Ireland program is open to all majors. Students must have a minimum 2.8 GPA at the time of application.
Saint Mary’s is one of a few Catholic colleges and universities in the United States that has been invited to participate in the Overseas Student Programme at Blackfriars Hall of Oxford University. The program provides highly motivated and advanced students (GPA of at least 3.8 and turning 21 by their return) with a special opportunity to spend a year studying at one of the world’s most storied universities, as well as at one of the most famous centers for the study of the Catholic intellectual tradition.
Participants in the program are able to work one-on-one with world-class faculty members, enjoy conversations and forge friendships with other talented students from around the world, and imbibe the history and culture of a medieval university city as well as that of England itself. Blackfriars’ course offerings are most robust in the disciplines of philosophy, theology, history, and literature, though it is also possible to take tutorial and lecture courses at Blackfriars in economics, politics, and psychology, as well as to take lectures, seminars and language courses from the full range of offerings across Oxford University. Students who participate in the program should work closely with the program coordinators to craft a course of study that allows them to take full advantage of the opportunities available at Blackfriars while making progress toward their major and Sophia Program requirements at Saint Mary’s.
Since 1970, hundreds of Saint Mary’s College students have lived and studied in the center of historic Rome and experienced another culture in this unique city. With its 3,000 years of layered history and its 2,000 years as the center of Catholicism, Rome provides an especially stimulating education environment. Facilitated by our partner in Rome, John Cabot University (JCU), a semester or summer term in Rome provides a life-changing experience that has a significant and lasting impact on students’ intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth.
Classes are held in English on JCU’s campuses in Trastevere. All Saint Mary’s students live in JCU-owned apartments with Italian and other international students. The units are fully furnished with a kitchen, and RAs are on site 24/7. A meal plan at JCU’s cafeteria is included, although students will need to take extra funds for cooking or eating out when not on campus.
While in Rome, all students are required to take at least one Italian language course. During the academic semester, most will take 3–4 other courses selected from a long list with a wide variety that have been pre-approved to meet Sophia Program requirements. JCU offers major and minor programs with upper-level courses in many areas. Saint Mary’s students may also apply for internships in Rome through JCU. Italian minors are allowed to study abroad in Rome for a year. Interested students must have a minimum 2.6 GPA. It is strongly recommended that students complete a year of college-level introductory Italian before going overseas.
In 2008, Saint Mary’s started a direct student exchange program with Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea, which was established in 1886 as the first higher education institution for Korean women. It is now one of the most prestigious universities in Korea and the second largest women’s university in the world. Seoul, the second largest city in the world, is currently one of the fastest growing economies and is considered to be a leading global city that ranks in the world’s top 10 financial and commercial centers because of booming companies such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai.
The University has the following colleges: liberal arts, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, arts, education, law, pharmacy, business, health science, and international studies. This program features more than 500 undergraduate classes taught in English in a wide variety of disciplines, an on-campus dormitory for international students, and the PEACE buddy program. Students are paired with an Ewha student, who helps them adjust to the new culture and who hosts on- and off-campus events. English is a popular language in South Korea and most things are already translated into English. Once students arrive, they have a one-week orientation period.
Students may take the Korean Language Course at different levels, which counts for 6 credits, but Korean language is not a requirement for this program. The program is open to students of all majors. Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Students can enroll for either the fall or spring semester.
The College is officially affiliated with Spanish Studies Abroad (SSA), a partner with programs in Seville and Alicante, Spain; Cordoba, Argentina; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. All of these locations offer study abroad opportunities for modern languages majors and minors in Spanish and global studies majors working to develop Spanish language proficiency. The SSA programs offer a wide range of courses that fulfill requirements in the Spanish major and minor at Saint Mary’s. Students may also take courses that fulfill Sophia Program requirements. Typically, students participate in one of these programs in the first or second semester of sophomore year, but a full year of study abroad is available for those whose academic program permits it. Summer study is also available in all locations.
Seville, Spain is known for its ancient Moorish palaces and Renaissance gardens. Located in the south of Spain on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Seville has a temperate climate and a rich cultural life. Students in this program study the Spanish language and culture as a total immersion experience. They participate in numerous cultural, social, and religious celebrations and travel widely throughout the region, enhancing the education they receive in the classroom. Students choose a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 15 and all courses are taught in Spanish. Students live in private homes with host families, and are expected to take all meals at home. Those wishing to spend a year or a semester in Seville must have completed one semester of intermediate Spanish with a minimum of a 3.0 (B) average in Spanish courses, or be a heritage speaker, and have an overall GPA of 3.0. Advanced students of Spanish may enroll in the integrated studies program and take classes at a local university alongside Spaniards. Eligibility for the integrated program is 3.0 GPA in Spanish coursework and successful completion of two semesters of advanced college Spanish or the equivalent, or a heritage speaker.
Alicante, Spain is a Mediterranean harbor city rich in history. Students study at the Universidad de Alicante (UA) with other international students and live with host families who provide all meals and weekly laundry. Students are immersed in Spanish language and culture. Eligibility for the Spanish Studies Program is a 3.0 GPA in Spanish coursework and a minimum of one year of beginning college Spanish or the equivalent, or be a heritage speaker. Advanced students of Spanish may enroll in the integrated studies program and take classes at UA alongside Spaniards. Eligibility for the integrated program is 3.0 GPA in Spanish coursework and successful completion of two semesters of advanced college Spanish or the equivalent, or be a heritage speaker. Study tours may include visits to the Castle of Santa Bárbara, Cathedral of San Nicolás, Basilica of Santa María, the Bonfires Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Archeology, Granada, or Valencia.
In Córdoba, Argentina, students study at the distinguished Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC) which was founded in 1913 by the Jesuit order and is the oldest university in the country. Argentina’s second largest city and the region’s early capital, Córdoba is a bustling educational and commercial center set at the foothills of the Sierra Chica mountain range in northern Argentina. The program offers courses taught in Spanish by Spanish-speaking teachers. Students take courses designed for international students as well as one or two courses at UNC with Argentine students. Saint Mary’s students live in private homes with host families who provide meals and weekly laundry. Those wishing to study in Córdoba must have completed one semester of intermediate Spanish with a minimum of a 3.0 (B) average in Spanish courses, or be a heritage speaker and have an overall GPA of 3.0.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, students study at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in the heart of the city. The University of the Sacred Heart (Sagrado) was founded in 1880 and is a Catholic, independent, co-educational and non-profit institution. Sagrado encourages and facilitates spiritual, moral, intellectual, social, and physical development of students. Saint Mary’s students take the integrated studies program for 12–18 credits per semester and choose two to four courses from regular course offerings taught in Spanish and taken with local students. One Spanish language class is required as part of cultural immersion and there is an optional internship or service learning course. Students are housed in residencias, on-campus dormitories which include facilities that allow student interaction; double occupancy rooms equipped with beds, air conditioning, desks with chairs, closets, a fridge, and a telephone; shared bathrooms; shared kitchens with freezers, stove, and microwave ovens; computer centers; access to gym, pool, basketball, tennis, and beach volleyball courts; and laundry facilities. Saint Mary’s students wishing to study in the San Juan program must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in Spanish coursework and have completed the intermediate Spanish sequence or the equivalent, or be native/near-native speakers of Spanish.
Saint Mary’s students may participate in the program at the Shanghai Center on the campus of East China Normal University through our partnership with the Council of International Educational Exchange (CIEE) for the fall or spring semester or the full year (Chinese language).
Shanghai, one of Asia’s most exciting business and cultural centers, is the perfect environment for students to take business classes and other courses (Chinese culture, economics, international politics, history, journalism, Chinese language courses, etc.) in English to understand China in a global context. Students have opportunities to learn outside the classroom through volunteer opportunities, cultural activities, and a three-day field trip with excursions to Chinese companies and factories. The Shanghai program is open to students of any major. Chinese language is not required for this program.
The Nanjing Intensive Chinese Language and Culture Program at the CIEE center on the campus of Nanjing University is open to students who have studied Mandarin Chinese for two semesters. Nanjing, China’s ancient capital, is rich in scenic and historical sites. The goal of the program is to increase students’ language proficiency and cross-cultural competency through close interaction with community life via small classes, a unique area-studies course taught in English, and a research project with guidance from individual advisors.
Students will take a few courses for 15 credits. Students have opportunities to explore Northwest China in the fall (Silk Road) and Southwest China in the spring (Ancient Tea Horse Road) on a one-week module and visit local museums and other cities in Eastern China. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
The College is officially affiliated with CAPA: The Global Education Network in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Shanghai, China. These programs offer students the internship opportunities in well-known global cities that will develop their professional skills and enhance their resume.
Buenos Aires, Argentina is a global city with a rich and complex history, a multidimensional arts and cultural scene, and captivating architecture. It is also a diverse city with an immigrant population largely made up of Europeans and other Latin Americans. The CAPA Buenos Aires Center is hosted at Universidad Austral, a private, AACSB accredited university located in Barrio Norte. CAPA ensures that placements are meaningful, developmental, and appropriate for each and every student based on their level of skills, abilities, and aspirations in their selected industry areas. Due to local laws, placements are with NGOs, charities or not for profit organizations. Students can undertake activities in any field or role. For example, opportunities in finance, business, marketing, and many others are available, but only within these non-corporate sectors. Students enrolled in a 3-credit program will intern for 15 hours per week and those enrolled in 6 credit programs will intern for 20 hours per week. To participate in the program, students must be in the 2nd semester of their sophomore year or above and carrying a GPA of 2.8 or higher. Students must have successfully completed four semesters of university level Spanish to be eligible for internships in Buenos Aires. Students may apply for the fall or spring semester, or the summer internship program.
Shanghai, China is situated on the estuary of Yangtze River and is China’s largest city and the world’s eighth largest. It serves as the most influential financial, economic, international trade, cultural, science, and technology center in East China. A perfect blend of modern and traditional cultures, western customs, and Chinese traditions intertwine and form the city’s culture, making the CAPA Internship program a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience life in the fastest growing city in the world. This program offers a variety of immersive social experiences such as visiting the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, or exploring the art scene at Tianzifang arts and crafts. Students can take three to six internship credits and gain valuable skills. Placements will be dependent upon each individual application documents, prior experiences, demonstrated skills, and their aspirations and goals. They are available in English and students will live in the international dormitory on campus. The program offers a three-day excursion to Beijing and weekend trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou. Students may apply for either the fall or the spring semester and take four to five courses for 12–15 credits. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Saint Mary’s College sponsors travel and experience learning opportunities during semester breaks. These programs currently include Belize Marine Biology and Education Studies in Ireland.
Saint Mary’s College sponsors travel and experience learning opportunities during the summer in China, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Rome, South Korea, along with traveling in Europe, internships in Buenos Aires, Dublin, and Seville, or practicums in London and Uganda. Most programs ordinarily extend from mid-May to mid-June. Students may earn a maximum of eight credit hours. Summer school academic programs in foreign language are available in Argentina, France, Japan, Puerto Rico, Rome, South Korea and Spain. Depending on the length of the program, students may earn 3–12 foreign language credits.
In addition to the programs already described, the College also recognizes established programs abroad administered by other American colleges and universities. International study may be pursued during the sophomore or junior year for one or two semesters, or any summer terms. Plans for study abroad at other colleges must be approved in advance by the Global Education Office of the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership (CWIL) and Student Academic Services. Students need to complete the online registration for non-affiliated programs at the CWIL-study abroad website.
For more information, please visit the study abroad website: https://www.saintmarys.edu/study-abroad
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