U.S. students can choose from a wide range of study abroad programs differentiated by mission, provider type, and degree of integration.[6]
Mission
While study abroad programs started out with the mission of educating foreign language majors, today there are study abroad programs with many different missions. In addition to language-focused programs, there are programs geared to specific academic areas (art, architecture, business, comparative religion, engineering, environmental studies, international politics, sciences, etc.).
Provider Type
Providers are the organizations that run study abroad programs. There are four basic types.
U.S. college or university - Probably the largest group of providers U.S. non-degree-granting university - Also called third-party providers Consortium - Group of colleges and universities that work together Overseas university - Some programs are designed for Americans, others have a division for foreign students. Another aspect of providers is the resident director, the primary responsible party providing support to students. Characteristics are full-time or part-time, faculty or study abroad professional, and American or host country national.
U.S. college or university - Probably the largest group of providers U.S. non-degree-granting university - Also called third-party providers Consortium - Group of colleges and universities that work together Overseas university - Some programs are designed for Americans, others have a division for foreign students. Another aspect of providers is the resident director, the primary responsible party providing support to students. Characteristics are full-time or part-time, faculty or study abroad professional, and American or host country national.
Degree of Integration
Study abroad programs have a spectrum of integration, from those that offer the greatest integration into host institutions to those offering the most assistance to students.
Integrated - Complete (or nearly complete) integration into the host academic programming; the director is often a citizen of the host country; students take regular university courses with locals. Peninsula - Mix of selected local resources and provider-managed resources. Some courses may only be available to program participants, others may be taught by local university faculty. Island - Strong support services enhance the local experience and give it context. This allows an overseas experience without diverging from the home school's degree program.
Integrated - Complete (or nearly complete) integration into the host academic programming; the director is often a citizen of the host country; students take regular university courses with locals. Peninsula - Mix of selected local resources and provider-managed resources. Some courses may only be available to program participants, others may be taught by local university faculty. Island - Strong support services enhance the local experience and give it context. This allows an overseas experience without diverging from the home school's degree program.
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