2009-2010 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

to science and develop the range of
transferable skills that employers are
seeking today. Study abroad will help
students develop intellectually, emotionally,
culturally, and socially.
SEAS undergraduate students can
study abroad for either a semester or a
full academic year. Students from every
engineering major have studied abroad
without adding any time to their course
of study at Columbia. Most do so in the
spring semester of their sophomore year
or in their junior year. SEAS students
have the option of studying engineering
at one of SEAS’s partner universities
where course equivalencies have been
worked out: University College London
(UK); the Ecole Polytechnique (FR)* or
the Ecole Centrale de Paris (FR).* Other
partnerships are currently being negotiated—check
the Office of Global
Initiatives’ Web site for the latest updates:
www.engineering.columbia.edu/
global_initiatives.
Students who would like further
options can choose a peer university.
The Office of Global Initiatives (510 Mudd)
and departmental advisers will review
requests, and if approved, will help students
work out their course equivalencies
so they can graduate on time.
It is essential that students begin
planning as early as possible—ideally
this would be during their first year—
by meeting with Dr. Régine Lambrech,
director of the Office of Global Initiatives
and Education in 510 Mudd (rl2488@
columbia.edu). She will help students
choose their overseas university destination
and will explain all SEAS study
abroad formalities. Students then also
gain approval from their departmental
advisers to ensure that their work abroad
meets the requirements of their majors.
Students must also register with the
Office of Global Programs (204 Lewisohn)
for study abroad by November 15 for
spring programs and April 15 for fall and
academic-year programs.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to participate in a semesteror
year-long study-abroad program,
students must:
• have at least a 3.0 GPA
• be making good progress toward
finishing the Core Curriculum
• have at least intermediate proficiency
in the local language, if it is not English
(Please note: For programs in countries
where the language of instruction
is not English, students must take all
course work in the local language.)
Students’ study-abroad plans must be
approved by the Office of Global Initiatives
by October 15 for spring programs and
March 15 for fall and academic-year
programs. A review of each student’s
academic and disciplinary records is
conducted as part of this process.
Students on academic or disciplinary
probation are not permitted to study
abroad during the term of their probation.
Study-abroad students remain
enrolled at Columbia, and tuition is paid
to Columbia. Students participating in
Columbia-approved programs pay housing
costs directly to their host or sponsoring
institution. Students receiving
financial aid at Columbia will remain
eligible for financial aid when they study
abroad with Columbia’s approval.
Students who wish to be considered
for financial aid while studying abroad
should consult the Office of Financial Aid
and Educational Financing (407 Lerner).
Study-Abroad Program Information
Choosing the right university abroad is
an important step in planning to study
abroad. Study-abroad options vary
widely in size, geographical location,
academic philosophy, language requirements,
living arrangements, and opportunities
for research and internships.
Students must establish a set of goals
for the study-abroad experience, taking
into account their foreign-language skills
and adaptability to new environments,
as well as their research objectives and
professional aspirations.
Students should visit the Office of
Global Initiatives’ Web site to review the
various lists of program options and
consult with OGI staff for specific information
or help in choosing an institution
that offers the best courses in their engineering
major.
Summer study-abroad programs
allow students to earn credits for language
instruction and nontechnical electives.
Students can participate in Columbiaapproved
summer programs for transfer
credit or on Columbia-sponsored programs
for direct credit. The Columbiasponsored
summer programs include
the Chinese Language Program in
Beijing, the Business Chinese and
Internship Program in Shanghai, the
Italian Cultural Studies Program in
Venice, and the Columbia University
Programs in Paris at Reid Hall.
Noncredited internships abroad—the
EDGE and CEO programs—are coordinated
by the Center for Career Education.
Please visit the Center’s Web site for
more information. Other internship
options are listed on the Web site of
the Office of Global Initiatives.
Academic Credit
Students in Columbia-sponsored programs
receive direct Columbia credit,
and the courses and grades appear on
students’ academic transcripts. These
include Reid Hall, Paris; the Berlin
Consortium for German Studies; the
Kyoto Center for Japanese Studies; and
the Tsinghua University program in Beijing.
Credit from approved programs is
certified as transfer credit toward the
Columbia degree upon successful completion
of the program verifiable by academic
transcript. Students must earn a
grade of C or better in order for credits
to transfer. Course titles and grades for
approved programs do not appear on
the Columbia transcript, and the grades
are not factored into students’ GPAs.
Faculty from the SEAS academic
departments have the responsibility to
assess all work completed abroad and
make decisions about how these courses
fit into major requirements. It is imperative
that students gain course-by-course
approval from their department prior to
departure on a study-abroad program.
The Office of Global Initiatives will provide
students with the forms necessary
to obtain this approval.
15
*Fluent French and excellent mathematical skills are mandatory for study here.
SEAS 2009–2010