Some Questions and Answers about the
STUDY ABROAD Opportunities

1. Why study abroad? To get a better job. According to the RAND Report titled, “Global Preparedness and Human Resources: College and Corporate Perspectives,” future employers want to hire students with cross-cultural competency which they believe to be the most important new attribute for an individual’s effective performance in the global marketplace and which, according to them, most students in the United States lack. Unless you study and/ or live abroad you will not be able to acquire cross-cultural competency.

2. Do I have to be an International Business (IB) major to participate in these study abroad programs? Absolutely not! Every student is welcome to apply. The International Business Exchanges and Dual Degree Programs in conjunction with several departments throughout the campus, are offering opportunities to study abroad to a wide range of majors: Business Administration, International Business, Economics, Sociology, Spanish, Psychology and Women’s Studies. If you are not in any of these majors, you may still apply. We will work with you and your academic advisor to determine the classes that you can take while abroad in order to receive SDSU credit.

3. What types of programs are available to study abroad? Three types of programs: Dual-degree, trilateral programs, and traditional student exchanges. a) The MEXUS Program: the first transnational, undergraduate, dual-degree program offered in the U.S. in which students study a minimum of two years in both Mexico and the U.S. and upon graduation receive degrees from both countries (only for Economics, IB, Sociology, Psychology and Women’s Studies majors). b) Project North America: a trinational, multi-institution consortium designed to increase mobility in North America higher education and thus enhance the human resource training structure of the region. Students who participate in this program, study one semester each in Canada and Mexico (only for IB majors). c) Student Exchanges: in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. Please refer to the Universities Available section of this website for specific countries (for all students). We are currently working on dual-degree programs with the University of Barcelona, Spain and with the University du Québec at Chicoutimi. We expect to have these two programs available by the year 2000. We are constantly adding new universities and programs. For current listings, please check at our office.

4. How expensive are these programs? Free or a very low surcharge. In the less impacted programs, there is usually no surcharge. Students pay ONLY SDSU tuition. In the more impacted programs, students may pay a surcharge to her/his host institution that ranges between US$300-$2,000. This is still one of most inexpensive programs around. For other programs offered on campus students pay about US$5,000 for a summer abroad program or US$18,000 for a year abroad program. For a list of impacted programs, please refer to this brochure. Please be aware that you still will be responsible for your living expenses. Housing costs range from US$130 to US$600 per month depending of your country of destination.

Financial aid is available. Students who qualify for financial aid will continue receiving this aid while studying abroad. In some cases the aid may be increased to pay for additional expenses such as airline tickets or surcharge tuition at the host institution. For more information you may contact the Financial Aid office at SDSU.

5. What type of courses can I take? All courses related to your major. International Business students may take courses in their three areas of study: business, language and regional/cultural. Other majors may take courses related to their majors or minors. Some General Education courses are available. For a complete list of courses, please come to the International Business Exchanges and Dual-Degree Programs office located in BAM 427.

6. How long can I study abroad? From one semester to two years. You may study for one or two semesters at any of our partner institutions or two years if you participate in one of our dual-degree programs.

7. Is it difficult to qualify for study abroad? No, it is very simple. There are only a few requirements: a) Have achieved upper division status for International Business or Business majors, or for other majors, be a Junior by the semester in which you are intending to participate; b) Have completed or be registered in an intermediate level course (300-level) of the language of instruction of your host institution. If you have any other major and are planning to study in English in Canada, France or Germany, the language requirement does not apply to you. c) Have a minimum of 2.5 GPA.

8. When can I apply? Applications are accepted every semester. In general, application deadlines are at the end of February for the fall semester and at the end of September for the spring semester for Project North America and regular exchanges. Deadline applications for MEXUS usually are in April for the fall semester and November for the spring semester.

9. How can I learn more? At the orientation meetings that take place every semester. At the beginning of every semester the International Business Exchanges and Dual-Degree Programs office has several orientation meetings. At these meetings you will learn which universities are available for exchanges and general information about these universities. For the dates of these meetings, please see your department bulletin boards or come to our office located in BAM 427. If you have already attended one of these meetings you may just stop by the office to pick up an application.

For more specific information: After we have received your application, you must attend a MANDATORY orientation meeting that will cover more specific information about the exchanges such as cultural differences, transferring of units, grade equivalencies, financial aid, etc, etc. For this meeting we invite students who have participated in these exchange programs so you can ask them specific questions. No student will be able to study abroad without attending this orientation meeting.

Check web sites. Each one of our partner universities has a web page. You may visit the web page of the university of your interest. Their individual web page addresses are listed in the Universities Available section of this site.

For more information, please contact your department or
The International Business Exchanges and Dual-Degree Programs
BAM – 427
500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-7734
Phone: (619) 594-1682
Fax: (619) 594-7739
mexus@mail.sdsu.edu
Business Administration Majors International Business Majors