Where do you want to grow?

Study abroad offers you the opportunity to live in and engage with diverse communities. You will build new connections, gain intercultural competence, and strengthen foreign language acquisition—living Loras’ disposition as active learners, responsible contributors, ethical decision-makers, and reflective thinkers.

Semester & Short Study

Loras sponsors both full-semester and short-term study abroad programs across all academic disciplines. With good planning, you can earn academic credit toward your major or minor and keep on track for graduation.

Graduate On Time

Studying abroad is best achieved by early and strategic planning with our study abroad coordinator, your academic advisors, and the Office of Financial Planning. Establishing an academic plan that aligns with your goals will keep you on track for graduation.

Let’s Get In Touch

The Loras College Center for Experiential Learning and our study abroad coordinator are just an email or phone call away.

Abbie Behrens
Study Abroad Coordinator
abigail.behrens@loras.edu
563.588.7026

Understanding Study Abroad

Before departure, our programs foster community and create support systems while navigating abroad. You will grow academically, professionally, and personally through engagement with local universities, internship and service organizations, host families, and your community.

These skills are essential for management and leadership positions in our globally connected workforce. Studying abroad improves your preparedness for a global era. Furthermore, interning and volunteering while studying abroad may not only result in credits earned but enriches your career preparation.

A Global Learning Experience

Enhance your undergraduate education by completing international and relevant coursework and internships. All credits on a Loras College semester or short-term program are transferable to Loras. You should discuss a plan with your academic advisor to meets academic requirements while achieving your anticipated graduation timeline.

Health, Safety & Well-being

Along with our partners abroad, we prioritize our student participants’ overall health and well-being. Valuing transparent communication concerning physical and mental health, the Center for Experiential Learning collaborates with campus health and counseling professionals months before departure to work with students in developing healthy planning practices. Loras enrolls its study abroad students with a supplemental international medical insurance plan. In addition to campus and local in-country support resources, we closely follow the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of State travel and health guidelines and alerts.

While abroad, host-program staff and faculty support students who may require assistance and help connect with local resources, health services and professionals.

Affordability

Developing a financial plan and budget for a semester abroad is a critical step in the planning stages for study abroad. To provide greater access to global learning opportunities, students participating in a Loras study abroad semester program may apply 100 percent of your Loras institutional aid and state and/or federal aid.

Students must schedule an appointment with the Office of Financial Planning to review costs and plan for program fees plus anticipated out-of-pocket expenses. Common fees associated with a semester program include but are not limited to Loras College semester tuition, housing fees abroad, meals with a host family, supplemental international insurance coverage, excursion fees, a reduced student activity fee, and the technology fee. Anticipated out-of-pocket expenses include but are not limited to a passport, visa, vaccinations, local transportation, international airfare, meals, and daily living expenses. Tuition remission does not apply to a study abroad semester program.

Discussing potential financial resources associated with the specific study abroad program of interest is important. A study abroad candidate receiving a federal Pell Grant may be eligible to apply to the US Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which awards up to $5,000. A study abroad candidate who may be traditionally underrepresented in study abroad may be eligible to apply for an FEA Scholarship. Students are encouraged to explore available opportunities with our study abroad coordinator.

Study Abroad FAQ

What are the study abroad requirements?

Students eligible for a semester or short-term program must have at least a 2.5 GPA prior to the departing term and must be in good academic standing. First-year students are ineligible to apply to a semester program or May term course traveling abroad.

Disciplinary records are reviewed and considered in the acceptance process and staff and faculty in various departments across campus are consulted for their engagement with the applicant and observations. An initial deposit payment is typically required for most programs.

Students must have the approval of their academic advisors and have set an appointment with the Office of Financial Planning to pursue a semester abroad.

What are the benefits of a global learning opportunity?

Students who study abroad acquire and develop employer-sought skillsets including intercultural communication, leadership, problem solving, adaptability, self-awareness, cultural awareness, foreign language skills, confidence, and a better understanding of diversity. In our ever-connected world and globally connected workforce, these skills are essential for management and leadership positions.

Studying abroad improves a student’s preparedness for a global era. Furthermore, interning and volunteering while studying abroad may not only result in credits earned for the semester, but enriches the experience with career integration in a corporate or non-profit setting.

How am I supported throughout the process?

The Center for Experiential Learning provides support throughout the entire process, from discernment and program selection to months of pre-departure preparation, through the in-country experience, and following students’ return home and return to campus—known as re-entry.

During Pre-Departure

Accepted students are required to participate in program-specific pre-departure meetings the semester prior to departure led by Center for Experiential Learning staff with guest presentations from faculty and staff across campus, returned study abroad students, and partners and providers abroad.

Students will establish learning goals, discuss intercultural competence or cultural intelligence, review cultural adaptation and assimilation, explore how to navigate an international academic and internship setting, establish an international resume and motivation letter, complete appropriate host program applications, forms, and visa applications, and more.

During Re-Entry

Reverse culture shock, defined as an experience a person may have when returning to a home environment following an immersive experience in a new cultural environment, varies student-to-student and has been reported as sometimes more challenging than arrival culture shock.

 

Often described as disorienting, students must re-adjust to an American pace and the academic expectations of their home institution. The Center for Experiential Learning helps students unpack their experiences in informal and formal ways to aid in reflection and processing of a transformative semester abroad.

How can I remain engaged post-study abroad?

Post-study abroad involvement on campus has included infusing research from overseas into capstone and thesis presentations, Legacy Symposium poster and oral presentations, and article submissions in The Lorian.

Study abroad alumni remain engaged and spread awareness of international education by participation at the Study Abroad Fair, program information sessions, classroom presentations, study abroad alumni panel discussions, and by participation in the annual International Photo Contest.

The Center for Experiential Learning supports undergraduates in their pursuit of post-graduation exploration of the Fulbright Program, Teaching English Abroad, Peace Corps, graduate school, and employment opportunities.