The CALS Study Abroad office offers two different ways to study abroad for a semester. Students can participate in an exchange with a partner university or a non-exchange program in Greece, Uganda, or the US Virgin Islands.
Exchange programs may take place during the summer, during a semester, or for an academic year. Students pay the same ISU tuition and fees as they normally would and study abroad at an exchange partner university. There are 12 different exchange programs available through the CALS study abroad office and many more offered by the Study Abroad Center in 281 Parks Library. Generally, a 3.0 or higher GPA is required for CALS exchange programs.
A non-exchange program can also be for a semester or summer. The cost of the program is specific to the program fees - every program has a different cost. Some programs are cheaper than exchange programs and some are more expensive, it depends on the program's location and contents. GPA requirements vary by program.
List of semester programs in CALS.
Steps to take if you are interested in studying abroad for a semester
- Search ISUAbroad. Look for programs in the country/area of the world you are interested in living in for a semester or more. To some students it is important to go to a university where they can take courses in their major, for other students that is not a priority. Each student must decide what is most important for them.
- Narrow down your search. Look at the courses available for the semester you plan to study abroad at the host institution, and start a Word doc for each university you are considering; copy and paste the names and descriptions of at least 10-15 courses you would like to take (this is important to do before visiting with your academic advisor, and something that you should look at together with your advisor). If you can’t decide which university you would like to go to, make a pros and cons list for each program (What do you like about a location/what don’t you like? Are there things that interest you to do and see in the town/city or nearby? Which university has the most interesting/useful courses available? etc.). It would also be a good idea to talk with someone who has been there before to find out what their experience was like. Reach out to the study abroad office to meet someone else who has participated in the program.
- Set up an appointment to discuss opportunities and possibilities and some logistics with Jodi Cornell in 0018 Curtiss Hall (can happen simultaneously with 2 above).
- Check course options with your academic advisor by bringing your ideal class list to your advisor. Work with them to determine how the courses will transfer back to Iowa State.
- Apply for a program(s) in ISUAbroad. The ISUAbroad application is important for the selection process, as well as used in many departments on campus once you commit to a program (for registration, financial aid, On Call International insurance, etc.).
- Complete host institution application. Each international university will require you to complete their application as well, this will take place after you have been nominated by ISU.
- Commit to the program. Once you have been officially accepted by the host institution and your application in ISUAbroad has been changed to Accepted, go in and click on the Commit button.
Scholarships and Funding Opportunities
- There are an array of scholarship and funding opportunities available through Iowa State University, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, your major department(s), and many more! Check out our Scholarship and Funding Opportunities page to learn more.
How courses from a semester program abroad come back to ISU:
IMPORTANT: Before you study abroad, confirm with your academic advisor how the classes abroad will transfer back for you to Iowa State.
- Transcripts from international institutions are sent to the CALS Study Abroad office if the student was on a CALS program; or to the Study Abroad Center in 281 Parks Library if they were on a non-CALS program.
- The CALS Study Abroad office sends a certified copy of the original transcript to the Registrar’s office and your academic advisor (or in some cases, the leadership in your college/the college where you will earn your credit through) will determine how the credits transfer back. In some cases, the course will come in as a specific ISU course (e.g., HIST 201); in other cases, the course will come in as a more generic course (e.g., HIST 2T**).
- This course information is sent to the student in both AccessPlus and the degree audit system (uAchieve). The student must alert their academic advisor that they have received their transcript otherwise their academic advisor will not know.
- The advisor will then review these courses to see how they might be used in the student’s degree program. If the course isn’t falling where they want it to in uAchieve, they will need to submit a degree audit adjustment request. Departmental approval is required for all adjustment requests; additional approvals are required for requests involving college or university requirements.
- Students are highly encouraged to save all their coursework and syllabi while they are abroad in case these materials are needed to secure the required approvals.
- The student picks up their original transcript from their host university in 0018 Curtiss Hall if they were on a CALS program; if they were on a Study Abroad Center program, they need to go to 281 Parks Library to pick up their original transcript.