Study Abroad FAQ

All degree-seeking students who begin their studies at Goucher as first-year students must fulfill the requirement.

For students graduating in the 2021-2022 Academic Year who have yet to fulfill the study abroad requirement and are unable to physically study abroad there are 2 options available. Students can either enroll in a no-credit virtual exchange in either the Fall or Spring or enroll in a 4 credit seminar to be offered in the Spring semester. Students choosing to enroll in the virtual exchange must also attend a speaker’s series.

For the Fall 2021 semester we will approve study abroad for a small cohort of students in carefully chosen programs. We will only approve of programs hosted by trusted providers who have demonstrated enhanced health and safety protocols, and we are carefully monitoring other factors include local transmission rates, access to COVID testing, and strength of local health care system.

This is an independent, online facilitated dialogue model that connects young people around the world. Students can hope to gain enhanced communication skills and improved attitudes toward difference through discussions framed around current social challenges and world events. It is tailored to help explore the perceived cultural fault line between the United States and Middle East/North Africa through political, social, and personal values-based discussions.

Through a web-conferencing application, students speak face-to-face in groups of 8-10 global peers. Students will discuss topics related to identity, religion, culture, and social and political topics. Group members are encouraged to share their cultures and perspectives openly.

This is an 8 week course, and students are expected to spend around three hours each week to complete it. 2 of those hours will be spent in a virtual, facilitated discussion with students from around the world. A short, final reflection piece will be required for any student using this to fulfill the study abroad requirement. There is no charge for students electing to take this course. 

The 4 credit seminar’s components are both academic and experiential, combining in-class readings, discussions, and writings with local/regional for onsite observation and engagement. The experiential components of this seminar consist of traveling, to the extent that it is safe to do so, to globally focused NGOs, nonprofits, and multinational corporations in Baltimore, DC, Philadelphia, and New York City, or students’ local communities. Students and employees will hold discussions on race, power and perspective, diversity at the workplace, global leadership acumen, and more.

Yes, you may, however preference will be given to those students graduating during the 2021-22 Academic Year.

For May 2022 graduates these are the options to fulfill the study abroad requirement. While we are planning to run ICAs this Summer, students should not rely on this to fulfill their requirement.

You need to participate in a Goucher-sanctioned program at some point during your undergraduate career at Goucher.

You may do this through one of the many study-abroad programs offered through Goucher's Office of Global Education—including any of our three-week Intensive Courses Abroad or any semester or academic-year program.

Students may request study abroad accommodations for disabilities or religious reasons.

If you have questions about our study-abroad programs or the alternatives  graduates please contact Mark Bladel at mark.bladel@goucher.edu 

At this time, we are allowing students to apply to in-person study abroad programs for the 2022 J-Term and Summer. 

No. We will be offering a limited portfolio of programs for the Fall 2021 semester. This is due to ongoing concerns around COVID-19 and the entrance policy of other countries. Australia and New Zealand, for example, continue to restrict access to international travelers and are not options for students.

Yes, there are a few changes to the study abroad application for this Fall. All changes can be found in the study abroad application at abroad.goucher.edu. First, students will need to select an alternate program in a different region as a backup should travel to the area of first choice remain infeasible, i.e., if you are applying to a program in Germany, you should select a second option outside of the European Union. Due to the evolving situation, students should speak with their advisor about courses they can take at Goucher should travel not be possible this Fall. Students will also need to submit a short form from their academic advisor. Finally, all students will need to read and submit the form “Assumption of Risk for International Travel”. Students who fail to do so will not be cleared to study abroad.

Yes, students will need to receive the COVID-19 vaccination prior to study abroad.  Any student considering study abroad during the Fall semester should consult with their health care provider and research entry and reentry requirements for unvaccinated travelers. In addition, all students should research mandatory quarantine rules for their country of interest, regardless of vaccination status. The Office of Global Education can assist with institution-specific policies.

This academic year we launched IDS 305 and IDS 310 for students who were unable to study abroad due to the pandemic. We will continue these alternatives for students in their third and fourth year who are unable and/or might not yet feel comfortable to travel, and we will continue to offer the option for a study abroad waiver. Students who are in their first or second year should wait before considering a study abroad alternative or waiver (due to concern of the pandemic); however, they can always reach out to the Office of Global Education to discuss their options.

Yes, as we prepare to relaunch international travel, we have been taking a close look at our semester study abroad providers and ICA model. We are excited to announce that we will be eliminating study abroad surcharges. Additional changes to our study abroad portfolio will be shared as they become available.

We have been thinking about this question a lot. Many students chose to attend Goucher because of our study abroad programs, and these students have sadly missed out this opportunity due to factors out of their control. Therefore, we have been actively exploring several ideas, such as inviting students (recent graduates from 2020 and 2021), who were unable to study abroad due to COVID-19, to participate in our ICAs at a reduced expense. We would of course love to hear from those students whose travel plans were impacted by the pandemic to help come up with a creative solution!