Frequently Asked Questions for Parents

Study abroad is a program in which students take courses at a university campus in another country. In semester study abroad students take a full schedule of courses (12 – 16 units) as they would at La Verne, and these are accepted by the university and placed on their transcripts. In January study abroad students take one course as they would if they were studying in La Verne.

Students must at least be a sophomore when they begin a program. Transfer students–Sophomore and above–may qualify to study abroad after they complete one full semester.

Universities the size of La Verne generally offer study abroad through organizations that specialize in providing study abroad for American students. La Verne’s principal study abroad provider is CIEE, which offers programs in some 40 countries on six continents. La Verne also sometimes works with Accès Study Abroad in France, the Oxford Study Abroad Programme in England, and Semester at Sea.

Yes. The University of Barcelona is located in Barcelona, Spain. La Verne students can study at the University of Barcelona through CIEE. For students less fluent in Spanish, CIEE Barcelona also offers courses taught in Spanish specifically for study abroad students. Credits earned are transferred back to La Verne. CIEE has a resident director and a staff on site to help students. Courses at other CIEE locations are taught in English. Housing, excursions, and other amenities are included in the cost.

The benefits are considerable: the opportunity to learn about another culture, improvement of foreign language skills, international work experience through academic internships, development of self-reliance, development of new intellectual pursuits, opportunities to travel, and… getting away from family (for a short time).

No, the programs are not major specific and are open to all fields of study. It is important though for students to plan ahead so that they can fit their study abroad into their particular program and major.

Several of the programs are English based. There are a few that do require language proficiency.

Yes, the minimum GPA to study abroad with La Verne is 2.75.  Some programs require a higher GPA.

Yes, almost all financial aid, including loans, grants, and scholarships, is applicable to La Verne-sponsored study abroad programs. The major exception is work study, and sometimes it is possible to complete work study hours within one semester before studying abroad. Financial aid packages are reevaluated in light of the cost of each study abroad program. In addition, other scholarships are available for study abroad.

The basic cost of study abroad is roughly equivalent to the cost of living on campus—traditional-age undergraduate tuition plus room and board. In addition, there is the cost of transportation to and from the study abroad site and any additional travel your child may do and gift purchases they may make.

Yes, all courses completed and passed at approved programs will transfer to La Verne and count towards the residency requirement. Credit toward major or minor fulfillment depends upon departmental approval. The Study Abroad Office works to make sure that all courses are approved to meet the requirements needed by each student before they leave La Verne.

They vary among programs. Possible options include dormitories (with dining hall or cooking facilities), apartments, and home stays with host families or group homes.

For Fall Semester and year-long Programs the deadline is generally April 1 (in some cases March 15); for Spring Semester and January study abroad, it is usually October 15. Check the CIEE website for the deadline of your specific program.

Visit the CIEE provider’s website; then select a country and explore. That website describes every program, city, course, excursion, housing plan, and much more. You can also contact the Study Abroad Director in Abraham Campus Center 214 or by telephone at 909-448-4161 or through email.