Academic Planning for Study Abroad
Planning a study abroad experience requires careful thought in order to ensure that your overseas experience is compatible with your overall academic program of study. As such, we recommend that you take advantage of the advising resources listed below in order to make the best possible decisions and to enhance the chances of having a rewarding and successful study abroad experience.
Faculty & Advising Centers of Wheaton College
Faculty Advisors
The Wheaton faculty are essential in shaping your academic and personal goals at Wheaton. They are available to you as a resource from your First Year Seminar through your senior year. They are also extremely important to the process as you explore study abroad programs and select courses.
Academic Advising Center
The Academic Advising Center has a variety of resources such as an amazing staff and preceptors to assist with making personal decisions about your academic plans while at Wheaton. The Associate Deans can also assist you as you think about declaring a major and considering other off-campus options such as 12 College Exchange, Brown University Registration, and domestic programs such as NTI, SALT, etc...
Center for Global Education
The Center for Global Education can help you to explore your global education options whether it be a study abroad experience through an overseas university, an overseas internship program, service for academic credit, as well as international career information for when you return from abroad.
Collaborative Learning Center
The Kollett Center for Collaborative Learning provides academic support for students in a variety of ways such as the Peer Tutor Program, Writing Program, as well as through the Quantitative Analysis Center.
Filene Center for Work and Learning
The Filene Center for Work and Learning can help you to explore opportunities and to acquire understanding of your academic and professional interests and goals to develop skills to prepare you for your real-world learning.
Marshall Multicultural Center
Academic services are provided that include individualized academic advising support and development throughout a student's undergraduate career. They also offer programming for science students as well as Women's Wednesdays.
Office of the Registrar
The Registrar's Office provides students with academic policy and procedure support as well as assists students with the registration proces, domestic transfer credit, transcript requests, final exam scheduling, and finalizing graduation requirements.
Planning Timetable
Freshman Year
- Begin your academic career by undertaking your foundation & connection courses
- Begin to think about your major and minor areas of interest
- Meet with your FYS advisor along with your advising team (preceptors and administrative mentor)
- Visit the Center for Global Education Website and Resource Library
- Attend one of the mandatory Center for Global Education information sessions & other events before meeting with a study abroad advisor.
- Research Wheaton Study Abroad Program Options
- Meet with a Study Abroad Peer Advisor to learn about study abroad through a Wheaton student
- Consider course selection for the sophomore year
Sophomore Year
- Declare your major plan of study and plan out academic and co-curricular experiences.
- Attend a mandatory Center for Global Education information session and other events prior to meeting with a study abroad advisor.
- Visit the Center for Global Education Website and Resource Library
- Continue doing research onWheaton study abroad program options.
- Research Wheaton study abroad program requirements, deadlines, and meet with a Center for Global Education staff member after attending a mandatory information session.
- Start to narrow country/program/university selection and gather appropriate program information and application materials from the Center for Global Education.
- Begin to discuss specific program options and course selection(s) with faculty advisors.
- Select program and apply through the Center for Global Education and submit materials by appropriate deadlines.
- Utilize the Databse of Approved Courses .
Junior Year
- If you are a junior interested in studying abroad first semester senior year you should meet with the Center for Global Education in the Fall of your junior year to complete additional procedures.
- Juniors can investigate short-term(winter and summer) global opportunities if not planning to go abroad for a semester or academic year.
- Visit the Center for Global Education Website and Resource Library
- Fulbright, Marshall, Rhodes, and other international fellowships and grants should be explored in the Junior year thourgh the Academic Advising Center.
- Davis, Wheaton, and Watson fellowships should be explored through the Filene Center for work and Learning prior to departure for a study abroad program.
- While abroad, students should create a plan for networking with local companies and non-profit organizations, create a resume in both U.S. and international formats, and schedule informational interviews.
Senior Year
- Seniors can explore international work, volunteer, and internship opportunities with the Center for Global Education and the Filene Center for Work & Learning.
- Overseas graduate school opportunites may also be explored with the Associate Dean of Studies, Alex Trayford in the Academic Advising Center.