Study Abroad Program Options
Study Abroad
- Earn OSU resident credit on one of over 200 approved study abroad programs
- Use OSU financial aid, including scholarships
- Fit the program into major degree requirements
Directed Study
You may find that your needs are best met by individualized directed study. This can take the form of specific individualized study overseas or, more often, a research project. Directed study can be undertaken for 3 – 9 credits and in some cases with permission 12 credits. Please remember that you must take at least 6 credits per term to be considered for any financial aid.
Working with academic faculty is at the core of your academic planning. As soon as you have identified a potential topic, you should identify a faculty adviser willing to provide guidance to your project. This adviser is involved in the project from the beginning (including helping you refine your topic and methodology and locate relevant literature) to the end (including final grading of the project). Your chances of finding a willing faculty member is enhanced if you have put considerable thought into your project and have done relevant coursework in the faculty member's discipline. Click here for more information.
Petition Programs
For students who do not find a program currently on the OSU study abroad approved list suitable to their academic needs, they may petition for approval of a different program. The requirement for petitioning a program includes an “academic and/or geographic reason” why a student is choosing a program not on the approved list – NOT because it is cheaper; a friend is attending that program; it’s in a better location, or someone’s relative works there.
Petition applicants must first make an appointment with the regional advisor for the country in which they wish to study, in order to explore all OSU approved options for education abroad. If a suitable program is not found, students will be provided with a petition application form to complete and submit to the Director of IDEA. The petition will be reviewed by the IDEA Director and a subcommittee of the Study Abroad Advisory Council.
