After a study abroad program has been recommended by the Office of Internationalization, the Dean of the respective school must approve the courses to be taken at the overseas institution for all non-GGC study abroad programs.
Georgia Gwinnett College 2013-2014 Catalog Page 102 After the Dean’s approval is granted, the student simultaneously completes the following forms, available in the Office of Internationalization:
1. GGC Institutional Study Abroad Application 2. GGC Course Substitution Form
3. GGC Request for Transient Permission
4. Program Application (for the selected study abroad program)
The GGC Institutional Study Abroad Application can be obtained in the Office of Internationalization and requires the student to obtain the following signatures of approval as part of their study abroad application and Individual
Advisement Process:
1. School Point of Contact (POC) 2. School Dean 3. Registrar 4. Financial Aid 5. Student Affairs 6. Student Accounts 7. Residence Life 8. Wellness Center 9. Internationalization Director
Students are required to submit their study abroad applications on or before the listed fall or spring program deadlines. In addition, students are required to attend all mandatory Pre-Departure Orientations sponsored by the
Office of Internationalization and/or their program sponsor.
Types of GGC Study Abroad Programs
Georgia Gwinnett College considers study abroad to be one of the most important experiences that the institution can offer its students. GGC sponsors a variety of study abroad programs, including maymester and summer programs, semester and academic year programs. In addition to diverse program term options, GGC sponsors a variety of study abroad program types:
GGC Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs: The Office of Internationalization works collaboratively with GGC’s academic schools to develop new Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs. These programs are primarily summer and maymester programs led and taught by Georgia Gwinnett College faculty members. These programs tend to focus on a particular topic or theme and generally range from 10 to 20 student participants, though some programs may be larger.
Students participate in lectures, site visits, excursions, and tours as part of the program. These programs can last between 10 days and six weeks. Students find these programs a great way to get to know their professors and other GGC students while earning GGC credits and grades. Financial aid and scholarships are available. GGC Exchange Programs: Currently, GGC does not have any formal exchange agreements with foreign
universities around the world. GGC exchanges will offer semester or academic year studies directly at a foreign university, and classes may be taught in either the host language or English. Exchange programs are among the most affordable study abroad options, as the costs are roughly similar to spending the semester on campus at GGC. Students who are very independent tend to do well on exchange programs.
These programs offer a high level of cultural immersion, as GGC students take their courses at the overseas partner institution with local students. Financial aid and scholarships are available.
GGC International Internships and Independent Study: Students interested in pursuing international internships or independent study (such as directed readings and research) and receiving credit through supervision by a GGC professor should contact the Office of Internationalization. However, there are some additional requirements related to insurance and documentation, since the student is not on an organized study abroad program.
Georgia Gwinnett College 2013-2014 Catalog Page 103 Non-GGC & Affiliate Programs: In cases where one of the above referenced GGC programs does not suit the
student’s academic needs and/or location of interest, the student is able to choose from hundreds of other programs. The Office of Internationalization is equipped to help students search for a program through one of the following alternate or affiliate programs:
Affiliate Program Providers - Georgia Gwinnett College has agreements with several affiliate program providers. We encourage students to consider studying abroad offered by these affiliate program providers: School for International Training (SIT), MLSA, among others.
USG Programs - Another popular option for GGC students is participation in a study abroad program offered by other University System of Georgia (USG) member institutions.
Other Non-GGC Programs – Other programs are also available to GGC students.
Transfer Credit for Study Abroad
The following outlines the Transfer Credit Policy for study abroad at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC):
1. GGC Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs: GGC Faculty-led study abroad programs issue GGC resident credit, and no course substitution or transient permission steps are needed.
2. GGC Exchange Programs: Courses taken through GGC exchanges or with GGC exchange partner universities are counted as transfer credit. To date, GGC has no official exchange agreements with institutions abroad. 3. GGC International Internships and Independent Study: Students pursuing international internships or
independent study (such as directed readings and research) and receiving credit through supervision by a GGC professor are getting resident credit and no course substitution or transient permission steps are needed. 4. Non-GGC and Affiliate Programs: For non-GGC and affiliate study abroad programs, courses will be reflected
on another institution’s transcript and will count as transfer credit at GGC. Please note the following important policies:
A. Completed Request for Transient Permission and Course Substitution forms are required prior to departure (Refer to section 3.53.3). These forms allow students to plan how courses will transfer in and to maintain student status at GGC for financial aid and other purposes.
B. Courses may transfer as major, minor, core, or elective credit. The appropriate GGC school(s) will determine how the course will transfer and how courses will be applied towards degree requirements. C. GGC students should contact the Office of Internationalization as early in the planning process as
possible to review the steps required for completion of the transfer credit/transient permission approval process.
D. Transfer credit will only be given for courses that are from accredited United States universities/colleges and/or operated by approved GGC study abroad affiliates and consortia.
E. Whether or not transfer credit will be awarded will be determined on a case by case basis. The Office of Internationalization will make this determination in consultation with the Registrar’s Office and the relevant school dean.
F. USG Programs: The USG programs include all public colleges and universities within the state. GGC students may be eligible to participate in study abroad opportunities through these institutions. Students should consider the following regarding USG programs:
USG programs tend to be around the same cost and are often led by a faculty member from the host USG institution.
To participate in a program through another USG institution, students will need to apply as a "transient" student to that school as well as apply to their particular study abroad program. Each institution is different, so students should pay special attention to the instructions
Georgia Gwinnett College 2013-2014 Catalog Page 104 G. Foreign Language Programs/Schools: In order for credit to transfer into Georgia Gwinnett College, it
must originate from an accredited institution of higher learning in the US or abroad, and be evaluated by one of the approved credential/evaluation services.