You should begin your process by consulting the Center for Global Education Website, considering programs that are best in tune with your academic and personal objectives.

 General considerations for participation in a study abroad program:

The student, in consultation with the advisor, establishes a satisfactory plan for completion of the ES major and general education requirements.  ENVR 204, 205 and either ENVR 203, 240, or 310 must be completed by the end of the junior year.

While courses taken abroad will count for credit toward the total needed for graduation, only one course taken abroad will count toward the ES major. This course may be applied only within the concentration.

Abroad credits toward the major are approved after completion of the study abroad program. Your concentration advisor can often provide a preliminary assessment of the appropriateness of a course prior to your participation in the program, but official approval is given only after review of actual course materials (e.g., syllabus, exams, assignments).

Duration of the study abroad program:

Most study abroad opportunities are semester-long. For a semester program, it is not necessary that any of the courses relate to the ES major.

ES faculty will only approve a full year abroad for students seeking to support the learning of a foreign language through a year of study in a country where the target language is spoken and is central to the abroad curriculum. In such cases, it is essential that all of the entry-level core courses plus at least three additional ES courses have been completed prior to studying abroad. It is desirable that at least one of the courses taken abroad tie to the student’s ES concentration.

Requirements for final approval of study abroad:

For any proposed course of study abroad of any length, you must acquire the written approval of your advisor.

Applying credit toward ES major requirements:

The Center for Global Education’s Applying Credit at Bates page has information for students  following completion of their semester or year abroad.

After you have completed the study abroad course(s), bring course materials and two copies of the Center for Global Education’s  major approval form to your concentration advisor for evaluation and approval. After receiving your advisor’s approval, make sure to leave one copy of the form with the Chair of the Environmental Studies program, for their records, and forward a copy to the registrar.