Study Away

APU’s Study Away programs are housed within the Center for Career and Community-Engaged Learning (CCEL), which cultivates academically integrated learning experiences for community impact, professional development, and lifelong learning. 

Study-away academic programs include domestic and international opportunities for students interested in integrating experiential learning into their academic journey. These experiences give students the opportunity to enroll in programs that integrate academic, cocurricular, and extracurricular activities. Participation in study away lends students the opportunity to develop global learning and competence.

Many students are not able to include a full-term study-away program while completing their academic plan, due to practicum or clinical placements, financial limitations, family obligations, or other nonacademic commitments. Therefore, studying away through GO Term programs may be an incredible opportunity to consider. These opportunities are developed for specific academic populations in shorter-term formats that are more conducive to varying student lifestyles. Learn more about GO Terms.

An off-campus study experience should be thoughtfully integrated into a student’s total academic plan and should be considered in consultation with the student’s academic department, advisor, and CCEL Study Away staff.

GO Terms

GO Terms are academic programs of varying lengths offered in fall, spring, and summer for traditional and professional undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students, and include a variety of destinations and courses of study. For GO Term options, visit the GO Terms site. For financial information, see our financial aid policies or contact a financial aid counselor in the Student Services Center.

Traditional Undergraduate Approved Semester Programs

APU supports semester study-away opportunities for traditional undergraduate students, typically meeting General Education and/or major- or minor-specific academic requirements, during the fall or spring semesters. Semester programs are thoroughly vetted through various academic stakeholders to ensure high-quality program design, student support, academic connectedness, and safety preparedness. Limited spaces apply. 

Global Learning Objectives (GLOs)

GLOs are essential attributes that the CCEL believes are needed for students to achieve global competence. APU study-away students have the opportunity to develop in these areas through thoughtfully planned and implemented domestic and international programs. The GLOs are as follows:

  1. Local and Global Awareness: Demonstrating a personal knowledge of location(s) engaged (history, geography, groups, faith traditions, languages, resources, etc.) and articulating the interconnections between systems globally (social, economic, political, and environmental).

  2. Communication: Demonstrating the ability to communicate effectively with the host community (verbal, nonverbal, written, etiquette, etc.).

  3. Vocational Development: Developing knowledge and/or practical skills that are applicable in an academic discipline and/or career.

  4. Cultural Inquiry: Taking on a posture of listening and learning, recognizing implicit bias, and developing the ability to see things through the eyes of others.

  5. Self-Limitation: Humbly setting aside personal habits/preferences and operating physically within the community as if a local member.

  6. Interpersonal Engagement: Forming self-sustaining relationships with members of the host community across cultural, class, and religious differences through active dialogue and collaboration.

  7. Self-Awareness: Mindfulness of one’s social location; i.e., the connection between multiple categories such as gender, sexual orientation (attraction), race, ethnicity, nationality, level of education, relationship status, socioeconomic status, religion, immigration status, etc.

  8. Emotional Maturity: Developing a contextually appropriate range of affective qualities: emotional resilience, positivity, confidence, initiative, empathy, flexibility, perseverance, etc.

  9. Spiritual Formation: Developing personal faith/beliefs and knowledge of Christian and other faith traditions.

  10. Behavior Transformation: Consciously acting in a just, socially responsible, and concrete way in daily life. For example, actions/choices in relationships, purchasing, diet, media, technology, social involvement, environmental impact, consumption habits, transportation use, vocational choices, etc.

  11. Perspective Transformation: Evaluating, developing, and expanding one’s mindset and worldview.

Study Away Policies

A. All Study Away Semester and GO Terms Policies

  1. Pre-Study Away: APU Discipline Clearances and Acceptance Process: In order to ensure all program requirements and compliance, study-away programs utilize an application process. As part of that process, CCEL requests a complete “discipline clearance” for each applicant from Academic Advising (clearance from academic probation), Residence Life, Student Affairs, Campus Life, and any other relevant office or department (at the discretion of the CCEL). Applicants are not officially accepted into study-away programs without this clearance. APU reserves the right to deny a student based on their discipline history at APU. If a student discipline issue occurs after acceptance or during the program, the student may be withdrawn from the program and will lose any nonrefundable monies or prepayments made on the student’s behalf. If there are any questions regarding this process, contact the CCEL. Applicant status notifications are communicated through APU email. Semester program participation requires written and date-stamped acceptance notifications by the program and by APU CCEL Study Away to determine if any semester spaces are available.

  2. Participation: All study-away students automatically waive the privilege of studying away if they do not complete all preprogram requirements (varies by program) in a thorough and timely manner. Items include, but are not limited to, all forms, online and/or face-to-face meetings, readings, required submissions, trainings, and thorough knowledge of and response to all program-specific materials. Furthermore, participants must abide by all APU policies and all items noted in their program’s Participant Agreements Document (or equivalent) and communications throughout the duration of their study-away program or risk a range of disciplinary actions including removal from the program at their own expense.

  3. Academics: Students are required to enroll in and fulfill all program-specific required coursework and abide by the following policies:

    1. Applicants for study away must be in good academic standing (e.g., not on academic probation, have a positive academic integrity profile, etc.​​).

    2. Regular course prerequisites for all study-away courses are mandatory for participation in a study-away semester or GO Term.

    3. Students must abide by university add/drop dates; students will receive a Withdrawal (W) grade for any courses dropped after this period.

  4. General APU Policies: Upholding of all APU policies is required. All policies are valued, with awareness of the following items being of particular importance when participating in any study-away program:

    1. Regular fulfillment of the residence policy is required to be considered for degree completion.

    2. Regular fulfillment of commencement participation items (e.g., type of registration for final units, etc.) is required for anyone intending to participate in commencement.

  5. Study-Away Refund Policy: The Center for Career and Community-Engaged Learning strives to be a good steward of university financial resources, including funds allocated and collected for study-away programs. The center makes every effort to support and serve students while at the same time upholding university refund policies. The following information applies to refunds for semester and GO Term study-away programs:

    1. Due to the nature of the study-away experience and the importance to plan early, some, most, or all funds may not be refunded if a student voluntarily withdraws from a program before or during the program dates. It is the student’s responsibility to consult with the Student Services Center or the Office of Graduate and Professional Student Financial Services before withdrawing from a program once it has begun. (In some cases, there may be implications that affect the student’s financial aid.) It is the responsibility of the participant to communicate in writing the need or desire to officially withdraw from a program. Most programs have a necessary withdrawal form to complete (see the APU Study Away Withdrawal Form). It is the date of completing all such forms or submitting written notice that will be used as the official withdrawal date.

    2. In the event that a student is dismissed from a program due to a violation of policy, academic integrity, or student conduct, no refunds will be given.

    3. Should a student participating in any study-away program need to return home for a medical or immediate-family emergency, APU will assist with arrangements for transportation or other appropriate resources in alignment with the current APU insurance coverage the participant is eligible for. The participant is financially responsible for any expenses related to this. For severe medical emergencies, APU provides emergency evacuation insurance. It is the participant’s responsibility to purchase elective trip cancellation insurance coverage. APU will make every effort to return recoverable funds.

    4. No refund will be made if a student chooses not to participate in any activity provided or paid for by the program.

    5. Before the start of a study-away program, full refunds are permissible in the event that APU has not paid any funds on the student’s behalf to prepay program expenses, contracts, or activities. If a partial refund is available, an itemization of charges/fees will be provided upon request and processed using approved APU methods.

    6. If a student is not accepted to a program, any deposit made will be returned. Application fees are nonrefundable, but may be carried over if reapplying for a different program or a future term.

    7. In the event that APU cancels a study-away program, the student will be refunded program fees depending on availability. Students who purchase their own airfare or make other program-related purchases will NOT be refunded by APU and are encouraged to buy refundable tickets and/or trip cancellation insurance.

B. Additional Traditional Undergraduate Semester Policies

  1. Financial Aid: Limited numbers of leveled financial aid placements are available each year for approved study-away semester programs. Visit the Financial Aid Policy for Study-Away Programs section of this catalog to be thoroughly aware of the details of this important information for limited semester spots.  

  2. Post-Study Away: Semester study-away students are required to have one semester at the Azusa campus after studying away. Automatic enrollment in a (1-unit or equivalent) post-study-away course curriculum upon completion of their term away will be implemented for most programs (GO Term participants are eligible and highly encouraged to enroll). Students cannot study away their final semester, nor can students study away two consecutive semesters (consecutive semesters are considered to be fall/spring and spring/fall). This policy does not apply to GO Term program participation.

  3. Academics: In addition to the above academic policies, traditional undergraduate students are required to abide by the following policies:

    1. All undergraduate study-away students must maintain full-time enrollment during a semester study-away program (minimum 12 units).

    2. Students may not participate in the same study-away semester program more than once.

    3. Study-away students are not allowed to take APU online courses unless designated by the specific program course listings.

    4. Students must stay within any minimums and maximums set by each program regarding online courses.

    5. Students are required to enroll in and fulfill all program-specific required coursework. Any study-away participant not enrolled in the required courses and/or total units for their study-away program as stated in the current program materials by the term registration date will be automatically enrolled into the appropriate section(s) and held responsible for any applicable fees/charges. If needed, it is the responsibility of the student to transfer into a different course section by the add/drop date.

    6. Students are not permitted to take courses unless designated by the specific program course listings. Any semester study-away student enrolled in a course that is not offered by their program will be automatically dropped from the course and notified by the CCEL or the Student Services Center. (An independent study course may be permitted for some programs; email studyaway@apu.edu for more information.)

    7. Students are responsible for enrolling according to specific study-away registration procedures for the courses and units that accurately reflect their enrollment in their specific program and term. Failure to enroll in the same number of units in the program and one’s APU student account may incur additional costs and change financial aid, and could affect degree clearance and/or progress.

    8. Post-Study Away Curriculum: Any study-away student not enrolled in the required post-study-away curriculum as designated by their study-away program by the term registration date will be automatically enrolled into any open class session. If needed, it is the responsibility of the student to switch to a different course section by the add/drop date.

    9. General Education Courses: Students can refer to the current list of General Education requirements to utilize GE courses offered through APU study-away programs.

Policy inquiries are available through the Student Services Center.

Connect

View the Study Away Google site for details on our current programs or contact studyaway@apu.edu for more information. The Center for Career and Community-Engaged Learning is located in Building 22 on East Campus.