Study Abroad Opportunities

Grand Valley urges all students to seek study-abroad experience. Foreign language majors and minors will make exceptional progress by combining study abroad with their formal coursework on the home campus. Moreover, approved study experiences of varying lengths---summer, semester, or academic year---carry full academic credit for all participants, including non-majors. The majority of programs currently offered take place during the summer and are accompanied by a Grand Valley State University faculty member. Longer stays can be arranged, however, through Grand Valley's institutional ties with colleges and universities in most regions of the world.

For more information, students should contact the Padnos International Center at 616-331-3898 or visit their website www.gvsu.edu/studyabroad

Regular accompanied programs include:

• China
  A program that offers Interdisciplinary Studies, including Chinese Language,  for two separate sessions during the Spring and Summer located in Shanghai.

• France
  A summer school program in French language and culture located in Nice in southern France.
   
• Germany
  A summer school program in German language and culture located in T¿bingen in southern Germany.                                                     

• Mexico
  A summer school program offering classes in Spanish language, literature, culture, and civilization in Guadalajara, Mexico.
   
• Poland
  Summer and academic year programs in economics, management, and the Polish language located at the Krakow University of Economics.
   
• Russia
  This program is designed to introduce students to the historical and contemporary culture of Russia. The six week program will take place in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

• Taiwan
  A summer school program offering classes in Chinese language and culture in Taiwan.

There are also programs that last for a semester or academic year.

• Japan
  A two-semester exchange program with both the International Christian University in Tokyo and the Japan Center for Michigan Universities in Hikone. Intensive Japanese language study is offered in the summer at the Japan Center.
   
• Spain
  Intensive semester or academic year programs in Spanish at University of Deusto in Bilbao.

• Italy
  A semester or academic year affiliate program with John Cabot University in Rome, which offers courses in Italian language.

• Mexico
  A semester or academic year exchange program with the Universidad de las Americas, that offers courses in Spanish language and culture.

Students are also able to study abroad through Non-GVSU programs and still receive academic credit for their major, minor, GenEds, and/or themes. For further information, please feel free to check out the Padnos International Center Study Abroad Website, email the office studyabroad@gvsu.edu  or stop in the Padnos International Center located in Lake Ontario Hall room 130 for assistance.