Study Abroad
About a quarter of Carroll School students will study abroad during their junior year. This page is divided into two sections: information for students who are considering studying abroad and information for students who have confirmed studying abroad and need to know what the next step is.
Are you considering studying abroad?
Watch our four part video:
Around the World with Dean Keeley: A Guide to Study Abroad
Part 1: http://stream.bc.edu/ramgen/MTS/SAPart1.rm
Part 2: http://stream.bc.edu/ramgen/MTS/SAPart2.rm
Part 3: http://stream.bc.edu/ramgen/MTS/SAPart3.rm
Part 4: http://stream.bc.edu/ramgen/MTS/SAPart4.rm
The Six W's to Studying Abroad
WHO goes abroad?
Nearly half of Boston College undergraduates participate in some type of international experience by the time they graduate, many of those in the form of a summer, semester, or full year abroad. About 22-28% of Carroll School students spend a semester abroad. While most of these students are juniors or first-semester seniors, students are eligible for international summer study after their freshman year. All applicants must show evidence of maturity, stability, self-discipline and strong academic motivation, as well as have a 3.2 GPA.
WHAT programs are available?
Carroll School students may enroll in one of Boston College’s more than 60 programs or an approved externally administered program, or they may construct a program suited to their academic needs with the guidance of their faculty advisor and an International Study Advisor in the Office of International Programs (OIP).
WHERE do students go?
Students enroll in programs across all disciplines in every world region. Increasing numbers of students are studying in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Carroll School students are not required to attend a management school abroad. When selecting your study abroad destination, you will need to consider the availability depending upon the semester you can go, the courses that will be offered there, the languages you can (or cannot) speak, among many other questions.
WHEN do students need to begin planning?
Undergraduates are encouraged to begin researching international opportunities during the second semester of their freshman year using resources in the Office of International Programs (OIP). Students should also attend a Carroll School Planning for Study Abroad Workshop during their second semester freshman year. Follow-up sessions are offered in the fall and spring of their sophomore year in the Carroll School.
WHICH classes can I get credit for while studying abroad?
There are few Carroll School classes that can be substituted during study abroad. Often students will be able to get credit for Organizational Behavior and an elective in their concentration. Students wishing to get credit for an elective in their concentration must have first completed Principles of Marketing (marketing concentration) or Basic Finance (finance concentration). Sometimes, depending on the school you attend, students may be able to substitute a class for Management and Operations. However, Basic Finance, Principles of Marketing, and Strategy and Policy will never be substituted while abroad. To get a class approved, you will need to speak with that class’s particular department.
WHY go abroad?
International study enables students to:
• Focus their program of study.
• Gain new perspectives on a variety of subjects.
• Exchange ideas and information with people from different cultures.
• Make practical applications of classroom theories.
• Increase awareness of cultural diversity and international issues.
• Cultivate important contacts and lasting friendships.
• Live in a challenging atmosphere that inspires both personal and intellectual growth.
• Increase possibilities for future employment.
Now that you have confirmed that you will be studying abroad, follow these steps:
1) Fill out on-line survey for Dean Keeley’s office
2) Drop off approval form in Fulton 360 (to be picked up 24-48 hours later)- this is preliminary approval to apply
3) Follow procedures for your desired program- you need to apply to your desired program through Hovey House and be aware of different deadlines
4) You can get courses approved between now and when you leave by:
a. Take course description and Course Approval Form to the DEPARTMENT of the area you are seeking approval (e.g.,. Organizational Behavior can ONLY be approved by the Organizational Studies Department).
b. The ONLY 2 CSOM Core classes that MAY be approved are Organizational Behavior and Management and Operations. It is not a guarantee, but a possibility.
c. You can ONLY obtain concentration elective approval from the department AFTER completing Basic Finance (finance elective) or Basic Marketing (marketing elective).
d. Cultural Diversity courses must have a non-Western culture focus in order to be approved. The first step to getting these courses approved is to see if your course description from your semester abroad matches a course description of Cultural Diversity classes that we offer at Boston College. If you cannot find a similar course on this list (for instance, "Aboriginal History" in Australia), please contact Dean Joe Burns, Associate Vice Provost at john.burns.1@bc.edu for approval.
5) Key contact people:
a. Sam Graves (for operations management) in Fulton 354B; Samuel.graves.1@bc.edu
b. Judy Gordon (for organizational behavior) in Fulton 430A; judy.gordon.1@bc.edu
c. Elliott Smith (for a finance elective if you have taken Basic Finance) in Fulton 437; Elliott.smith.1@bc.edu
d. Maria Sannella (Marketing elective) in Fulton 445; maria.sannella.1@bc.edu
e. Jim Gips (Information Systems elective) in Fulton 460B ; james.gips.1@bc.edu
f. Ron Pawliczek (Accounting elective or MCA) in Fulton 520A; Ronald.pawliczek.1@bc.edu
