WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning

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Paula Hentz
Senior International Officer and Director of Global Initiatives

Melanie Smith, EdD
Assistant Director for International Learning Programs

Elizabeth Lew
International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator

Susanne Koerbel
Administrative Support I

Study Abroad

Exchange Programs

Stetson offers students semester and year-long exchange opportunities at a range of institutions around the world for in-residence credit. WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning at Stetson University administers the exchange programs of international study, providing opportunities for learning at 22 locations overseas:

  • Universidad Carlos III (Spanish and English direct enrollment) in Madrid, Spain;
  • Pädagogische Hochschule in Freiburg, Germany;
  • Complutense University of Madrid (Spanish Language program) in Madrid, Spain;
  • Burgundy School of Business in Dijon, France;
  • University of East Anglia, Norwich, England;
  • University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, England;
  • University of Leicester, Leicester, England;
  • MCI Management Center, Innsbruck, Austria;
  • Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark;
  • Aix-Marseille University (French language program), Aix-en-Provence, France
  • Multiple programs in Latvia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Poland through the School of Russian and Asian Studies;
  • Mahidol International University International College in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand;
  • Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea;
  • Korea University-Sejong Campus in Sejong, South Korea;
  • Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea;
  • Kwansei Gakuin University, Nishinomiya/Osaka City, Japan;
  • Hong Kong Baptist University in Hong Kong, China;
  • National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan;
  • University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia;
  • Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland;
  • American University of Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan;
  • University of Quebec in Montreal - School of Management, Montreal, Canada

Please refer to http://www.stetson.edu/world for the latest information.

Exchange programs are designed to engender intercultural understanding through personal experience and first-hand, high-impact exposure to a country’s language, literature, history, social institutions, and artistic and scientific development.

Juniors, seniors, and mature sophomores are encouraged to take part in one or more study abroad exchange programs. Students may earn one semester or one year of credit at the same tuition cost as study on the home campus, plus international travel, visas, housing, etc.  The exchange program at Complutense University of Madrid is supervised by a Resident Director who is a bilingual affiliate of the cooperating institution. The programs in all other locations are supervised by the international student office of the host university. The overall program is coordinated by WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning.

With careful planning, any student is able to study abroad.  A study abroad experience is expected of world languages & cultures and international studies majors. It is required for majors in international business.  Students in the School of Business Administration may use approved study abroad programs to fulfill one of their Experiential Learning Requirements.

Admission to the exchange program involves an application, which may be completed online at the WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning website at https://www.stetson.edu/other/world/study-abroad/exchange-programs.php.

The exchange program is competitive; meeting the requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

Faculty-Led Study Abroad

Stetson offers short courses abroad led by Stetson faculty including summer, winter, and spring break programs in many countries. These programs differ annually both in geographic location as well as academic foci. Students earn in-residence credit for these programs.  Information on programs, including requirements, is available on the WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning website at https://www.stetson.edu/other/world/study-abroad/faculty-led-programs.php.

Affiliated Programs

Students who wish to study abroad in a program other than a Stetson University program may be able to do so for transfer credit. Information is available on the WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning website at https://www.stetson.edu/other/world/study-abroad/affiliate-programs.php.

International Student and Scholar Services

Stetson University welcomes international students on its campuses. In recent years, students from as many as 56 counties have enrolled in Stetson programs. WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning assists these students as well as international scholars with their unique needs and concerns. This includes a comprehensive orientation upon arrival, assistance with immigration issues and paperwork, cultural adjustment, and familiarization with Stetson and DeLand. The staff of WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning support international students while at Stetson with social and co-curricular programming, immigration services, and a multitude of other services. International students are encouraged to review the “Students” section of the WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning website at https://www.stetson.edu/other/world/international-students/ for a wealth of resources and information prior to arriving, as well as during their time, at Stetson.

WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning serves as a liaison between international students and various governmental agencies, such as the US Citizenship and Immigration Service and the State Department, to help students navigate immigration rules and regulations.

The WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning team also works with individual faculty and programs who are bringing international scholars, interns, etc., to the Stetson campus. They may be contacted at world@stetson.edu.

International Transfers/Study Abroad Credit: 

Study Abroad

There are three (3) types of study abroad programs at Stetson; please read this section carefully as the transfer of credits does vary by program type.

1.  Stetson Faculty-Led Programs

  • Courses taken through Stetson’s faculty-led programs (as listed on the WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning website) are treated as if they are taken at Stetson. Credits and grades do impact GPA.
  • Courses offered on the Stetson campus which include a study abroad component (e.g. a spring semester course with a study abroad component during Spring Break) do not receive additional credit.

2.  Stetson Exchange Programs

  • Courses taken through Stetson’s study abroad exchange programs (as listed on the WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning website) are treated as if they are taken at Stetson. Credits and grades do impact GPA. Stetson exchange program credits do not count towards the maximum transfer credits allowed because they are considered Stetson credit, not transfer credit.
  • Earning of academic credit for exchange programs is approved by the Academic Advisor and/or Chair of the relevant Department, not by WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning. Securing approval in writing is the sole responsibility of the student before departing for the study abroad program.
  • Foreign grades for exchange programs are converted by WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning staff using standards in the field of international transcript evaluation from the foreign country/educational system.
  • All of Stetson's Pass/Fail policies apply to exchange programs.

3.  Non-Stetson Study Abroad Programs (Affiliated or other)

  • Earning of academic credit for non-Stetson programs is approved by the Academic Advisor and/or Chair of the relevant Department, not by WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning. Securing approval in writing is the sole responsibility of the student before departing for the study abroad program.
  • Transfer and Pass/Fail rules apply to any study abroad course(s) taken through non-Stetson programs even if listed on a Stetson website(s).  These could be “affiliated” programs (as listed on the WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning website) or other approved programs. Grades from these programs do not factor into the student’s ongoing GPA but are calculated into the cumulative GPA at graduation only if the student is eligible for academic honors based on Stetson’s GPA. Transfer students are cautioned that study abroad course(s) taken through non-Stetson programs will count towards the maximum allowed transfer credits.
  • Grades issued by another U.S. institution of record for a foreign partner or affiliate will be evaluated using the standard transfer evaluation process for grades from that institution.

If a student attends a program without a U.S. institution of record, the student must provide, at his or her own cost, an official translation and a course-by-course evaluation/transcript which has been reviewed and approved by one of the following two evaluation services:

World Education Services           Josef Silny & Associates
22 Prince Street                          7101 SW 102 Ave.
PMB #101                                   Miami, FL 33173
New York, NY 10012                   www.jsilny.com
www.wes.org

International Transfer Students

Grades issued by another U.S. institution of record for a foreign partner will be evaluated using the standard transfer evaluation process for grades from that institution.

If a student attends a program without a U.S. institution of record, the student must provide, at his or her own cost, an official translation and a course-by-course evaluation/transcript which has been reviewed and approved by one of the following two evaluation services:

World Education Services            
22 Prince Street
PMB #101
New York, NY 10012

Josef Silny & Associates
7101 SW 102 Ave.
Miami, FL 33173