Policies and Procedures
As soon as you think you may want to study or work abroad during your time at Dominican University of California you should talk with your academic advisor. You will also need to work closely with staff in the Registrar's Office and possibly the Financial Aid Office.
How to Prepare for Study Abroad
Courses and Course Credit
Every student who intends to study abroad must work closely with his or her academic advisor. The study abroad advisor can counsel students on the Dominican University of California and the host school requirements that must be completed well in advance of their program's starting date. The student's academic advisor can help ensure that academic credit will transfer and/or apply toward the student's specific major course of study. Dominican University of California will accept units for non-Dominican programs only after a student has obtained pre-departure approval for the program of study from the student's academic advisor.
Individual program requirements may vary, but there are options for every academic major. Some programs may require a specific level of language proficiency, and all require a minimum grade point average. Students should investigate their options as early in their academic career as possible to ensure eligibility and maximum range of options.
Financial Responsibility
The costs for study abroad programs can vary depending upon the program selected. The institution of foreign study must be a Title 4 eligible school in order to recieve financial aid through Dominican University of California. Students can request information about this from the institution itself. Federal and state financial aid programs are available to help fund study abroad programs that are approved for credit by Dominican. Students may also use private loans to fund their experience. Unless students are interested in a non-federal loan, students must file a FAFSA (Free application for Federal Student Aid) application and the Dominican University of California Financial Aid application in order to apply. Students should contact Dominican's Financial Aid office for more information.
Dominican University of California scholarships cannot be applied to non-Dominican study abroad programs. Students that wish to apply for private, federal, and state financial aid to their study abroad program must complete the following forms and submit them to the Financial Aid office.
- Authorization to Take Courses off Campus
- Financial Aid Consortium Agreement
Both forms are necessary in order to apply financial aid to the study abroad program. Once the student has filled out the Authorization to Take Courses Off Campus form, they need to make a copy of the form and turn it into the Financial Aid office, along with the Financial Aid Consortium Agreement form. The finances will then be forwarded by Dominican University Business Services to the permanent address of the student, unless otherwise specified, by using:
- Financial Aid Disbursement Authorization Form (Optional)
This lets the Business Services office know where you would like the finances to be sent. This form is not necessary unless the student would like the finances to be sent somewhere other than their permanent address.
Summary of Important Contacts to Prepare for Study Abroad
Your Academic Advisor
Talk to your academic advisor to discuss your academic goals and how studying abroad can help you to reach these goals.
You will need your advisor's signature on the Authorization to Take Courses Off Campus form.
Registrar's Office
Make sure the Registrar's Office knows that you will be taking courses off-campus for one or more terms. Get the signature that you need to ensure that you will get credit for courses taken abroad.
You will need the Transcript Evaluators signature on the Authorization to Take Courses Off Campus form.
Financial Aid Office
Make sure that the Financial Aid Office knows that you will be taking courses off-campus for one or more terms.
There are several forms that you will need to complete to arrange for the use of federal, state, or private financial aid.
