International Education
Study Tours

Mandatory Pre-departure Meeting

Study-abroad students are required to attend two mandatory pre-departure meetings in the semester prior to study abroad.

For Spring 2012 the pre-departure meetings are as follows:

Part I - Nov. 1st at either 8:30am or 11am (students are required to attend only one of the Part I sessions)

Part II - Nov. 8th at 2:45pm or Nov. 9th at 4:15pm (students are required to attend only one of the Part II sessions)

All sessions will be held in Cole Cinema and refreshments will be served.

Phase 2 Pre-Departure Forms Due

Phase 2 SMCM IE Office required forms are due by:
November 7 for spring semester study abroad
April 15 for fall semester study abroad

See "How to Apply" link for details about forms. 

Passports and Visas

A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue or verify United States passports. Proper documentation and identification is required for entry into your destination country and for re-entry into the United States. Each country has its own special requirements for entry based on your citizenship, purpose of visit and length of stay. Find out which requirements pertain to your situation, and plan in advance; obtaining documents from embassies or consulates can take from one hour up to three months.

Passports 
Source: U.S. Department of State

Visas: Foreign Entry Requirements
A visa is a form attached to a page in your passport. A visa indicates that you are eligible to travel for a particular purpose to another country as far as the port of entry (airport or land border crossing) and ask the immigration officer to allow you to enter the country. Visas must be obtained from the embassy of the country to which you are requesting entry.
Source: U.S. Department of State

Travel Documents
Source: Study Abroad Student Handbook, Center for Global Education

Pre-departure Blackboard Course

In the Pre-departure Blackboard Course, you will learn about:

1. Pre-departure Planning at SMCM
2. Health Resources and Considerations
3. Safety Resources and Considerations
4. Pre-departure Planning, Checklists and Logistics
5. Living Abroad
6. Travel Resources
7. Returning Home

8. Study-Abroad Resources

You will self-enroll in the Blackboard course by logging into Blackboard and searching for "pre-departure."  Click on the "enroll" button and submit your request.  Once you've self-enrolled the course will appear in your list of courses.