International Study
All MBU students are encouraged to participate in international study programs. Various programs are available for traditional fall or spring semesters as well as unique summer opportunities. E-mail the Director of Study Abroad today to enroll.
More International Study opportunities can be found at BestSemester.com.
Study Abroad
The purpose of the Study Abroad program at Missouri Baptist University is to provide resources and programs for undergraduate students to experience a broad range of international and intercultural views. The curriculum design utilizes cross-cultural experiences enabling students to test, explore and formulate a personal and more realistic view of their global society. Through a consortium agreement with Webster University our students have access to any of their international campuses in addition to other programs that may be unique to our campus. Not all available programs are listed, for more information contact the Office of Study Abroad. 314-392-3112
AFRICA
Uganda - Uganda Studies Program (USP) BestSemester.com
The Uganda Studies Program (USP) provides students with both immersion in a local community and broad exposure to a variety of people and places in Uganda and Rwanda. Students in the Uganda Studies Emphasis (USE) live on campus at Uganda Christian University in Mukono, Uganda, sharing their lives with university students form Uganda and other parts of Africa. Students in the Intercultural Ministry & Missions Emphasis (IMME) live with host families within walking distance of the university. All USP students take classes from UCU professors and share meals with UCU students. These relationships give students a first hand perspective as they explore issues such as poverty, aid and missions, and as they seek to reconcile the realities of East Africa with their Christian faith. Students also spend time in Rwanda and rural Uganda. In addition to the core experiential course, students will choose from an approved selection of courses from the UCU curriculum to earn up to 16 hours of credit.
ARGENTINA
Córdoba - The Center for Cross Cultural Study www.spanishstudies.org
The Center for Cross-Cultural Study offers an exceptional opportunity for cross-cultural study at the distinguished Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), a descendent of the oldest university in Argentina. There are two programs available to undergraduate students: the Semi-integrated Semester Program and the Summer Term. The semester program is based upon CC-CS's unique Guided Direct Enrollment Model in which students benefit from three levels of cultural integration: 1. a 4 week intensive language and culture program 2. direct enrollment at Universidad Nacional de Córdoba integrated with Argentine students and 3. personal guidance in consciously synthesizing cultural experiences. The Córdoba Summer Program consists of a one-month Intensive Language and Culture Session including a homestay, cultural visits within Córdoba, a cultural day-trip to the estancias jesuíticas, and an overnight three-day trip to Buenos Aires.
AUSTRALIA
Sydney - Australia Studies Center (ASC) BestSemester.com
Since spring 2004, the CCCU has partnered with the Wesley Institute for Ministry and the Arts in Sydney, Australia to offer the Australian Studies Centre. Throughout the semester, students study theology, global justice issues affecting Australia, Indigenous cultures and the arts. Additionally, students choose electives in theology/ministry, music, drawing/graphic design, dance and/or drama.
Home stays, service learning and travel around Australia are important components of the ASC. Students observe Australia's beautiful landscape, live in the cosmopolitan melting pot of Sydney, connect with the poor of Sydney's multi-cultural ghettos and engage the political capital Canberra and its power players. Students' also come to know the traditions of Aboriginal people during an Outback excursion and spend the last week of each semester traveling to New Zealand to meet Maori people. ASC students receive up to16 semester hours of credit.
Sydney - Macquarie University, Robert Menzies College, mq.edu.au/rmc/
Sydney is dedicated to equipping its students for success in today's fast-changing, highly competitive global society. Macquarie's innovative courses, cutting-edge research programs and state-of-the art facilities are located on a spacious parkland campus just 35 minutes from the heart of Australia's largest, most cosmopolitan city. Robert Menzies College is on the campus of Macquarie University and is a Christian lodging community that also houses the theological school for the University.
AUSTRIA
Vienna - (Webster) Webster.edu/studyabroad
Webster University's Vienna campus is located near the banks of the beautiful Danube and just a few blocks from the United Nations. As a European crossroads, Vienna's proximity to Eastern Europe attracts a richly multinational population, which is reflected in Webster University's student body. Webster-Vienna's internship programs introduce students to practical experience in the working world by executing special projects for national and multinational companies and organizations. Students wishing to pursue an internship abroad are required to study abroad for a minimum of one semester, although an academic year abroad is strongly encouraged.
CHINA
Hong Kong - Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) buwww.hkbu.edu.hk/eng/main/index.jsp
Hong Kong Baptist University is centrally located on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong. While it still retains the name "Baptist" HKBU is currently owned by the Chinese government. Academic programs are organized in a way that is very similar to North American colleges and universities and classes are taught in English. Their programs are tailor-made and highly structured, placing emphasis on coherence, progression, and integration within a three- year time span. The education system in Hong Kong at present provides for 13 years of schooling: 6 years at primary school, 5 years at secondary school, and 2 years of matriculation. HKBU's undergraduate degree programs follow a British pattern of three years duration. It is due to this variance that American students are required to complete one full year of study at their home institution. Our sophomore year is generally aligned with their freshman year. In addition, students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. It is preferred that students be a Junior or Senior in order to participate in this program.
Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an, and Xiamen - China Studies Program (CSP) BestSemester.com
The China Studies Program enables students to engage this ancient and intriguing country from the inside. While immersed in Chinese culture students participate in seminar courses on the historical, cultural, religious, geographic and economic realities of this strategic and populous nation. In addition to the study of standard Chinese language, students are given opportunities such as assisting Chinese students learning English or working in an orphanage, allowing for one-on-one interaction. Students choose between completing a broad Chinese Studies concentration or a Business Concentration. The program introduces students to the diversity of China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Xiamen. This interdisciplinary, cross cultural program enables students to deal with this increasingly important part of the world in an informed, Christ centered way. Students earn 16-17 semester hours of credit.
Beijing - (Webster) Webster.edu/studyabroad
Home of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing is host to more than 150 embassies as well as the Chinese government and central party that direct China's provinces and cities. In Beijing, Webster partners with Beijing Language and Culture University which was founded in 1962 as an institution for both foreign and Chinese-born students. It has trained hundreds of thousands of students from more than 160 countries in Chinese language and culture. All classes are taught in English. Home to 13 million people, Beijing has plenty of attractions outside the classroom - both ancient and modern.
COSTA RICA
Latin American Studies Program (LASP) BestSemester.com
Based in San Jose, Costa Rica. The Latin American Studies program introduces students to a wide range of experiences through the study of the language, literature, culture, politics, history, economics, ecology and religion of the region. Living with a Costa Rican family, students experience and become a part of the day-to-day lives of typical Latin Americans. Students also take part in a practicum/internship and travel for three weeks to nearby Central American nations. Students participate in one of four concentrations: Latin American Studies (offered both fall and spring terms); Advanced Language and Literature (designed for Spanish majors and offered both fall and spring terms); International Business: Management and Marketing (offered only in fall terms); and Environmental Science (offered only during spring terms). Depending upon their concentration, students travel to nearby Central American nations including Nicaragua, Guatemala and Panama. Students in all concentrations earn 16-18 semester credits.
CUBA
Havana - The Center for Cross Cultural Study www.spanishstudies.org
Students are able to expand their knowledge in the nearby Americas, and experience the blend of cultures - African, European and American - that form Cuba. Take classes taught by native Cuban faculty at the Universidad de La Habana. Participate in an array of cultural activities and study trips designed to encourage direct interaction with the Cuban people. CC-CS offers courses during the Fall and Spring Semesters, Winter Term, and Summer. This program is offered as political conditions allow.
EGYPT
Cairo - Middle East Studies Program (MESP) BestSemester.com
Based in Cairo, Egypt, the Middle East Studies Program offers students a unique opportunity to explore and interact with the complex and strategically important world of the modern Middle East. Students explore diverse religious, social, cultural and political traditions of Middle Eastern peoples. They also study the Arabic language and may work as volunteers with various organizations in Cairo. Through travel in the region (typically Israel, Jordan, and Turkey) students are exposed to the diversity and dynamism of the region. At a time of tension and change in the Middle East, MESP encourages and equips students to relate to the Muslim, East Christian and Jewish worlds in an informed, constructive and Christ centered manner. Students earn 16 semester hours of credit.
INDIA
(Available starting Fall 2011)Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu - India Studies Program (ISP) BestSemester.com
ISP is structured to provide students with both immersion in a local community and broad exposure to a variety of peoples, places and customs in India. Students will participate in two core courses designed to provide a broad overview of the historical, religious, geographical and economic landscape of India. Building on their basic understanding of India's past and contemporary realities, students will have opportunities to explore a variety of issues such as poverty, social justice, rapid social change, and religious pluralism through the eyes and experience of Indian Christians. In the later part of the program, an extensive two week travel portion will give students a close up look at India's diversity. Students will also have the opportunity to take courses in their major areas with Indian student and professors at Bishop Appasamy College of Arts and Sciences located in Coimbatore.
JORDAN
Amman - (CGE)< cgedu.org/cge/StudyAbroad/ArabicStudy.htmThe summer program in Amman, Jordan is an Arabic language and culture program. Arabic is the official language in 26 countries and is the 5th most spoken language in the world. This 10 week program offers trips to many famous and biblical sites including a stay in Sharm AL-Sheikh, Egypt (Red Sea - snorkeling, shopping etc.), the ancient city of Petra, the Sinai Desert, the Jordan River, The Baptismal Site and the Dead Sea. Up to 12 credit hours can be earned in this extraordinary summer program.
MEXICO
Guadalajara - (Webster) Webster.edu/studyabroad
Study abroad at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG), Mexico's oldest private university, founded in 1935. UAG is coeducational, independent and autonomous. Students can enroll in the Spanish and Culture program at UAG, where they receive language instruction based on cultural content. Courses are assigned based on language competency ranging from beginner to fluent. Students with very advanced language skills may take regular classes at UAG. The cultural experience includes home stays with families who are approved by The International Exchange Department.
SPAIN
Seville - The Center for Cross Cultural Study www.spanishstudies.org
The Center is housed in two turn-of-the-century mansions in the heart of Seville's commercial and social center. CC-CS is a short walk from Universidad de Sevilla, and some of Spain's most glorious and historic sites, including the Catedral, Giralda (the symbol of Seville), Torre del Oro, Alcázar palace, and the beautiful Guadalquivir River.CC-CS has provided a unique learning experience for students in the historic city of Seville since 1969. They offer semester, academic-year, January term and summer programs of academic excellence, all grounded in the cultural richness of Seville, Andalusia, and Spain. Students choose their courses from a broad curriculum embracing a wide variety of disciplines, and receive personalized attention as they pursue their goals. The energetic faculty and staff are committed to working with individuals in and out of class. The Center supports students as they move beyond the classroom and enter the surrounding culture. A minimum of two years of Spanish is required to attend the Center.
Alicante - The Center for Cross Cultural Study www.spanishstudies.org
Students in Alicante study onsite at Universidad de Alicante (UA), twenty minutes outside of the city's center. Though established in 1979, UA was founded to carry on the traditions of the University of Orihuela (1545-1834). As the fastest-growing university in Spain, with an enrollment of 33,000, the UA is dedicated to its mission to cultivate students' academic and professional skills, while developing critical thinking and social awareness. This mission encourages students' participation in the development of modern society.
Along with the resources provided by UA, CC-CS students benefit from having an on-site Resident Director who teaches the CC-CS cultural integration course Spanish Social Realities, assists students with cultural and logistical challenges of studying abroad, and organizes CC-CS site visits and events.
Through university coursework, home stays with native families, and multiple cross-cultural opportunities, students will find CC-CS in Alicante to be a highly immersive and integrated study abroad experience.
SWITZERLAND
Geneva - (Webster) Webster.edu/studyabroad
Founded in 1978, on an estate along the shores of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva); the campus is minutes from the United Nations international headquarters. The campus is surrounded by the natural beauty of Switzerland and a multinational community that is reflected in the student body and faculty. Internships at prominent organizations provide a valuable real-world perspective to classroom learning and develop a valuable network of professional contacts in Geneva. The local language is French but all classes are taught in English.
THAILAND
Hua Hin/Cha-am - (Webster) Webster.edu/studyabroad
The campus is located a few hours south of Bangkok in the coastal town of Cha-am. All study abroad students in Thailand enroll in a 3-credit-hour course on Tai culture, religion and politics which acquaints them with their new surroundings. Other courses provide the opportunity to experience the culture of Thailand and Southeast Asia while pursuing coursework in your major field of study. Many feature excursions and field trips to noteworthy sites of history, culture and commerce.
THE NETHERLANDS
Leiden - (Webster) Webster.edu/studyabroad
Located approximately 30 miles from Amsterdam by train. Leiden has the distinction of being the oldest and largest university town in the Netherlands, which fosters an environment of shops, cafes and cultural opportunities that serve the students who make up a large portion of the town's population. Webster-Leiden's distinguished professors bring real-world experience to the subjects they teach. Faculty members include Dr. Fatos Tarifa, the Albanian Ambassador to the Court of the Netherlands, who reaches history and politics; and Professor Phyllis Hamilton, Deputy Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Peace Palace in The Hague, who teaches international business and law. The University offers a one-year cultural immersion program designed to take advantage of Leiden's unique position in the heart of Europe.
THE UNITED KINGDOM
Grantham - Harlaxton College - (Evansville) harlaxton.ac.uk/
Harlaxton is located 110 miles north of London near Nottingham and famous Sherwood Forest. Students will live in a Victorian Castle to personally experience the rich cultural and historical beauty of England. Located at a train hub, Harlaxton's four day class schedule facilitates additional travel over three day weekends. All credit hours earned will be accepted for those students seeking degrees at Missouri Baptist University.
Oxford - The Scholars' Semester in Oxford (SSO) BestSemester.com
The Scholars Semester in Oxford is designed for students who want to study intensively and to a high standard. Students develop their academic writing and research skills and explore the disciplines and interest of their choice. As Visiting Students of Oxford University and members of Wycliffe Hall, students have the privilege to study and learn in one of university's historic halls. SSO students enroll in a Primary and Secondary Tutorial, an Integrative Seminar and the British Landscape course. The SSO is designed for students interested in the fields of Classics, English & Literature, Theology & Religious Studies, Philosophy, and History, though all majors may apply. Applicants are generally honors and other very high-achieving students and must have a minimum GPA of 3.5. Students earn 17 semester hours of credit.
Oxford Summer Program (OSP) BestSemester.com
The Oxford Summer Program (OSP) is a program of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. The program is designed for students wishing to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between Christianity and the development of the West and who wish to do specialized work under expert Oxford academics in the areas of History, Religious Studies, Political Theory, Philosophy, English, and History of Science. The Program is structured for rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors, graduate and seminary students, non-traditional students, teachers, and those enrolled in continuing education programs
London - Regent's American College London (RACL) - (Webster) Webster.edu/studyabroad
Formerly British American College London (BACL), Regent's is part of the Webster University network. The RACL campus is ideally located in Central London within the beautiful Regent's Park and offers an internationally-focused, stimulating and supportive educational experience, with a wide choice of majors including management, media, international relations, politics, psychology and the liberal arts.
BESTSEMESTER.COM
Culture Shaping - USA
In addition to the international programs previously listed, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), an association of 105 campuses in the U.S. and Canada, offers the following semester programs in the USA to students of its member institutions. The programs offer a unique opportunity for students to go beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. These interdisciplinary learning opportunities are available to second-semester sophomores, juniors and seniors. For further information, contact the Director of Study Abroad.
Washington D. C. - American Studies Program (ASP) BestSemester.com
Since 1976, the American Studies Program has been the educational laboratory for participants seeking to explore national and international issues through enrollment in either the Public Policy Initiatives track or Global Humanitarian Enterprise track. Program highlights include: Participation in seminars led by faculty and Washington professionals, Engagement in service learning opportunities and an Internship (20-30 hours a week) while earning 16 hours of credit.
Martha's Vineyard - Contemporary Music Center BestSemester.com
The Contemporary Music Center provides students with the opportunity to live and work in community while seeking to understand how God will have them integrate music, faith and business. Both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary in nature, the CMC offers three tracks: the Artist, Executive, and Technical. Students within each of the tracks receive instruction, experience and a uniquely Christ-centered perspective on creativity and the marketplace, while working together to create and market a recording of original music. Each track includes coursework, lags, directed study and a practicum. Students earn 16 semester hours of credit.
Los Angeles Film Studies Program (LAFSC) BestSemester.com
Founded in 1991, the Los Angeles Film Studies Center is designed to train students to serve in various aspects of the film industry with both professional skill and Christian integrity. The curriculum consists of two required seminars, Hollywood Production Workshop and Theology in Hollywood, focusing on the role of film in culture and the relationship of faith to work in this very influential industry. In addition, students choose one elective course from a variety of offerings in film studies. Internships in various segments of the film industry provide students with hands-on experience. The combination of the internship and seminars allows students to explore the film industry within a Christian context and from a liberal arts perspective. Students earn 16 semester hours of credit, 6 from the internship and 10 from seminar study.
Washington Journalism Center (WJC) BestSemester.com
The Washington Journalism Center (WJC) is a semester-long study program in Washington, DC created for students interested in the field of journalism. While in Washington students take classes focusing on their personal writing skills and on the history and future of the media. These classes - Foundations for Media Involvement; Reporting in Washington; and Washington, News and Public Discourse - combined with an internship at a top news publication help students learn to integrate their faith in a journalism career. Students also participate in service learning opportunities as well as live with families in home stays as part of the WJC experience. Students can earn 16 semester hours of credit.
GLOBAL
EducatorsAbroad Student Teaching (EAST) educatorsabroad.org
EducatorsAbroad Student Teaching (EAST) offers prospective teachers opportunity to develop their teaching abilities and expand their cultural awareness by completing part of their student teaching requirements in a cultural setting different from their own. EAST is open to students, who are fluent in English, from all teacher education institutions and currently serves students from accredited colleges and universities in North America and the United Kingdom. With three programs available, Student Teaching (10 Weeks), Practicum (3-4 weeks) and EFL Teaching Assistant (4-10 weeks) EAST placements have been made in over fifty-eight countries on all continents. Upon return to the US, the requirements for local and state certification will be fulfilled.
Note: placements in non English speaking countries, even in Europe, can be challenging in that there are often only a handful of schools that are willing/suitable to host and guide the professional development of EA student teachers. Given the vagaries of new staff/school inspections etc. there may be only two potential schools in a country.
CREDIT/NON CREDIT TRAVEL STUDY PROGRAM
As a member of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities, Missouri Baptist University cooperates with other institutions in additional credit and non-credit programs of study and travel. Some mission opportunities may be available for credit and non-credit study. For further details, contact the Director of International Studies.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR STUDY ABROAD
Missouri Baptist University belongs to several consortiums which offer study abroad and have individual agreements with various programs. For further details, contact the Director of International Studies.
Gilman
http://www.iie.org/gilman
Boren Awards for International Study
www.borenawards.org
InternationalScholarships.Com (database/search engine for study abroad scholarships)
http://www.internationalscholarships.com/
Missouri Baptist University
The Dallas and Rosalie Frillman Memorial Endowment partially funds scholarships for undergraduate students to participate in international study. Interested students should contact the Director of International Studies and the Director of Financial Services for additional information regarding institutional scholarship assistance for study abroad.
