Outgoing Students

Fort Lewis College offers many different opportunities for students to study abroad. The programs offered through the International Programs Office are categorized as Exchange, Direct Enrollment or Study Abroad.  These programs are for students who will travel and enroll independently.  All students planning to study abroad on one of these programs are required to take GS 250 and GS 251  (International Studies) prior to departure. 

Additional programs offered on campus are either faculty led, or sponsored by a faculty member via independent study.  Students should contact individual faculty members for information and application requirements.  GS 250 and GS251 are not requirements for faculty run programs, unless specifically requested by the professor. 

Exchange

Exchanges are reciprocal agreements with partner institutions where students pay their home school tuition and fees, while receiving transfer credit.  An international student will attend Fort Lewis in your place. Tuition waivers may be used for these programs.  Exchanges may offer department specific courses  (i.e. only business classes) or campus wide choices.  Students will be attending most classes with students from that country, as well as other international students.

Direct Enrollment

Students may attend accredited foreign institutions without there being an exchange student at Fort Lewis College in their place.  Students pay a program fee to Fort Lewis in addition to the international tuition charged by the host institution.  These are usually very economical programs, and common for language study.  Students attend classes either with local students (in the host language) or with other international students. 

Study Abroad

Study Abroad students pay tuition and program fees directly to the third party provider that organizes these programs.  These providers are either sponsored by U.S. universities, or businesses that have U.S. universities on their oversight boards. Students pay their tuition and fees directly to these providers. Study abroad programs represent almost every country and curriculum choice.  Students may  be in classes with other American students from around the country.

Additional Programs

Exchanges. direct enrollments, and study abroad are the three international programs run directly out of the International Programs Office, but there are other programs that individual professors and offices have been running for years. Although the initial preparation for studying in another country is the similar, the details for participating on these programs are to be found directly from the sponsoring department, office or professor.

• Junior Trimester Abroad - School of Business 
• International Independent Study - Individual professors and department chairs
• Trimester in Mexico - Sociology Department
• Innovative Months -   Department of Continuing Education
• International Internships - Cooperative Education, Career Services

GS 250 / 251

GS250 (International Studies) is an internet based class required for students who intend to study abroad while at Fort Lewis College. There are no pre-requisites or instructor approvals required - just an interest in studying abroad.  Students may take this course at any time.  It is offered fall and winter semesters. The second part of the process is GS251.  This course requires successful completion of GS250, and instructor approval. This section must be taken the semester immediately preceding a study abroad experience.