The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) is responsible for working with you to develop proposals for faculty-led study abroad programs. Faculty-led study abroad programs are short-term international opportunities designed to enhance and complement UMBC’s current academic programs. Their condensed time frame helps larger numbers of students obtain a meaningful study abroad experience, particularly those who are unable to participate semester-long program. The CGE will help you through the entire process.
Faculty-led Study Abroad Program Goals
- Develop international short-term study opportunities in a broad range of disciplines and geographical areas that will appeal to a wide range of UMBC students and faculty and which complement existing study abroad opportunities
- Keep program costs low to promote accessibility for as many students as possible
- Develop programs that complement, enhance, and integrate into on-campus programs/curriculum for students to the fullest extent possible
- Offer courses that are closely and inherently related to the site at which they are taught—and thus offer educational opportunities students could not get on campus
- Develop opportunities for intercultural learning and research
- Encourage students, through international experiences and study, to value others’ perspectives and see themselves as part of a bigger, global world
Support from the CGE
The CGE will provide student and faculty support from start to end of the process, including program development assistance, student selection/vetting help, pre-departure orientation, assistance during the programs, and returnee programming for the year following the abroad experience. The CGE will also provide:
- help with U.S. and on-site logistics
- contract management and payments
- faculty pre-departure workshops
- international contacts
Proposal Evaluation
The Advisory Committee on Education Abroad and Global Learning will evaluate all faculty proposals and will take into consideration the following criteria:
- site-specific nature of the course and connection to local learning opportunities;
- new and previously underrepresented study abroad fields of study and/or destinations;
- financial soundness and accessibility of program costs to students; and
- any possible overlap with existing programs.
From there, proposals are sent for final financial, academic, and administrative approval.
Deadline to Submit Proposals:
- Winter and Spring Break 2027 programs: November 1, 2025
- Summer 2027 programs: April 1, 2026