Developing Traditional Study-Abroad Programs

Assessing Your Program for Viability and Strategic Fit
Assessing Your Program for Risk Management and Budget and Confirming Academic Approval
Additional Program Development Resources

Very early in your planning process, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Kasee Clifton Laster, Director of Study Abroad, to discuss your program plans.

The first thing to consider when evaluating a study abroad program idea is whether the program will be viable and how it will fit among the overall study abroad offerings of the University of Georgia. The following factors will help you in conducting your own assessment of your program's viability. The Director of Study Abroad can provide current student participation data on request.

Test of New Study Abroad Program Viability

  1. Demand for opportunities or new/additional opportunities in the particular countr(ies). As UGA has many study abroad programs, please consider first the number of existing programs in the country, as well as whether there are appropriate, high-quality non-UGA programs already serving the need.
  2. Demand for additional study abroad opportunities in the discipline(s). Consider whether there are existing programs serving this major and whether or not they fill to capacity, as well as whether there are appropriate, high-quality non-UGA programs already serving the need.
  3. Any other potential conflicts with existing offerings (for example, proposing a program in an area where UGA maintains a residential center, but not planning to use that residential center).
  4. Safety and stability: No program will be allowed to start or to continue in area where there is a current State Department Travel Warning or which is otherwise known to be unstable or unsafe. Consider first State Department information, but also your personal experience/knowledge, current events, and any other relevant information.
  5. Broad-based support and administrative assistance from your department, dean, etc., to start and run the program.
If you feel that your program idea is viable and a good complement to existing offerings, then please complete the Initial Brief Proposal , have it signed by your head and dean, and submit it to the Director of Study Abroad. The proposal will be evaluated on the bases of viability and strategic fit by the Strategic Planning Committee for Study Abroad, a group of associate deans, program directors, and OIE staff. The Initial Brief Proposal document contains additional detailed information about the approval process and timeframe.

Deadlines for Submission of the Initial Brief Proposal

Maymester or summer programs 31 January of the prior year
Fall semester or academic year programs 31 January of the prior year
Spring semester programs 30 September of the prior (academic) year