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For Faculty

Program Types

UAlbany education abroad programs include the following program types, each of which require a different degree of faculty involvement.

Typically one or two semesters in length, UAlbany students participating on exchange programs directly enroll in coursework as visiting international students at an overseas university, with which UAlbany has established a formal affiliation agreement. The partner university’s faculty teaches outgoing UAlbany students. Depending on the university, classes may be conducted in English or in the language(s) of the host country. If the affiliation agreement includes a reciprocal exchange component, UAlbany will also receive students from the overseas partner university. UAlbany faculty play an advisory role in conjunction with this type of program, by monitoring and mentoring both incoming and outgoing students.

UAlbany has maintained a presence in Spain for over 50 years! Encourage your students to spend a semester or summer on the UAlbany in Spain program with a variety of courses and academic tracks to choose from. Consider joining this cherished UAlbany tradition yourself by teaching a summer course in psychology, communication, leadership, art history, politics and more with UAlbany in Spain! With no prior study of Spanish required, each three credit course taught at the UAlbany in Spain summer program combines classroom and experiential learning in which students and faculty engage in site visits and culturally relevant excursions to experience first-hand the subject as it manifests abroad.

Unique in education abroad, faculty-led programs are targeted opportunities for faculty to teach and travel with students. Typically offered in the winter, summer, or over spring break, as short (two to six weeks) programs, these courses are created, directed and taught by a member or members of UAlbany academic departments. Administratively, these programs are managed through the Education Abroad office, which assists faculty leaders in planning the program and addressing key operational issues. These “in-house,” faculty-led programs offer faculty the most intensive and extensive involvement and creativity in Education Abroad.

As one of the nation’s largest education abroad consortiums, the SUNY system as a whole offers more than 600 different education abroad options. SUNY students participating on education abroad programs administered by other 4-year SUNY campuses remain registered at their home SUNY campus and therefore automatically earn at least general elective credits towards graduation.

Although many of UAlbany’s study abroad semester programs are of the Direct Enroll/Exchange type, some are offered by arrangement through third-party providers who provide the institutional articulation with a host university, and relevant administrative infrastructure for our students. Provider type study abroad programs tend to exist in locations where an exchange program is not feasible, because coursework in English is not readily available, or because a higher level of student support is required or desired.

Finally, students may be authorized, with the permission of the Undergraduate Dean’s Office and acknowledgement by the Education Abroad office, to participate on non-SUNY education abroad programs for transfer credit. The Education Abroad office does not routinely advise, register, or process credits or grades for students interested in or participating on non-SUNY programs. If the UAlbany Undergraduate Dean’s office approves a non-SUNY program for transfer credit, the student may seek approval from academic department(s) for the credits to satisfy major, minor, or other graduation requirements.