Course and Program Development

Course Development

Faculty-led study abroad programs and corresponding courses must adhere to CWRU course governance, including credit and contact hour definitions, as approved by the Faculty Senate. Student attendance at all course meetings is critical to meet the number of contact hours required between time abroad and meetings on campus. 

After the course is developed and approved by the department chair and dean, faculty will submit a Course Action Form via their department’s or school’s regular procedures and the Intent to Lead Form to the Office of Education Abroad.

Faculty may consider adding the Local and Global Engagement or Understanding Global Perspectives under the new Unified General Education Requirements. Additional information on criteria for the various perspectives, including Local and Global Engagement can be found here or by contacting Peter Shulman, Associate Provost for Curriculum.

Program Development and Itinerary

Global education helps participants engage in learning within the context of the culture they will be in while abroad. Program activities should enhance on-campus curricular offerings with the same rigor and viability, but with specific goals and objectives that can only be met in the host country. 

Program activities should relate to the course content, venture beyond typical touristy activities to give students the ability to absorb their new surroundings and relate them to what they are studying. Purely “fun” or tourist activities should be kept to a minimum and participants should not spend excessive time on buses, planes, and trains.

Faculty are responsible for organizing and arranging program activities, accommodations, and any other required part of the program. This can take up a considerable amount of time, often without direct compensation. While organizing everything yourself is definitely the most economical option for the students, it is not always the most practical for the faculty member. Another option is to partner with an organization to outsource the logistical planning and organize activities. Please note that each of the partners will charge a fee which should be worked into the budget (see below). If you would like to explore any of these options directly, contact the Office of Education Abroad for more information.

• University Partners: Consider partnering with another department or university that is planning a similar or complementary program to the same location. You can share logistical responsibilities, student numbers (which can help lower costs), and in-country resources.
• Travel Agents: Most travel agents charge a per-student fee and are not always experienced in planning for students, but they can arrange flights and hotel stays. CWRU regularly works with two local travel agencies for air travel and group travel.
• Study Abroad Program Providers: Third-party providers have resources in country who can arrange all lodging, meals, attractions, and excursions while also providing support in-country, so that the faculty leader can focus on the academic components. However providers charge a program fee for all services, excluding tuition, which raises the costs for the students.

Budget and Financial Considerations

Creating the program budget can feel overwhelming. The Office of Education Abroad offers a basic budget worksheet for you to use. Determine what your minimum number of student participants will be before starting the worksheet. You should budget as if only the minimum number of students are participating. If more than that number decide to participate, you have some options to add activities, provide an additional meal, or reduce the overall program fee. You should also consider incorporating a $100 per student contingency fund into your program fee.

The program fee is an out-of-pocket expense for students that is not covered by tuition. All costs associated with faculty-led programs are covered by student program fees and hence are ultimately borne by students. Please be mindful of expenses to help ensure courses are accessible to all. 

Faculty are required to submit to the Office of Education information on course finances and budget, including:

• The amount the students will pay as their study abroad program fee
• The account number where the student program fees will be kept or journaled
• The name of an individual in your department who will pay invoices and make reimbursements for the program

Required Forms and Timeline

Once you develop your course and get it approved through the proper university channels, it is time to submit the program to the Office of Education Abroad for review. Additionally you will need to have a draft itinerary and finalized budget completed. 

• Fill out the Program Proposal Form and receive the signatures of your department chair and dean 
• Review and sign the Faculty Roles and Responsibilities Form
• Complete the Program Budget

Submit these documents plus any other relevant materials (syllabi, full itinerary, marketing photos, etc.) to the Office of Education Abroad so that we can complete your study abroad program brochure in the application portal. From this point on, we’ll work closely with you to make your course successful.

Next Step: Marketing and Recruiting