The flexibility of the St. Mary’s curriculum allows students to study abroad on a short-term, a semester, or even a year-long program without compromising their St. Mary’s course credits. Not only do students have the opportunity to satisfy their ELAW (Link here) requirement but they are able to fulfill major, minor, and elective course requirements as well.
Over 50% of St. Mary’s students take advantage of the more than 25 SMCM study abroad program offerings at some point during their academic career. While it may seem challenging for some students to study abroad due to their major requirements, financial means, etc., St. Mary’s has strived to provide programs that will fit will even the most challenging fields, such as Biology and Chemistry, as well as offer as many scholarship opportunities as possible to make study abroad an accessible endeavor for as many St. Mary’s students as we can.
Belize Study Tour
The Belize Study Tour is the field component to BIOL 316, Tropical Biology, a regularly taught semester-long course. The tropics include most of the world’s biodiversity, yet this is the only course at SMCM that focuses specifically on Tropical Biology. Traveling to Belize provides students with first-hand experiences not available in the classroom. Students travel to several different sites within Belize and learn to take samples in a variety of different environments.
JCU (James Cook University) Australia
James Cook University (JCU) is one of SMCM’s most popular study abroad programs because it offers course options to almost all of St. Mary’s majors. JCU’s broad curriculum will allow SMCM students to take courses within their majors while providing opportunities to take courses that are uniquely Australian. The locations of the Townsville and Cairns campuses near both the Great Barrier Reef and tropical rainforest make JCU an ideal location for those students interested in biology, environmental studies, and natural science.