Biology and Zoology students are involved in international experiences for good reason. An international experience can develop professional skills and the ability to work with an increasingly diverse U.S. population. Graduate schools, professional programs and employers in health care, academia, non-profits, industry and government agencies value the skills and experiences gained by students who go abroad.

Considerations

  • IE3 Global Internships: IE3 Global Internships provides opportunities for junior and seniorstudents to gain credit and professional experience in in a wide variety of contexts and professional areas. Students earn 12 internship credits per term.
  • Study Abroad: Students can study abroad in a variety of settings focusing on majorrequirements, mostly in English. Students can also choose to focus on a foreign language or do an intensive, field-based program which includes a research project and field experiences.

Yes! If going abroad is a priority, there is generally a way to make it affordable. When comparing program costs, be sure to look at the total cost of attending OSU including living and tuition (see http://financialaid.oregonstate.edu/) as the costs can be comparable and differences can be made up. Students can also apply their current financial aid and scholarships to approved international programs while applying for additional scholarships and aid as needed. Early planning for international experiences also allows cost-effective program decisions.

All OSU programs are eligible for scholarships support http://international.oregonstate.edu/osugo/finances-scholarships/scholar.... Students doing OSU research abroad can apply for URISC funding http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/urisc.htm.

Students can generally finish an undergraduate degree in four years with a term or more abroad. Students must complete 180 credits and all degree requirements to graduate, and most science majors can be completed in less than 180 credits (see MyDegrees for details). This means each student has electives, though numbers will vary. International experiences can count in the following ways:

  • All international credits can be used to satisfy the 180 credits required for graduation and some majors can also use them – see your advisor for details.
  • IE3 Global Internships receive INTL 410 credits though OSU GO. Check in with OSU GO regarding questions you have related to signing up for credits and your internship supervision. Talk to your major advisor about ways these credits can be integrated in to your major.
  • Study abroad courses can be considered for major, Baccalaureate Core, minor, elective credits or the180 credits for graduation. Ask OSU GO about the standard course load for the program you plan to attend and if there are lists of any courses taken previously at that site. Research program websites for other courses of interest. Draft an email of proposed classes with descriptions and how you hope to count them to [email protected]. Once you have interacted by email, make an appointment at http://ib.oregonstate.edu/advising/appointments to finalize courses as needed.

Early planning will allow students to integrate international experiences with degrees. Students who go abroad in summer have to add a term of aid, while going during the year can often be more cost effective as it means paying the difference between costs overseas versus total OSU costs.

  • Freshman Year: Students should begin planning for a future study abroad or IE3 Internship.
  • Sophomore Year: Students can study abroad for the entire year, but not for a single term due to science series coursework. Health profession students do not go abroad this year as prerequisites for professional programs should not be taken abroad. Sophomore/Junior Summer: Students can study abroad or do an internship, but most programs are not offered in summer.
  • Junior Year: Students could do an international experience for single term (almost always fall) or a year. Students planning to do an IE3 Global Internship or study abroad for one term should plan to move series coursework to terms they will remain at OSU and instead take single-term courses abroad. Students going abroad for the year can take series coursework in some cases. Health professions students should avoid professional school prerequisites while abroad.
  • Junior/Senior Summer: Students can study abroad or do an internship, but most programs are not offered in summer.
  • Senior Year: Students can study abroad or do an IE3 Global Internship. In general, students no longer have any series courses so they can easily go abroad for a single term or the year. It is generally not a good idea to go abroad the last term of senior year, and students most often go in fall term.
  • Senior Summer: Some students choose to go abroad during their senior summer. Students can still walk in the Spring as long as they complete coursework by the end of the following fall term.

Consider your academic interests and goals and work with your academic advisors and the staff in the Office of (Global Opportunities) to determine the right program. The following steps should help:

1. PLANNING

Begin to plan at least six months in advance. You may need to complete major prerequisites or language placements or coursework http://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/school-language-culture-and-society/w.... Give yourself time to research programs and talk to your advisor about site(s) of interest. The best program for you depends on academic and professional goals, as well as degree requirements. Some important considerations are:

  • Talk to your advisor if you want to focus on programs related to your major or professional goals. Talk to OSU Global Opportunities if you want to focus on language courses abroad.
  • Studying abroad will provide an international campus experience with other students.
  • IE3 Global Internship or field-based study abroad programs will focus on professional experience.
  • Studying abroad on exchanges will generally keep program costs lower.

2. GETTING STARTED

  • If you are considering studying a language abroad, go to http://bit.ly/2cFWNEA to create a Terra Dotta account. OSU GO can follow up about next steps. Discuss timing with your advisor.
  • If you plan to focus on major or professional goals, talk to your advisor about program fit and timing. Go to http://bit.ly/2cFWNEA to create a Terra Dotta account so OSU GO can follow up on next steps.
  • Follow up on Terra Dotta and OSU GO items to apply. Note deadlines (typically 6 months ahead). Applications include recommendations, essays, and transcripts - start early!

The Office of Global Opportunities can help you identify additional program options beyond the ones listed below.  If you are considering an experience that focuses on language or another adademic focus, create an OSUGO "Getting Started" account through the following link to discuss your options with an OSUGO team member.  Create Getting Started Account

Study Abroad and Internship Programs for Biology and Zoology Students

VETERINARY MEDICINE & ANIMAL CARE

BRAZIL

Otter Conservation  |  IE3 Internship

CHINA

Giant Panda Research in China  IE3 Internship

COSTA RICA

Tropical Wildlife Husbandry & Rehabilitation  |  IE3 Internship

NAMIBIA 

Cheetah Conservation Fund  |  IE3 Internship

NEW ZEALAND

Animal Science in New Zealand | IE3 Internship

Environmental Sciences in New Zealand  |  IE3 Internship

SINGAPORE

Animal Sciences and Zoology | IE3 Internship

Spain

Agricultural Research | IE3 Internship

SOUTH AFRICA

Cape Town Marine, Wildlife and Environmental Conservation  |  IE3 Internship

GENETICS

AUSTRALIA

James Cook University Study Abroad

CZECH REPUBLIC

Molecular and Cellular Biology Research in Czech Republic  |  IE3 Internship

NAMIBIA 

Cheetah Conservation Fund  |  IE3 Internship

NEW ZEALAND

University of Otago, Dunedin (IFSA-Butler)  |  Study Abroad

SPAIN

STEM Research IE3 Internship

UNITED KINGDOM

Bangor University, Wales  |  Study Abroad

Lancaster University, England  |  Study Abroad

ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY

AUSTRALIA

James Cook University  |  Study Abroad

COSTA RICA

Biodiversity Conservation | IE3 Internship

Environmental Sustainability and Reforestation | IE3 Internship

BRAZIL

Otter Conservation  |  IE3 Internship

ECUADOR

Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts & Sciences (GAIAS)  |  Study Abroad

GABON

Gabon Biodiversity Program, Smithsonian  |  IE3 Internship

IRELAND

University College Cork  |  Study Abroad

NAMIBIA

Cheetah Conservation Fund  |  IE3 Internship

NEW ZEALAND

Environmental Sciences in New Zealand  |  IE3 Internship

University of Otago, Dunedin (IFSA-Butler)  |  Study Abroad

PANAMA

Prestigious Tropical Research with the Smithsonian IE3 Internship

Tropical Island Biodiversity & Conservation Studies (SFS)  |  Study Abroad

PERU

Biodiversity and Development in the Andes-Amazon (SFS)  |  Study Abroad

SCOTLAND

Wildlife & Conservation Education |  IE3 Internship

SOUTH AFRICA

Cape Town Marine, Wildlife and Environmental Conservation  |  IE3 Internship

TANZANIA

Wildlife Management Studies (SFS)  |  Study Abroad

UNITED KINGDOM

Bangor University, Wales  |  Study Abroad

Lancaster University, England  |  Study Abroad

MARINE BIOLOGY

AUSTRALIA

James Cook University  |  Study Abroad

ECUADOR

Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts & Sciences (GAIAS)  |  Study Abroad

Sea Turtle and Marine Wildlife Conservation  |  IE3 Internship

PACIFIC & ATLANTIC OCEANS

The Global Ocean (SEA SEMESTER)  |  Study Abroad

PANAMA

Tropical Research & Fieldwork |  IE3 Internship

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa Shark Conservancy: Research and Fieldwork | IE3 Internship

Cape Town Marine, Wildlife and Environmental Conservation  |  IE3 Internship

TURKS & CAICOS

Marine Resource Management Studies (SFS)  |  Study Abroad

UNITED KINGDOM

Bangor University, Wales   |  Study Abroad

ADDITIONAL STUDY ABROAD UNIVERSITIES 

ECUADOR

Universidad San Francisco de Quito  |  Study Abroad

FRANCE

Lyon Universities Study Abroad

University of Poitiers  |  Study Abroad

GERMANY

Baden-Württemberg Universities  |  Study Abroad

UNITED KINGDOM

Sheffield University, England  |  Study Abroad

HUMAN HEALTH PROFESSIONS

Click here for a program list. 

MARINE BIOLOGY & ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY SHORT PROGRAMS

See list of current Faculty-Led course offerings

Global Opportunities