Through The New American Colleges & Universities Student Exchange you can spend a semester at one of twelve campuses nationwide.

Perhaps you want to take courses not offered on your campus, expand upon an aspect of your major area of study not available in your department, study with a professor who shares your interest, experience a different geography and climate, secure the perfect internship to build your résumé, engage in community service projects in a specific area of the country, or meet new people. The Exchange is a great way to expand your horizons without losing touch with your home institution. It is also a valuable way to enrich your résumé with opportunities and experiences that may not be available on your home campus.

Opportunities are extensive. Many include field study, internships, and special projects.

Every college city or town has special characteristics that can make it a robust learning laboratory. One value of a national consortium is that it provides educational opportunities in locations and cultures that may be different than that of your home campus community.

Here are just a few examples:

• If you attend an institution in a suburban or rural location, consider making the city your classroom by enrolling in North Central College’s Chicago Term, Wagner College’s New York City Semester, Arcadia University’s Philadelphia Semester, or Ithaca College’s Washington Semester. Through coursework, fieldwork, and internships, you will learn about the opportunities and challenges of high-density, high diversity, urban centers.
• You may be a music major who wants to learn more about the business end of the industry with a semester in Music City, USA. Belmont University in Nashville is your answer.
• Or you may be an African-American or American Studies major who is fascinated with the roots of the civil rights movement. A semester at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama where you will have access to the archives and museum at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (www.bcri.org) and the shrines of the movement is an extraordinary opportunity.
• Interested in both ecology and winter sports? Think about a semester in Salt Lake City, Utah. Westminster College sits where the Rocky Mountains shake hands with the Great Basin Desert, and the Great Salt Lake is right there to reflect them. Combine days on the slopes and fieldwork at the Great Salt Lake with courses that help you understand earth systems and global change processes in an integrative and interdisciplinary manner.

No matter how extensive the curriculum that is offered at your home campus, there are some courses that may not be available. The benefit of a consortium such as The New American Colleges and Universities is that a vast array of studies and experiences is available for you to discover.

• Chemistry majors might want to explore the rapidly growing field of forensic science by taking forensic chemistry courses at The University of Scranton.
• Communications, physics and math majors might want to learn more about weather prediction by taking courses in one of the largest geography and meteorology programs in the country at Valparaiso University.
• Art or architecture students might want to experiment with interior design by taking courses in interior design at The Sage Colleges in Albany, NY. Interior design, engineering, and art students might want to learn more about architecture at Drury University.

There are specialized programs at some institutions, and open choices through the regular semester offerings at others. Some institutions give you a choice of both. Almost all provide you a chance to pick and choose among courses that most interest you and that will add value to your academic program and to your résumé.

You will want to look carefully through the courses at the participating institutions to see which ones might provide the best opportunities for you. Some courses will require prerequisites, which are usually indicated on the college’s website.

And of course, all New American Colleges and Universities are committed to our mission—just like your home institution— meaning you still receive a top-quality education that connects theory to practice and thought to action, no matter where you are.

The NAC&U Student Exchange works seamlessly between your institution and the one you choose to attend for a semester. From applying to transferring credits, the processes are streamlined and efficient. You get to experience another college or university setting without the hassle of taking a leave of absence, or transferring. Credits are fully transferable, though it is always advisable to check your final course selections with the registrar at your home institution.

Whatever you pay for a semester or term at your home institution is what you will pay for your semester on The Exchange. You pay your tuition directly to your home institution. Your financial aid remains intact. You may incur additional costs if the program you choose includes special equipment or travel, and you would know this before you enroll. Room and board costs are paid to your host institution. Some but not all of the programs require you to live on campus, which is a good way to meet people and get quickly involved in campus activities. There is an enrollment fee of $250, which you will pay to the host campus once you decide to enroll.

Continue reading through the New American Colleges & Universities website for links to the individual websites of each college.

Browse through the websites to see the courses that are available during the semester that interests you.

Talk with your campus Student Exchange representative or email us with your questions.

View Student Exchange Programs.