Summer Study Abroad Programs not affiliated with UST School of Law

The School of Law will accept credits from an overseas summer program of an ABA-accredited law school, as long as that program has been approved by the ABA, and as long as the student achieves a grade of "C" or better in each course for which he or she seeks credit. To be certain that your program is ABA-approved, verify the program school’s ABA status at www.abanet.org (click on ‘resources for students’).

Academically many law programs abroad offer a wide range of subjects such as comparative systems or topics in international law; thus study abroad presents an academic opportunity that contextualizes’ being in another culture while studying. For summer law school programs go to http://www.studyabroad.com/ (select summer programs’).

No matter how many credits a student earns in an overseas summer program, the student will still have to be in residence on the St. Thomas campus for six semesters. In other words, a student cannot graduate early because of credits earned in an overseas summer program.

A first-year student who does not achieve at least a 2.00 GPA in the first semester may not enroll in an overseas summer program or make a deposit on such a program without the permission of the Associate Dean.

A student may not earn credit in an overseas summer program if he or she is not in good academic standing. For example, a first-year student who has not achieved at least a 2.00 GPA in the second semester may not earn credit in an overseas program during the summer between the first and second years of law school. Students should bear this policy in mind when deciding whether to make a non-refundable deposit on a program.

At this time, UST Law has not agreed to give students credit for semester-abroad or year-abroad foreign programs or for summer programs conducted in the United States.

Application Process

1. Identify a program that you wish to participate in; request all relevant information and application materials.
2. Request a St. Thomas study abroad packet from Ann Hubbard, (651-962-6453) Associate Director for Study Abroad, International Education Center. Packets are also available from the front desk of the Career Center in MSL 124.
3. Request verification from Dean Jerry Organ (651-962-4919) that the program you propose will be applied as transfer credit to your St. Thomas degree – see ABA requirement above.
4. Submit at one time the St. Thomas forms and the program’s application materials to Ann Hubbard in International Education by March 15th. Some programs have an earlier deadline; you must meet the earliest deadline.
5. To send your documents via Campus Mail, submit an envelope marked 'Ann Hubbard, Mail 44C'to the front desk of the Career Center in MSL 124 and ask them to place it in their outgoing campus mailbox.
6. Once approved, St. Thomas will forward your application to your program and make arrangements to make payment to the program on your behalf. Program charges are billed on your St. Thomas summer account.
7. Student loans may be available for short-term study abroad. Contact Chad Nosbusch (651-962-4051) in Student Financial Services .
8. International Education provides you with pre-departure information and an International Student ID Card. This card is required of St. Thomas students studying abroad for its accident, hospitalization, evacuation, and repatriation coverage and it also provides you with student discounts abroad.
9. In addition to the cost of the program, St. Thomas charges an off-campus study fee of $150 to the student's account for the term abroad.