OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMS

  Academic Common Market
  Advanced Placement Program
  Advanced Placement Summer Institutes for Teachers
  ARCHE Cross Registration Program
  Governor's Intern Program
  Honors Program
  Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing at Athens (SONAT)
  National Student Exchange
  Oak Ridge Associated Universities
  Study Abroad Programs
  University System of Georgia Independent and Distance Learning
  Washington Semester Program


Academic Common Market

The University of Georgia participates in the Academic Common Market, an agreement for sharing specialized academic programs among states of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). Participating states make arrangements for their residents who are fully admissible into specific University academic programs to enroll on an in-state tuition basis. Applicants must: (1) be accepted as a major (not an intended major) into one of the programs offered at the University, and (2) obtain certification of residency from the Common Market Coordinator in their home state. To search for programs available to residents of your state, click here .

For further information about the Academic Common Market at UGA, contact the UGA Academic Common Market Coordinator at (706) 542-8796, email jep@uga.edu.

More general information about the Academic Common Market can be found at the website of the SREB at www.sreb.org.

As of May 24, 2004

To the Top

Advanced Placement Program

The purpose of the Advanced Placement Council is to coordinate and supervise all advanced placement activities instituted by the University of Georgia and to provide liaison among the various University units in matters concerning advanced placement exemption and credit in basic courses. The Council is made up of faculty representatives from the departments that accept advanced placement tests for their subjects. The Council meets each year to review the tests and the success of students who use them for placement into higher level courses.

The University grants exemption and credit on the basis of the College Board SAT II Achievement, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced Placement Test scores in foreign languages, mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry, economics, English, American history, European history, art, music, political science, and computer science, ecology, psychology, and statistics. The scores and resultant exemption or credit are available from the Honors Program Web site at www.uga.edu/honors. Prospective students are urged to take advantage of these opportunities.

 Placement tests are also given to new students during summer orientation sessions prior to fall enrollment. Students invited to these sessions are encouraged to attend, as limited time during fall registration does not permit the same intensive testing and counseling procedure. Students making an acceptable score on these placement tests are given, on the recommendation of the respective department, advanced placement and credit in the appropriate course(s). Students who take more than one advanced placement test in a given subject will receive credit for the highest score that they earn.

 Students planning to enroll at the University of Georgia who took the College Board SAT II Achievement Tests and/or participated in the special Advanced Placement Program of the College Board should request that the College Board testing center submit their scores to the Office of the Registrar, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-6113. Inquiries concerning the Advanced Placement Program should be directed to the Office of the Registrar, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-6113, (706) 542-4040.

To the Top

Advanced Placement Summer Institutes for Teachers

This program is offered by the Office of Academic Special Programs and the College Board for high school teachers who are teaching or are planning to teach high school Advanced Placement (AP) courses.  The vertical teams and building success courses are for middle school and high school teachers from the same school systems working and learning as teams. Three Georgia Staff Development Units are awarded at the completion of the Institute. All of the AP courses will be offered as part of an annual one-week AP Summer Institute.

These intensive learning experiences are intended primarily to assist high school and middle school teachers in preparing and teaching their AP courses, and to help build networks of AP teachers within their disciplines and school systems.

Instructors are experienced College Board certified AP teachers who are nationally recognized scholars in their fields, and experienced AP Readers thoroughly familiar with the College Board's Advanced Placement Program.

Teachers MUST register for AP courses through the Office of Academic Special Programs. Please visit the Academic Special Programs Web Site at www.uga.edu/oasp for detailed information, or contact: Mary Lue Walser, Director Academic Special Programs at mwalser@uga.edu.

To the Top

ARCHE Cross Registration Program

The Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education, ARCHE, is a consortium of twenty-one public and private institutions of higher learning in the Atlanta/Athens area, including the University of Georgia. Founded in 1938, the consortium provides a structure to enhance educational opportunities through academic cooperation among the member institutions and their communities.

The purpose of cross registration is to provide opportunities for enriched educational programs by permitting students at any ARCHE institution to take courses at any member institution. To participate, cross registration students must enroll in at least one course at their home institution. More information regarding the ARCHE cross registration program may be obtained from ARCHE's Web site at www.atlantahighered.org/memberservices/crossregistration.html, by contacting the UGA cross registration coordinator at the Office of the Registrar, Holmes/Hunter Academic Building, by telephone at (706) 542-8796, or by e-mail at jep@uga.edu.

To the Top

Governor's Intern Program

The Governor's Intern Program provides a unique academic experience while giving students a practical, firsthand look at agencies in state and local governments or non-profit organizations throughout Georgia. Internships may be full or part-time and are available for each academic term. Interns must be currently enrolled junior, senior, graduate, or law students with a 2.5 or higher GPA. Interns receive a stipend, and internships may be done for academic credit at the discretion of the student’s major department. A report is submitted by each intern to the Governor's Intern Program after each project's completion. Upon approval by the staff, the report is filed in the Georgia State Archives for future reference. Application deadlines are generally as follows: July 15 for fall semester, October 15 for spring semester, and April 15 for summer semester. Applications and specific deadlines may be obtained from the Career Center, Clark Howell Hall, or through Governor’s Intern Program, 245 State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334
To the Top

Honors Program

The Honors Program provides participants with special Honors sections of classes in the freshman/sophomore core curriculum, Honors courses in a variety of majors, the opportunity to pursue interdisciplinary majors, more intensive versions of courses required for departmental majors, and independent research under faculty supervision culminating in an Honors thesis or project. In addition to individualized advising throughout their education, the program provides students with special support for graduate and professional school application, as well as national fellowship and scholarship competitions. The Honors Program is open to qualified undergraduates in all the schools and colleges of the University.

 Most Honors classes and seminars have enrollments of 20 students or less and are taught by specially selected faculty. Unlike high school Honors or advanced placement classes, the University’s Honors courses do not carry more credit or offer higher grade points. Rather, they are smaller, enriched in content, and sometimes more specialized. Honors classes provide faculty with opportunities to introduce their disciplines more deeply, employing innovative and more individualized approaches. Students in the program choose from over 200 Honors classes offered annually. These classes usually fulfill core curriculum or major requirements. This bulletin lists Honors sections under the departments in which they are offered. Honors section course numbers are followed by an "H."

Honors students may arrange with their instructors additional readings and other assignments in upper-division classes in their major to secure Honors credit for non-Honors sections. Honors students also may enroll in directed study classes which enable them to work independently on a sustained research project under the guidance of a faculty member, usually leading to an Honors thesis. But the outcome may take a different form--a recital, exhibition or performance. Honors directed reading classes (4960H-4980H) and Honors thesis classes (4990H) are available in most departments. The Honors Program's Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) annually hosts a research symposium for the presentation of research projects with sponsoring faculty. All relevant information for these opportunities can be found in the Honors program handbook under the heading "Special Academic Opportunities" .

Additionally, Honors students with a minimum of sixty credit hours and a 3.5 cumulative GPA are encouraged to participate in graduate courses, with the approval of the department, Honors Office, and in cases of 8000 and 9000 (Ph.D.) level courses, the Dean of the Graduate School. Students with a strong focus on their major, and significant AP or Joint Enrollment credit prior to entering the University, may pursue a combined Bachelor’s/Master’s program. More information can be found here .

 Students may enter the Honors Program as first-year students, or by collegiate entry at the end of the first or second semester’s enrollment. Students must earn at least 15 hours of academic credit (14 A-F graded) and have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 to be eligible to apply for collegiate entry. The Honors Program accepts transfer students as well. For further information about the Honors Program, consult the Honors Program Student handbook . Inquiries may be directed to The Honors Program, (706) 542-3240.

To the Top

Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing at Athens (SONAT)

In 1974 a program leading to a baccalaureate degree in nursing was established in Athens; this is a satellite to the regular program of the Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing (MCG) in Augusta. In order to qualify, students must take 60 semester hours of pre-nursing core curriculum. Students may complete this core at the University of Georgia as pre-nursing students in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

The student applies to the Medical College of Georgia to take upper division courses in nursing. If accepted into MCG, the student starts his or her junior year at the Medical College of Georgia at Athens (SONAT) with a six-week summer class beginning in June. Admission to this nursing school facility is highly competitive, with space for only 60 new students a year. In recent years, the average GPA for admission to SONAT has been over 3.6.

All courses are limited to nursing students and are taught by the MCG faculty at SONAT. MCG faculty supervise clinical experiences at a variety of health care agencies in the Athens and surrounding areas (may include Atlanta and Augusta).

Students enrolled in the MCG/SONAT program have all the rights and privileges of University students and also those of the Medical College of Georgia. Upon graduation from the Medical College of Georgia, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination.

SONAT offices are located in Athens at 1905 Barnett Shoals Road, phone: (706) 542-7053. For further information about the nursing program, please access the Medical College of Georgia home page at www.mcg.edu/SON/. Specific nursing information may be obtained under the Undergraduate Program section of the School of Nursing.

To the Top

National Student Exchange

The University of Georgia is a member of the National Student Exchange Consortium, which provides exchanges for students to over 170 colleges and universities throughout the United States and its territories. Students on NSE exchange attend the host campus for one quarter/semester up to a full academic year, while paying UGA tuition and fees. There are only a few eligibility requirements, and the deadline for applying for the next year is the end of February. NSE encourages students to experience new life and learning styles, appreciate differing cultural perspectives, learn more about themselves and others, and broaden their educational background through specialized courses or unique programs that may not be available on the home campus. For more information, contact the Department of Student Activities, 325 Tate Student Center, (706) 542-7774 or nse@uga.edu.
To the Top

Oak Ridge Associated Universities

Since 1948, students and faculty of the University of Georgia have benefited from its membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU is a consortium of 98 colleges and universities and a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ORAU works with its member institutions to help their students and faculty gain access to federal research facilities throughout the country; to keep its members informed about opportunities for fellowship, scholarship, and research appointments; and to organize research alliances among its members.

Through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), the DOE facility that ORAU operates, undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates, as well as faculty enjoy access to a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Students can participate in programs covering a wide variety of disciplines, including business, earth sciences, epidemiology, engineering, physics, geological sciences, pharmacology, ocean sciences, biomedical sciences, nuclear chemistry, and mathematics. Appointment and program length range from one month to four years. Many of these programs are especially designed to increase the numbers of underrepresented minority students pursuing degrees in science- and engineering-related disciplines. A comprehensive listing of these programs and other opportunities, their disciplines, and details on locations and benefits can be found in the ORISE Catalog of Education and Training Programs, which is available at http://www.orau.gov/orise/educ.htm, or by calling either of the contacts below.

ORAU's Office of Partnership Development seeks opportunities for partnerships and alliances among ORAU's members, private industry, and major federal facilities. Activities include faculty development programs, such as the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards, the Visiting Industrial Scholars Program, consortium research funding initiatives, faculty reseach and support programs, as well as services to chief research officers.

For more information about ORAU and its programs, contact Dr. David C. Lee, Vice President for Research, ORAU Councilor for University of Georgia, 706-542-5969; contact Monnie E. Champion, ORAU Corporate Secretary, 865-576-3306; or visit the ORAU home page at http://www.orau.org.

To the Top

Study Abroad Programs

The University of Georgia sponsors a wide variety of study abroad opportunities, which are described below. The Office of International Education (OIE) is the primary campus resource for information on study abroad programs lasting an academic year, semester, summer, or Maymester. Study Abroad Advisors are available to assist students with program selection and answer questions regarding other aspects of studying, working, traveling or volunteering abroad.

UGA Study Abroad Programs: UGA offers study abroad programs led by UGA faculty during the fall and spring semesters, as well as Maymester and Summer terms. UGA sponsors approximately 100 different study abroad programs in over 50 countries, including several programs that travel to multiple countries. For up-to-date listings of UGA programs, please visit the OIE website at http://www.uga.edu/oie/sa_prog.htm

In the semester-length programs, classes are taught by both UGA professors and instructors from the host country, and program participants earn a full load of credits. In most cases, students live in a residence hall with other UGA students, and perhaps, local students. One of the advantages of the semester-length programs is that students have more time to discover what the country and culture have to offer and make connections with the local population. Furthermore, there may be opportunities for independent travel during weekends or breaks. Participants in UGA semester programs pay in-state tuition and fees, and HOPE and other scholarships and financial aid can usually be applied to study abroad costs.

The short-term (Maymester and Summer) opportunities offer strong academic programs with classes taught by UGA professors, as well as field trips and excursions that utilize the resources of the host country. Maymester and Summer session programs are 2-8 weeks in duration, and students earn resident credit for the coursework completed while abroad. A wide variety of academic disciplines and geographic locations are represented in the UGA program offerings. All students pay in-state tuition and fees, and HOPE and other scholarships and financial aid can usually be applied to study abroad costs. Due to the short-term nature of the programs and the fact that they are traveling with a group of U.S. students, participants should keep in mind that they will need to make extra efforts to connect with the local culture.

UGA-sponsored study abroad programs are particularly popular among students for several reasons, including the presence of UGA professors as instructors and group leaders, and the fact that most arrangements for classes, transportation, accommodation, excursions, and meals are made by the program.

UGA Exchange Partnerships: Exchange programs are an ideal option for students who wish to spend a semester or academic year abroad and immerse themselves in student culture in another country. The University of Georgia exchange partnerships enable UGA students to enroll as visiting students at a partner university and earn transfer credit for their academic work. Meanwhile, students from the partner university enroll at UGA. Typically, only one student or small group from UGA participates in each exchange during a given semester, which allows for student independence and cultural immersion opportunities. Exchange students take classes with local students or international students; live in residence halls, apartments or home-stays; participate in student activities along with local students; and travel independently during weekends and breaks.

Exchanges also represent one of the most affordable ways to spend a semester abroad. Participating students work with the Office of International Education and a host university coordinator to make arrangements for housing, course selection, registration and other pre-departure details. UGA participants pay in-state tuition and fees to the Office of International Education and pay for housing and meals on site. In addition, HOPE and other scholarships and financial aid can usually be applied to the cost of exchange programs.

Currently, over 40 exchanges are offered in two dozen countries. Some exchanges are limited to specific disciplines; others offer a wide range of courses. Some exchanges in non-English speaking countries offer courses in English; others require language proficiency. Exchanges last a semester or an academic year. Academic departments coordinate some exchanges, while OIE coordinates others. For a full listing of UGA study abroad and exchange programs, please visit the web site for the Office of International Education at www.uga.edu/oie/sa_prog.htm.

External Programs: In addition to UGA-sponsored study abroad and exchange programs, many other colleges and universities, language institutes, and international organizations offer opportunities for overseas study, travel, work, teaching, and volunteer experiences. Students may obtain information about these options through the OIE study abroad library or website.

Academic Credit: Study Abroad Programs sponsored by the University of Georgia offer resident credit, but students can earn transfer credit for participation in exchange programs and external study abroad programs. To obtain credit for these programs, students must complete the UGA Study Abroad Credit Approval Form before departing. For programs with which UGA does not have an affiliate, partner, or consortial relationship, OIE will determine whether or not to accept credit on a case-by-case basis, in close consultation with the Admissions Office and/or the academic departments. Further details regarding the credit transfer process are also available at http://www.uga.edu/oie/sa_prog_caf_under.htm . To view the Study Abroad Transfer Credit Policy, see http://www.uga.edu/oie/docs/sa/students/StudyAbroadTransferCredit.pdf

Scholarships and Financial Aid: Federal financial aid, the HOPE Scholarship and some other forms of financial aid may be applied to UGA-sponsored study abroad and exchange programs, as well as those offered by other universities. To receive financial aid for programs sponsored by other institutions, students must complete the UGA Study Abroad Credit Approval Form and meet all other UGA requirements for study abroad and financial aid. Please go to http://www.uga.edu/oie/sa_scholarship.htm for further information about scholarships and financial aid for study abroad.

OIE Services: The Office of International Education offers 50-minute Options Abroad Sessions three times weekly, as well as a study abroad resource library and individual advising appointments. The office is located on the third floor of the Bank of American Building, and the staff can be reached at (706) 425-3274 or goabroad@uga.edu. The OIE website (http://www.uga.edu/oie) is also an important resource for students interested in studying abroad.

To the Top

University System of Georgia Independent and Distance Learning

Based at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education, University System of Georgia Independent and Distance Learning (IDL) offers University System courses to individuals who are interested in earning academic credit through distance learning. Independent and Distance Learning increases access to higher education by minimizing barriers of time and place. Online and print-based courses require sustained one-on-one interaction between student and professor and support levels of academic rigor and student achievement equivalent to face-to-face instruction. IDL allows flexible registration, permitting students to register at any time and take up to three courses simultaneously, with up to nine months to complete each course.

Academic Policies

University System of Georgia Independent and Distance Learning students are responsible for knowing and abiding by IDL policies, published in the IDL online catalog (www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/idl) and in the IDL Student Handbook. Independent and Distance Learning students are governed by the University of Georgia’s academic honesty system. Students are responsible for seeking academic advisement prior to registration and are subject to the academic policies of their home institutions.

University of Georgia students who take Independent and Distance Learning courses taught by UGA faculty may register for resident credit (students must have a University of Georgia grade point average of 2.0 on fifteen semester hours or more of course work at the time of registration). Students must request resident credit on their registration form, and Independent and Distance Learning must verify eligibility for resident credit prior to registration. The decision to grant resident credit is made at the time of course registration and remains in effect until the course is completed. Resident credit earned through Independent and Distance Learning may be used to satisfy the resident hours required by the University of Georgia for a baccalaureate degree. Resident credit will be included in both cumulative and overall grade point averages.

Independent and Distance Learning courses offered by other University System universities must be taken for nonresident credit. The University of Georgia considers nonresident credit transfer credit. Nonresident credit will be counted in a UGA student’s overall grade point average and recorded in a student’s official record as transfer credit.

A student on academic or disciplinary dismissal may register for an Independent and Distance Learning course only with written permission from the student’s academic dean. The written permission must specify the number of hours the student may earn while on academic or disciplinary dismissal. Students on academic or disciplinary dismissal may not earn resident credit for IDL courses.

Midterm and final examinations are administered by college or university testing representatives at official test sites, and students will be admitted to examinations only with photo identification. Students must pass the final exam to pass an Independent and Distance Learning course, regardless of grades earned on submitted lessons.

Registration and Information

To ensure appropriate course selection, particularly in a major field of study, a student should seek advisement from an academic advisor in his/her degree program prior to registering for IDL courses. Independent and Distance Learning is not responsible for misadvisement, changes in programs of study, or other actions resulting in improper choice of courses.

To register for Independent and Distance Learning courses, students should complete a registration form (available from the IDL office, Web site, or from an IDL Course Offerings bulletin). Students may register and pay with a credit card on the IDL Web site (www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/idl). Tuition fees must be paid in full at the time of registration. Fees are based on a per-credit-hour rate regardless of credit hours taken or matriculation fees assessed by the University of Georgia. Independent and Distance Learning will accept an invoice or authorization to bill from an outside agency as long as such authorized invoices do not contain conditions to be met before payment is made (e.g., payment may not be based upon successful completion of the course). University of Georgia students receiving financial aid through the University may be eligible to apply financial aid awards toward Independent and Distance Learning tuition fees (for both resident and nonresident credit). UGA students receiving financial aid awards may submit an IDL request for a fourteen-day tuition fee deferment.

Students can register online for IDL courses at www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/idl. Registration forms, with appropriate tuition, can also be mailed or brought to University System of Georgia Independent and Distance Learning, Suite 193, Georgia Center for Continuing Education, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-3603. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office is closed during University of Georgia holidays. For additional information, contact the Independent and Distance Learning office at (706) 542-3243 or 1-800-877-3243 (toll-free in United States) or via e-mail (idl@georgiacenter.uga.edu). The Independent and Distance Learning catalog is available on the Web site at www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/idl.

To the Top

Washington Semester Program

Each fall and spring semester, up to twenty University of Georgia students have the unique opportunity to live, work and study in Washington, D.C., through the Washington Semester Program. The program is open to undergraduate students in all colleges and schools at UGA. Students enrolled in the Washington Semester Program will earn at least twelve hours of academic credit, work approximately 30 hours per week in an internship approved by the program, connect with leaders in public policy, government and business, and experience the art and culture of one of the world's great cities.

To apply, students must meet the following criteria:

1. 3.0 minimum cumulative grade point average.
2. At least Junior class standing by the term of participation.
3. Good disciplinary standing.
4. Completion of the Federal and Georgia Constitution requirement.

For more information, visit the program's website (www.uga.edu/dcsemester) or contact the Washington Semester Program at dcsem@uga.edu or 706-542-3450.

To the Top