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Study Abroad

North Central offers study abroad opportunities.

When you study abroad, you have an opportunity to see the world, gain global awareness, and grow as an individual. North Central students can study abroad through a number of programs during their time here.

Short Programs

You can participate in short programs after you’ve earned 24 credits. This is a great option for students who would like a slightly more affordable, shorter-term study abroad option.

Semester-long Programs

These programs are for juniors and seniors
Asia Pacific Student Abroad Initiative in Bangkok, Thailand (APSAI)

You’ll study abroad for a semester at the Asia Pacific Student Abroad Initiative (APSAI) in partnership with Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM).

A semester at APSAI will give you an opportunity to immerse yourself into Asian culture in a Mega-Metro setting, work with experienced missionaries, and earn credits towards your undergraduate degree. Intensive study in Thai language and culture will be a daily part of your routine along with other classes and experiences centering on intercultural study, community development, and ministry.

Students will learn from the experience of indigenous local churches and para-church organizations, by participating in their ongoing outreaches and ministries, such as teaching English, community development in slums, university outreach, and other opportunities.

While this semester in Bangkok is tailored to meet the international experience requirements of the Intercultural Studies major, any NCU student may apply to participate. Opportunities may be available to remain in Thailand (or another Asian location) for the purpose of completing a summer internship. Internship opportunities vary and may be discussed with the program facilitator after the completion of the application process.

Want to learn more about study abroad? Contact the Study Abroad Coordinator

Basic Information

Where: Asia Pacific Student Abroad Initiative (APSAI) is based in Bangkok, Thailand and is in partnership with Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM).

What: NCU students will take Thai language and other ICS and online courses totaling 15 credits. NCU students will study with undergrads from other AG schools.

Who can participate: Juniors and Seniors of any major major demonstrating interest and academic fitness; best suited for Intercultural Studies majors. Admission to this selective program is by application and interview.

When: Spring Semester each year.

How to Apply

To apply for study abroad trips, please fill out the checklist (pdf), application (pdf), and Studies Abroad Reference Forms- AGWM and return them to the Study Abroad Coordinator.

 

Cairo Studies Center in Cairo, Egypt (CSC)

Study abroad for a semester at the Cairos Studies Center, in partnership with the Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM).

Glorify Jesus in the heart of the Arabic World! This is the core of the Cairo Studies Center (CSC)—part of the Live Dead Arab World Initiative. (Live Dead focuses on Church Planting among Unreached Peoples through teams.)

Based in Cairo, Egypt, CSC allows students from AG universities and colleges to spend a semester studying abroad. While you are in Cairo your day will include these basic blocks: abiding in Jesus, studying Arabic, volunteering in different ministry centers, joining the Live Dead Cairo Church Planting team in their meetings and outreach, and studying under experienced and qualified professors while earning credits towards your undergraduate degree.

Spending a semester in Cairo alongside the Live Dead team will change you forever: it will prepare you to radically live for Jesus among unreached peoples, it will equip you to understand and relate to Muslims, and it will introduce you to all the intrique and passion of the Middle East.

While this semester in Cairo is tailored to meet the requirements of the Intercultural Studies major, any NCU student may apply to participate. Opportunities may be available to remain in Cairo (or another Middle Eastern location) for the purpose of completing an international internship. Internship opportunities vary and may be discussed with the program facilitator after completion of the application process.

Want to learn more about study abroad? Contact the Study Abroad Coordinator.

Basic Information

Where: Cairo Studies Center (CSC) is based in Cairo, Egypt and is in partnership with Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM).

What: NCU students will take Arabic language and other ICS and online courses totaling 15 credits.

Who can participate: Up to 10 Junior and Senior students of any major demonstrating interest and academic fitness. Tailored for Intercultural Studies majors and Middle Eastern Studies minors. Admission to this selective program is by application and interview for approval.

When: Spring Semester each year.

How to Apply

To apply for study abroad trips, please fill out the checklist (pdf), application (pdf), and three reference forms (pdf) and return them to the Study Abroad Coordinator.

 

Istanbul Studies Center in Istanbul, Turkey (ISC)

You’ll spend a semester at the Istanbul Studies Center (ISC), in partnership with the Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM).

Experience Turkey while earning credit towards your undergraduate degree, and be a light in the land where Europe meets the Middle East!

Located in the Istanbul metro area, the Istanbul Studies Center (ISC) gives students from Assemblies of God universities the opportunity to immerse themselves in cross-cultural life and advance in their academic studies. ISC students will also have opportunities to teach English, reach out to university students, and minister to children in a distinctly Muslim region. ISC prepares students for lifelong, cross-cultural service whether in a business, teaching, or ministry environment.

While this semester in Istanbul is tailored to meet the international experience requirements of the Intercultural Studies major, any NCU student may apply to participate. Opportunities may be available to remain in Turkey (or another Middle East location) for the purpose of completing a summer internship. Internship opportunities vary and may be discussed with the program facilitator after the completion of the application process.

Want to learn more about study abroad? Contact your Study Abroad Coordinator.

Basic Information

Where: The Istanbul Studies Center is based in Istanbul, Turkey, and is partnership with Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) and the LIVE|DEAD Silk Road Initiative.

What: NCU students will take Turkish language, Area Studies, and other ICS and online courses totaling 15 credits.

Who can participate: Up to 2 Junior and Senior students, demonstrating interest and academic fitness. While this semester in Istanbul is tailored to meet the international experience requirements of the Intercultural Studies major, any NCU student may apply to participate. Opportunities may be available to remain in Turkey (or another Middle Eastern location) for the purpose of completing a summer internship. Internship opportunities vary and may be discussed with the program facilitator after the completion of the application process.

When: Spring Semester each year.

How to Apply

To apply for study abroad trips, please fill out the checklist (pdf), application (pdf), and three reference forms (pdf) and return them to the Study Abroad Coordinator.

 

Ridley Hall in Cambridge, England

North Central University students who take part in this program will live at Ridley Hall and participate in its community and worship life while attending a full schedule of classes through the Cambridge University Divinity Faculty. This includes participating in daily morning chapel, small groups and other college functions.  Ridley Hall is one of several theological colleges in Cambridge that all take classes together, so while functioning as a Ridley student, NCU participants will also be in class with students from the Methodist, Reformed, Anglo-Catholic, Catholic and Orthodox schools. This can be exciting, frustrating and stretching all at the same time! Past NCU participants have returned to NCU with an appreciation for what all Christians have in common but with a renewed appreciation for their Evangelical and Pentecostal roots.

Founded in 1881, Ridley Hall is an Evangelical permanent theological hall at Cambridge University in England whose main purpose is to train undergraduate and graduate students for ministry within the Church of England. Past NCU students who have participated in this program have felt at home with its Charismatic flavor but also stretched by its daily liturgical worship in the Anglican tradition.  Can both of those things go together?  Come and see for yourself!

In England, undergraduate students don’t have a choice of classes- they follow a prescribed course of study without electives. It is not a liberal arts degree, like in the US; Cambridge students studying theology take only Bible, Theology and Philosophy which means they do not take math, science or arts classes.  Therefore, NCU students who study at Ridley Hall only have these types of classes available to them, which is why a student’s graduation requirements are a big part of the selection process for this program.   Available classes differ slightly each year, based on a two to three year rotation, but the following classes are always offered (they are listed here with the NCU course number equivalent:

  • Christian Ethics—CT213
  • New Testament Exegesis (specific book studies have included Romans and Corinthian Letters)—NT Elective
  • Old Testament Exegesis (specific book studies have included Genesis, Jonah and Ruth and Ezekiel)—OT Elective
  • Gospel and Western Culture—THEO Elective
  • Biblical Greek 1A—ALAN241
  • Biblical Hebrew 1A—ALAN235
  • History and Practice in the Early Church – HIST311

Note about classes: The theory of university education in the UK is quite different from the US.  Except in biblical languages classes, the students’ only graded assignment is usually a large essay due at the end of the term. This means that there is a lot more responsibility on the student to take charge of their own education, do the readings, seek out their professors to ask questions, research and prepare their own essay and glean the best from the class. There is no “busy work.” It is also important to note that in the UK university students are graded on a percentage scale in comparison with experts and scholars in the given field. Thus for an undergraduate “good grades” are the equivalent to 50-69% range, while graduate students should be aiming for 70% or higher. This can be a shock for US students, but its goal is to orient the students to what it takes to be a professional in their chosen field.

Want to learn more about study abroad? Contact your Study Abroad Coordinator.

Basic Information

Where: Ridley Hall is a permanent theological hall at Cambridge University in England, about an hour north of London.

What: NCU students will take 15 credits of selected Bible, Theology and Critical Thought classes through Cambridge University, one of the highest ranked universities in the world.

Who can participate: 2 students are selected each year. This competitive program is open by application to Biblical and Theological Studies majors, as well as to other students who want to study Bible and Theology at Cambridge and can use the classes offered to fulfill major, general education, scripture core or elective credits. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

When: Fall Semester each year.

Applications: Applications are available by January 1st and are due by February 1st each year.  After each application is assessed, the student may be invited to come in for an interview.  Selection is made by the BTS faculty around February 10th and input and clearance is also gathered from Student Life, Student Financial Services, and the Registrar.

Meetings: Interested students are strongly encouraged to set up a meeting with Angela Brodine, Study Abroad Coordinator at NCU, to discuss the program prior to submitting an application.  In late January each year, students who studied at Ridley Hall the previous fall give their trip report.  It is important for interested applicants to attend this meeting.

Student Teaching Abroad for Senior Education majors

Students in the School of Education have the option of applying to complete their student teaching requirement in an international setting. North Central University has several partnership agreements with targeted international schools.

Current student teaching partnerships abroad

The School of Education has current partnership agreements with the following international schools:

  • Doulos Discovery School in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic
  • American Creativity Academy in Kuwait City, Kuwait
  • Grace Christian Academy, Saipan, Mariana Islands
  • Xi’an International School, Xi’an, China

Study abroad locations and details

Past overseas student teaching experiences have included the following schools:

What is student teaching abroad?

Completing your student teaching requirement abroad gives you not only teaching experience, but also a cross-cultural learning opportunity. The experience typically allows students to complete all 16 weeks of their student teaching requirement.

Timing for student teaching experiences abroad vary and require approval from the School of Education.

Who can participate in Study Abroad student teaching?

Elementary and Secondary Education majors selected by the School of Education

Other requirements

Students participating in international student teaching are responsible for the costs incurred for travel, room and board, and on-site transportation while student teaching. Students make application for international student teaching through the School of Education. To be considered as a candidate, the student must be in good academic standing and have successfully completed all previous k-12 classroom field experiences.

Schools approved by the School of Education for an international student teaching experience must meet the following criteria:
  • The language of instruction must be English
  • Certified teachers must be available to serve as cooperating teachers for our student teachers
  • Curricular design must be based on an “American system”
  • The school must be able to facilitate room and board for our student teachers
For more information, contact your Study Abroad Coordinator.

Partnering Programs

As a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, North Central also gives students the opportunity to participate and earn credit through these CCCU GlobalEd semester-long programs:

  • American Studies Program — Washington, D.C.
  • Middle East Studies Program – Amman, Jordan
  • Contemporary Music Center — Nashville, TN
  • Scholarship & Christianity in Oxford – Oxford, UK

Basic Requirements

In order to study abroad, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Students must display personal responsibility, maturity and a commitment to being a good representative of NCU wherever they travel and study. This will be assessed through the application, references, and interview as well as input and approval from Student Life, Student Financial Services and the Registrar.
  • Students must be a Junior or Senior at the time of study for all semester-long programs, including at least one semester of regular (non-PSEO) full-time, undergraduate study at NCU.  Any student may apply for the Holy Lands Study Tour.
  • Students must be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA; a higher GPA is required for some programs.
  • Students must have a class completion ratio of 67% or higher – for financial aid purposes.
  • Students must be able to apply the classes taken abroad to their degree program, either as requirements or electives.
  • Students will be responsible for all travel or program costs above and beyond the cost of normal attendance at NCU.

Note about Financial Aid

Study Abroad may affect a student’s eligibility for certain types of financial aid awards. A student studying abroad will be responsible to make the necessary financial arrangements  in order to participate. To inquire about how a specific program may affect your financial aid, make an appointment to meet with someone in the Financial Aid Office.

Questions?

Contact your Study Abroad Coordinator to learn more.