What is Veritas?
The mission of Veritas Christian Study Abroad is to provide college-level study abroad programs at international host universities, while helping students develop as ministry-minded Christian leaders as they learn to live and serve in another culture. Veritas Christian study abroad programs incorporate distinctive elements—Christian spiritual support and community, ministry opportunities, and academics—to deepen their faith during a traditional study abroad program.
Ministry Opportunities & Academics
Students work with the local church and established ministries while studying abroad, serving others in the host community. Students will get a broader understanding of the joys and challenges of cross-cultural ministry. Engaging with the local community also provides unique immersion and perspective of their host culture.
To further enrich the study abroad experience, semester and summer Veritas Christian Study Abroad students also explore faith and life abroad through an additional course taught from a Biblical worldview. In addition to being a full-time student at a host institution abroad, semester students take a 3-credit Comparative Religions or International Missions/Service-Learning Practicum course and summer students a 1-credit International Missions Service-Learning Practicum course.
-
Veritas Courses
Veritas-specific courses are taught by a Christian professor who understands the mission of Veritas Christian Study Abroad. The professor encourages students spiritually and academically and helps students gain a missional perspective through their studies. The Veritas-specific academics allow students to process their experiences through research, reflection, and critical thinking as students experience first-hand the challenges and opportunities of living out their faith in a cross-cultural context.
Semester programs include the 3-credit Comparative Religions course or the 3-credit Global Ministry Practicum.
Summer programs include the 1-credit Global Ministry Practicum.
Comparative Religions (HUM 353)
This course is an introduction to the major religious traditions of the world—particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—and indigenous, new, and secular religions. The historical development, key figures, as well as major doctrines and practices are explored.Global Ministry Practicum (HUM 490)
This course provides upper division credit for international ministry opportunities and an extended ministry experience designed to acquaint students with the implementation of missions principles in an international context through Veritas Christian Study Abroad programs. -
Denominational Affiliation
Veritas Christian Study Abroad is an inter-denominational study abroad program committed to helping students become culturally-aware people of faith who recognize their opportunities to live as global followers of Christ. We affirm the Apostle's Creed as a historically understood statement of basic Christian beliefs. The leadership of Veritas Christian Study Abroad and the Veritas Mentors in each of our locations identify as Protestant Evangelical Christians. We recognize that within this identification, there are a variety of denominations and doctrinal distinctions that we hope will lead to students having healthy inquiry and faith discussions as they explore the world on an ISA Veritas program. Veritas Christian Study Abroad is not a church. We strive to help students identify a church home while abroad that honors and fosters their identity as a follower of Christ.
-
Accreditation
Academic Sponsor: California Baptist University
Veritas Christian Study Abroad welcomes California Baptist University as our official academic sponsor. Veritas Christian Study Abroad is a unique opportunity for students who are mission-minded to engage in cross-cultural ministry while fulfilling degree requirements. Our desire is to offer academic programs of the highest quality while supporting a student's spiritual needs. Students who study abroad with Veritas will receive course credit from fully-accredited universities abroad and from our academic sponsor, California Baptist University (CBU). CBU provides transcripts for the Veritas course (Comparative Religions) and practicum (Global Ministry Practicum). See the Veritas Statement of Faith.
About California Baptist University
Founded in 1950, CBU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Today, CBU boasts an enrollment of over 4,100 campus students in 90 undergraduate majors and 25 graduate programs. Named "2011 Best Regional University" by U.S. News and World Report, CBU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, as well as the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, the National Association of Schools of Music, the State of California Board of Registered Nursing, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the Board of Registered Nurses.
Standards of Best Practices
Additionally, Veritas Christian Study Abroad is committed to all programs adhering to the recognized standards of best practices in the field of study abroad. Therefore, all programs will be regularly assessed on the basis of the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad, developed by the Forum on Education Abroad. These standards include baseline expectations regarding academic integrity, learning environments, health and safety, student conduct and advising, and student learning and development.
Summary Information Regarding Academic Transcripts
- Veritas students take courses at accredited universities in each host city
- Only the Veritas-specific courses are transcripted by CBU
- Veritas-specific course professors are approved by CBU
- Veritas students receive two transcripts on each program (one from the fully-accredited host institution and one from CBU)
- Transcripts are accompanied by a cover letter explaining credit equivalency.
Discover available programs
Our Values
Veritas Christian Study Abroad is an inter-denominational study abroad program committed to helping students become culturally-aware people of faith who recognize their opportunities to live as global followers of Christ. We affirm the Apostle's Creed as a historically understood statement of basic Christian beliefs. The leadership of Veritas Christian Study Abroad and the Veritas Mentors in each of our locations identify as Protestant Evangelical Christians. We recognize that within this identification, there are a variety of denominations and doctrinal distinctions that we hope will lead to students having healthy inquiry and faith discussions as they explore the world on an Veritas program. Veritas Christian Study Abroad is not a church. We strive to help students identify a church home while abroad that honors and fosters their identity as a follower of Christ.
Our Students
Students on Veritas Christian Study Abroad programs come from diverse Christian backgrounds and a variety of college experiences: some from private or Christian universities and others from secular or state universities.
Program Inclusions
On a Veritas program, students receive on-site spiritual support from a Veritas Mentor who helps make their time abroad a spiritually engaging and growing experience. Their Veritas Mentor also engages students in Christian community through connecting them with a local church and other ministry opportunities.
Tuition at the Host University
Tuition and administrative fees at the host university are included in the program price. Classes are held at the host university and are taught by local and/or visiting faculty. Some classes will have additional fees that are not included in the program price.
Reception
Airport
Reception
Ground transportation is provided from the airport for students who arrive during the ISA designated arrival date and time and at the appropriate airport.
Airport reception is not provided for Intensive Month or J-Term programs.
Housing & Meals
The amount of meals and frequency of laundry services vary per location. Meals and laundry services are provided with most homestays. For more details, please refer to the housing information for that particular program.
24-Hour Emergency
Health, Safety and Security (HSS) for ISA students is jointly managed by our resident staff and HSS team. This team works to monitor risk at program locations, respond to any crises that may arise and develop policies to further ensure the health, safety and security of students abroad with ISA. HSS also facilitates an in-house on-call system with a U.S.-based employee and manager who are on-call and available in case of emergency 24-7.
ISA regular office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00am - 7:00pm and Friday, 7:00am - 5:00pm Central Time. For students or parents who need assistance in an emergency situation outside of the regular office hours, please call the ISA office at 512-480-8522 to access the ISA emergency contact information for that particular week. Students who experience an emergency while abroad will also have access to on-site staff 24-hour emergency assistance.
Transcript
Official
Transcript
Upon completion of an ISA program, the student's host university will issue an official transcript with all coursework taken abroad. ISA's Academic Records Department will process and forward the official transcript to the appropriate office at the student's home university, and a photocopy will be sent to the student's permanent home address for their records. Additionally, ISA will provide a cover letter to accompany the transcript with important academic information, including: the host university's grading system and recommended U.S. letter grade equivalencies, translated course titles, and credit conversion recommendations.
Cultural
Activities
Excursions &
Cultural
Activities
Organized excursions are included with each program to complement the academic component of the student's study abroad experience. These complementary experiences are designed to engage student learning outside of the classroom in the five areas of the Discovery Model. Transportation and guided tours are included as well as hotel accommodations and breakfast during multi-day excursions. Additional optional excursions may be offered during each program that are not included in the program cost, but provide students other opportunities for discovery.
*Excursions are not included for Intensive Month or J-Term programs.
Medical
Insurance
International
Medical
Insurance
A Blanket Accident and Sickness Policy is included in the price and covers the program participant while abroad for the official on-site period of program. This is not an optional benefit; every ISA participant will be covered by this policy. A full description of coverage can be found on the ISA website.
We recommend that all program participants maintain comprehensive health insurance while abroad. This is particularly important if you have any pre-existing conditions, but is also beneficial if you have an injury or illness while abroad and require further treatment upon your return home. Consult with your current insurance provider to confirm coverage policies while traveling abroad.
On-Site Staff
The full-time resident staff assists students with all aspects of their experience abroad. The resident staff provides support during official course registration and arranges the Bridging Cultures Program orientation, excursions, weekly meetings, cultural activities, and much more. Staff members are trained to ensure the well-being of each program participant and are dedicated to facilitating a positive and meaningful study abroad experience.
Visa Support
*For Spain programs over 90 days, ISA's Site Specialists can assist in the delivery of all necessary paperwork required to obtain the student visa. The Visa Service fee varies per consulate. Please visit the Student Visa and Embassy page specific to your program location.
Comprehensive Advising and Support
A team of helpful ISA staff members guides students through the entire study abroad process from application through reentry. The Program Advisors help students with choosing a program to best fit their academic and cultural objectives. Once a program is selected, students then work with the talented team of Program Managers for the application and financial logistics while the seasoned Site Specialists guide students through academic, cultural and functional aspects of their programs.
The personal and individual nature of advising is supplemented by plentiful web-based materials. The ISA online orientation is a fresh, user-friendly layout that assists in program preparation specifically tailored to each program location. Students can further develop personal and academic goals by viewing the ISA student blog, :60 on Study Abroad Video series or the Culture Corner on each city specific page of the website.
Additionally, the ISA Student Portal, an online interface allowing students the ability to upload supplemental program documents and receive valuable information regarding their study abroad program, was developed to assist students with program expectations and includes important pre-departure information on various topics related to their experience abroad.
On-Site Offices
Students will have access to many of the resources and facilities at the host university. ISA resident staff members will hold office hours either at the host university or at another pre-determined location in the city each week.
Orientation: Pre-Departure, On-Site & Academic
The Bridging Cultures Orientation encompasses the ISA on-site orientation delivered to all students in the first days of their ISA program, with key improvements in areas related to goal setting, intercultural awareness, diversity and professional development. For a number of reasons, the first days that follow a student's arrival on site offer us some of the best opportunities to effectively transmit information to program participants. While the pre-departure orientations that students receive from ISA and their home universities are also important, students are typically more ready to focus on their study abroad experience when they arrive at their host country. The Bridging Cultures Orientation is designed to help ISA make the most of this important opportunity to educate students, and to give students the tools that will facilitate discovery and learning during their program. The Bridging Cultures Orientation is an important introduction to a new culture, a new home and a new experience. The Bridging Cultures Orientation is designed to prepare students for a successful, positive and rewarding experience that will influence the rest of their lives.
Computer and Internet Access