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Junior Year in Munich

Junior Year in Munich

This spring only program, hosted by Wayne State University, allows students to strengthen their language skills while studying at  Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, one of the oldest universities in Germany. Students live with German and international students in university student apartments. Internship and Service-Learning opportunities are available to interested students.

Additional information available at Junior Year in Munich.

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All Messiah approved semester-long, off-campus programs are approved and designed to meet the requirements for the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI). To learn more about the process, please explore the ELI Off-Campus Study Information Page.

It is important for Messiah University students to grow in their faith while studying abroad. Since Junior Year in Munich does not  have a faith component, students will do the following as part of the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) requirements in partnership with their ELI Advisor:

  • Prior to their experience, students will submit a 1-2-page plan outlining the prominent faith traditions of the country they will be studying in and outlining their plan for integrating and exploring their faith during their semester abroad.
  • While abroad, students will electronically submit (in Terra Dotta) at least six journal entries (minimum two paragraphs each) on their personal faith journey in their cross-cultural context, which could include a comparative reflection on cultural practices of Christianity in the new culture (or absence of religious practices) versus their home culture. (ex. syncretism through cultural lenses; cultural views of Christ in wealth versus poverty; insights of faith drawn from another cultural point of view, etc.)
  • Students who do not complete the above components will be placed on chapel probation the semester after they return.

Note: This is effective starting fall 2017.

 

  • Students will complete all of the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) requirements that are a part of this program.
  • Junior and senior status; will accept sophomore in extenuating circumstances
  • 3.0 GPA
  • Four semesters of university-level German
  • Since studying off-campus for a semester is a privilege, please note the following implications of being place on probation at Messiah University:

    Chapel Probation: A student currently on chapel probation for the first time (or with an impending chapel probation for the upcoming semester) will be required to communicate or meet with the Director of the Intercultural Office to determine the potential impact on the student’s upcoming semester off-campus.  If a student has been placed on chapel probation more than once during their time at Messiah, they will not be eligible to study off-campus for a semester.

    Academic Probation or Low GPA: A student on academic probation or whose GPA drops below 2.75 will be not be eligible to study off-campus.

    Disciplinary Probation: A student who has been placed on disciplinary probation at any time during the off-campus study application / acceptance process will be required to meet with the Director of the Intercultural Office to determine the potential impact on the student’s upcoming semester off-campus.

Off-Campus study is a time of challenge and change. The following are some things you should understand about this program before you participate:

  • Mental health issues are treated differently in Germany and medications prescribed in the US may not be available
  • Germany is not governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Wheelchair access is not a legal requirement.  At the present time, the JYM offices are not wheelchair accessible. 
  • Companion (therapy) animals are not allowed in the dormitories.
  • Munich is situated at the foot of the Bavarian Alps.  Hiking and walking through the hills and mountains are a way of life in Germany.  This could pose challenging for students with physical disabilities, however, there are no mandatory physical activities or excursions required by the program.  
  • It rains a lot in Munich and the weather can be dark and depressing during the winter months.  Students should be aware of this and know that it can affect their attitudes and moods. 
  • There have been recent terrorist attacks in Western Europe.

Courses may meet general education or major requirements.

Courses will come back on your transcript with a letter grade

Pass/Fail Option

During their university careers, students may take a maximum of four courses on a pass/fail (P/F) basis with these conditions: 

  • Such a course must be from a discipline other than those required for the student's major or minor.
  • Courses fulfilling requirements for a major, minor, or general education may not be used.
  • Students may declare their intention to take a course under the Pass/Fail option when they register or through the first calendar week of classes at the beginning of the new term. Students may also select to return to the letter grade system during this same time period. The selection cannot be changed after the first calendar week of classes.
  • The cut-off point to obtain a P is C–.
  • The instructor will submit only conventional letter grades to the Registrar's Office. This office will then convert the grade to P or F. (An instructor does not know which students are taking a course on a pass/fail basis.

The first FIVE DAYS of your classes are critical:

Recognizing that courses change while abroad, a student is required to communicate to the Registrar’s Office within the first FIVE DAYS of classes if their Off-Campus Course Approval Form in Terra Dotta has changed since the original submission/approval. Specifically, if a student desires to change a course to a pass/fail instead of a letter grade, this must be approved by Messiah University Registrar’s Office within the first FIVE DAYS of classes at the host partner program.

Auditing

Students are required to take no fewer than 12 credits towards their overall degree requirements and no more than 18 credits. These 12-18 credits include courses taken as pass/fail and letter grades. However, in addition to those 12-18 degree credits, students who would like to audit an academic course for no credit are permitted to do so for up to one 4 credit hour course for the sake of learning, cultural immersion or personal interest at no additional charge. This audited course will not appear on the Messiah University student’s transcript.

What do you pay?

TOTAL COSTS = Messiah tuition + Messiah room + student services fee

Explore possible scholarships for this program.

These Costs Include:

  • tuition, housing
  • educational excursions
  • pre-departure, and re-entry orientation
  • international travel insurance
  • student services fee
    • Student Services fee includes access to various services available to all students, including internet access, the Learning & Writing Centers, Career Services, Disability Services, Library, Department of Safety, Interculutral Office Off-Campus Programs, and other campus offices that provide services to students both on and off campus.

Note: additional fees students may encounter include (but are not limited to) transportation, visas, passports, immunizations, and course fees.  The deposit is typically requested within two weeks of acceptance.  Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the program.

Note: If students withdraw from the program between January 15 and departure, they will forfeit $650. No refund will be available after the start of the program, including tuition, housing and insurance

 

Credit Limit Policy for Semester-Long, Off-Campus Program

Typically when students study off-campus in Messiah-approved, semester-long programs, students earn between 13 and 18 credits. All students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits.

The tuition/fees charged for Messiah’s approved study abroad programs permits a student to complete 12-18 credits.  Messiah University will process up to 18 credits.  If a student completes more than 18 credits and would like the additional credits applied to their transcript, additional tuition will be charged for credits over 18 and would be assessed after the official transcript is received/processed by Messiah.

Updated 08 April 2019

 *Note: Off-campus study fee increases annually at the same rate as the yearly tuition increase. 

 

Messiah Pre-Approval Deadlines

Spring - April 1
Fall  - December 1

 

Junior Year in Munich Deadline

Spring:  October 1

-Brittany Brendsel

Every time you experience another culture firsthand, you get a glimpse of what it is like to see the world through the eyes of another. Once again, my worldview was shaped and stretched.

Fast Facts

Did you know that Munich, Germany is the home of BMW?

“Munich is home to the German car company BMW and has a large museum dedicated to the manufacturer”

Read more!