Bowling Green State University has student exchange programs with a number of institutions around the world, including programs in Alcalá de Henares, Spain; Florence, Italy; Norwich, England; Salzburg, Austria; St. Petersburg, Russia; Tours, France; and Xi'an China. Many of these opportunities are available to any major. The University's long-standing exchange program with the University of Salzburg is coordinated through the Department of German, Russian, and East Asian Languages and is described here.

The Department of Computer Science has established an exchange program for computer science undergraduate majors with Fachhochschule Salzburg in Austria (FH Salzburg, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences). This program allows CS majors to spend an academic year in Salzburg, Austria, taking classes and/or working in Austrian companies in computer-related positions. FH Salzburg students are invited to spend a semester or a year in Bowling Green.

General information for BGSU students

In most cases it will be most convenient for BGSU students to spend the junior year in Salzburg, although other arrangements are possible. The following are recommended for BGSU students participating in the exchange program:

• Completion of the CS major requirements through at least CS 202 and CS 217
• Completion of the general study-abroad orientation offered by the Center for International Programs and fulfillment of the Center's study-abroad requirements (e.g., purchase of International Student Identification card)
• Completion of German 201-202 or German 201-217-218 or an equivalent working knowledge of German
• Completion of German 300, Introduction to Study Abroad (1 cr.), in the spring semester before departure [generally offered the last four weeks of Spring semester]

The director of BGSU's Academic Year Abroad (AYA) program at the University of Salzburg will be available to assist students who have completed these preparations and who have signed the program's waiver of liability for actions taken by the student. Such students are requested to keep the director informed of their address and telephone number, e-mail address, and any travel plans. This assistance does not include academic advising, orientation, German language training, housing, visas, or registration for students not also enrolled in the AYA Program. (See below for information about joint participation in the AYA Salzburg program.)

BGSU students wanting to take classes at FH Salzburg

Contact Dr. Lancaster of the Department of Computer Science to determine the classes to take in Salzburg. In addition to taking technical courses at FH Salzburg, general education requirements can be completed while in Salzburg by taking classes at the University of Salzburg under the joint registration program described below. Students participating in this program have the opportunity to live in the same residence hall as students participating in the BGSU exchange program with the University of Salzburg under the general guidelines given below.

BGSU students wanting to complete a co-op in Austria

Students interested in computer-related employment in the Austria should contact the CS department chair no later than January of the year in which you intend to go to Austria. The chair will work with FH Salzburg faculty to find suitable employment for you in the Salzburg area. BGSU academic credit (CS 390) is given for work completed under this program.

Joint participation in BGSU's AYA Salzburg Program

When going to Austria to take classes at FH Salzburg, BGSU students can optionally choose joint participation in the University's AYA Salzburg program if they:

• pay BGSU tuition and program fees
• enroll in the University of Salzburg in addition to FH Salzburg
• enroll in the appropriate course in German as a second language
• attend all orientation and information sessions

Students participating in the AYA will be eligible for the usual services of the program, including

• program housing in Salzburg dormitories
• assistance with residence permit or visa application
• registration at the University of Salzburg
• waiver of tuition fees at the University of Salzburg
• payment of required membership in the Austrian Student Union (Österreichische Hochschülerschaft)
• weekly food allowance
• culture program (concert subscription, class field trips)
• group travel
• direct recording with the registrar of grades earned in Salzburg

Participants are encouraged to enroll in additional program courses, e.g. "Contemporary Austria," "Conversation," "Vocabulary Building," "Business German" (for advanced students), and other courses.