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Asia Summer Abroad Program (ASAP)

An exciting, multi-country, hands-on study abroad program in Business open to Marist as well as non-Marist participants!

Application deadline for this program is March 15!

The Asia Summer Abroad Program (ASAP) is a full time semester abroad opportunity, primarily designed for business majors or business minors, who are seeking a rich and diverse foreign study environment under the guidance of American university professors. Students will travel to numerous countries across the Asian continent and explore a variety of case studies, industrial visits, cultural excursions, and other activities while pursuing a full load of coursework in business administration, economics, communications, and/or religious studies. The program is currently in its 12th year and has proven successful for many students. ASAP is offered by Marist International Programs in collaboration with Marist College's School of Management (AACSB accredited).

This program is an exciting opportunity for students to expand their resumes and make themselves attractive to future employers who are interested in students with distinguished international experiences. Highlights of the trip include cultural excursions and corporate visits to such companies as General Electric (Tokyo), Ford/PAG (Shanghai), Deloitte & Touche (Shanghai), HSBC Bank (Hong Kong), Aragon (privately held textile company owned by a U.S. citizen, Bangkok), and Royal Pacific (privately held textile company, Bangkok), among many others.

In this academically rigorous program, participants must be able to handle multiple priorities and manage their time efficiently. Students must have a desire to learn about international business, business practices, various cultures, and different ways of looking at the world. International travel and foreign language experience are not prerequisites, but intellectual curiosity, personal maturity, and flexibility are.

Click here to see ASAP's unofficial Facebook fan page - complete with hundreds of photos and videos!

Tentative Itinerary for 2012 (subject to change)

Cambodia
China
Hong Kong
Japan
Laos
Myanmar
Thailand
Tibet
Vietnam

Program Dates and Costs

Dates: the 2012 program runs from Mid/Late-May to Mid-August 2012.

Costs: Marist students are charged for this program as they would be for any other MIP semester-length study abroad program. Marist students who wish to use their Marist financial aid for the program (grants, scholarships, loans, etc.) can, in consultation with Student Financial Services, move a fall or spring semester of financial aid to the summer term. Students opting to use a fall or spring semester of financial aid to participate in the summer ASAP program do not receive extra assistance in terms of grants or scholarships, but rather simply move a semester's worth of aid to summer. For more information please contact Student Financial Services in Donnelly 200, or campus extension x5483.

Non-Marist applicants should contact Dr. John Peters, Dean of International Programs, for updated pricing on this program. Non-Marist students may be eligible for financial aid consortium (federal aid) between their home institution and Marist.

Available Courses

Students must select at least 12 cr. (4 courses). Maximum load is 15 cr. (5 courses).

BUS 392N: Business Ethics 3 cr.
BUS 388N: Operations Management 3 cr.
BUS 302N: Organizational Behavior: 3 cr.
BUS 340N: Marketing Principles 3 cr.
BUS 442N: International Marketing 3 cr.
ECON 340L: Economic Development 3 cr.
COM 470L: Organizational Writing 3 cr.
REST 209L: World Religions 3 cr.

Course offerings depend in part on the curricular needs of the group of students participating in a given year. If most have completed one of the courses offered but almost all need to take another course, then every attempt will be made to offer the course that fits curricular needs.

Admissions Criteria

Students must be in good academic standing at their home institution, including a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
Sophomore level standing or higher is required. First-year students may apply with participation contingent on successful completion of their first year of college.
Approval of a the student's home school Academic Advisor is required, and students assume responsibility for credit transfer to their home institution. Marist College will issue a transcript of all coursework completed on the ASAP program.
Maturity, self-sufficiency, and flexibility are required.
Deadline for application is March 15, with the application fee ($50) waived for students who apply by March 1.
A face-to-face, Skype, or telephone phone interview with program staff is required for admission to the program.

Student Reviews of ASAP

Student feedback on the ASAP program has been phenomonal, with many students calling the program "life changing." Sample student reviews can be found on abroad101.com and goabroad.com.