Baltimore Urban Studies

The Baltimore Urban Studies (BUS) is a “study away,” experiential learning program, designed to teach, mentor, and train college students in spiritual formation and public health while providing urban global health internships.

Our nation continues to battle the challenges and effects of this global pandemic that illustrates a disproportionately devastating effect on the health and livelihood of African-American, Latinx, Native, and urban communities. BUS believes there is an increasing need for Christian practitioners in all areas of healthcare practice and social justice work to have a deeply formed inner life as they seek, with wisdom and compassion, to positively impact individuals and communities. BUS is grateful to partner with churches, clinics, agencies, and community leaders of Baltimore and Washington D.C. to provide transformative learning experiences for college students from across the United States.

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Requirements

Students will complete all of the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) requirements that are a part of this program.
Juniors and Seniors, will consider some Sophomores
3.0 GPA or higher
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.

Know Before You Go - Challenges

Hi! If you have found this on our website, we are so excited that you are considering BUS for a semester of study. Due to the newness of this program, we are still working on updating our website with the most accurate information. If you have further questions about the program, specifically related to some challenges you should know before you go- feel free to reach out to our office at agapecenter@messiah.edu and we would love to have that conversation with you. Thanks!

Credits

Courses may meet general education or major requirements.

Courses will come back on your transcript with a letter grade

Participation in this program does not meet cross-cultural requirements.

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.

Costs: 2023-2024

What do you pay?

TOTAL COSTS = Messiah tuition + Messiah room + Partial Messiah Board + Student services fee

These Costs Include:

tuition, housing, one meal per day
educational excursions
pre-departure, and re-entry orientation
One meal per day provided to students by BUS
student services fee
- Student Services fee includes access to various services available to all students through, including internet access to, the Learning & Writing Centers, Career Services, Academic Accessibility Office, Library, Department of Safety, Agapé Center for Local and Global Engagement, and other campus offices that provide services to students both on and off campus.

Notes:

Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from Baltimore. It is recommended students do not bring their cars to the program due to lack of space in the city.

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 03 March 2023

Baltimore Urban Studies