International Students

Attending university is about many things, but your ultimate goal is to get an education and for that education to help you fulfill your plans and dreams.  Whether those plans are to start a career, attend graduate school, or enroll in professional school such as medical or law school, Widener can help you get there.  You can investigate each of our undergraduate programs, by visiting our Undergraduate Majors A-Z page and clicking on the links for each individual program.

When considering Widener as your future university, there are several academic highlights that you should keep in mind specifically as an international student:

• The Classroom – the average class size at Widener is less than 25 students, and there are no classes that have more than 40 students.  Furthermore, Widener does not use teaching assistants or graduate assistants as instructors - you only have experts teaching you as part of our 12-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.  Small class sizes and a low student-to-faculty ratio means there is no hiding in the back of a big lecture hall.  You have the opportunity to truly get involved with your education here at Widener.

• Experience – Widener focuses on direct experience to teach you.  You “learn by doing” through programs like co-op, internship, field placements, and research.  F-1 visa students use these programs to get experience through government approved Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) so there is no limit on what you can learn through experience.
• Cooperative Education (Co-op) – When you co-op, you work a full 40-hour work week.  You still live on campus, but you do not take classes.  Your sole focus is on gaining experience by working for an actual company in your field.  One of the best things about co-op – you get paid while gaining experience.  At Widener, you can get 12 months of co-op experience and still graduate in four years.  Visit the co-op page for details, videos, and more information on the program.



• Internship – Experience though internship is earned as a course in your semester’s schedule.  For instance, if you would normally have five courses in a semester, you would take four classroom courses and an internship.  An internship involves gaining experience in your field, but it is usually for 15-20 hours per week, and is generally unpaid.  Internships are fantastic opportunities that can be coordinated through your academic advisor and our CAPS office (discussed more below).



• Field Experience – Several degree programs, most notably Education and Nursing, have mandatory field experience in order to graduate.  These experiences are already scheduled into your time at Widener and are organized through specific Field Placement Coordinators in your area of study.  Degree programs that involve field experience do so because of employment requirements following graduation.  The best part is that field experience allows you to practice your profession while you are still in university.



• Research Opportunities – Although Widener is not considered a “research institution,” our faculty and graduate students are always involved with research.  As a student here, you will have the opportunity to work with research projects no our campus.  Many students have even had the chance to present on research at regional and national conferences.  You can read more about research opportunities specifically on the Sciences website.




• Employment – As a student attending university on a visa, you will likely have to transition to an ‘H’ work visa upon graduation.  The good news is that finding employment for our graduates is a strength of Widener.  Our Career Advising & Planning Services (CAPS) office is here to help you with your job search from finding an employer to writing a résumé to practicing your interview skills.

• Graduate School Enrollment – Widener prepares you for continued education in graduate and professional school.  Nearly 25% of the Class of 2006, the most recent statistics available, is attending graduate school either part-time or full-time.  Medical school, law school, and a variety of other programs are included in these attendance statistics.
  

Erick Hyde
Coordinator of International Admissions
One University Place
Chester, PA 19013
tel: 1-888-WIDENER
fax: 610-499-4676
eshyde@widener.edu