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San Diego State University

SDSU Division of Student Affairs

International Focus

Be International

Visit SDSU's "Be International" website, a campus clearinghouse for all international opportunties! 

Image: logo Be International: Your first stop for SDSU international opportunities

SDSU's International Student Center

Photo: SDSU student abroad in France
SDSU is recognized for its international focus and is the most diverse university in the region.  Be International: Your First Stop for SDSU International Opportunities

SDSU's International Student Center (ISC) works with international students who are required to  pursue internships in their chosen major in accordance with U.S. federal regulation.

In recent years, student demand for internships has increased. The ISC added a trainee program to its regulatory services to help meet this demand through internships within an academic department.

The ISC also provides students in the international business major the opportunity to work at the ISC planning events in an intercultural context.

The ISC provides a variety of services, programs and events, including:

  • International student advisors
  • A tutor/mentor program
  • An intercultural ambassadors program
  • International Education Week
  • Annual International Peace Village
  • Global Pathways international living/learning community

 

Global Reach

Photo: Tanzanian children on YouTube video
View the continuing documentary of the San Diego State Study Abroad to Tanzania trip, picking up the action as the group enters the school grounds of the Kongwa school. See the YouTube video.

  • International student enrollment has almost doubled during the past decade, from about 1,000 students to almost 1,900 in 2010. SDSU’s International Student Center supports students coming from more than 100 countries and speaking more than 60 languages.
  • The number of SDSU students studying abroad continues to grow. Over the past decade, more than 10,000 SDSU students have studied abroad. SDSU ranks among the top universities of its type nationwide and in California for students studying abroad as part of their college experience.
    • For 3 years in a row, SDSU has been nationally ranked No. 2 in its classification for its study abroad program.
  • In 2010, the 53rd annual International Peace Village was held by the International Student Center in collaboration with the Associated Students. This international diversity festival allows international students to share their culture with more than 1,100 participants through cultural displays, music, song, dance, costumes and performance.

Photo: SDSU international student event
The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships provided over $2.2 million in financial assistance for study abroad during the 2010/2011 academic year. Of that, $510,000 was in the form of study-abroach scholarships.

  • Global Pathways provides on-campus living options for international students and local students interested in global affairs, creating a cross-cultural community.
  • Jobs here and abroad: Visit the Career Services site to find help for international students looking to work in the U.S., and for American students wanting to highlight international experiences to potential employers.
  • Student Health Services provides a Travel Medicine Clinic to current SDSU students who are prospective education abroad students.
  • SDSU's Cultural Competency Certificate Program is the first of its kind in the CSU system. It offers cultural diversity workshops, seminars, and service learning opportunities to all members of the SDSU community. Upon completion, students are awarded a Certificate in Cultural Competency along with a stole that may be worn with their regalia at graduation ceremonies.

The Division of Student Affairs

Student Affairs programs and services help provide international experiences for our students, acclimate and educate students from other nations, and educate students on cultural differences and competencies. Learn more about how Student Affairs supports diversity and cultural awareness.

Did You Know?

Both Counseling & Psychological Services and Student Health Services have partnered with SDSU's American Language Institute (ALI) so that international students in the ALI program may receive counseling and health care services. ALI students serve as a powerful pipeline to the university for future international students.