Overseas Student Teaching

The School of Education at Biola University now offers you the opportunity to do half of your student teaching overseas and/or to be placed overseas as a teacher following graduation. Interaction International and Wycliffe Bible Translators offer about 50 schools worldwide that meet the credentialing requirements for Biola and the state of California.

After you earn your credential, we can help you find schools overseas that need qualified teachers for a short-term assignment of two years or for the long term.

If you are interested in exploring either of these opportunities, please make an appointment with Tim Stranske in the Education Department office or call him at (562) 944-0351, ext. 3003 to receive further information.

Basic Requirements

  1. Previous cross-cultural ministry experience, preferably in another country (vacation abroad would not qualify). Missions trips through Biola's Student Missionary Union or School of Intercultural Studies, a church missions trip or other missions experience would qualify.

  2. Acceptance to do your student teaching through Biola. You may need to apply to participate before you meet all the requirements, but if you are not accepted for Biola student teaching, your participation abroad will not be counted toward your California teaching credential.

  3. For student teaching, applications must be completed a year in advance of placement. Applications are typically due one year in advance of student teaching. Contact professor Tim Stranske for more information. If you are applying through Interaction International, you must submit your application through Biola's School of Education. You may download an application from www.interactionintl.org, but please download the MS Word version, complete it and bring a hard copy to Tim Stranske to submit your application.

  4. If going with Interaction International, they charge a $375 placement fee (an additional $50 fee is required if you pass their March 1 or Nov. 1 deadlines) and provide required training in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Training usually occurs twice each year – once in fall and once in spring. See professor Tim Stranske for specific dates. You would need to pay for airfare to the training site (approximate cost is $500). All or a portion of the placement/training fee is non-refundable.

  5. Two letters of reference must be submitted with your application to Interaction International. Copies should be given to Tim Stranske in the School of Education office and should be e-mailed to Al Gurley at allenggurley@yahoo.com.

  6. Other costs:

    • Airline ticket to the country of service
    • Visa
    • Medical shots
    • Room and board (this varies from school to school)
    • Personal expenses
    • Insurance – you will be asked to sign an "Assumption of Risk" form indicating your understanding that you are responsible for any costs related to any emergencies and will purchase your own insurance as you feel it is needed.