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Frequently Asked Questions

In this Section:

What type of student would want to participate in the L.A. Term?
The L.A. Term benefits any student who has an interest in understanding urban life and ministry. While the program is a required component of the global studies major at APU, it also attracts students from other schools and fields of study. The community internship, in particular, enables students to gain practical experience with issues related to their major. For example, a nursing major could complete an internship at a community health clinic. A business major could do fundraising for a local nonprofit organization. An art major could organize shows for a community arts organization. Internship opportunities abound in almost any field. Individual student interests also drive the focuses of study during each of the other courses in the program. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning during the L.A. Term and while directed by professors, are given great latitude in personalizing their educational experience.

Can students from other colleges and universities participate in the L.A. Term?
Yes! Please consult the Non-APU Students section for more information.

Can recent graduates or graduate students participate in the L.A. Term?
The L.A. Term is an undergraduate program sponsored by Azusa Pacific University. Students working toward a graduate degree or recent graduates with a bachelor's degree may participate in the term. However, they may only earn undergraduate credit.

What does a typical week look like?
Most weeks follow a schedule that looks something like this:

Sunday Worship and leisure with host family
Monday Class/Site visits/Study
Tuesday Internships/Project work
Wednesay Class/Site visits/Study
Thursday Internships/Project work
Friday Internship seminar/Project work
Saturday Free Time

Where do students live?
Students stay with host families who live in various ethnic communities throughout Los Angeles. One student is placed with each family. Most families are located within walking distance of or a short bus ride from the program center. In some cases, host families live farther away from the center, but students are consulted first before being placed with these families. Students indicate on their application if there is a preference for living with members of a particular cultural group, and we try to honor their preference. Please go to the family homestay page for more information.

How safe is it to live in Los Angeles?
Unfortunately, the common perception of Los Angeles is of a wasteland of poverty, gangs, and crime. But L.A. Term alumni disagree with this unfair stereotype. In fact, all found their communities to be welcoming, safe, and protective. Safety is nevertheless an issue of importance to the L.A. Term staff. All students participate in a mandatory safety training session during orientation that emphasizes the importance of using common sense. Host families keep tabs on the whereabouts of their students. Field projects are completed in groups. And students are usually back home with their host families before dark.

How intense is the workload?
Students spend the majority of their time in Los Angeles studying with classmates, completing local field projects, working at internships, participating in community site visits, and sharing life with their host families. In other words, the workload is fairly demanding and requires students to be fully engaged and committed to the program.

Can a freshman or sophomore participate in the L.A. Term?
Due to the variety and intensity of the term, students are encouraged to complete the program during their junior or senior year. Exceptions will be made for younger students on the basis of their life experience, personal maturity, and academic record.

How do students find internships?
Students typically set up their internships during the first week of orientation. The L.A. Term staff provides students a list of prescreened organizations willing to participate in the internship program. Participants are encouraged to carefully review the listing of potential internships and to prepare a draft of their résumés before they arrive at the term site.

Can students spend weekends at home or at APU once enrolled in the L.A. Term?
Students are encouraged to view the L.A. Term as they would a study abroad program wherein cultural immersion is a key to maximizing their experience. Since the workload is considerable, students are encouraged to remain focused by spending weekdays and weekends in Los Angeles.

Can students work while on the L.A. Term?
Under certain circumstances, students may hold part-time jobs while on the L.A. Term. In such cases, students are limited to working 10-15 hours per week. Students who do need to work during the L.A. Term should consult with the program director or staff members before applying.

Where do students find spiritual support while on the term?
Students participate in weekly devotions, personal reflection, and group prayer, as well as attend weekly church services with their host families.

Can students bring cars on the term?
Cars are not allowed on the L.A. Term because they isolate students from the community. Students may be tempted to use them instead of public transportation, especially when the car is more convenient. We also discourage cars because students may use them to escape the initial discomfort of adjusting to a new place, preventing them from developing close relationships with other students and with their host families. The L.A. Term should be treated like a study abroad experience or any other off-campus program where a car is not an option.

How much does the L.A. Term cost?
The L.A. Term costs the same as APU tuition or the tuition of a student's home university for the semester. Room and board for L.A. Term is roughly equivalent to one semester of on-campus housing and an on-campus meal plan at APU (about $2,000). Personal expenses, including books, are estimated at $920 for the semester.

Can students get financial aid for the term?
All of your present financial aid is applicable to L.A. Term, even if you are not an APU student. Prospective students are encouraged to review the L.A. Term's financial policy.

How many students participate each semester?
The L.A. Term is limited to 15 students per semester.

How are academic credit and grades handled?
Participants earn 15 semester units of undergraduate academic credit distributed across four courses: Urban Explorations (3 units), Urban Religious Movements (3 units), Community Service and Social Change (6 units), and Immigrant L.A. (3 units). Grades for APU participants will be submitted to APU's Office of the Registrar where they will be recorded on an official APU transcript. Otherwise, the program will recommend grades for each course to the student's major advisor at their home campus. Azusa Pacific University uses the following grading scale: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, and W (withdraw). Before choosing to participate, non-APU students should understand their home campus' policy for awarding credit and matriculating grades from an external study program.

How do students apply?
The application process is fairly straightforward. Interested students complete an L.A. Term application and include with it: an unofficial copy of your college transcript, a $25 check payable to Azusa Pacific University, and an off-campus registration form completed by your academic advisor. Applications are due by March 15 in the spring and October 15 in the fall. Download an application (PDF),* fill it out, and send the entire application packet to:

Program Coordinator, L.A. Term
Azusa Pacific University
3580 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 200
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(866) 491-9083

*The downloadable version of this form is provided in a Portable document Format (PDF). To learn more about PDFs or to install Adobe Acrobat reader follow this link.

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