My name is Dr. Mohammad Saadeh I am originally from Jordan, received my Bachelor degree
in 2005, and then flew to Malaysia to study for my Master's degree. I started in the
US as an International Student in 2008 and received my Ph.D. in 2012. Since then,
I have been empoloyed at Southeastern.
The US Higher Education System welcomes hundreds of thousands of international students
each year; you can be one of those. Let us help you get there!
Students' Testimonials
Hammond and Surrounding Area
Southeastern (the red drop pin) is strategically situated in the southeast region
of the state, along two major Interstate highways: I-12 which turns into I-10, the
main east-west highway corridor along the southern United States and southern Gulf
Coast states and I-55 (which is a major cross-country, north-south route, connecting
the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes).
The campus is almost an hour away by car from New Orleans and about 45 minutes away
from Baton Rouge and the Mississippi River. The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International
Airport services direct flights to London, England; Montreal and Toronto, Canada;
and Cancun, Mexico; and San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
If you drive on I-10 west for 4.5 hours, you will reach Houston, which is the largest
city in the region. Driving to the east for 1.5 hours will get you to the Louisiana-Mississippi
border. If you continue driving further east, you will reach Alabama then Florida,
which both offer nice beaches and areas to visit.
What is the climate like in Southeast Louisiana?
The weather in the southeast region varies year round. In the summer months (June-August)
it is humid and rainy. September through December is the fall season, and it gets
warm to chilly but not cold. Late December through January might see a few freezing
nights, and February through May is the spring season when the temperature rises again
as we near the summertime.
Is it expensive to attend Southeastern?
Compared to other schools in the state and outside Louisiana, Southeastern offers one
of the most affordable options for undergraduate and graduate degrees.
When considering a school to study, you will need to take into consideration many
factors, which include: safety, climate, location, career prospects, cost, job placement
after graduation, etc.
Southeastern scores high on all these factors, especially the cost! Not only are the
tuition and fees among the lowest, there are also many scholarship opportunities for
students that are based on merit.
Although Southeastern is an inexpensive option compared to other schools, you will
still be receiving the highest quality undergraduate education that is nationally
competitive and accredited by major accrediting agencies (such as ABET and ATMAE).
Can I work while studying?
Yes, you are eligible to work on campus and we can hire you in our department!
As an international student, you can apply for a work permit that allows you to work
on campus for 20 hours per week. There are plenty of student worker positions on campus!
First, you will need to find the position and apply to it. This is a simple process
and there are few documents that you will need to complete with the help of the Human
Resources office on campus. Then you will apply for a Social Security Number (SSN)
through the Social Security Administration (SSA) to be eligible to work on campus.
This SSN will remain with you; keep the SS card in a secure place!
Only when you receive your SSN you can start working on campus. Please note, the pay
rate for these positions is not sufficient alone to support you while in the US. You
need to secure other means of financial support for your tuition, housing, meals,
transportation, etc.
Our programs also provide you with the opportunity to have paid internship with companies
in your area of study to gain field experience. You can also receive credit hours
after completing the internship that you can use towards your degree completion.
Can I work after graduation?
Yes, you can work. There are few steps that you will need to take to increase your
chances.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) established a program for F-1
students to authorize them to work and gain experience in their fields of study. That
program is called Optional Practical Training (OPT). The total duration of the OPT
is 12 months.
There is a Pre-completion OPT and Post-completion OPT. You can elect to have a Pre-completion
OPT while you are studying for your degree. However this will reduce the duration
of Post-completion OPT that is available for you. Most of the time, students prefer
to wait until they complete their education and apply for the OPT to be eligible to
work for the entire duration.
Not all employers have programs that accept OPT, so you will need to be flexible when
you apply for these positions. Also, you will need to send in your applications for
these employment opportunities in a timely manner since you only have 90 days to find
employment, leave the country, or to change your status (your formal immigration classification
in the US).
Many of these employment opportunities provide the OPT candidates (the international
student graduates) the option to apply for full-time positions. Also, graduates with
STEM degrees who are on OPT can apply for a one time 24-months extension. For more
information on this important topic, please refer to this page.
How good are the programs at Southeastern?
The quality education we provide to our students and the strong industrial connections
we established with employers in our region generally make it easy for our graduates
to find employment either during their final year or soon after graduation.
Please check the Job Placement record that shows where our graduates have been employed, their job titles, and the
average annual salary they made immediately after graduation.
Useful Resources for International Students