What about Study Abroad?
In a world in which international relationships are increasingly important, students are becoming aware that a knowledge of foreign cultures and languages opens the way to a wide range of challenging careers. As a result, the popularity of foreign study has grown rapidly. Sewanee welcomes this development, provided that the proposed plan of study is educationally sound and is integrated into the student’s undergraduate program.
Sewanee students are authorized to study abroad, generally in their junior year, when they meet the requirements described in the College Catalog with respect to academic and social standing. They must demonstrate language proficiency if that is relevant.
Study abroad requires early and careful planning in conjunction with the Office of Study Abroad. Students are required to attend group meetings; to obtain, complete and submit a Study Abroad ticket, and (if admitted to a program) to complete for approval Leave of Absence forms designed to help them with the transition into and out of the program. Deadlines are important.
The college sponsors European Studies, a semester-long program with a focus on history, religion, literature, and art history; Sewanee Semester in Spain (Muslim Spain and Its Legacy) with an emphasis on Spanish language, culture, history and art; Sewanee in China, a summer program featuring offerings in economics, history or political science; Sewanee in France, a summer program focusing on language and literature; and a summer program in Spain called “The Road to Santiago.” The college sometimes has a summer program in Russia, and has a short program in Italy and Bangladesh. The college sponsors, along with other institutions, a large number of carefully planned and closely supervised programs for the most part in England, on the continent of Europe, and in Asia. There are also several new programs in Africa and Central and South America. The summer program, British Studies at Oxford, has been especially popular with Sewanee students. There are excellent service-learning opportunities as well. Programs not directly affiliated with Sewanee may also be approved if they are good ones, which work well a student’s overall educational plan of study. Among the foreign study options, certain programs referred to as “sanctioned” (see the College Catalog or on the web at
www2.sewanee.edu/academic_life) provide not only course credit but grades which are counted in the Sewanee grade point average. Other approved programs may bring course credit only.
For a semester or a year, the cost of attending a study abroad program, including transportation there and back, may be no greater than that of attending the University of the South for the same period. Some Sewanee-sponsored programs of foreign study offer scholarships based on need. No qualified student, in any case, should for financial reasons give up plans to study abroad without having first consulted with the Director of Financial Aid. It should be noted, however, that there are some basic published criteria (Financial Aid Handbook) for having the financial aid to travel and also that early planning is critical in allowing a student to meet the deadlines for requesting financial aid for study abroad.
The Associate Dean of the College should be contacted for more information about opportunities to study abroad and procedures to follow.
The Office of Study Abroad has a wealth of information about Study Abroad programs which have served Sewanee students well; therefore, it is better for your son or daughter to start discussing Study Abroad with that office than to start with searching the web or relying on rumors to find good programs.
