Bulletin 2007-2008 - Austin College

Students select from an extensive list of approved programs based on the college’saffiliations with selected organizations and foreign and U.S. institutions. The Institutefor the International Education of Students (IES) provides study in such places asFrance, Spain, England, Italy, China, Germany, and Japan. The college sends studentson programs offered by Butler University, Arcadia University, and Central Collegefor study in Ireland, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Chile, Argentina,and Costa Rica. Other destinations include Greece, Mexico, and Israel. Summerprograms also are available especially for language immersion. (See College Costssection for information on study abroad program costs.)Study abroad benefits students in all majors within humanities, social sciences, andsciences. Whether it is French at IES in Paris, chemistry at the University of Sussex,political science in Austria, or biology field studies in Costa Rica or Mexico, studentscan study their chosen major or minor while gaining insight into language and cultureof the host country. Students typically live with host families or in a dormitory withstudents from the host country. They may attend language classes designed for nativespeakers of English, language classes with other international students, or choosefrom a broad range of courses to take with students from the host institution. InEnglish-speaking countries students may benefit from a full integration experienceas a student at the host university. In all cases a major goal of an international studyexperience is to deepen understanding of other cultures to better prepare studentsfor life in a global community.Students interested in applying for a semester or year abroad in the junior or senioryear should begin the information and advising process as early as possible during thesophomore year. Planning as early as the freshman year is recommended. The initialstep of application is to contact the Study Abroad Office for advice and counsel. Toqualify, the student must have a good academic record, must have demonstratedsufficient maturity and self-discipline to benefit from such study, and, in some cases,must provide evidence of competence in the language of the host country. Studentsare not eligible to participate in the study abroad program while on probation.Independent Study Off-Campus (NSOC): These courses (numbered 492) affordstudents an opportunity to carry out independent study at off-campus locations,quite frequently abroad. The criteria (3.00 cumulative grade point average, junioror senior class standing, and depth of preparation) and the approval process forqualifying for an NSOC are the same as for Independent Studies. Students shoulddemonstrate that the off-campus site for the study is essential to the success of theproject. Additionally, students must identify an on-site contact person located at theplace of study. Ordinarily, students develop NSOC projects for summer or Januaryterms and only one course credit may be earned for such a study. A few programunits offer an intermediate level NSOC (numbered 292). The course is open tosophomore students and the requirements are similar to NSOC 492.The Washington Program: Through the Osgood Center for International Studies, AustinCollege students may participate in a range of academic programs on internationalaffairs that utilizes policy experts and government officials and the opportunities of itslocation in the nation’s capital. Each year the Osgood Center offers the January TermDecision Game and the Summer Symposium on Foreign Policy. Students also mayarrange semester or summer internships tailored by the Center to meet their specificacademic needs. These programs are available for academic credit and the OsgoodCenter waives program and application fees for Austin College students.60 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM