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Special Programs and Opportunities

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Students walking on the south side of Old Main

In addition to majors and minors offered by 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s academic departments, the educational program of the College makes available many special opportunities through which students enhance their four-year experience. These opportunities range from study abroad, to special intensive academic programs focused on a discipline, to student independent research, and to service activities that benefit the local community. Some special programs are linked closely to students working in specified academic areas, while others are open to any member of the student body.

Contents

Academic Honor Societies
Centers
  Bastian Family Center for Career Success
  Kleine Center for Community Service
  Stellyes Center for Global Studies
  Vovis Center for Research and Advanced Study
  Center for Teaching and Learning
  Artists, Scholars, Scientists, and Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (ASSET)
Clinical Term in Psychology
Cooperative Degree Programs
George Washington Gale Scholars Program
Graduate and Special Fellowship Advisors
Green Oaks Term
Honors Program
Independent Study
Intercultural Life
International Summer Program in Management
Internships
Japan Term
51³Ô¹ÏÍøCorps
Lincoln Studies Center
Ronald E. McNair Program
Open Studio
Peace Corps Preparatory Program
Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship Program
Pre-Professional Advising
QuickStart Language Instruction
Repertory Theatre Term
Richter Memorial Scholarships Program
StartUp Term
Student Teaching Assistantships
Study Abroad and Other Off-Campus Study Programs

Academic Honor Societies

Several honor societies initiate student members who excel in the activities and qualities emphasized by each society. Membership is based upon guidelines determined by each organization. Phi Beta Kappa is the most prestigious and oldest academic honor society. Others include:

     Alpha Psi Omega: Theatre
     Eta Sigma Phi: Classics
     Mortar Board: General
     Nu Rho Psi: Neuroscience
     Omicron Delta Epsilon: Economics
     Pi Delta Phi: French
     Pi Kappa Lambda: Music
     Pi Sigma Alpha: Political Science
     Psi Chi: Psychology
     Sigma Delta Pi: Spanish
     Sigma Xi: Scientific Research

Bastian Family Center for Career Success

The Center for Career Success works with all 51³Ô¹ÏÍø students and alumni to help them discover and successfully pursue all aspects of their career, providing a full range of resources and tools, programming and initiatives designed to help students pursue their individual goals based on their specific interests. We emphasize the importance of experiential learning to enable students to make informed career decisions. Students are encouraged to utilize the office beginning their first year at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Through the Center students can connect to opportunities for:

  • Career exploration through internships and experiential programs, networking and career prep programs, as well as part-time on-campus and local positions
  • Full-time postgraduate careers, fellowships and graduate/professional school

Assistance is provided on a walk-in basis but appointments are available as well. All students have 24/7 access to our CareerSuite of online tools, covering all aspects of the job, internship and graduate school preparation process, application, connections and acceptance process. Location: 222 Alumni Hall. Mr. Scott Crawford, Director.

Kleine Center for Community Service

Working closely with the Bastian Family Center for Career Success, the Center for Community Service was established in 2006. The Center works with students, faculty and staff to make connections with community partners to enhance outreach activities. Current initiatives include several tutoring programs with local organizations, student musical performances at local nursing homes, and the recent "Alternative Spring Break" through which nearly 100 students traveled to New Orleans and Mississippi to participate in Katrina relief projects. In 2006-2007, the Center for Community Service formed a partnership with Big Brothers, Big Sisters Organization to create a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø based program focused on mentoring youth from Galesburg and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø County.

Stellyes Center for Global Studies

51³Ô¹ÏÍø established its Center for Global Studies, located in Alumni Hall, in September 2002. The Center sponsors speakers and colloquia on international topics, provides information on off-campus study opportunities and application procedures, coordinates faculty and curriculum development projects focused on strengthening international expertise, offers pre-departure orientation for overseas study, and coordinates programs and advising for students after they return from study abroad. The Stellyes Center is also home to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's Peace Corps Preparatory Program. Prof. Tim Foster, Director.

Vovis Center for Research and Advanced Study

The Gerald and Carol Vovis Center for Research and Advanced Study is dedicated to supporting 51³Ô¹ÏÍø students and their exceptional achievements. The Center administers the Paul K. Richter and Evalyn Elizabeth Cook Richter Memorial Fund for independent work beyond the classroom, recruits and advises students seeking national and international post-graduate scholarships and fellowships, and organizes the unique 51³Ô¹ÏÍø program for outstanding juniors, Artists, Scientists, Scholars and Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow, and HORIZONS: A Celebration of Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Work. Lisa Harris, Director.

Center for Teaching and Learning

Located in a newly renovated facility at 466 S. West Street, the Center nurtures academic excellence through one-on-one or group instruction in writing, peer tutoring in all subject areas, academic counseling and learning skills instruction. Along with the Associate Dean of the College, the Center assists faculty and students with the provision of federally mandated academic accommodations. The Center also houses 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s TRIO Achievement Program, a federally funded program that provides support for academic excellence for first-generation college students from underrepresented groups and those who have academic needs. Dr. Haslem, Director; Ms. Lopez, Director, TRIO Achievement Program.

HOPE Center

The House of Peace and Equity (HOPE Center) is home to the College's Intercultural Life and Spiritual Life Offices, which are part of the College's Division of Student Development. Intercultural Life strives to create an inclusive campus community by acknowledging and celebrating the diverse cultures of our students, faculty, and staff. Spiritual Life seeks to help students navigate and define their own experiences, whether religious, humanist, atheist, or something beyond or in between. The HOPE Center is a place where all students can feel welcome, whatever their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disability status, or gender.

Artists, Scholars, Scientists, and Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (ASSET)

The Artists, Scholars, Scientists, and Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (ASSET) program recruits a student cohort with a wide range of aspirations. ASSET Fellows pursue intensive individual projects and together they identify and discuss connections across disciplinary boundaries, emphasizing a deepening understanding of how to create constructive dialogue across those boundaries.

Juniors with a 3.3 GPA or higher are invited to apply to the ASSET program. Meetings during the winter and spring term allow Fellows time to build a sense of community and pursue an individual project during the summer. Summer dialogues focus on technology, ethics, education, and other issues relevant to all disciplines. During the summer Fellows also engage in educational and social activities and prepare for their senior year and for post graduate experiences. Fellows receive substantial stipends to support them during their summer research projects. Vovis Center for Research and Advanced Study.

Clinical Term in Psychology

Students interested in the areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology and social work have an in-depth experience of the field, both in and out of the classroom. Students register in two courses, PSYC 300B, Theories & Methods of Psychotherapy and PSYC 300D Psychological Assessment, while completing an internship in the Galesburg area that is related to clinical psychology. Students gain an increased knowledge of clinical psychology through the integration of academic information and assignments in the two classes and the hands-on experience of working in settings typical of clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers. Prof. Hoffmann, Chair, Department of Psychology.

Cooperative Degree Programs

For a small number of specialized programs outside the core liberal arts disciplines, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø offers cooperative degree programs with institutions that recognize liberal arts as the best preparation for more specialized study. Typically, these programs involve 3 years of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø study combined with two years of more specialized study at a cooperating institution. Students interested in cooperative programs should consult early in their careers with the advisors listed below.

     Engineering: Prof. Moses
     George Washington University Early Selection Program (Pre-Med): Associate Dean Crawford
     Law: Prof. Bell
     Nursing: Prof. Thorn
     Occupational Therapy: Prof. Thorn
     Optometry: Prof. Thorn

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George Washington Gale Scholars Program

51³Ô¹ÏÍø, Carl Sandburg College, and Galesburg School District 205 sponsor the George Washington Gale Scholars Program. Gale Scholars are a group of high-potential, high risk middle-school students involved in a 4-year program that provides special counseling and educational planning to augment their high school experience and encourage college attendance. After graduating high school, Gale Scholars attend Carl Sandburg College to earn an A.A. degree, and transfer to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø to complete their B.A. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø students participate as tutors, summer program counselors and in other capacities in the Gale Scholars program.

Graduate and Special Fellowship Advisors

51³Ô¹ÏÍø students are encouraged to consider applying for national fellowships for graduate and post-baccalaureate study. Except as noted below, Lisa Harris, Vovis Center for Research and Advanced Study, serves as special advisor for these programs and interested students are encouraged to contact her early in their academic careers.

     Fulbright   Lisa Harris
     Marshall   Lisa Harris
     Mellon    Lisa Harris
     National Science Foundation:    Prof. Jones-Rhoades (Natural Science)
     Rhodes   Lisa Harris
     Others    Lisa Harris

Green Oaks Term

In Spring 2002, the College introduced the Green Oaks Term, a residential interdisciplinary off-campus program at Green Oaks, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s 704-acre field station. The program involves a small group of students with majors in the sciences, social sciences and humanities in the exploration of ecological, cultural and historical, and aesthetic qualities of the landscape. Staffed by three faculty from departments in the Arts, Social Sciences, and Sciences, students have an intensive, 10-week experience, including sharing responsibility for cooking, cleaning and the stewardship of the field station. The College offers the Green Oaks Term every two to three years. Students participating in the program receive 3.5 credits. The courses are as follows; full descriptions may be found in the Courses of Study section of the Catalog under Environmental Studies.

      ENVS 282/382 Deep Maps of Place
      ENVS 283/383 Natural History of Green Oaks
      ENVS 284/384 The Natural Imagination
      ENVS 285 Dynamics of Intentional Community

There is no additional cost for students who are on both room and board. For other students, a program fee is calibrated to cover room and board expenses for the term. Financial aid eligibility and arrangements are the same as for on-campus study.

Sophomores, juniors or seniors of all academic persuasions are eligible. An applicant should have enough introductory work in biology, creative arts, or anthropology-sociology to enroll in at least one of the three courses 282-284 at the advanced (300) level.

Applications should be made to the program director in the month of November. Notifications of acceptance are mailed during December break. Profs. Mountjoy and Adelsberger, Green Oaks Term Co-Directors.

Honors Program

Students may seek to graduate with College Honors through completion of a program of advanced independent study, producing a major piece of research or creative work. The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Honors Program has been recognized by graduate, law, and medical schools around the country as offering outstanding preparation for careers in research and the professions. It has been cited by the federal Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education as one of two model programs in the nation.

Honors may be undertaken as early as the junior year. Normally it is done in the senior year. Each candidate normally completes three credits (under no circumstances more than five) of advanced study, under the supervision and guidance of a faculty advisor and committee chosen by the student. Credit is only awarded for work done on campus. Courses undertaken for Honors may be either in addition to or in place of regular departmental requirements. At the end of the project, the student submits a thesis or creative portfolio and takes a final examination. The examination, which is oral, is given by the student’s advisory committee, assisted by a scholar from another college or research university who has special knowledge of the student’s field.

A candidate for College Honors must have the endorsement of his or her major department, (and of the department in which the work is done, if different from the major department). An applicant is expected to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or above. The final authority for approval to undertake College Honors rests with the Academic Standing Committee. Applications may be submitted to the Associate Dean of the College in the third term of the junior year but must be submitted no later than the following September (exact date announced annually by the Associate Dean). Application forms are available from the Office of the Registrar.

Independent Study

Independent study is used to enrich 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s academic program by providing students with opportunities for study that cannot be pursued in regular courses. While all students who would benefit from independent study are encouraged to pursue it, this opportunity may be limited by the faculty’s obligations to the regular offerings of the College. Hence, independent study may not be used to duplicate in whole or in part courses regularly offered, nor may it be used for introductory work of any kind.

A student discusses the proposed plan of study thoroughly with the faculty supervisor. Once that faculty member has agreed to direct the project, the student works out a final application. Enrollment in independent study can be done by the student on the web at the Registrar’s site, accompanied by the signed consent of the supervising faculty member, using a form obtainable from the Registrar’s Office.

Independent study pursued "off-term," i.e., during vacation periods or when the student is not regularly enrolled for the term, must have the approval of the Associate Dean of the College. The deadline for such applications is registration day of any regular term or December break, and in May for the summer, as noted in the Academic Calendar. Off-term independent study work is due by the last day of examinations of the term during which it is undertaken and by Fall Registration Day for summer work. The usual procedures for incompletes or dropping the course apply.


International Summer Program in Management

In 2005, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø became an affiliated College with the International Summer Program in Management, operated jointly by the University of Michigan-Dearborn School of Management and the University of Padua (Italy) School of Economics and Business, and located at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. This program teaches about recent business trends in a cross-cultural setting.


Internships

51³Ô¹ÏÍø encourages students who are interested in working and learning with an off-campus organization to pursue internships. Such internships often prove of great value for students who are preparing for careers or who intend to undertake further study in graduate or professional school. Interested students should contact the Bastian Family Center for Career Success.

The following partial list of those institutions that sponsored internships for 51³Ô¹ÏÍø students during 2022-23 provides an idea of the range of experiences covered by the internship program:

   Angel By the Minute, Ada, MI (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Web Developer)
   Aurora Downtown, Aurora, IL (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Updated Downtown Directories)
   Baker & McKenzie LLP, Chicago, IL (Finance Intern)
   Barry Wehmiller, St. Louis, MO (IT Intern)
   Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston, MA (Research Internship)
   Changing Children's World Foundation, Geneva, IL (Education Department Intern)
   City of Galesburg Parks & Recreation, Galesburg, IL (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Parks & Recreation Marketing Strategy Revamp)
   Cornucopia Natural Market & Deli, Galesburg, IL (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Event Coordination Assistant for January Health Fair)
   EnVía, Oaxaca, Oaxaca México (Responsible Tourism Intern)
   Eric Sorensen for Illinois, Galesburg, IL (Campaign Intern - Remote)
   F&M Bank, Galesburg, IL (Bank Teller)
   Foundation for Jewish Camps, Atlanta, GA (Event Intern)
   Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Galesburg, IL (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Website Improvements)
   Goldman Sachs, New York City, NY (2023 Goldman Sachs Virtual Insight Series)
   GW Associates, Chicago Heights, IL (Internship)
   Henry Street Settlement, Manhattan, NY (Camp Counselor)
   Hidden Hills Vineyard and Winery, Galesburg, IL (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Marketing Plan Creation)
   Intellizence Inc., Toronto, Canada (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Data Analyst Intern)
   Jamieson Community Center, Monmouth, IL (Site Manager)
   Johnson & Johnson, Da Nang, Vietnam (Software Engineer Summer Intern - Remote)
   51³Ô¹ÏÍø Office of Advancement, Galesburg, IL (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: #51³Ô¹ÏÍøProud Day Event and Communications Planning)
   51³Ô¹ÏÍø County Child Advocacy Center, Galesburg, IL (Intern)
   51³Ô¹ÏÍø Farm, ASSET Program, Galesburg, IL (51³Ô¹ÏÍø Farm Crew, ASSET Fellow)
   Laurel Parc, Portland, OR (Marketing Intern)
   Lead PT CEUs, Illinois (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Website Design)
   Lear Werts LLP, Columbia, MO (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Class Action Lawsuit Legal Treatise)
   Live Oak Wilderness Camp, New Orleans, LA (Program Director)
   Living Vine Mental Health Ministries, Holland, MI (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Marketing--Website and Brochure Improvement)
   Living Vines Mental Health Ministries , Holland, MI (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Marketing--Website and Brochure Improvement)
   Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank, Galesburg, IL (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Standard Operating Procedure Documentation Creation)
   Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank, Galesburg, IL (Nonprofit General Management Internship)
   Mandalay Sports, Studio City, CA (Post Production Summer Intern)
   MDX Software, Columbia, MO (Software Intern)
   Mike Halpin for State Senate, Galesburg, IL (Campaign Intern)
   Milhouse, Chicago, IL (Business Development Intern)
   Minerva Advisory Services, LLC, Havertown, PA (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Digital Content Marketing & "Go-To-Market" Internship)
   Missouri DNR Volunteer Program, Kirksville, MO (Protection Volunteer)
   National Renewable Energy Lab SULI Program, Denver, CO (SULI Summer Intern)
   Native Restoration Services, Inc., Lake Bluff, IL (Restoration Technician)
   Nicole Havelka Consulting, Columbus, OH (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Marketing Resources for Pinterest and YouTube)
   Open Context, Galesburg, IL (Student Researcher)
   Orpheum Theater, Galesburg, IL (General Management Internship)
   Park District of Highland Park, Highland Park, IL (Camp Counselor)
   PayNest Fintech Ltd., Dubai (Growth & Marketing Lead)
   PitchAgency, South Yarra, Australia (Account Manager)
   Project Destined - US Bank, Chicago, IL (Signature Commercial Real Estate Internship Program - Remote)
   RAP 3 MHLR, Nepal (Finance Intern)
   Reserve Artisan Ales & The Vault, Galesburg, IL (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Targeted Marketing Campaign for Wedding Venue)
   Rocket Mortgage, Detroit, MI (UX Writer Intern - Remote)
   Ronin Audio Productions, South Deerfield, MA (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Correlation and Causation in Large Data Sets)
   Saluki Athletics Student Services, Carbondale, IL (Academic Assistant)
   Seminary Street Merchant Association, Galesburg, IL (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Social Media Content Creation)
   Shakespeare Theatre New Jersey, Madison, NJ (Intern)    Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, Winchester, Virginia  (Costume Shop Stitcher)
   Shoals Marine Laboratory, Durham, NH (Student)
   Shoreline Sightseeing, Chicago, IL (Sales Team Manager)
   Supercomputing Facility for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (Internship)
   The Nature Conservancy, Wilma, MN (Intern)
   The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH (Student Research Assistant)
   The Orpheum Theatre, Galesburg, IL (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Merchandise Design)
   The U.S. Forest Service, Lansing, MI (Student Trainee - Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences)
   Tina's Botanicals, 51³Ô¹ÏÍøville, IL (Summer Intern)
   TRiO Educational Talent, Greyslake, IL (TRiO Educational Talent Search Flex Position/Intern)
   Tropp Analytics, LLC, Sacramento, CA (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Backyard Garden Design)
   TryItOn AI, Columbia (Machine Learning Intern - Remote)
   UBS, Chicago, IL (Private Wealth Management Summer Analyst)
   Understanding Works NFP, Galesburg, IL (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Marketing A BOOK by ME)
   University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA (Research Assistant)
   University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (Edge of Space Program)
   University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN (Intern)
   University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN (SERGUS REU - The Socio-Ecological Role of Greenways in Urban Systems)
   UT Health Houston Dental School, Houston, TX (Summer Dental Research Program)
   Viet Tech Society, Pembroke Pines, FL (HR Specialist, Employee Experience focus - Remote)
   Vietcombank, Vietnam (Quantitative Risk Intern)
   Y of the North, Ely, MN (Camp Northern Lights Counselor)
   Zarandona Counseling LLC, South Bend, IN (KnoXplorations Winter Break Project: Website Design and Development)

Internships for course credit may be taken in the summer or during a regular academic term. In addition, the Bastian Family Center for Career Success sponsors paid and unpaid internships that do not confer academic credit. Students interested in the internship program who wish to earn credit should plan the experience in advance, working closely with a faculty supervisor. In addition to field work, additional academic work and a major paper are usually required. Internship courses may be graded S-U or on the conventional A-F scale. Some departments offer internships as part of the regular course listings; others treat them as special courses. Mr. Crawford, Internship Coordinator.


Japan Term

Japan Term is an integrated set of Fall Term courses combined with a December break study trip to Japan. It is designed to provide students with intense study of Japanese language, culture, and society. Students enroll in a Japanese language course, courses in Japanese history, religion and culture, together with a 1/2-credit course IS 240 Japan Term I. This course consists of weekly meetings to prepare students for travel in Japan and to help students design study projects during the December break trip. Students will also have the option to enroll in an additional 1/2-credit course IIS 241 Japan Term II during the Winter Term, providing opportunities for students to complete longer research and creative projects from their experience. A special program fee covering airfare, housing in Japan, group travel within Japan, a modest stipend for meals, and special event costs will be assessed. Professors M. Schneider and Young, Co-Directors.

51³Ô¹ÏÍøCorps

In the Fall of 2012, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and the Galesburg Community Foundation (GCF) launched 51³Ô¹ÏÍøCorps, an innovative community engagement initiative that connects 51³Ô¹ÏÍø students and recent graduates with Galesburg area non-profit agencies and entrepreneurial projects. Graduate Fellows are placed with organizations for approximately 10 months, receive a stipend, and support and staff important community initiatives. Undergraduate participants make a two-year commitment for at least eight hours per week. In addition to their service, undergraduates meet weekly with the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøCorps Graduate Fellows to develop skills and exchange ideas.

Lincoln Studies Center

To honor 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Lincoln connections and to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the life and work of Abraham Lincoln, the Lincoln Studies Center was established in 1997. The Center is engaged in research projects, publications, public events and occasional classroom instruction. These projects include a new edition of William A. Herndon’s 1889 biography of Lincoln, which appeared in 2006 as the inaugural volume of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Lincoln Studies Center Monograph Series (University of Illinois Press). The Center also co-sponsors the Lincoln Colloquium, an annual national presentation by leading Lincoln scholars; every four years the colloquium is held on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø campus. In addition to its research and writing projects, the Center has participated in the production of a video commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debate held on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø campus, which was distributed nationally on Public Broadcast System stations. Student research assistants and summer interns are regularly employed to work on the Center’s projects. Prof. Wilson, Director.

Ronald E. McNair Program

Funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the McNair program encourages students from under-represented groups to prepare for academic careers. McNair Fellows participate in special career-focused seminars, receive special counseling, and are supported for summer research experiences. Admission to the McNair program is by competitive application. Ms. Lopez, Director.

Open Studio

Open Studio is the capstone experience of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Studio Art major. Seniors spend winter term developing a body of work in an intensive environment of support and critical dialogue with faculty and peers. In addition to 6 hours of critiques and discussion weekly, each senior is assigned a faculty mentor with whom they meet regularly. A series of workshops provides the professional skill needed by artists: writing artists' statements, developing presentations, hanging exhibits, website development, photographing art, etc. The course culminates with senior exhibits during spring term. Prof. Holmes, Chair, Department of Art and Art History.

Peace Corps Preparatory Program

In 2007, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø became the first college in the nation to enter into an agreement with the United States Peace Corps to create a Peace Corps Preparatory Program. Through this program, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and the Peace Corps aim to better equip students for international service and widen the pool of qualified candidates for the Peace Corps’ rigorous application process. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Peace Corps Preparatory Program boasts many successful graduates and now serves as a model for other colleges and universities.

Students majoring in any field may apply to the program. All participants are expected to complete the requirements of the Peace Corps Prep program, preferably by the beginning of the senior year; these requirements include second language study, sector-specific coursework, substantive leadership and volunteer experience, and global competency coursework. Study abroad experience is highly recommended for program participants.

Completion of the Peace Corps Prep Program does not guarantee that applicants will be accepted as volunteers. However, the specialized curriculum and experiences help students become strong candidates for Peace Corps and other international service organizations. Prof. Tim Foster, Director, Stellyes Center for Global Studies.

Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship Program (Suspended beyond 2022-23)

The Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship program is designed to provide a special opportunity for a limited number of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø students to complete additional academic work immediately after graduation, combined with a project which helps strengthen the educational programs of the College. In the past some students have taken courses in areas of the curriculum that they did not have the opportunity to pursue while earning their B.A., or which strengthen their preparation for graduate and professional school. In addition, these students have completed an array of campus projects, including, for example, serving as a teaching or department assistant, updating the catalog of the College’s art history slide collection, curating parts of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s natural history collections, assisting faculty members in their laboratory research, and designing a departmental web page.

Post-Baccalaureate Fellows receive a waiver of tuition for four academic courses. Grades for courses completed while on a Post-Baccalaureate fellowship appear on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø transcript but do not alter the student’s Bachelor’s degree. All other costs (room and board, if requested) are the student’s responsibilities. More information on the Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship program is available from the Office of the Dean of the College.

Pre-Professional Advising

Several faculty and staff serve as special advisors for pre-professional areas of study. Students with particular career interests should discuss their plans with the pre-professional advisors and with the Director of the Bastian Family Center for Career Success. These individuals assist students in formulating their plans; they do not substitute for the student’s regular faculty advisor.

      Architecture:  Prof. Gilbert
      Business Administration:  Prof. Gomer
      Dentistry:  Prof. Thorn
      Engineering:  Prof. Moses
      Government:  Prof. Civettini
      Law:   Prof. Bell
      Medicine:  Prof. Thorn
      Nursing and Allied Health Sciences: Prof. Thorn
      Occupational Therapy: Prof. Thorn
      Optometry:  Prof. Thorn
      Religious Vocations:  Prof. Thrall
      Social Work:  Prof. Oldfield
      Veterinary Medicine:  Prof. Thorn

Quick Start Language Instruction

Initially established through a major grant from the U.S. Department of Education, "Quick Start" is an innovative introductory beginning language program integrating grammar and cultural studies on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø campus with a short intensive course abroad. The goals of the program are (1) to prepare students for an active personal and professional life within the emerging global economy; (2) to give them a broad feel for how the study of language is, in fact, the study of an entire historical and cultural context; (3) to give the students a sound footing for their continued language study; and (4) to motivate and prepare students for a longer-term study of language both within language classes and in others as well. The program began in the 1995-96 academic year with German; in 1996-97, the program included Spanish; in 1997-98, French was added, with expansion to other languages possible in subsequent years. See entries under these languages in "Courses of Study." Quick Start is not offered in each language every year. Prof. Gómez, Chair, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.

Repertory Theatre Term

Since 1970, the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Theatre department has offered Repertory Theatre Term every three years. Rep Term students spend an entire ten-week term researching, designing, rehearsing and performing in two full-length plays. The term includes in-depth academic work on the historical and literary periods of the plays, and on other playwrights and plays from those periods, plus training in voice and movement, as well as immersive experiential learning through work on all aspects of the two productions. Rep Term is open to majors from any department in the college. Prof. Carlin Metz, Chair, Department of Theatre.

Richter Memorial Scholarships Program

Students can apply for funding to support an Honors project, senior research, independent research, an experiential learning project, and travel costs to present at a professional conference. Any student in any discipline is eligible to apply for funds from the Richter program. Application forms are available online under the Vovis Center for Research and Advanced Study.

StartUp Term

StartUp Term is an intensive immersion experience where students work in teams on an entrepreneurial business plan and product in a professional work environment. Students attend daily status meetings (“standup meetings”), demonstrate progress at weekly milestone presentations, and give a “pitch” at the end of the term to a panel of judges who will weigh the merits of their proposal. Ideally, students will also deliver at least an alpha version of their product or service at the end of the term. Entrepreneurship is broadly construed to include social entrepreneurship and other types of non-profit work. Professor Spacco, Director

Student Teaching Assistantships

Teaching Assistantships allow highly qualified students to work closely with individual professors in course management and development. Responsibilities can entail a range of supportive assignments, including assistance with classroom instruction, facilitating discussions, evaluation of student work, organizing and preparing course materials, and maintaining classroom facilities. Normally, students can earn up to 2.0 credits of teaching assistantships toward the 36 credits required for the bachelor's degree.

At 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, Teaching Assistants never take the place of their mentoring professors. Arranged at the discretion of individual faculty members, Teaching Assistantships are incorporated into certain courses only when they will enhance academic instruction and student learning. Teaching Assistantships provide students with a number of important and unique opportunities. Working under the close supervision of a faculty member further strengthens the TA’s knowledge and skill in a particular subject area. Assisting professors with their pedagogical and academic endeavors also serves as an important and widely recognized preparation for graduate schools and professional careers.

Study Abroad and Other Off-Campus Study Programs

All currently pre-approved programs are listed on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Study Abroad and Off-Campus Programs website: https://study-abroad-knox-college.via-trm.com/visitor-programs

51³Ô¹ÏÍø encourages participation in off-campus programs, both abroad and in the United States, when such study enhances a student’s liberal education. The College provides a wide range of off-campus study opportunities to meet the varied needs and interests of its students.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø offers four bilateral exchange programs (Europa-Univerität Flensburg, Akita International University, Kansai Gaidai University, and the University of Franche-Comté). 51³Ô¹ÏÍø also offers an array of programs (Pre-Approved Programs) in other parts of the country and the world through highly reputable program providers that are leaders in the field, such as DIS, CIEE, ISA, FIE, SIT, SFS and more. A number of these programs are highly competitive (AIT, SIT, SFS, AMIDEAST) and prestigious, serving as valuable preparation for Fulbright and Peace Corps applications as well as for international careers. In addition, students may apply for permission to enroll in programs other than those listed as pre-approved via the Student Initiated Programs option.

All applicants for term-, semester-, and full year-length off-campus study must submit a two-part application. The first part is a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø application for approval to study off-campus and the second part is the program-specific application for admission into the chosen program. The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø internal application for approval for off-campus study is due February 1 (with a few exceptions for programs that have early deadlines for applications for admission — see below). The Stellyes Center’s Off-Campus Study Committee reviews these applications for approval to study abroad and make determinations by the end of February so that students can move forward in their applications for admission to their chosen programs.

Evaluation of applications focuses on the extent to which participation in an off-campus program is demonstrably central to the student’s academic program. Approval of off-campus study is based on merit, including the quality of the student’s overall academic program and strength of the student’s academic performance, the student’s specific preparation for the chosen program and the quality and persuasiveness of the application.

Students wishing to participate in an off-campus program are advised to plan their schedules well in advance, in conversation with their academic advisors and with staff in the Stellyes Center, in order to complete relevant coursework including the prerequisites for their chosen program. Planning ahead also allows students to complete the requirements for graduation, including majors, in a timely manner after returning to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Students normally earn a maximum of 3 credits for a trimester, 4.5 for a semester, or 9 credits for a year program. In order to earn their full amount of credit, students are expected to enroll in academically substantial courses (e.g., not wind-surfing) and in what the program defines as a full-time load, usually the equivalent of 15 semester hours for semester programs. Students who enroll for less than a full-time load are not entitled to a partial refund.

Credits applied toward a major or minor must be approved by the chair of the major/minor program and the Registrar. Approval for off-campus study is granted with the understanding that 51³Ô¹ÏÍø is not responsible for any academic difficulties students may encounter while studying elsewhere, or for alterations in programs that make it difficult for students to earn as many credits as they like. Students are expected to be in good academic standing to be eligible for off-campus study.

Credits and grades earned on off-campus programs are included on a student’s 51³Ô¹ÏÍø record when evidence that the student has successfully completed the program is received by the Registrar. Grades from off-campus programs are not calculated into the student’s grade point average.

Students who receive approval to study off-campus are, if they regularly receive financial aid awards, eligible for assistance to study off-campus. Specific questions as to the amount of their eligibility should be addressed to the Director of Student Financial Services. Due to credit differences between semesters and trimesters, study abroad during the Fall semester is more costly, before factoring in program-provider scholarships and other scholarship awards, than at any other time of the year.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø Application Deadlines

Pre-Approved Programs
    ACM/GLCA Japan Study and IES Oxford                      December 1
    All other programs                                  February 1

Student Initiated Petitions                                     December 1
 

51³Ô¹ÏÍø Programs

  &nbspAvailability of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø programs in a given year is dependent on sufficient student enrollment.

France-Besançon (Suspended for 2023-2024)

The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø program is the principal American program at the Université de Franche Comté . Besançon is a city of 116,353 people, with 20,000 students at the University. Participants take courses for foreign students in language and culture at the Centre de Linguistique Appliquée, plus several courses chosen from the regular University curriculum to meet individual needs. All courses are taught in French by the Université de Franche Comté professors. Students with majors other than French may continue studies in their major fields. All students stay with French families for the October orientation period, then live during the year or trimester in University dormitories with French and other foreign students. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing with good academic record; a minimum of two 200-level French courses or equivalent. Credits: 3 or 3.5 for one trimester (fall or spring), 6 to 7 for two trimesters (fall and winter or winter and spring), 9 to 10.5 for the academic year. Period: the academic year, fall, fall-winter, winter-spring. On-campus director Prof. Akuetey.

Spain-Barcelona (Suspended for 2023-2024)

51³Ô¹ÏÍø, in cooperation with the University of Barcelona, offers academic study in language, the humanities and the social sciences. Students pursue a combination of courses, all taught in Spanish by professors from the University of Barcelona. Some of the courses are fitted to the particular needs of program students; other courses are from the regular University curriculum offered to Spanish students. All students live in the homes of Spanish families in Barcelona. The program sometimes offers a two-week trip throughout southern Spain during Winter Break, and always includes short educational field trips each term. Prerequisite: SPAN 201 and good academic standing; preference given to juniors and seniors. Credits: 9 or 10 for the one-year program, 6 or 7 for two trimesters, 3 or 4 for one trimester. Students are permitted to enroll in up to 4 credits without overload during one trimester of the program. Period: the academic year; two trimesters (fall-winter or winter-spring); or any one trimester. On-campus director: Prof. Ragan.

Courses offered:
   HIST 315 Struggle and Coexistence: Origins of the Iberian Peninsula
   HIST 317 Struggle and Coexistence: The Development of Plural Spain
   PS 346 Society and Politics in Europe Today
   PS 347 Democracy in Spain
   SPAN 240, SPAN 241 Spanish Theory and Practice I, II
   SPAN 303 Contemporary Spanish Novel
   SPAN 313 Contemporary Spain
   SPAN 323 Language and Culture
   SPAN 323A Written Texts Workshop
   SPAN 338 Barcelona in the Spanish Novel
   SPAN 361 Spanish Cinema
   SPAN 363 Contemporary Spanish Theatre

Argentina-Buenos Aires (Suspended for 2023-2024)

In cooperation with the University of Palermo in Buenos Aires, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø offers a trimester of accredited academic study designed to emphasize the social sciences and language. Distinctive features of the program are its social justice outlook, its concentration on the southern cone of South America, and its direct enrollment in courses alongside other University of Palermo students. Courses are taught in Spanish by University of Palermo professors. The program includes field trips to Iguazu, Puerto Madryn and/or Perito Moreno Glacier Park. Shorter educational trips to NGOs and social justice groups are arranged throughout the term as well. All students live in the homes of Argentine families in Buenos Aires. Prerequisite: Three 200 level courses in Spanish and good academic standing; preference given to juniors and seniors. Credits: 3 Fall trimester. Students are permitted to enroll in up to 4 credits without overload. On-site coordinator: Alejandra Vassallo. On-site director: Prof. Prado.

Courses Offered:
   ANSO 202 Culture & Society in Argentina
   ART 324 Latin American Art
   HIST 314 Modern Latin America
   HIST 332 Evolution of Argentine Society
   JOUR 234 Radio Workshop
   PS 331 Politics and Government in Latin America
   PS/LAST 343 Argentine Society, Social Thought, and Culture
   SPAN 239, 241 Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition I and II
   SPAN 312 Latin American Literature
   SPAN 333 Social Cinema of Argentina

Pre-Approved Programs

Pre-approved programs are organized by highly regarded third-party providers such as the Great Lakes College Association (GLCA), the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), the School for International Training (SIT), the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute (ISDISI) in Thailand, the School for Field Studies (SFS), College Year in Athens, the Intercollegiate Center for College Studies in Rome (Duke University), and more.

A strong preference in approving applications for off-campus study is given to students with junior standing. Although 51³Ô¹ÏÍø does not have a minimum GPA requirement for off-campus study, many programs have their own GPA and prerequisite requirements, of which the student applicant for admission should be aware. Most course work is at the advanced level. With departmental approval, a student may substitute appropriate courses for major requirements. Additional information on each program is available from each program advisor and on the program websites.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø has partnership agreements with a number of universities that provide for exchange opportunities, allowing the College to welcome international non-degree students to campus. These are described below.

Kansai Gaidai University Exchange. Asian Studies Program

Kansai Gaidai is a private university in Osaka focusing on foreign language studies. This program provides international students with a means of exploring Japan and Asian studies through classroom instruction and interaction with Japanese people. Japanese language courses range from the introductory through the advanced levels. All courses, except for Japanese language courses, are taught in English. Homestay is available. The program includes a three-day orientation program in which students stay in the dormitories and learn about academics, immigration procedures and basic Japanese culture. Other features are a multitude of extracurricular activities, a speaking partner program and the Experience Japan program. Prerequisite: Japanese language courses recommended, though not required. Credits: 4.5 per semester (equivalent of 15 semester hours). Period: One semester (Fall or Spring) or one year. Program advisor: Prof. Heidt

Akita International University Exchange.

AIU is the first and only national liberal arts institution in Japan. AIU has a student population of about 800 and is located in Akita prefecture (pop. 300,000) on the northern seaboard of the main island of Japan, in the Tohoku region of northern Japan. International students receive a rigorous academic curriculum as well as the opportunity to experience and understand the people and culture of Japan through extracurricular activities. Courses are taught in English. Japanese language skills are not required but are recommended. Japanese language courses are available at all levels. The university organizes various events, activities, and field trips providing students with a hands-on experience in Japanese culture. Housing is provided in dorms or apartments with a Japanese roommate, and a home visit program is available. Prerequisite: A minimum 2.5 GPA. Period: One or two semesters. An optional Winter break program (January-March) is available for no additional fee. Fall or Spring earn only 4.5 Credits. Fall and (optional Winter) earns 4.5. Full year earns 9 credits. Program advisor: Prof. Heidt.

Germany: 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-Flensburg Exchange Program

This program provides students the opportunity to participate directly in the life of a small German university. Europa-Universität Flensburg is located in Flensburg, a port town on Germany’s northern border with Denmark. Its two-thousand student university with new facilities overlooks the quaint town, the farm fields, and the harbor below. The university’s intimate size allows it to provide a highly personalized international student support network as well as an unusually high level of student interaction with internationally recognized professors and scholars. Students live in residence halls with their German colleagues and attend regular university classes. Students are encouraged to participate in a language-intensive 3-week orientation prior to the beginning of the semester, which also includes cultural programming. Language courses continue during the semester to provide students with ongoing support for their other courses at the university. For students who don’t speak German, English-language degree programs are on offer, especially in the areas of Business, Economics, and related fields. Prerequisite: For English-language studies, GERM 101-103 is highly recommended though not required. GERM 201, GERM 202, and GERM 210 or equivalent plus consent of program advisor for students interested in taking coursework in German. Credit: 3 for Fall or 4.5 for Winter and Spring; 9 for full year. Program advisor: Prof. Heidt

France-Besançon (Exchange Program)

The program provides students an opportunity to study at the Université de Franche Comté. Besançon is a city of 116,353 people, with 20,000 students at the University. Participants take courses for foreign students in language and culture at the Centre de linguistique appliquée, plus several courses chosen from the regular University curriculum to meet individual needs. All courses are taught in French by the Université de Franche-Comté professors. Students with majors other than French may continue study in their major fields. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing with good academic record; a minimum of two 200-level French courses or equivalent. Credits: 3 or 3.5 for one trimester (fall), 4.5 for spring semester, 9 for the academic year. Period: the academic year, fall term, spring semester. Program advisor: Prof. Akuetey

51³Ô¹ÏÍø is pleased to offer excellent opportunities for off-campus study within the United States

Augsburg University River Semester

This non-traditional experiential program takes students down the Mississippi River over 100 days in paddle- and sail-powered catamarans from the Headwaters in Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The curriculum is primarily based in environmental studies and interdisciplinary social science and draws on critical, democratic, and place-based pedagogy, allowing student input into the program’s structure. The non-traditional learning environment allows for discussions on matters of race, equity, and environmental justice woven into the natural science curriculum. Credit: 4.5 for the semester. This program is offered fall semester in odd-numbered years. Program advisor: Prof. Heidt

SEA Semester Field Programs in Marine and Environmental Studies

This program is designed especially for ENVS and BIO/CHEM students. SEA Semester is based at Cape Cod in the oceanographic research community of Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Students spend part of their time in academic courses and cultural immersion on shore and part of their time at sea, conducting experiments and learning how to operate a ship. SEA is an educational institution dedicated to exploration, understanding and stewardship of the oceans, and to the study of humanity’s relationship with the oceans. SEA offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum, on shore and at sea aboard tall ships, that provides challenging voyages of scientific discovery, academic rigor, and personal growth. Locations are available at different sites around the world. Credit: 4.5 for the. Program advisor: Prof. Allison

College for Social Innovation - Semester in the City

Semester in the City provides college students the opportunity to spend a semester learning through well-supported internships in the social sector. Undergraduates join as Social Innovation Fellows and participate in a transformative 15-week program that allows them to address current social issues while developing essential skills and networks that prepare them for life and work after graduation. Students are matched with internships based on what’s important to them and are assigned a dedicated mentor. Simultaneously, students enroll in two classes taught by in-house faculty. The curriculum focuses on social innovation and the social impact sector, giving students ample time to reflect on their internship work. Credit: 4.5 for the semester. Program advisor: Prof. Heidt

Washington Semester – American University

The Washington Semester Program allows students the opportunity to pursue study and internship in our nation’s capital in the following academic disciplines: American Politics, Global Economics & Business, Economic Policy and Global Trade, Foreign Policy, International Environment and Development, International Law and Organizations, Journalism and New Media, Justice, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Public Law, and Sustainable Development. This combination academic/experiential learning format is designed so that the academic work complements the internship component. Three days per week, students participate in a two course seminar taught by Washington Semester professors who host professionals from the student’s field of study. Two days per week, students participate in an internship relevant to their course of study. Students also have the option to complete a research project or to enroll in an elective course at American University. Prerequisite: depending on program theme, at least two courses in an appropriate field. Credits: 4.5. Period: one semester (Fall or Winter/Spring). Program advisor: Prof. Civettini.

Student Initiated Programs

Students may apply for approval to participate in programs other than those listed as pre-approved on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø webpage. Students with interests in another program are urged to consult with the Stellyes Center for Global Studies staff early in the application process (in fall term in the academic year before students plan to study abroad or earlier). Approval is granted if the student demonstrates sufficient academic preparation for the program, makes a compelling case for the academic benefit of the proposed program, and if the program of study is comparable in academic content and quality to study at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Students complete a Preliminary Petition by December 1. If permission to apply for a student-initiated program is given, the student completes the usual 51³Ô¹ÏÍø internal application for study abroad by the February 1 deadline. If the Committee approves the student’s petition, the student is eligible to continue receiving financial aid during the study abroad program (in accordance with percentages of aid per term or semester determined by the Student Financial Services). The student is billed for program costs through the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Business Office. Students receive credit for their work, although grades are not included in grade point average calculations.

The application for approval of a student-initiated program should contain all the information specified in "Approved Programs." It should also contain:

  • a plan for the evaluation of the studies so that the Registrar can determine the number of credits to be accepted toward satisfaction of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø degree requirements (this plan must be worked out with the student’s faculty advisor, as well as with the Registrar).
  • information showing that the program of study is of an academic content comparable in quality to study at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and consistent with a liberal education.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø

/offices/registrar/catalog/special-programs

Printed on Wednesday, February 5, 2025