SMU London Program

Business:

• MG410 International Management

Lasallian Core Traditions:

• LCT375 Global Issues (required for all London students)

Theatre Arts:

• TA301 Theatre in London
• TA330 Dublin Theatre Workshop
• TA358 Acting III: London
• TA360 London Page to the Stage

Transcript Policy

Students enrolled at Saint Mary’s who are attending an approved affiliated study abroad program have all courses transcripted as SMU courses. The list of approved affiliated programs is available in the study abroad office. Courses from approved affiliated programs are transcripted using a department identification code that connects each course to the affiliated program.

Restriction of Institutional Aid

Students enrolled at Saint Mary’s and attending an approved affiliated study abroad program are restricted in the type and amount of institutional aid they can apply to program costs. Please contact the director of study abroad to discuss program fees and financial aid implications.

Spanish Studies Abroad

Spanish studies provides students with a true cross-cultural exchange by inviting them to expand their world-view through quality cultural and language immersion programs. Spanish studies offers semester-long and summer programs in Alicante, Barcelona, and Seville, Spain, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Córdoba, Argentina. Spanish language proficiency requirements vary depending on the program.

Alicante, Spain (fall, spring or summer semesters): Spanish studies abroad students in Alicante study onsite at Universidad de Alicante. Through university coursework, homestays with native families and multiple cross-cultural opportunities, students find spanish studies in Alicante to be a highly immersive and integrated study abroad experience.

Barcelona, Spain (fall, spring or summer semesters): While studying with Spanish studies abroad, students will be enrolled in the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) located in the urban center of Barcelona. Students will be immersed in both Spanish and Catalán language and culture. Courses at UPF are taught in English, Spanish or Catalán.

Seville, Spain (fall, spring or summer semesters): Since 1969, the Spanish Studies Abroad Seville program has maintained a strong dedication to academic integrity and an emphasis on the personal growth of the student. Some features of the program include: a wide variety of course offerings; native Spanish professors; internships, volunteer and community service opportunities; all-inclusive day and overnight study trips; and monthly cultural events at the Center for American and Spanish students.

San Juan, Puerto Rico (fall, spring or summer semesters): Spanish Studies Abroad offers the opportunity for students to study and live at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon (USC) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Students will be immersed in Puerto Rican and Caribbean culture and take courses in a variety of subjects including Spanish language, business and humanities.

Cordoba, Argentina (fall, spring or summer semesters): Spanish Studies Abroad, in cooperation with Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), offers a unique opportunity for students. A variety of cultural activities, study visits and unique work experiences are designed to fully integrate students into the daily life of Argentina.

Consortium Institute of Management and Business Analysis (CIMBA)

Paderno del Grappa, Italy (fall, spring or summer semesters): The 12-week semester program offers undergraduate students the experience of learning abroad while taking a variety of high-quality courses in business, economics, communication studies, journalism and Italian. Courses are taught in English and emphasize current international trends. CIMBA, which espouses a distinctive program philosophy that combines traditional classroom teaching with mentoring and experiential learning activities to help develop decision-making and problem-solving skills, is affiliated with the University of Iowa. A 4-week summer program is also available.

Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA)

HECUA is an organization of 20 liberal arts colleges, universities and associations dedicated to education for social justice. It provides off-campus study programs that address the most pressing issues in our neighborhoods, nations and world. Overseas study opportunities are available in Northern Ireland, Ecuador, Norway and Poland. Students, faculty and practitioners engage in learning that generates knowledge and tools for social transformation and community building.

Community Internships in Latin America Quito, Ecuador (fall or spring semesters): Models of community participation, organization, development and social change are compared and contrasted. The program addresses the current issues of globalization, ecology, politics, migration and more. All lectures, discussions and internships are conducted entirely in Spanish. Students also stay with homestay families.

New Zealand Culture and the Environment: A Shared Future Auckland, New Zealand (fall semester): The program examines how social and environmental factors are shaping political and ecological dimensions of identity and culture, and how New Zealanders from different backgrounds are envisioning and creating a shared future. Courses include topics on Maori perspectives, pluralism, national identity, sustainability and environmental policy.

Democracy and Social Change in Northern Ireland Coleraine, Belfast, and Derry, Northern Ireland (fall or spring semesters): Students examine the historical, political and religious roots of the conflict in Northern Ireland, the prospects for peace and the progress being made. Learning occurs through readings, lectures, discussions, internships, group study projects and field experiences that invite interaction with people involved in social change.

The New Norway: Globalization, National Identity, and the Politics of Belonging Oslo, Norway (fall semester): Students gain a deep understanding of contemporary Scandinavia. Three interrelated seminars give students an understanding of how the welfare state works in the context of a social democracy facing challenges posed by immigration, globalization and European integration. Electives are also available in Norwegian language and Scandinavian art, film and literature.

The Lasallian International Programs Consortium

Saint Mary’s is a member of LIPC, which is composed of the six U.S. Lasallian colleges and universities, for the purpose of creating and managing quality educational programs throughout the world for students of member institutions. The consortium has a variety of programs that offer a diverse curriculum, institutional environment and program experience. Saint Mary’s students can attend LIPC program in Argentina, Australia, China, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, South Africa and Spain.

SAI–Florence University of the Arts

Florence, Italy (spring semester): Students study in Florence at the Florence University of the Arts (FUA) while living in apartment-style housing. The university is located in the city’s historic center, where students are surrounded by beautiful Renaissance art and architecture. With a population of 500,000, Florence offers all the excitement and amenities of a large city while its proximity to the Tuscan hills allows for trips to the Italian countryside. At the university students are able to take up to 15 credits, choosing from a wide selection of courses in the liberal arts, science, and business and economics. All students are required to enroll in Italian language courses as part of their program.

Student Teaching Abroad

Student teaching abroad opportunities are facilitated in collaboration with the School of Education. Saint Mary’s students may participate in student teaching abroad through Cultural Immersion Projects, a consortium facilitated by the University of Indiana. Through this organization, student teachers may be placed in a variety of countries including the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Costa Rica for five-six weeks after completing a minimum of 10 weeks of student teaching in the Winona area. Students teach in the curriculum that follows the national model of the country chosen. There are no foreign-language proficiency requirements for most locations.

Universidad La Salle of Mexico City

Founded in 1962, Universidad La Salle is among Mexico’s most innovative private universities, noted for the facilities offered on campus, the personal attention given to students, its traditional values and community spirit. Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world with a population of approximately 24 million and at one time was the center of the Aztec Empire. Situated 7,000 feet above sea level in a valley surrounded by mountains and the snow-capped Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl volcanoes, it is a city that combines elements of its pre-Columbian ancestry with its Spanish colonial roots, and a modernism expressing itself through concrete, steel and glass.

Academic Exchange Program (fall or spring semester): students participate in regular courses offered by Universidad La Salle. All classes are taught in Spanish. Students live with host families.

Spanish for Foreigners (summer): every summer, a special intensive Spanish language and culture program is offered at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Courses include Spanish, Mexican history and culture. The program incorporates field trips to places such as the Pyramids at Teotihuacan, the colonial city of Puebla, and Cuernavaca. Participation must be approved by the chair of the modern/classical languages department and requires at least two semesters of Spanish and adequate proficiency in Spanish. Students live with host families.

Short-Term Study Abroad Programs

Short-term faculty-led programs are less than an academic semester in length and are arranged and offered for academic credit by Saint Mary’s University under the direction of a faculty member. A variety of short-term study abroad programs may be offered in the fall, spring or summer semesters each year. Short-term programs will include a course taught by SMU faculty and a travel in a country or region of the world related to the course material. Travel will typically take place after a semester in January or May/June and have a length of 10 days to three weeks. Program length, cost and eligibility may differ by program. Short-term study abroad programs are ideal for students who may not be able to spend a full semester abroad, but still want to enhance their academic experience by studying outside the United States.

Internship and Field Exploration Programs

Jackie Baker, M.S., Director

Saint Mary’s University supports field exploration and internship experiences as integral parts of its curriculum. Such experiences enable students to earn academic credit for participating in structured, supervised learning experiences that are generally held off-campus. The internship and field exploration program provides carefully designed experiences that offer students opportunities for professional and personal development as they apply theories and concepts learned in the classroom to a professional setting. Such opportunities also help students explore and develop personal aptitudes, abilities and interests in relation to their career choice. By participating in this program, students become self-directed learners who gain valuable hands-on work experiences and access to different resources and situations not easily obtained or available in the campus setting.

Field Exploration

A field exploration experience is a planned work experience for academic credit that provides students with the opportunity to explore a field and/or major and gain basic knowledge in a work environment. Generally, this experience involves observation rather than hands-on activities and is typically part-time and unpaid. Students must have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours and have a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA to participate in a field exploration experience. Students may earn 1 to 3 credits for a field exploration, with a maximum of 17 credits earned for any combination of internship and field exploration experiences. All field exploration experiences must be pre-approved by the student’s academic advisor and the director of internships. Students may meet with the director of internships and/or faculty members to identify possible field exploration sites. Questions regarding field exploration programs should be directed to the director of internships.

Internships

An internship is a planned work experience for academic credit supervised by a qualified professional in a real-work environment. This experience integrates a student’s academic and career interests with hands-on work experience. An internship may be either part-time or full-time and either paid or unpaid. Students must have completed a minimum of 56 credit hours, have a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA, and a minimum 2.000 major GPA to participate in an internship. Internships are taken through the department in which the student’s major is offered. Students may earn 1 to 17 credits in an internship, with a maximum of 17 credits for any combination of internship and field exploration experiences. The number of internship credits for which a student registers is based on several factors, including departmental curriculum requirements, duration of the internship and the student’s time commitment, the student’s concurrent course load, the number of elective credits desired, and the credits previously earned through experiential education. Unless specific departmental guidelines have been established, the distribution between graded and ungraded internship credits is 3 credits graded, with remaining credits graded as Pass/No Credit. The academic department determines the number of internship credits applicable to the fulfillment of an academic major. All internships must be pre-approved by the student’s academic advisor and the director of internships.

Internships are arranged on an individual basis for students in a field compatible with their academic major, interests, skills and career goals. Internships are generally completed in the United States, although international internships are also an option for students. In the past, students have interned in Ireland, Spain and Guatemala. Organizations such as IBM, Walt Disney World, St. Paul Police Department, Mayo Clinic, Fastenal Co., among others, have teamed up with Saint Mary’s to provide students the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience before graduating from college. Students can intern full-time or part-time at a location of their choice.

HECUA Internship Program

HECUA (the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs) and SMU have developed a unique educational collaboration that engages students in exceptional learning opportunities. HECUA’s semester-long program includes classroom learning and a community-based internship. Students may choose a program that is held in the United States or abroad for a month, a summer, or a semester. The focus of each program is social change in urban settings. By partnering with exceptional community resources, HECUA can better engage students in learning about current social realities and strategies for social change. These internship partners supervise students, involve them in community projects, provide direction for study projects, and often serve as resources in student and faculty seminars.

HECUA offers six outstanding programs in the Twin Cities: Writing for Social Change, Environmental Sustainability, Inequality in America, Art for Social Change, Making Media, Making Change, and Agriculture and Justice.

Writing for Social Change: The Personal, the Political, and the Power of the Written Word (fall semester). This program explores the ways creative writers and literature impact communities and examines the role creative writers and literature play in addressing pressing social issues. Writing for Social Change combines critical, analytical seminars, creative writing workshops, field study, and a professional internship with a Twin Cities nonprofit literary arts organization, or K–12 school in need of reading/writing tutors to give students an integrated, experiential learning opportunity.

Environmental Sustainability: Science, Public Policy, and Community Action (fall semester). This semester program gives students the opportunity to learn the science behind key environmental issues, explore the intersections between social and environmental justice, and participate in public policy and community–based strategies to achieve sustainability. Rather than simply outlining the vast challenges we face, this program gives students meaningful ways to translate what they are learning into hopeful practice and to find their place in a vibrant mosaic of local actors working to build more resilient and just communities and systems. The program includes field experiences that focus on basic ecosystem evaluation. Short trips throughout the semester offer opportunities to integrate theory and practice.

Inequality in America: Policy, Community, and the Politics of Empowerment (fall and spring semester). This program focuses on issues of poverty and inequality and ways to address these critical issues. Students explore key institutions that impact urban poverty and inequality, namely the economy, housing patterns, education, and welfare. In addition, issues of urban sprawl, regional segregation, and institutional discrimination are explored. Students are empowered as they examine and utilize an array of strategies to address inequality and rebuild the region more equitably. Students develop practical skills in organizing and gain valuable tools for social change.

Art for Social Change: Intersections of Art, Identity, and Advocacy (spring semester). This program focuses on arts, culture, and social change. Students discover the many ways that art and culture can and do impact communities and explore the role of creative work-performance, writing, visual art, etc., in addressing pressing social issues. Students also gain valuable tools for social change and vital connections in the community. A vibrant arts community flourishes in the Twin Cities; a wide spectrum of organizations and individuals representing diverse cultural experiences and perspectives provides a highly creative milieu in which students explore the multiple roles of art and artists in society.

Making Media, Making Change: Digital Technologies, Storytelling, and Activism (spring semester). This program combines psychology, art, and media studies to help deepen critical understanding of how mass media and emerging digital technologies both limit and organize struggles for social justice. This interdisciplinary approach will provide the theoretical framework that is necessary to explore thoughtful and relevant questions about personal and collective activism in the digital age. The program will equip students with the skills they need to be competent creators of digital art and digital media for the purposes of creating change.

Agriculture and Justice: Building a Sustainable Food System (spring semester). This program uses interdisciplinary and field-based methods to dig deep into the food system, exploring the roots of U.S. land ownership and labor practices, unpacking economics and policies, and providing a place for each student to explore his or her role in creating a sustainable future. Through first-hand experience, students explore topics such as multinational agricultural production, processing and marketing, and youth development through growing and marketing local produce. Students analyze the environmental, economic, political, social, and cultural issues that define our food system.

Washington Center Internship Program

The Washington Center Internship Program combines real-world work experience with academic learning in a unique environment that fosters success and achievement. For one semester, students can work and earn college credit in their chosen academic field in the heart of the nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C. Internships can be arranged in government agencies or in private non-profit organizations and are available for all majors. For additional information visit the career services and internships office or www.twc.edu.

Lasallian Core Traditions Program

The Lasallian Core Traditions Program is the required core for the majority of the students in the undergraduate College, and completion of the core curriculum partially fulfills the general education requirements. This core provides a common Lasallian educational experience for students and is grounded in the university mission and the Lasallian dispositions of faith, zeal, service and community. These four commitments underscore the ultimate aim of the program: to awaken and nurture the intellectual, spiritual and personal development of learners in preparation for lives of service and commitment to social justice.

The first-year seminar helps new students transition to university life while also beginning to develop their Lasallian identity as educated, competent and compassionate members of society. In the second-year course, students hone their writing skills through the study of important texts on the virtuous life from within the Western tradition, including selections from the life and work of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. In the junior year, students explore issues of social justice inherent in our emerging global society, while at the same time refining the knowledge, skills, and Lasallian Catholic values needed to evaluate and respond appropriately to different perspectives on real world issues, problems and themes. In the senior capstone course, students explore the historical and philosophical origins of our American culture and examine how these origins affect our understanding of our work, our relationships, our faith and our citizenship. The purpose of this forward-looking capstone course is to prepare students to live out the Lasallian charism in contemporary America and the world.

While completing the First-Year Seminar, students have the option to be part of a living learning community (LLC). Students will enroll in a first-year seminar that is devoted to a theme. The students who select the particular LLC theme will also live together in a designated residence hall. As a member of a living learning community, first-year students will be a part of a group of students who are passionate about similar interests, have common goals, and who want to be engaged outside of the classroom. This is an opportunity to build an instant and lifelong support network of friends (and professors) while participating in unique experiential learning opportunities.

Students must complete the 12-credit-hour Lasallian Core Traditions Program to graduate; first-year students take LCT140 ; sophomores take LCT225 ; juniors take LCT375 ; and seniors take LCT475 . In addition, all students take ID160 , an interdisciplinary and experiential arts course.