RCST

SFS & Study Abroad

Direct matriculation

Most SFS students choose direct matriculation study abroad programs, where they are fully enrolled students at a recognized foreign university, taking courses in the local language with students of the host country. Overseas studies programs in Western Europe, Latin America, Australia/ New Zealand and Africa generally follow this model.

SFS students can take a wide range of courses at these sites, including some that fulfill major or core requirements. At most universities, SFS students live with students of the host country, either in student housing or with local families. Many students also pursue internships in the host country after their study abroad program is complete.

Intensive language programs

Some students enroll in intensive language programs, where they are immersed in the language and culture of the host country. Georgetown's language programs provide excellent language instruction, often in conjunction with area studies courses, homestay opportunities and cultural programs to help students integrate into the host culture.

Sites in China, Japan, the Middle East and Russia tend to follow this model, although Georgetown also has intensive language programs in Latin America, Spain, France and Germany. If students' language skills are sufficiently advanced, some programs allow them to take one or two regular university courses in conjunction with the intensive language program. At Georgetown's summer programs in French, Spanish and German, SFS students can take the proficiency exam on site, while they are still immersed in the language.

English language programs

Georgetown also offers study abroad programs in English in countries where the local language is not taught at Georgetown. Programs in Eastern Europe, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Southeast Asia offer survival language courses together with area studies courses in English.

Some programs structure their courses around particular themes - for example, the Thailand program focuses on sustainable development, while the program in Denmark offers mainly business courses. Living arrangements, cultural programs and social opportunities are designed to maximize students? contact with their peers in the host country.

For more information about kinds of study abroad programs, including programs not sponsored by Georgetown, please see the Division of Overseas Studies on Office of international programs (OIP) website.

Selecting a Site

Focus on your goals

The first step in selecting an overseas studies program is to think about your academic goals for study abroad. Choosing a program based on location alone, and then trying to make it fit your major, generally leads to frustration and disappointment. Although many overseas studies programs offer courses appropriate for RCST, you need to find one that meets your specific needs and goals. Consider these questions:

• How does foreign study fit in with your major program as you defined it in your major declaration essay? Your dean can give you a copy of your essay if you need one.
• What kinds of courses will complement the work you do at Georgetown?
  
• Are there topics you could explore better overseas than at Georgetown? Professors, as well as the study abroad adviser for your region of interest, can help you find out about the specialties of individual programs and universities abroad.
  
• Do you have the necessary background knowledge to take major courses at a foreign university, or can you acquire it before you go? Remember that in many other educational systems, students study only one subject at the university level. Talk to your faculty mentor or other professors about what you can expect at the universities you are considering.
  
• Is attaining proficiency in another language your primary goal? Your language professor can help you decide whether a language program or a direct matriculation program will be more appropriate for you.
  

In addition, you need to evaluate your language skills.

Direct matriculation

If you are considering a direct matriculation program:

• Would you enjoy taking university courses in another language?
  
• Are you prepared to write papers and exams, give presentations and discuss issues in another language?
• Are you willing to devote the necessary time and effort to honing your language skills, both before you leave and during your time abroad?
  

Language immersion programs

If you are considering a language immersion program:

• Are you excited about the opportunity to focus exclusively on the language, or will you miss taking other kinds of courses?
  
• Will spending a semester or year taking elective language courses make it difficult for you to graduate on time?
  

Programs in English

If you are considering a program in English:

• Will you be ready to pass the proficiency exam in another language before you go abroad?
  
• If not, are you prepared to make the necessary effort to ensure that you can pass the proficiency exam before you graduate, whether by auditing language classes abroad, taking summer courses, or devoting extra time to language senior year?

If your program is not in an English-speaking country, are you interested in starting another language -- especially one in which you may never become proficient? Will you find it frustrating to live and study in a country where you cannot speak the language?

Office of International Programs: a critical resource

Once you have an idea of the kind of program you want, go to the resource center at the Office of International Programs. Look for programs that have the courses you need to meet your goals. Most direct matriculation and English language programs offer courses relevant for RCST -- the question is whether a given program has a broad enough selection of courses that are appropriate for your individual major program. A program might have many courses that would count toward RCST, but if only a few of them seem to relate to the intellectual project you set out in your major declaration, it probably isn't the right program for you.

Finally, sit down with the study abroad adviser at OIP and your dean to discuss your options. Ask the study abroad adviser about details of each program, such as class size, living arrangements, support services, and registration procedures. Your dean can show you how overseas study will affect your progress toward graduation and identify courses you can take abroad to fill requirements. Your faculty mentor and the chair of the field committee for RCST can help you craft your study proposal and your application essay.

Study Proposals

Because most programs do not announce specific course offerings before the application deadline, it is best to consider the study proposal as an outline of the kinds of courses you hope to take while abroad.

• Draft a list of the topics you hope to explore while abroad. Think about the particular strengths of the program and the kinds of courses it offers that Georgetown does not. You may want to be sure to take an art history course, a regional politics course, or a course on women's issues, for example.
  
• Look through the program materials and recent course catalogues to find courses on the topics you identified. Try to identify more than one course in each category -- you want to have a variety of options. Feel free to ask your faculty mentor or the chair of the field committee for help and advice.
  
• Figure out which group each major course might fit into. If it doesn't seem to fit into any group, it probably will not count for RCST. Descriptions of the various groups are available on this website.
  
• Fill out the study proposal form, indicating how you think each course should count. Make sure that the courses you list make up a full courseload -- it is fine to list more courses than you can take, but not fewer.
  
• Take it to the dean for final approval. If possible, bring along course descriptions.
  
• The dean will give you a copy of your signed study proposal and keep one for your file. Don't forget to take a copy with you when you go abroad!

Overseas Studies Selection Committee Nominations & Conditionals

Sometimes a student will receive a conditional nomination for study abroad. This means that certain criteria must be met before that student will be allowed to participate in a study abroad program.

Language conditionals

Language conditionals are placed on students whose language ability is deemed inadequate for the program without extra work before departure. They often require the student to devote extra time to language study in the context of a current course, a private tutoring arrangement, or summer work.

Academic conditionals

Academic conditionals are placed on students whose overall academic performance does not meet the minimum criteria for study abroad. They generally require the student to attain or maintain a minimum grade point average during the semester before departure.

Please note that it is not possible to verify that a student has satisfied an academic conditional until final grades are submitted -- for students studying abroad in the spring semester, this means that final confirmation of their approval for study abroad may not come through until mid-December.

Your responsibility

If you receive a conditional nomination, you must demonstrate to the study abroad adviser and the dean that you have met all the requirements by the deadline in order to go abroad. It is your responsibility to make the necessary arrangements to meet the conditions laid out in your nomination letter. Please note that the deadlines for conditionals cannot be extended.

Effect of Academic & Disciplinary Probation on Nominations

The general rule is that students may not study abroad while on academic, housing, or disciplinary probation.

Academic probation

Students who have been placed on academic probation for the semester they plan to study abroad will not be permitted to study abroad.

Students placed on academic probation for the semester before they hope to study abroad should consult the curricular dean about their eligibility for study abroad.

Housing or disciplinary probation

Georgetown students are expected to comply with all rules for student conduct, as outlined in the Georgetown University "Student Handbook," while overseas. Students who have violated the code of conduct at Georgetown must make a special effort to demonstrate that they plan to abide by it while abroad.

If you are on probation, or you have a record of past violations, you should see your study abroad adviser and your dean well before the application deadline. If you are placed on probation after your application has been submitted, you need to inform the study abroad adviser and the dean immediately, since your nomination for study abroad may be in jeopardy.