SPECIAL STUDY PROGRAMS

International Study

Students may earn Wesleyan credits by enrolling for nonresident study in either of the following types of programs abroad:

• Wesleyan-administered programs

• Wesleyan-approved programs

Students should be aware that the only way in which courses taken abroad during the academic year can be credited toward a Wesleyan undergraduate degree is by prior approval from the Office of International Studies.

Programs run by Wesleyan, alone or in consortium, are:

France: Vassar-Wesleyan Program in France (Bordeaux and Paris)

Germany: Wesleyan University Program in Regensburg

Israel: Wesleyan University and Trinity College Program in Israel (Jerusalem) (Suspended for 2001, 2002 and 2003)

Italy: Vassar-Wellesley-Wesleyan Program in Italy (Siena and Bologna)

Mexico: Wesleyan University Spanish Immersion Program in Puebla

Spain: Vassar-Wesleyan-Colgate Program in Spain (Santiago and Madrid)

Study on these programs does not count toward the residency requirement.

1. Wesleyan-approved programs abroad

The Committee on International Studies has approved for Wesleyan credit programs located in a wide range of countries in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. The list is reviewed and updated yearly. Students may obtain a copy of the list from the International Studies Office, 105 Fisk Hall, or access it through the Internet at http://www.wesleyan.edu/ois/thelist.html.

2. Programs abroad approved by petition

In exceptional cases, the Committee on International Studies may grant ad hoc approval for a program not included on the official list of Wesleyan-approved programs. Students must submit a petition, accompanied by a recommendation from a member of the Wesleyan faculty. Students should understand that the burden of justifying their choice is theirs. Approval for such programs is granted on a one-time basis and exclusively for the applicant. Regulations governing Wesleyan-approved programs (credits, fees, financial aid) apply to any program approved in this way.

3. Regulations and guidelines

Copies of the Guidelines and Financial Procedures are available in the International Studies Office or online at http://www.wesleyan.edu/ois.

All programs: Credit toward graduation is granted automatically for preapproved course work completed on a Wesleyan or Wesleyan-approved program. Four credits are allowed for each of two semesters. Permission for a fifth credit for any given semester may be granted by the program director, in the case of Wesleyan programs, and by the Director of International Studies for Wesleyan-approved programs. Grades earned will be reported on the Wesleyan transcript. This is the only way in which credit is given for courses taken abroad, except for courses taken during the summer, which are processed as transfer credit.

Credit toward completion of a major is not granted automatically for courses taken abroad. Students must consult with a faculty or major advisor when applying for study abroad and must have credit toward the major preapproved before departure. Major credit is not granted retroactively, and students who need to change course selections on arrival abroad must seek approval at the time of registration through the Office of International Studies. It is the responsibility of the student to check with the class dean concerning progress toward graduation and the possibility of over-subscription.

Students placed on strict probation at the end of the semester are not eligible to study abroad the following semester, and students on medical leave will not normally be eligible to do so, although exceptions may be made. Any grades of incomplete, X or AB must be resolved two weeks prior to the student's departure date, and students with such grades on their transcript should consult with their class dean about the resolution process.

All University academic regulations apply to students studying for Wesleyan credit abroad, and withdrawal from a study abroad program will be treated in the same way as withdrawal from the University. Wesleyan may withdraw a student from a program abroad or place a student on medical leave, should it be deemed advisable to do so.

Fees: Students are considered to be enrolled at Wesleyan while abroad. They are therefore charged Wesleyan tuition and are eligible for financial aid. Application for financial assistance should be made to the Financial Aid Office. Tuition charges cover the academic and administrative portions of the program expense. Additional expenses such as room and board, transportation, and cultural activities may either be billed through Wesleyan or directly by the program. This financial arrangement applies to all study abroad for credit during the academic year.

Wesleyan programs: Program fees are set by the programs' administering committees in consultation with the Office of Academic Affairs. The committees also establish the criteria for admission and process all applications, with assistance from the Office of International Studies. For information and application forms, students should contact the Office of International Studies.

Wesleyan-approved programs: Besides applying directly to the sponsoring institution, students must fill out and submit to the Director of International Studies a Wesleyan application form. The form is available at the International Studies Office or online, and all applications are subject to approval by the Committee on International Studies.

Summer study abroad: Study abroad during the summer is handled in the same way as summer study at U.S. institutions. (See Summer Study at Other Accredited Institutions.)

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Summer Study

Wesleyan University does not offer an undergraduate summer program. Students may, however, earn a maximum of two credits during the summer and post them to their Wesleyan University transcript. These two credits can be earned through the Wesleyan University Graduate Liberal Studies Program, another accredited institution, or education-in-the-field and independent study credit.

At Wesleyan:Graduate Liberal Studies Program

Wesleyan undergraduates, normally with junior standing, may attend the Graduate Liberal Studies Program (GLSP). Attendance does not, however, constitute residency for the purpose of satisfying the graduation requirement of six semesters of full-time residency. Wesleyan undergraduates attending GLSP are subject to its academic rules and regulations. All grades and course work attempted by Wesleyan undergraduates in GLSP will be recorded on the student's undergraduate record and transcript. Wesleyan undergraduates must have GLSP courses approved by their class dean, faculty advisor and the GLSP director.

For further information,contact the Graduate Liberal Studies Program, 284 High Street.

At Other Accredited Institutions

Student may obtain credit toward the Wesleyan degree for courses taken in the summer session of another accredited institution if (1) the courses have been approved in advance by the relevant Wesleyan department, and (2) the grades in the courses are B-or better. Grades earned at another institution will not be reflected in the Wesleyan academic record; only credits may be transferred. Forms for permission to transfer credit are available at the Dean's Office.

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Transfer of Credit from Other Institutions

Students may obtain credit toward the Wesleyan degree for courses taken during the academic year (other than summer session) at another accredited institution if (1) the courses have been approved in advance by the relevant Wesleyan department, and (2) the grades in the courses are C-or better. Grades earned at another institution will not be reflected in the Wesleyan academic record; only credits may be transferred. Forms for permission to transfer credit are available at the Dean's Office. The final amount of credit transferred to the Wesleyan transcript will be determined in accordance with Wesleyan's policy on transfer credit and the evaluation of the appropriate department. (As a guideline, it should be noted that one Wesleyan unit is equivalent to four semester hours, or six quarter hours.) Departments may impose other conditions for the transfer of credit, such as a higher minimum grade, review of coursework, passing of departmentally administered exam, etc. No transfer credit for study abroad will be accepted unless earned during the summer.

Students who wish to receive Wesleyan credit for work done at an unaccredited institution must secure the sponsorship of a Wesleyan faculty member, the approval of the chair of the corresponding Wesleyan department, and the approval of the dean of the college prior to undertaking the work. To apply for credit, students should write a statement that describes the work to be done and indicates the amount of academic credit sought. The statement should be endorsed by the faculty sponsor and the department chair and submitted to the dean of the college. The faculty sponsor will be responsible for evaluating the completed work and reporting the amount of credit earned to the dean of the college. (See Fees, below.)

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Independent Study

Summer Study and Authorized Leave of Absence—Students may obtain academic credit for certain forms of independent study during a summer or an authorized leave of absence. Activities such as independent reading, special work under supervision, and educational tours may earn credit provided that (1) these plans have been approved in advance by the relevant Wesleyan department and the dean of the college, and (2) all requirements specified by the approving department in the form of an examination, paper, or equivalent assignment have been satisfied. Please note that senior theses or senior projects may be undertaken only as senior thesis tutorials or projects and not as independent study. No more than two credits may be earned in a semester or summer for such special work. (See Fees, below.) Forms for independent study are available in the Dean's Office.

Education-in-the-Field—Approved education-in-the-field programs are listed under the sponsoring departments or colleges. They may be taken during the summer, during an authorized leave of absence or during an academic term. At the discretion of the department involved, up to two course credits per semester may be granted for education-in-the-field. Students must consult with the department in advance of undertaking education-in-the-field for approval of the nature of the responsibilities and method of evaluation. Credit and a grade for education-in-the-field will be posted to the student's transcript once a grade report has been submitted by the faculty sponsor.

Students pursuing an Education-in-the-Field during the summer or while on an authorized leave of absence during the academic year are not eligible for financial aid and will be charged a special tuition rate (see below). Students enrolled full-time may also pursue an education-in-the-field in conjunction with regular courses (for a combined total of at least three credits) and will be charged the full tuition rate. In no case will financial aid to a student in this category exceed the amount of aid the student would have received as a regular full-time student at the University.

Education-in-the-field programs are under the general supervision of the Educational Policy Committee. Information concerning specific procedures for the supervision and evaluation of education-in-the-field programs may be obtained from the sponsoring department or college. Forms for education-in-the-field are available at the Dean's Office.

No more than four credits earned through independent study and education-in-the-field combined can be counted toward the graduation requirements.

Fees for Independent Study, Education-in-the-Field and Credit from Unaccredited Institutions—Students engaged in independent study, enrolled only in education-in-the-field or taking a course at an unaccredited institution will pay a per-credit tuition charge equal to one-tenth of the prevailing tuition rate for the semester.

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Twelve-College Exchange Program

The Twelve-College Exchange Program is a cooperative program for residential student exchange between Wesleyan and the following colleges: Amherst, Bowdoin, Connecticut, Dartmouth, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Trinity, Vassar, Wellesley, Wheaton, and Williams. Students should note that Dartmouth and Williams will not accept students in 2002 –2003. Two special programs associated with the Twelve-College Exchange Program are the Williams-Mystic Seaport Program in American Maritime Studies in Mystic, Connecticut, sponsored by Williams College, and the National Theater Institute, in Waterford, Connecticut, sponsored by Connecticut College. Wesleyan sophomores, juniors, and seniors in good standing are eligible to apply to any of the participating institutions for either one semester or the full year. Participation in the Twelve-College Exchange Program by Wesleyan students does not count toward Wesleyan's residency requirement, but courses are coded for general education equivalency. Catalogs of participating colleges and information about the programs are available in the Office of International Studies.

Tuition and fees are paid to the host colleges; no fees are paid to Wesleyan. Financial-aid students may apply their Wesleyan assistance, with the exception of work/study benefits, toward expenses at the host college. It is the student's responsibility to complete any loan negotiations before leaving the Wesleyan campus. A Wesleyan student who participates in the exchange program is expected to abide by the rules and regulations of the host institution.

Students who wish to participate in the Twelve-College Exchange Program must apply through the Office of International Studies. Students may apply to only one college at a time. The deadline for submission of completed applications is February 1 for either or both semesters of the subsequent academic year. However, applications will be considered as long as space is available at the desired institution. Completed and approved applications are sent by Wesleyan to the respective colleges. If rejected by the college of their first choice, students may apply to a second college.

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Other Nonresident Programs

A small number of programs considered by the faculty to be of importance in supplementing the Wesleyan curriculum for students with certain academic interests are treated as nonresident study programs. Participants continue to be Wesleyan students, pay regular tuition to the University, and are not placed on leave of absence. Information about these programs can be obtained from the Office of International Studies, 105 Fisk Hall. Students planning to participate in these programs should check with their faculty advisor and class dean concerning their progress toward completion of the major and graduation. For students beginning their studies in the fall of 2000 or beyond, such study does not count toward the residency requirement.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)Visiting Student Program—Students wishing to pursue study at one of the HBCUs for a semester or the academic year may do so through the Office of the Dean of the College. Students should apply directly to the desired school and get their course selections approved in advance by their faculty advisor and the chair of the relevant departments. Students are expected to pay regular tuition to the University. Application for financial aid should be made to the Financial Aid Office.

Semester in Environmental Science (SES) at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole—The purpose of this program is to instruct students in the basic methods and principles of ecosystems science in a manner that enhances and supplements existing curricula in natural and environmental sciences at the colleges participating in the SES consortium. The program is interdisciplinary and offers a core curriculum, stressing team research and team study. See the chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences for information about the curriculum and application process.

The Urban Education Semester—This is a fully accredited, academic immersion program combining an interdisciplinary examination of inner-city public education with supervised, practical teaching experience in selected New York City public school classrooms. Each semester, students enroll in graduate courses at the Bank Street College of Education and work three days per week under the guidance of distinguished teachers. The Urban Education Semester introduces students to the theory and practice of urban education. This program is offered through the Venture Consortium. Interested students should contact the Career Resource Center.

Wesleyan-Trinity-Connecticut College Consortium—By special arrangement with Connecticut College and Trinity College, Wesleyan students may enroll, without additional cost, in courses given at these institutions. Normally, students will be permitted to take only courses not offered at Wesleyan. Enrollment is limited to one course per semester. Arrangements for enrollment may be made through the Office of the Registrar.

Combined 3-2 Programs in Science and Engineering—For students considering a career in engineering, the physics major is a good route into the 3-2 programs with California Institute of Technology and Columbia. Consult the Physics Department about the 3-2 program and for details on planning an appropriate program of study.

AFROTC—Qualified Wesleyan students may participate in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program at Detachment 115 at the University of Connecticut according to the Crosstown Enrollment Agreement. Students will not receive credit toward the Wesleyan degree for courses taken through any of these programs. Wesleyan will not assume responsibility for any part of the program that students choose to participate in through the AFROTC program at the University of Connecticut. It is not essential that students notify Wesleyan of their participation in this program. Students with questions about scholarship payments should contact Wesleyan's Office of Student Accounts. For more information about this program, contact the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Office at the University of Connecticut, (860) 486-2224.

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Teaching Apprentice Program

The Teaching Apprentice Program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to participate with a faculty member (who serves as master teacher) in the teaching of one of the faculty member's courses. The apprentice is enrolled in an apprenticeship tutorial conducted by the master teacher. The tutorials focus in varying degrees on the subject matter of the course and on the teaching activity itself. Apprentices are awarded one course credit for successful completion of the semester tutorial.

The Teaching Apprentice Program has two main objectives:

1. To provide an opportunity for advanced students to deepen their understanding of a subject while gaining insight into the teaching process.

2. To improve the learning environment in courses designed primarily for first- and second-year students by adding a student teacher who can bridge the “intellectual gap” between instructors and beginning students. The apprentice is viewed as a member of a teaching team rather than as a teaching assistant. While the interaction between the apprentice and the master teacher can take many forms, faculty are urged to design the role of the apprentice to stimulate greater participation in the learning activity by students in the course. Normally, the apprentice and master teacher have, in some prior activity, established the sort of intellectual rapport that will promote an effective team relationship.

Apprentice proposals should be developed by the master teacher with input, when possible, from the prospective apprentice. Applications should describe the teaching role to be played by the apprentice, the academic course work to be done in the apprenticeship tutorial, and the basis on which the apprentice will be evaluated. Applications must also meet the guidelines for apprenticeships established by the department or program and approved by the Educational Policy Committee. Faculty members must submit applications to the Office of Academic Affairs in October to apply for a spring-semester apprentice and in April to apply for a fall-semester apprentice. The following policies apply to teaching apprentices and teaching apprenticeships:

• If a student serves as an apprentice in the same course more than once, the student may receive no more than a total of one credit for teaching in that course.
• Teaching apprentices may not teach in group tutorials or student--forum courses.
• A student may not count more than two course credits earned in apprenticeship tutorials toward degree requirements.

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Course Assistants

While the Teaching Apprentice Program stresses the learning achieved by the student through the tutorial with the master teacher and through the student's teaching responsibilities, the Course Assistant Program stresses services rendered. Course assistants receive a stipend, but no credit. Faculty who would like to employ a student to assist with logistical and administrative aspects of a course (e.g., preparation of course materials, administrative assistance, grading of objective tests) rather than assistance in instruction may request support for a course assistant.

Funding for course assistant stipends is limited. The application process is competitive, and only those applications received before the deadlines and fitting the criteria for each program will be considered.

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Tutorials

Individual tutorials, numbered 401-402 and 421-422, are available only to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. A tutorial may not be given when a comparable course is available in the same academic year. Students may not count more than four course credits combined of individual and group tutorials toward degree requirements. Tutorial forms must be approved by the chair of the department or program in which the tutorial is given.

Tutorial applications should include a concise description of the work to be done, including the number of hours to be devoted to the tutorial, the number of meetings with the tutor, a reading list, and a description of the work on which the student's performance will be evaluated. Application forms are available at the Registrar's Office.

Tutorials for one credit normally should be added during the drop/add period. Partial-credit tutorials or full-credit tutorials beginning after the drop/add period must be added to a student's schedule within five days of the start of the academic exercise. The minimum credit amount for any tutorial is 0.25 credit.

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Student Forums

Student-run group tutorials, numbered 419 or 420, must be sponsored by a faculty member and approved by the chair of a department or program. Proposals for a student forum must be submitted by the department or program chair to the Office of Academic Affairs by the end of exams prior to the semester in which the course will be offered. The application forms and instructions are available at the Registrar's Office. Students may count two student forum course credits toward degree requirements but are limited to a combined maximum of two credits in physical education and student forum courses.

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