2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 19, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Study Abroad


 

As a corollary to its mission to prepare women to be active, responsible members of a world community, Sweet Briar encourages qualified students to spend all or part of the junior year in study abroad. The College sponsors and directs the Sweet Briar JYF in Paris program and has special relationships with universities in Japan, England and Scotland. Some Sweet Briar financial aid may be used by students to pursue studies in these programs. Students interested in other programs may apply for special study abroad scholarships. These scholarship opportunities are limited and competitive. The College also approves other programs for credit under the sponsorship of accredited four-year domestic colleges, universities or other educational organizations, or by direct admission to accredited foreign institutions, including internships abroad. General foreign study information is available from the director of international students and study abroad, who works to match each student to a program that fits her academic and career goals. Students must apply for their study abroad through the international students and study abroad office to be considered eligible for Sweet Briar scholarships.

Requirements

GPA

Students must have a 2.7 GPA or above in order to be eligible to study abroad. Most study abroad programs or foreign institutions also have their own minimum GPA requirement for admission. Students with a GPA below 2.7 but above a 2.5, should discuss program options and special considerations with the study abroad office prior to completing the Sweet Briar application.

Language

Students must meet the program’s language requirement, if applicable.

Class Standing

Students are eligible to study abroad starting in their third semester as a Sweet Briar College student. For students without transfer credit, this is the first semester of their sophomore year. Transfer students should meet with the study abroad office and their academic advisor to determine the most suitable time to study abroad. There may be some exceptions made for students whose academic program only allows them to study abroad in the first semester of their sophomore year.

Academic and Disciplinary Status

Study abroad applicants on disciplinary and/or academic probation must meet with the study abroad office. Approval to study when on disciplinary and/or academic probation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. Approval will be granted by the academic dean, the dean of student life, and the director of international studies and study abroad.

Credit Transfer

Students may transfer up to 17 credits for one semester abroad and up to 35 credits for an academic year abroad. Students must enroll in a minimum local equivalent of 12 credits during a semester abroad. A grade of C- or better is required in order to transfer the credit.

Sweet Briar Semester/Academic Year Program

JYF in Paris

JYF in Paris (JYF) is the oldest coeducational intercollegiate study abroad program in Paris. Created in 1923 by the University of Delaware, JYF has been administered by Sweet Briar College in Virginia since 1948.

JYF offers semester- and year-long programs, and continues its established tradition of excellence in study abroad, providing a true immersion experience for students. All JYF classes are taught in French at one of the universities in Paris. Students are mostly housed with families and have the opportunity to participate in internships, volunteering and excursions organized by the program.

Other Semester/Academic Year Programs

Hollins Abroad-London

Sweet Briar has an agreement with Hollins University for our students to participate in its Hollins Abroad-London program. The program is offered in both fall and spring semesters. Available courses are limited; students interested in the program should meet with the director of international students and study abroad and their academic advisor to ensure the program is appropriate for the major. This program is most suited for students in the humanities.

Japanese Studies Program at Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts

The Japanese Studies Program (JSP) at Doshisha Women’s College was started in 1992. This fall semester program offers both Japanese language courses and courses in Japanese culture conducted in English. Some prior knowledge of Japanese is required. All students stay with Japanese families whose daughters attend the college. The campus is located midway between Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, and provides students with easy access to these major cultural centers.

McDaniel Europe in Budapest, Hungary

Sweet Briar has an agreement with McDaniel College to participate in McDaniel Europe in Budapest, Hungary. This program is offered in both the fall and spring semesters. All classes are taught in English in a variety of subjects depending on student’s major and interests.

The University of St Andrews

Sweet Briar has had an affiliation with the University of St Andrews in Scotland since the early 1930s. Candidates for study at St Andrews will be considered on the basis of the match between their fields of study and academic records, their capacity for independent work and their maturity. Although students are advised to spend a full year at the university, St Andrews also offers single-semester study abroad programs.

Summer Program

Virginia Program at Oxford

Each summer, a select group of Sweet Briar students travels to the University of Oxford to study the history and literature of Renaissance England through the Virginia Program at Oxford. The six-week academic program follows the English system, combining small-group tutorials with lectures by world-class experts. The program also includes co-curricular and cultural events such as performances at Shakespeare’s Globe theater in London, a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon (the birthplace of Shakespeare) and a traditional English croquet match. Successful completion of the program earns students three credits in history and three credits in English and creative writing. Students in any class year and in any major are encouraged to apply.