Study Abroad (Experiential Learning)

The Rosemont core curriculum contains an experiential education requirement for all students. To comply with this requirement, the Office of Experiential Learning coordinates internships, service learning, and study abroad experiences to assist students in their learning activities. The office is a resource for students in securing internships during the academic year and the summer. Further, the office participates with faculty in the evaluation of internship goals and learning outcomes.

The office also helps faculty incorporate Service Learning into their classes by developing contacts with community organizations. Service Learning relies on a pedagogy which involves cooperation between faculty, students and community organizations in an interactive learning experience. In an increasingly interdependent world, study abroad is an important and vital component of any educational experience. With the assistance of this office, students can explore a large variety of study abroad options.

Internships

The office is a resource for students in securing internships during the academic year and the summer. Further, the office participates with faculty in the evaluation of internship goals and learning outcomes.

Service Learning

The office also helps faculty incorporate Service Learning into their classes by developing contacts with community organizations. Service Learning relies on a pedagogy which involves cooperation between faculty, students, and community organizations in an interactive learning experience.

Study Abroad

In an increasingly interdependent world, study abroad is an important and vital component of any educational experience. With the assistance of this office, students can explore a large variety of study abroad options.

The College encourages every student to at least consider taking an internship as part of the Rosemont Works experiential component. Information on credit and non-credit internships is available in the Office of Experiential Learning.

Full semester internships are student-initiated and can be arranged for qualified students in most disciplines with the approval of the faculty member in that field. Students should seek information from their mentors or the coordinator of Experiential Learning.

SIGNIFICANT CRITERIA FOR INTERNSHIPS INCLUDE:

• The student must apply for an internship credit in a timely manner, completing the forms available in the Office of Experiential Learning by the end of drop/add period.
• The application must include a detailed description of the terms of the internship and evaluative procedure to be used during the semester.
• The student must spend a minimum of twelve hours at the internship site for every academic credit she receives. She must have an on-site sponsor who takes responsibility for teaching the student, avoiding merely routine tasks.
• A designated Rosemont supervisor or the coordinator of Experiential Learning will monitor and evaluate the internship, visiting the site where feasible.
• The student will keep a journal, write papers, or perform other reflective written assignments, as directed by their academic mentor and or supervisor. These assignments are not necessarily the student's only obligation for the course.
• There will be an evaluation form for the student and the supervisor as part of the internship experience. These will be kept in the student's permanent file.

Credits for internships will be determined by the department based on duration and academic merit of the internship.

Benefits for students

• Engages active learning: the best way to learn is through active participation.
• Wider career options: explore the career possibilities of public service and non-profit institutions.
• Personal growth and development: one of the best ways to help yourself is to help someone else. Through service, you will gain skills and experience that will help you for the rest of your life, both in work and in society.
• Meet community needs: do you think we can rely on government to solve all out problems? Each one of us must do our part to help make our community better for ourselves and others.
• Develops civic responsibility: our country was founded on an ethic of service. The health of our democracy depends on service and community involvement. Working toward the common good is something we must all practice.
• Enhances self image: service allows you to make a difference through active and meaningful contribution to your communities.
• Broadens perspective: our critical thinking skills get stronger when you are challenged to examine, question, and refine, or change your perceptions, assumptions, and beliefs with regard to the world in which we live. This leads to a more valuable, successful life.
• Reflect on your life goals: demonstrates to students that learning and civic engagement are life-changing, life-long activities.
• Expands your resume: community projects are excellent experiences to expand your resume, and show prospective employers or graduate schools the breadth of your background.
• Increased resources: develop new networks, connections, friends, and mentors in places you never knew you would.
  

Benefits for faculty

• Research: fertile ground for new ideas and roles, new avenues for research and publication.
• New perspective: different access to subjects, new opinions on society and its problems.
• New colleagues and resources.
• Better courses: can improve the ability of students to the practical implications of the course materials. Can be more useful in encouraging class participation in lectures and discussions.
• Community applications of scholarship. 
  

Benefits for community organization

• Provides human resources: helps an agency meet its immediate educational, human safety, and environmental needs. The talent, energy, and enthusiasm of our university students are applied to meet these ever-increasing needs. In the longer term, it can help a community agency recruit possible future professionals for the field.
• Democracy: students may commit to a lifetime of volunteering after this experience, creating a democracy of participation. Student input can improve agency performance and give professionals fresh perspectives on the community they serve.
• Creates civic responsibility: fosters a renewed sense of community, which may encourage participatory democracy and wider public understanding and support for the agency.
• Broaden agency goals: community agencies gain the opportunity to participate in an educational partnership. Helps agencies maintain programs that lack government resources.

Rosemont College offers several short-term study abroad opportunities in the summer to Italy, Spain, Ireland, and Ecuador. Several classes also include study abroad components that involve ten-day trips during the fall and spring breaks.

Rosemont College partners with The College of Global Studies at Arcadia University, American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), Academic Programs International (API), and Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA) for semester abroad programs.

The College of Global Studies offers over 100 programs in over sixteen countries for undergraduate and graduate students all ranging in length from semester, year, and short-term study/research abroad programs.

An independent study abroad organization, API provides living, travel, educational, and cultural opportunities for U.S. students in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, England, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Qatar, Spain, and the UAE.

CEA Global Education provides college study abroad programs to American students in 14 countries and 24 cities across the globe.

AUSTRIA: SALZBURG COLLEGE, SALZBURG

www.salzburgcollege.com

Study in English in the beautiful city of Salzburg with European professors. The experience includes an extensive program of course-related field trips, internship opportunities and cultural events, including a one-week trip through Germany, a five-day trip to Vienna, and a day trip to Munich. Students are housed with Austrian families and have a chance to truly experience Austrian culture.

FRANCE: CEFAM CENTRE D'ETUDES FRANCO AMERICAIN DE MANAGEMENT, LYON

www.cefam.fr

Experience France through a semester in Lyon. France's gastronomic capital, Lyon is the largest city in France after Paris. A dynamic business school, CEFAM offers an opportunity for students to study business and non-business subjects in English with French and other international students.

GHANA: ASHESI UNIVERSITY

www.ashesi.org

WHY STUDY IN AFRICA?

For a unique educational experience, study abroad at Ashesi University in Accra, Ghana. Students who study at Ashesi University for a semester can take a range of courses in Liberal Arts, Business and Computer Science. For a complete list of course offerings click on the link below. Ghana is located in West Africa between the countries of Togo and Ivory Coast. Most Ghanaians speak English, which along with a number of African languages, Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga, is the official language of Ghana. The country has a tropical climate and Accra, the capital, is located on the coast.

ITALY: THE UMBRA INSTITUTE, PERUGIA

www.umbra-institute.com

Immerse yourself in Italian culture. Study in a city both ancient and new. Study in the capital city of Umbria, a region of green hills covered with vineyards and olive groves, and beautiful landscapes. This program offers a range of classes in English as well as classes in Italian at the Universita per Stranieri di Perugia, an Italian university licensed by the Ministry of Education to award degrees (Italian laurea) in various disciplines.

SPAIN: CEA/ POMPEO FABRA UNIVERSITY, BARCELONA

www.gowithcea.com/pf@city=barcelona/hi/highlights.html

Spend a semester in Barcelona, capital of Catalonia. An exciting, vibrant Spanish city located on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona is the dynamic place for students. It also offers a great home base in order to travel to other countries in Europe.