Study Abroad Opportunities

Students studying classical studies can choose from a number of study abroad programs in Italy:

• Fairfield University in Florence: This program is strong in Italian language, liberal arts and humanities, studio art and international business. Except for Italian language classes, all courses are held in English. Saint Joseph’s University students enroll in 5 courses; the academic calendar is similar to a semester at St. Joe's.
• Gonzaga University in Florence: Designed as a junior year of study, the Gonzaga program is also open to students wishing to spend a semester or summer in Florence. Courses cover a wide range of subjects in the humanities, as well as in business. 
• ICCS - Rome Program: The Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies (ICCS) in Rome now has 90 member institutions and provides undergraduate students with an opportunity in Rome to study ancient history and archaeology, Greek and Latin literature and ancient art. 
• Temple University in Rome: This program offers excellent courses in architecture, international business, liberal arts and visual arts. Except for courses in Italian language and literature, all instruction is in English. Students with no previous Italian experience must enroll in a beginning Italian course during their first semester in Rome. Saint Joseph’s University students take five courses; the academic calendar is similar to a semester at St. Joe's.

For more information, please contact the Center for International Programs.

French majors and minors are strongly encouraged to study abroad for a semester, year or summer. Living and studying in a French-speaking country will enhance your language skills and offer you valuable insights into the cultures of the country, as well as broaden your perspective on the world and on your place in it. Students have opportunities to study at approved universities in Paris, France and may petition to study elsewhere in France or other Francophone countries.

• IES Paris French Studies program: Students in this program take all of their courses in French and study subjects ranging from French language to sociology to art history to communications. They may complete an internship and have the opportunity to take a course at a partner university, such as the Sorbonne or the Ecole normale de musique de Paris.
• IES Paris Business and International Affairs program: This program offers courses in both French and English. Students take a French language course and do the rest of their coursework in subjects such as management, international business, economics and political science. They may also complete an internship and have the opportunity to take a course at a partner institution such as Novancia Business School Paris.

For more information, please contact the Center for International Programs.

Students in German are strongly encouraged to participate in a study abroad program either on our affiliated program in Vienna, Austria or a program of their own choosing for either one full semester or for a junior year abroad opportunity. The Vienna program is administered by IES Abroad. In addition, students may attend a non-affiliated SJU program of their own choosing. In order to do so, students must petition the Center for International Programs through the online application system. 

In addition, students can study during the summer at one of the many University programs after consultation with the German faculty. Summer study courses are offered in many cities and major towns in Germany and Austria at various language levels. There are also special offerings for those students interested in the arts or in business. An excellent source of information is the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) website. You can find information on university-organized programs in alphabetical order by the city’s name. Take a look at the course offerings, find a course of interest to you and then get in touch with Dr. Buckley.

Students of Italian are encouraged to study abroad in Italy. Studying abroad helps students test and refine their language skills through daily interaction with native speakers. It also allows them to experience the culture so they can articulate a personal vision and understanding of it. 

In cooperation with the Center for International Programs, we offer several opportunities for study experiences in Italy that will truly be memorable. Please remember that in order for your courses to count for Italian credit, they must be approved by the department chair and program director before you leave. 

• Rome Summer program: Led by faculty at Saint Joseph's University, Saint Joseph’s Rome Summer Program takes place at the American University of Rome in Trastevere. While taking an intensive language course, students participate in cultural activities, on-site lessons and excursions to Florence, Siena, Assisi, Capri, Pompeii and Sorrento.
• Study Tours: Our study tours are designed for students who want to experience the culture and heritage of Italy but who can only allot approximately fifteen days for travel during the summer. Students will attend 8-10 classes on campus in preparation for the study tour. These classes serve as an introduction to the history, geography, art and literature of Italy and on the special topics addressed during the tour. 
• Semester and year abroad: Students may study at approved universities in Florence, Rome and Milan. In Florence, students can take courses at Fairfield University and at Gonzaga University. In Rome, students can take courses at the centrally located American University of Rome and at John Cabot University. In Milan, students may attend the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Students are typically housed in apartments in neighborhoods nearby the campus. A variety of courses are offered in Italian language, literature and culture at all levels. There are also courses in English, the arts and sciences and business, as well as courses that can fulfill GEP requirements.

For more information, please contact the Center for International Programs.

Students who wish to count study abroad courses for their Spanish major or minor should make an appointment with the Center for International Programs and also contact Dr. Elaine Shenk, coordinator for study abroad in Spanish, before choosing courses. Spanish majors and minors are strongly encouraged to study abroad for a semester, year or summer as a way to enhance their language skills. There are many benefits to studying abroad that make it an essential part of an SJU student experience. As a Spanish language student, living and studying in a Spanish-speaking country will give you valuable insights into the cultures of that country and the issues faced by its people. It will broaden your perspective on the world and on your place in it.

As a student at Saint Joseph's, there are several programs available to you depending on your particular needs and interests:

Buenos Aires, Argentina

For those with excellent language skills and an interest in studying in Buenos Aires, Saint Joseph's University, through the Institute for Study Abroad-Butler University (IFSA-Butler) offers the Argentine Universities Program. Participants in this program enroll in regular university courses alongside full degree-seeking Argentinean students. They can choose from a wide variety of disciplines offered at a few different universities. This immersion experience gives you a chance to blend in with Argentinean university students just like yourself. Students in this program stay with host families and interact mainly with local (Buenos Aires) university students. This program follows a South American academic calendar, which varies slightly from St. Joe's. Consult the Center for International Programs for more details.

Santiago, Chile

The Universidad Alberto Hurtado in Santiago, Chile emphasizes academic preparation and a sense of social responsibility on both the local and the global levels. Students take courses depending on their language skill levels; more advanced students take classes with UAH (Chilean) and other international students, and others take specially designed courses for study abroad students. All courses, regardless of level, are taught in Spanish, and an optional three-week intensive Spanish course is available to incoming participants who want to improve their language skills prior to the semester. This program follows a slightly different academic calendar than St. Joe's; interested students should consult the Center for International Programs. Participants in this program stay either with families or in the dorms.

Students interested in economic development and globalization might choose to spend a semester abroad at the School for International Training (SIT) in Santiago, Chile. Students study economic development through a variety of disciplines and also have the opportunity to meet union activists, government officials and community organizers. They also deepen their understanding of a particular area of interest by completing an independent research project. Students stay with host families and in small hotels and are usually housed with other U.S. students.

Granada, Spain

Those wishing to study in the south of Spain can participate in the University of Delaware’s semester abroad in Granada. This program also offers courses in a variety of disciplines, such as art, history, political science, international relations and literature. All courses are taught in Spanish. Students also take a common course on contemporary Spain. Students participating in this program stay with host families in and around Granada.

Most of these programs require some level of Spanish language proficiency, which varies depending on the program. There is also a minimum GPA requirement, ranging from 2.5 for the SIT Chile-Economic Development program to 3.00 for the Argentinean Universities program. For more detailed information, please visit the Center for International Programs.

Madrid, Spain

In addition to the Granada program, St. Joe's also offers a study abroad program in Madrid, Spain. SJU in Madrid is conducted in conjunction with St. Louis University in Missouri. Students in this program enroll for one or two semesters or in the summer, reside either with host families or in dormitory-like residences and take courses in either Spanish or English. (Courses must be taken in Spanish in order to receive Spanish language credit.) Courses are offered in a number of fields, such as the arts and humanities, business, communications, engineering and the sciences.