St. Olaf College, through the Smith Center for Global Engagement, offers study abroad and away programs that serve the mission of the College at sites in the United States and abroad. These programs integrate academic and experiential education. The experiential component of these programs amplifies and extends the liberal arts learning that occurs on campus and enhances students' global engagement.
Approximately two-thirds of all St. Olaf students participate in study abroad/away programs, many of them led by St. Olaf faculty members. Of the participants, about 80-85 percent study abroad internationally in one of over 40 countries, in places as diverse as Aberdeen, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Konstanz, Quito, Sydney, and Tokyo. Around 15-20 percent participate in U.S. study away programs — ranging from January Term courses focused on dance in New York City or art in New Mexico, to semester programs with courses on environmental history in Oregon or an internship in Washington, D.C. The National Student Exchange offers a semester abroad/away at one of over 160 universities across the U.S., U.S. Territories, and Canada. A number of students find study abroad/away so valuable that they participate in two or three programs during their years at St. Olaf. Of equal importance is the fact that faculty members find these programs extremely rewarding — both for their students and for their own teaching and scholarship.
The Smith Center advises St. Olaf students on selecting a program, financial aid and scholarships, and preparing to study abroad or away.
Policies and Procedures
Students are responsible for adhering to the regulations and policies contained in the Academic Regulations and Procedures section of this catalog. In particular, students on St. Olaf study abroad/away programs are directed to refer to the policies on “Graded and Ungraded Courses” for full details on how these programs affect graduation requirements.
Qualifications
Nearly all St. Olaf students who study abroad or away do so during their sophomore, junior, or the first semester or January Term of their senior years. A few January Term programs are open to first-year students on a space-available basis. Students are not allowed to study abroad in their final semester at St. Olaf. The college’s 4-1-4 calendar (two semesters separated by a January term in January) contributes to the flexibility: it enables students to participate in programs that last a month, a summer, a semester, or a full year.
Students intending to take part in a recognized study abroad or away program must be in good academic and disciplinary standing and able to participate in the essential learning activities of the program. Students with documented disabilities may request accommodations to enable them to participate in most study abroad or away programs, though not every program can accommodate every disability. Many programs have prerequisites, including introductory or advanced courses in a specific discipline or certain levels of language proficiency. Some programs are competitive, and applicants are accepted based on the student's GPA, related coursework, class standing, and/or the quality of the application and/or interview. Details about all St. Olaf-approved January term, summer, semester and year-long programs, program advisors, prerequisites, and application deadlines and procedures are found on the Smith Center for Global Engagement's website.
Fees
Students who participate in study abroad or away programs pay St. Olaf tuition plus program fees and out-of-pocket costs. Complete cost information for each program is available on the Smith Center application website. St. Olaf financial aid is applied to Smith Center programs and additional study abroad/away scholarships are also available. Information about scholarships for Smith Center programs is available from the Financial Aid Office or from Smith Center advisors or refer to our Scholarship Framework for estimated scholarship percentages by family income.
Faculty-Led Programs
St. Olaf faculty members organize and lead semester-long programs. The Global Semester is offered annually during fall semester. Environmental Science in Australia and New Zealand and Religion, Politics and Society in Jerusalem and Athens are offered every other year during the spring semester. The Smith Center for Global Engagement Application Website and the links below include program details, eligibility requirements, costs, and application processes and timelines.
The Global Semester (Fall Semester)
The Global Semester is a fall semester academic program which gives students insight into sites around the world. Through the combination of coursework in a variety of disciplines and cultural learning opportunities, the semester provides a remarkable experience of academic merit and personal development. The itinerary takes the group around the world. Students spend approximately one month each in three sites where courses are offered, with shorter stays in any other sites. A fourth course, taught by the accompanying St. Olaf faculty member, lasts the duration of the semester. The courses and itinerary change from year to year, but the program is designed to fulfill several OLE core requirements, including the Ole Experience in Practice. The program is typically highly competitive for admission. The Global Semester is partially funded by an endowment. The program costs the same as a semester on campus (tuition, residence halls, and full meal plan).
Environmental Science in Australia and New Zealand (Spring Semester)
Note: The Environmental Science semester is offered every other year, typically in even years (2024, 2026, etc.)
The flora, fauna, ecological habitats, human history, and geology of Australia and New Zealand offer opportunities for study that are unique for their diversity and time horizons. The landscapes range from white sandy beaches to dry bush inland to broadleaf, temperate, and tropical rainforests. The diversity of mammalian fauna, over 600 species of eucalyptus, and the Great Barrier Reef provide examples of how biological organisms have adapted to the isolation of the Australian continent and the islands of New Zealand.
The human history is no less fascinating. Aboriginal Australians represent the oldest continuous culture in the world today, and the Maori exemplify Polynesian expansion and settlement more than 500 years prior to Europeans. Students will learn how people’s adaptation to environmental conditions shows remarkable innovation, as well as how the recent European invasion significantly altered Indigenous lifestyle and affected many environmental parameters.
In addition to increasing our understanding of human behavior across cultures, students explore how various animals and humans navigate their environment – an ability fundamental to species survival - as the group travels from place to place in Australia and New Zealand. A combination of lectures, extensive field experiences, and brief research projects enable students to learn about and appreciate this fascinating area of the world. All courses - Terrestrial Ecology, Marine Biology, Cultural Anthropology, Environmental Policy, and the Ole Experience in Practice reflection seminar - are taken concurrently and will be highly integrated to provide a strong interdisciplinary focus. Students considering this program should be aware that it has a demanding physical schedule and moves frequently to new locations. The program is typically highly competitive for admission. Partial scholarships are automatically awarded for accepted students with demonstrated financial need.
Religion, Politics and Society in Jerusalem and Athens (Spring Semester)
Note: Religion, Politics and Society semester is offered every other year, typically in odd years (2025, 2027, etc.).
Special Note: This program is currently on hiatus and is not open to applications for 2024-25.
The Religion, Politics and Society in Jerusalem and Athens is a semester length faculty led program that spends two months in Israel & Palestine and one month in Greece, plus a shorter visit to Jordan. The program meets the requirements for four OLE Core Requirements: Ole Experience in Practice; Religion, Faith and Values; Christian Theology in Dialogue; and either Global Histories and Societies or Social Science. The program is based primarily in Jerusalem, Israel and Athens, Greece, with excursions in both countries as well as Palestine and Jordan. Students take the following courses: 1) Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Sacred Encounter in the Text, which explores the Abrahamic texts and place in Israel and Palestine and how they animate contemporary life. 2) Political Theology, which focuses on the Middle East and the Israel/Palestinian conflict, with additional case studies of other Arab countries. 3) East or West: A Cultural Sociology of Greece, which is placed in the geographical and ideological crossroads of Greece and examines how historical events and forces shape modern life. 4) Ole Experience in Practice, which is a reflective course connecting the experiential and curricular elements of their semester. The Religion, Politics & Society semester is partially funded by an endowment. The program costs the same as a semester on campus (tuition, residence halls, and full meal plan).
Faculty-Led January Term and Summer Courses
Study abroad or away courses are developed and led by St. Olaf faculty each January Term and, rarely, in summer session. Courses vary from year to year and require an application. Most programs are highly competitive for admission, as there are more applicants than spaces.
Approved courses are listed under the Courses tab for each academic department in the St. Olaf Catalog, designated by "study abroad" or "study away" following the course title. Courses open for applications in a given year are listed on the Smith Center application website with course details, eligibility requirements, costs, and application processes and timelines. Partial scholarships are automatically awarded for accepted students with demonstrated financial need.
Interested students may seek advising from Smith Center staff and the faculty member leading the course. Financial aid counselors are able to estimate approximate scholarship amounts for an individual applicant or students may refer to our Scholarship Framework for estimated scholarship percentages by family income.
Academic Civic Engagement (ACE) Courses
Community partners are integral to the ACE experience. St. Olaf believes in the importance and impact of maintaining connections with local communities (here in Northfield and beyond). Over the past years, the ACE office has collaborated with a diverse set of community partners in many industries, whether it be local or global. Community partners have benefited from ACE experiences in many different ways, including gaining insights into research and theories, working with passionate college students, and getting much-needed support for their organizations from St. Olaf students.
Approximately 600 St. Olaf students take an ACE course each year. To find ACE course offerings for the upcoming academic year, select the "Only Academic Civic Engagement (ACE)" checkbox in the St. Olaf Class and Lab Schedule or visit the Academic Civic Engagement web site.
