Admissions

Study Abroad

Student in NamibiaSimpson encourages students to make the world their classroom! Internships and travel abroad provide students the opportunity to learn skills in an exciting yet practical setting. Simpson is even listed as one of the top 100 colleges in the nation by US News and World Report, for the highest percentage of students traveling abroad.

Simpson is on a 4-4-1 calendar:  two four-month semesters and one three-week term in May consisting of one concentrated course, making it easy for students to see the world.

May Term
Three Short Weeks. Endless Opportunities.

May Term gives you the opportunity to explore in-depth interests you have outside your major, or to explore your career choice through an internship or career observation. The flexibility of May Term allows for various study experiences including travel abroad or in the United States, an internship in your career choice, and various on-campus classes, such as "The European Economic Community", "Film Study: American Cinema", "Environmental Ethics" and "Culture and Personality."

One of the most popular offerings during May Term is the opportunity to travel within the United States or abroad. Whether students are touring the remains of the Berlin Wall in Germany or walking the Great Wall of China, May Term travel courses are experiences most students won’t soon forget.  For many, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that offers students a taste of another culture while teaching them a great deal about their own.

May Term Travel Courses for 2009 include:

Courses traveling to Europe:

  • Expanding the European Union: Germany and Poland
  • Irish Arts: Mirror or Mover
  • Media in Ireland
  • Discover Britain and Ireland 2009: Historic Locations in British and Irish History
  • Bringing the Flemish and French Renaissance to Life with The Madrigal Singers
  • America and France in the 21st Century

Chameleon in MadagascarCourses traveling to Central or South America:

  • Contemporary Argentina: Culture, Trade & the Economy
  • Natural History of Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands

Courses traveling to Asia:

  • Thailand: the Culture and People of a Developing Nation

Courses traveling to Africa:

  • Rwanda: Service Learning through Arts Education

View full course descriptions

May Term Travel Courses for 2008 included:

  • Roman England: An Archaeological Adventure
  • Natural History of Madagascar
  • Sights, Art, and Schools of New Zealand
  • French Polynesian Culture
  • China in the 21st Century: Progress and Human Rights
  • Global Health: Confronting AIDS in Namibia
  • Globalization and Development in Costa Rica
  • Irish Arts: Mirror or Mover
  • Politics of a New Democracy (Brazil)
  • Ghana, The Heart of West African Culture
  • Culture, History and the Arts in Great Britain

Beyond the Campus

In addition to the May Term travel courses, Simpson offers semester-long study experiences in foreign countries and throughout the United States.  These programs include internships, supervised work experiences, independent research projects and semester-long study arrangements.

Programs offering off-campus domestic study include the Washington Semester at American University in Washington, D.C., and the United Nations Semester in conjunction with Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

Simpson offers semester-long programs in which a Simpson faculty member leads the group, serves as the resident director, and teaches one or more of the courses. Such programs are located in:

London, England
Live and learn with other Simpson students in one of the world's great historical, cultural, political, and economic centers. Study tours to sites outside London also included. Next scheduled for Fall '09.

Tahiti, French Polynesia
Study for a semester in the tropical paradise of a South Pacific island which offers a rich cultural environment combining both Western and non-Western cultural elements in one location. All students, regardless of major, are welcome to participate in the program with the prerequisite of FREN 101. Next scheduled for Spring '10.

Rosario, Argentina
Hone your Spanish-speaking skills while immersing yourself in the culture and beauty of Argentina. From the splendor of the Iguazú Falls in the north, to the breathtaking Perito Moreno Glacier in the south, from the impressive Andes Mountains in the west to the lights of the charming capital city of Buenos Aires in the east, there is no shortage of intriguing places to explore. All students are welcome to participate with the prerequisite of SPAN 102. Next scheduled for Spring '10.

Schorndorf, Germany
An intensive learning experience where students study German language, culture, history, and literature while living with German families. Included are visits to historical and cultural sites and week-long study tours to Munich and Berlin. Next scheduled for Spring '11.

Nakorn Pathom, Thailand
Learn about Thai culture and language through significant interactions with the people of Thailand during this multi-faceted program, based at the Christian University of Thailand. Opportunities for service-learning, internships or independent study are available, and visits to places such as Kanchanaburi, Korat, and Ko Samet round out this exciting program. Next scheduled for Spring '11.

If you would like more information about any of the international programs, please visit the Simpson Study Abroad Web page.

Last Updated: 8/11/09