Accreditation and Academics

 

This section highlights information that has proven useful to advisors and faculty.

SIT is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., a non-governmental, nationally recognized organization. Further academic information can be found in the Academics and Experience Our Programs sections.  For more information about World Learning, please read About SIT/World Learning.

Partnership Council

SIT has established a small group of university-based colleagues in our Partnership Council. The SIT Study Abroad Partnership Council provides additional perspectives and expertise on the design, delivery, and assessment of our field-based programs and their integration into undergraduate curricula. See below for a list of Partnership Council membership, and a list of representative sending schools.
 
See list of  SIT Study Abroad Partnership Council members
 

Syllabi

Syllabi for SIT coursework can be found on our website. Advisors and faculty sometimes require additional documentation, beyond what is found on our website, to evaluate courses and programs for credit transfer. Please encourage students to retain copies of all of course materials received in-country, but also know that your University Relations Manager can often assist you in gathering materials. Requests usually involve communication and exchange of documents with SIT program staff in-country, so an immediate reply may not be possible.

 

Academic Directors

Academic Directors lead SIT Study Abroad’s in-country staff and are responsible for instructional content, synthesizing classroom and field experience, and daily program operations. Academic Directors work closely with key program contributors and advisors to craft a curriculum and research experience that meets individual student needs. Academic Directors also teach the Field Study Seminar, plan educational excursions, and conduct orientation sessions, regular debriefings, and a final re-entry seminar.

Each Academic Director brings a unique set of skills and experiences critical to providing a rich study abroad experience for each student. Collectively, they have educational credentials earned both in the US and abroad, with degrees and research specialties in a wide range of disciplines. They include university professors, published authors, scientists, former Peace Corps volunteers, community activists, and others with extensive experience in education institutions and local and international nongovernmental organizations.

Information and Curriculum Vitae for individual Academic Directors are available on each program page.

Undergraduate Research/Independent Study Project

We encourage advisors and faculty to discuss the Independent Study Project (ISP) with students, particularly with regard to how the fieldwork and final project may integrate into the curriculum at your institution. There are many ways to assist your students with the ISP.

Before the program:

  • Help students be realistic about the timeframe when deciding on a topic
  • Recommend background reading and other resources
  • Remind students about on-line databases available at your school. Students will have access to SIT libraries
  • Advise on how the SIT Human Subjects Policy interacts with your institutional policies on undergraduate research

Upon return:

  • Encourage students to continue related research upon return to campus
  • Alert students to opportunities to present their ISP findings at conferences, both on-campus and off

Learn more about SIT Study Abroad Undergraduate Research

Sample Independent Study Projects (ISPs)

View sample SIT Study Abroad Independent Study Projects