A Study Tour is a course combined with a short-term period of group travel designed to introduce you to other countries & cultures by bringing to life what you are learning in the classroom. SJU offers Study Tours in multiple disciplines and to several destinations each year in order to allow a variety of students to participate. Study Tours should not replace Study Abroad. (If you are considering studying abroad for a summer, semester or year, please contact CIP about these opportunities). However, some students may not have the time or course flexibility to spend a semester abroad. In this case, a Study Tour offers an introductory international experience.
Good reasons to participate in a Study Tour:
- For a learning experience intended to bring to life what is learned in the classroom
- To gain an introductory international experience, if your schedule prohibits you from spending a longer period of time abroad or if you plan to visit this destination later, for a full semester abroad
Not so good reasons to participate in a Study Tour:
- For a vacation (a Study Tour is a learning experience, not a vacation)
- To do your own thing in another country (because there are many classes and scheduled group events during a Tour – and little free time)
Who can go?
Mainly sophomores & juniors although depending on the course, sometimes freshmen and seniors may be permitted to attend. All students must take Study Tour courses FOR CREDIT. You cannot enroll in Study Tour course “for the travel portion only.” This means, you must register for the course for which you will get a grade and pay tuition. Once you register, your SJU account will be billed for both tuition and travel expenses.
When do Study Tours Run?
It varies. Some courses are spring courses with travel over spring break, or travel in May. Other courses are summer courses with travel in May or June. Occasionally there are fall courses with travel in August or spring courses with travel in January.
Study Tour or Study Abroad?
Students interested in gaining international experience may be unsure as to whether to pursue a Study Tour course or a Study Abroad semester, year or summer program. Here is a brief outline of some of the considerations.
- Courses. Study Abroad students must get pre-approval to take courses overseas so that they will transfer back to SJU for degree requirements. When enrolling in a Study Tour, a student is registering for an SJU class, taught by an SJU professor who will both meet with the group on campus before and after the travel and who will lead the group in classes or site visits during the Study Tour.
- Immersion. Study Abroad is typically done during a fall or spring semester with the emphasis placed on the individual U.S. student enrolling in an overseas university or host program to take a full load of courses. Study Abroad allows students many weeks to immerse themselves into the host country culture & language. A Study Tour is a short travel period designed for a group of students to visit one or several countries. Study Tours will have class meetings on site and students may engage in service learning or other experiences with host country nationals. Study Tours move as a group from site to site quickly, with lots of bus, train and airport transfers in a short time.
- Housing. Study Abroad students have many housing options available and may be able to live with a host family, with host country nationals, with other international students, or with other Americans in dorms or apartments. A Study Tour will typically have students living in dorms or tourist-class hotels.
- Free Time. Study Abroad students, who live in a host country for a year, semester or summer will have time outside of classes to explore host city, culture & country or neighboring countries as well. For Study Tour students, the focus is on the group visiting the sites associated with the course, so there is less free time for students to “do their own thing.”
