More than 700 St. Olaf students study off campus each year, among them many English majors. Opportunities for off-campus study include the English department’s own Interim programs, other St. Olaf-sponsored programs, and an array of programs offered by other institutions, in which St. Olaf students regularly participate. To offer just a couple of examples, students fulfill requirements for the English major by attending plays during the Theater in London January term course and by taking classes during a semester or a year abroad at another institution, often in the UK or the Republic of Ireland, such as the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Oxford University.
For more information about study abroad at St. Olaf, contact the Smith Center. The Smith Center has created a set of resources that offer suggestions about off-campus programs for students in various majors here.
If you would like to undertake study abroad, keep the following points in mind:
1. The English Department generally allows students to apply a maximum of 2 courses taken during study abroad toward major requirements. This is based on the expectation that students are studying abroad for roughly one semester (fall semester, spring semester, or Interim and spring semester). Students who would like to study abroad for a full-year should consult with the chair of the English Department. Credits earned during St. Olaf faculty-led off-campus Interim programs (such as Theater in London) are not subject to this rule. |
2. All classes used to fulfill major requirements for the two versions of the English major (the standard major and the modified major for student pursuing a teaching license) and the Creative Writing major must focus on literature originally written in English. Major credit is not given for courses on literature in translation or literature that is read in another language, even if those courses are taken in an English Department or Literature Department. This policy applies to classes taken on campus as well as courses taken elsewhere. |
3. Credits earned during study abroad generally transfer back to St. Olaf at the 100- or 200-level. Students should not plan to fulfill 300-level requirements while abroad. |
4. Department chairs and program directors must approve credits that are used to satisfy requirements for majors and concentrations. As you begin making plans to study abroad, you are welcome to contact the English Department Chair to discuss your plans. Before or soon after you are officially enrolled in courses, the chair can provide guidance on how courses earned abroad will apply to major requirements. If you are pursuing additional majors or concentrations, it is a good idea to get in touch with those chairs or program directors, too. |
5. The official approval of courses for major credit occurs after you return to campus and your grades are posted. After you complete your study abroad, it may take several weeks for grades earned abroad to show up in your official college records. Once your grades appear in SIS, contact the department chair. The chair can ensure that study abroad credits are correctly applied to your major requirements. |
6. The English Department is not involved in the approval of study abroad courses for general education/OLE Core requirements. Those approvals are done by the Registrar’s Office. Contact the Smith Center or the Registrar’s Office for more information. |