New Course Proposal Development
Great news that you are considering developing a study abroad/away course! We recognize that faculty come with different levels of expertise, with prior experience or none, and with more- and less-developed ideas. The Smith Center director is happy to support you as you continue to develop your course proposal through to submission to the curriculum committee. Once the course is approved, the Smith Center will assign a liaison who will be your main contact from approval of the course through to your return to campus.
☐ Develop your course topic and objectives as you would an on-campus course.
- Course outline and learning objectives
- Course learning activities
- Course assessments
- Course pre-requisites (if any)
- Contribution of the course to the St. Olaf curriculum (GE, major/concentration, interdisciplinary)
☐ Consider what you will bring to a study abroad/away course.
- Do you have group leadership experience? Recognize student care responsibility?
- What is your level of expertise and/or familiarity with the location(s), language(s), and culture(s)?
- Do you have international travel experience? Do you have limitations on international travel?
- What contacts can you leverage to enhance the experience?
- How might a study abroad/away course enhance your on-campus teaching and scholarship?
☐ Develop the course itinerary and activities. Be explicit about the links to the course objectives.
- Where will you spend time and why?
- How much time in each place (if multiple locations)?
- How can the site help achieve and/or enhance the course objectives?
- How strong is the student appeal of the location you have chosen?
- What is your level of expertise and/or familiarity with the location(s)?
- How will free time be structured into the program? What opportunities exist for students in their free time?
- Are there already other Smith Center programs in that location? How will your course be distinct?
- What are the essential elements of your course? Disability accommodations may be legally required when teaching abroad/away, just as they are on campus. Knowing the essential elements of your course (e.g., group work, ability to navigate rocky terrain) will help you determine what accommodations can reasonably be made.
- Consider the known and/or potential risks on-site (e.g., endemic disease, rip currents) and arrangements you can put in place for health and safety risk management, including housing.
☐ Prepare a budget that is mindful of student costs (the Smith Center will assist you to develop a budget)
- How will the group travel?
- Where will you stay?
- What will the cost of potential activities be (transportation, time, tickets/entry fees, materials)?
☐ Brainstorm a list of on-site resources that supplement what you can do as the faculty leader
- What are the online or pre-departure resources that will help students prepare?
- Who is available to guest lecture? How will they contribute to the students’ learning?
- What are the on-site library/archival resources?
- What are the local resources (architecture, arts, activities, sites, conferences, experts/guides, natural resources and geographical formations, flora and fauna, ruins, laboratories, universities/research centers)? How can your students access them independently or as a group?
- How will you, as the course instructor, facilitate student learning (academic, vocational, intercultural and/or personal/developmental learning?)
☐ Plan how you will build reflection (written/oral/creative expression) into the experience
- Academic learning reflection
- Vocational discernment reflection
- Inter-cultural development reflection
- Developmental/personal learning reflection
☐ Consider the need for support in country
- Will you need a second traveler to accompany you? How will that affect costs?
- Who would provide the most value to the program and the students?
- Could a St. Olaf faculty or staff member provide the support you need, while also contributing to the internationalization of the College?
☐ Speak with your department or program chair and colleagues
- Solicit chair approval for your course and your absence during January Term Confer with colleagues to ensure that your course complements and does not conflict with other departmental offerings
- Ask Chair, Associate Dean and ORC/WRI approvers (as needed) for approval
- GE approval will be done by the New Proposals Subcommittee
☐ Write and submit course proposal
- Fields for the course proposal form are:
- Course level (100-300), Course Title (long and short)
- Course location and description – audience is students reading catalog
- Rationale (contribution to department, to overall curriculum, complements/distinct from current offerings) – audience is faculty reviewing the course proposal
- Major/concentration/Cross-listing and anticipated GEs
- Anticipated enrollment/frequency
- Contributions of the course to student cross-cultural competency
- Your experience in the locations to be visited and known risks to be managed
- Extended course description with course topics, use of class time, preliminary list of readings, assignments/assessments, grading breakdown (preliminary syllabus is acceptable)
- Add: GE/OLE Core rationale(s) as desired
- Add: tentative itinerary and budget (Smith Center will assist you with creating a budget)