Off-Campus Programs
Why is the experience of an off-campus program so valuable?
1. Off-Campus Programs confront us with the world around us as a text, a text waiting to be processed, interpreted, appreciated, and respected.
2. Off-Campus Programs draw our vision outward. They heighten our sensory awareness of the world by placing us in new situations, challenging us to process, reflect upon, and respond to things we have not previously noticed. For example, Off-Campus Programs, in many cases, awaken in us a greater awareness of social injustices in the world, and call us to get involved in redressing these injustices.
3. Off-Campus Programs draw our vision inward. They serve to reveal the sort of character each of us is developing, and to further stimulate character development. In the process of interpreting a new context, each of us is confronted with a vision of ourselves from a new perspective. This vision is essential in empowering us to seek new strategies for changing the self and for finding new areas in which to grow.
4. Off-Campus Programs provide us with the chance to practice the skills and sympathies that are vital to an effective Christian in the world – skills that have begun to develop in and out of the classroom on campus. In new circumstances, we may have and may notice more opportunities for practicing openness to new ideas, fair-mindedness, and self-criticism.
5. Finally, Off-Campus Programs offer us ample opportunity to practice discernment of the central core of Christianity – to sort out the essential from the non-essential in our relationship to Christ.
Why do we strongly recommend that students include an off-campus program experience as a part of their undergraduate program?
Off-Campus Programs at Westmont have grown out of the same educational philosophy as our on-campus curriculum. All of Westmont’s programs are committed to developing in our students the competencies, the skills, the sympathies, the motivations, and the knowledge base that will make them effective as Christians in their chosen vocation. Westmont’s Off-Campus Programs are much more than mere duplication of learning on campus, however. While our educational program attempts to offer students the balance of challenge and support necessary for growth, off-campus programs intensify the challenge for our students by placing them in unfamiliar surroundings.
All of the programs listed below can serve to enlarge us as Christian learners and to enlarge our vision of God’s work in the world. Westmont provides a variety of approved programs that offer different levels of support for students. They range from programs taught by Westmont faculty for Westmont students to programs in which Westmont students participate as individuals and are taught by program faculty. Students must consult with their academic advisor and with the Off-Campus Programs Office to explore which type of program would best suit their individual needs.
For additional information and applications for the programs listed below, please visit our website at www.westmont.edu/ocp. A minimum 2.3 GPA is required unless otherwise noted. At least one-half of the upper-division major requirements must be completed on the Westmont campus or on a Westmont staffed off-campus program.
Westmont financial aid (institutional grants, scholarship and loans) may be used for any semester-long Westmont operated off-campus program, including Europe, England, Mexico, and San Francisco Urban semesters. However, Westmont financial aid may be used for one program only at a Westmont approved (versus Westmont operated) off-campus program.
Tuition for Westmont operated and Westmont approved off-campus programs is the same as tuition on campus (except in a few cases where tuition is even higher than Westmont’s tuition, in which case students are charged the higher amount). Other charges for all campus programs vary by program and are available through the Off-Campus Programs Office or from the hosting institution. Students who participate in these programs through Westmont are considered to be Westmont students. Therefore, they retain their standing and class priority for returning enrollment and class selection. Although students are allowed to attend more than one program, they may not enroll in off-campus programs in consecutive semesters.
Students who choose to access programs directly are not considered Westmont students during the period, do not have the support of the Financial Aid Office in obtaining financial aid from the program, do not receive any Westmont aid, including grants, scholarships or loans, are not eligible for any merit scholarships if and when they return to Westmont, are allowed to re-enroll at Westmont only as space is available during a subsequent semester, and must obtain their own transcripts from the programs when applying for graduate school or employment.
Westmont Operated Off-Campus Programs
England Semester
The England Semester program takes place during the fall semester of even years only. It is directed by English Department faculty and combines travel to literary and cultural centers with residential study in the British Isles. Students study English literature in the land of its origin, witnessing firsthand the birthplaces of major writers and the settings of their works. They attend theatre performances in Edinburgh, London, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Dublin and visit sites through out the UK and Ireland including Oxford, Cambridge, the Lake District of the Romantic poets, and Hardy’s country in southern England. Upper division English and Theatre credit is offered.
Europe Semester
The Europe Semester program, a travel/study program led by Westmont faculty, takes place every fall semester.
Three general education courses will be offered from the series IS 121 through IS 130 European Culture and Society, Past and Present (4,4,4) — studies various aspects of European history, thought, arts, society, culture, science, economy and politics while resident in Europe. Special effort is made to understand Europe’s heritage and contemporary society in relation to larger world contexts.
Emphasizes thoughtful consideration of Christian and cultural concerns through preparatory readings, lectures, extensive discussion, and essay writing. The courses offered will fulfill three of the following four Common Inquiries GE requirements:
Thinking Globally
Understanding Society
Performing and Interpreting the Arts
Thinking Historically
Although not guaranteed, some years a qualified course may satisfy two of these Common Inquiries GE requirements, making it possible to satisfy all four of these GE requirements.
In addition, one or two elective courses will be offered.
San Francisco Urban Program
Faculty: K. Andrews, B. Berky; Director: S. McClelland
The world-class City of San Francisco is the setting for SF Urban, a semester-long program featuring the integration of faith and vocation in the context of enriched community living. Students may enroll either in the fall or spring semester. The program offers all majors the opportunity to focus on a significant pre-professional internship experience of no less than 24 hours per week in the unique urban setting of the Westmont-owned “Clunie House,” an 1898 Victorian mansion, and former Bed and Breakfast, located on The Panhandle of Golden Gate Park.
Students enhance their experiences with service projects, neighborhood studies, field trips and courses designed to introduce them to engaging and diverse community leaders; putting a “face” on issues which challenge all twenty-first century Christians. In most cases, SF Urban provides from 12-16 credits, some of which may stand for major credit, and fulfillment of the Competent and Compassionate Action GE requirement.
SF Urban is served by three faculty members and two staff assistants, providing guidance and mentoring opportunities for those who reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. Opportunities abound for students to take additional elective courses offered each semester, or to arrange an Independent Study on a number of topics applicable to their major and unique to the City and/or urban environment.
Applications for admission can be obtained in the Off-Campus Programs Office or completed on-line at http://urban.westmont.edu. For more information or to schedule a visit to the Program, call the SF Urban office at 415-931-2460.
Course Offerings for all Participants
IS 190 SF Urban Practicum (8 units from an Internship in a vocationally-related area) Students learn resume-building and interviewing skills, complete three full interview sessions and accept placement in a supervised internship in a highly regarded business or non-profit organization. Close relationships with SF Urban personnel and on-site supervisors create a world-class learning opportunity in which vocational calling, social justice and faith issues are integrated. In most cases, this internship will fulfill GE requirement: Competent and Compassionate Action.
IS 195 SF Urban Studies (4 units) Study San Francisco and you get a glimpse at the future of American thoughts and trends. Many issues, such as poverty, homelessness and ethnic diversity are more accessible in this urban environment along with broader issues of racism, sexual orientation and diversity of faith community commitments to human needs. Interaction with local guest speakers supplement significant text readings, reflective writing and guided discussions.
Elective Offerings:
ENG 104 Modern Grammar and Advanced Composition (4 units, Spring only) Prerequisite: completion of the first-year writing for the liberal arts requirement. Strategies and practice in writing non-fiction, expository prose. Special emphasis on revision and style. Includes mini-lessons, peer editing, in-class writing, workshops and oral presentations. Focus will be on themes derived from the student’s interaction with San Francisco, its people and unique issues.
ENG 134 Ethnicity, Race and the City (4 units, Fall only) A comprehensive look at literature from diverse sources, which express broader perspectives available in the urban environment. Students interact with representatives of diverse communities which make up the unique environment of San Francisco.
RS 117 The Emergent Church: First and Twenty-first Century Comparisons (4 units) An overview of the similarities between the early church’s strategic growth patterns and the contemporary Emergent Church movement in the urban environment. Reading and interpretations of relevant New Testament passages will be discussed in light of conversations with leading figures in the Emergent Church movement in San Francisco.
IS 194 Independent Study (2-4 units, by request) In collaboration with San Francisco based faculty and with relevant departmental colleagues, a student may self-design a course which integrates the unique environment of San Francisco into the study of their discipline (example: SF social services and the effect on poverty and homelessness in the city; cultural impact on international trade relations; Chinatown’s familial structures and the effect on social capital; a survey of church positions on homosexuality, etc.)
Westmont in Mexico (WIM)
Westmont in Mexico, a program offered every fall semester, is led by Westmont faculty and located in the beautiful colonial city of Querétaro. Students gain skills for effective cross-cultural living, experience incarnational ministry, and improve their Spanish language abilities. WIM offers students the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Mexican culture through home stays, coursework, and field trips within the context of a supportive Christian community. Another distinctive feature is its integrated pre-departure, in-country, and re-entry training.
WIM is designed to be a part of the general education curriculum, and fulfills several GE requirements. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply. Students must have completed the equivalent of one semester of college Spanish prior to enrolling in WIM.
Course Offerings
Courses in WIM are taught by Mexican university professors and the Westmont faculty director. While in Mexico students earn up to 16 semester units. The courses are:
Spanish Language: beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels (GE, Modern Language)
SP 005M Intermediate Spanish (4 units) Prerequisite: SP 2 (one year of college Spanish) or equivalent.
SP 006M Intermediate Spanish Conversation (2 units) Prerequisite: SP 2 (one year of college Spanish) or equivalent.
SP 100M Advanced Spanish (3 units) Prerequisite: SP 4 (two years of college Spanish) or equivalent.
SP 105M Language in Context (3 units) Prerequisite: SP 4 (two years of college Spanish) or equivalent.
(The following courses are open to advanced Spanish students who have completed SP 100)
SP 120M Advanced Composition (3 units)
SP 121M Advanced Oral Skills (3 units)
Mexican History and Civilization (GE, Thinking Historically)
HIS 160M Mexican History and Civilization (3 units) (Required of all WIM students.)
Principles of Art: Mexico (GE, Performing & Interpreting the Arts)
ART 121M Mexican Art (3 units)
Integrative Seminar: Engaging Culture (GE, Thinking Globally)
IS 193M Seminar: Engaging Culture (3 units) (Required of all WIM students.) This seminar is a continuation of the spring orientation course and is designed to deepen understanding of Mexican culture and to maximize your experience abroad. This course complements the activities of other WIM classes and provides a framework for examining the issues and questions they present. Students will participate in several field trips and projects outside of the classroom designed to help them “engage culture.” A cultural journal, reflective essays, and oral presentations will be regular parts of this course.
Latin-American Literature (GE, Reading Imaginative Literature)
SP 104M Survey of Latin American Literature (3 units)
SP 160M Survey of Mexican Literature (3 units)
SP 165M Introduction to Literary Translation (3 units) Prerequisite: one Spanish literature course.
Latin Dance (GE, PEA)
PEA 025M Latin Dance (1 unit)
In addition to these courses, WIM has a pre-departure orientation seminar during the spring semester preceding the fall semester in Mexico.
IS 192 Orientation: Westmont in Mexico (2 units)
Inoculum
This 12-day backpack trip in August to the northeastern wilderness area of Yosemite National Park is a special extension of the first-year student orientation program. Readings, discussions, and papers focus the course content on the uniqueness of a Westmont liberal arts education.
Participants must take the following course:
APP 90 The Inoculum: Wilderness/Orientation (2)
The APP 90 course will meet one of the four PEA requirements.
Off-Campus Mayterm
Westmont Mayterm and Summer Programs are short-term study excursions that often include both on-campus study and travel. Programs offering general education courses as well as programs offering major-specific curricula are available. A number of options are available in any given year; in the past, such programs have included trips to Europe, England, Egypt, Israel, Sri Lanka, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Oregon, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Ireland, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
San Francisco Urban Mayterm
This Mayterm takes place every year in Westmont’s newly purchased Victorian mansion on the edge of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Students can earn eight units while exploring the streets of San Francisco and attending ethnic celebrations, music, theatre, sporting, and cultural events across the city and around the Bay Area.
Westmont Approved Programs
Christian College Consortium Programs:
The Christian College Consortium promotes the development and articulation of the unique contributions that Christian higher education can make to contemporary society. The Visitor Program allows students to take advantage of different course offerings and to experience the culture of different regions of the country at the following Christian Colleges while maintaining regular standing at their home campuses. The other members of the Consortium are: Asbury College, KY; Malone College, OH; Bethel University, MN; Messiah College, PA; George Fox University, OR; Taylor University, IN; Gordon College, MA; Trinity International University, IL; Greenville College, IL; Seattle Pacific University, WA; Houghton College, NY; Wheaton College, IL. Westmont students may enroll for one semester at a consortium college, or at one of the off-campus programs sponsored by the consortium institution.
Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) Programs:
The Council for Christian College and Universities (CCCU) is a higher education association of more than 150 intentionally Christ-centered institutions around the world. There are 102 member campuses in North America and all are fully-accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities with curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. In addition, 71 affiliate campuses from 22 countries are part of the CCCU. The Council’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help its institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.
Westmont students may enroll for one semester in one of the study programs sponsored by the CCCU. Programs currently available are in Australia, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, England, Russia, Uganda and the United States.
Other Approved Programs:
Westmont students may choose to enroll for one semester from a wide range of other national and international programs. Many of these programs are open to all students for general study, regardless of the student’s major (ex. Lithuania Christian College or Spring Semester in Thailand). In addition, Westmont has approved some programs that feature advanced study in a particular subject area, which are open only to students with a particular academic major or minor (ex. SACI program in Florence for art majors or USAC programs in Spain, Central and South America for Spanish majors). A complete list and description of programs available to Westmont students can be found on the Westmont homepage at http://cgi2.westmont.edu/blogs/ocp.