Skidmore College: Study Abroad Guidelines

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Sociology classes (Fall 2006 SO 226 Social Research Analysis students and 2004 SO 226 Social Research Analysis students)

Study Abroad Guidelines

Sociology faculty know that study abroad can nicely complement a sociology major for many students. Be sure, however, to plan ahead so that you have taken required courses SO 226 Social Research Analysis, SO 227 Social Research Design, and SO 324 Development of Sociological Thought before you go abroad so that you are ready to take SO 375 Senior Seminar in Sociology in the fall of your senior year. Discuss your study abroad plans with your advisor well in advance.

Some sociology majors who have already traveled or even lived abroad spend a semester studying at a large research university in the United States.

Guidelines for Transfer of Credit
from Study Abroad Programs

1.	The department chair approves transfer credit only for those courses that clearly fall within the three disciplines represented in the department and for courses that are not offered through Skidmore programs abroad.
2.	The department chair courses for which students wish to receive SO, AN or SW credit. The chair to assesses courses' content and appropriateness for transfer to Skidmore. In general, the chair looks for content that is congruent with the discipline as it is taught at Skidmore. In cases where the course description is insufficient to make such a determination, the chair may ask students to provide additional information (e.g., a course syllabus or reading list).
3.	The department chair reviews courses for which students wish to receive 300-level credit to determine whether the courses contain sufficient emphasis on advanced theory or method.
4.	The department chair reviews courses that students wish to transfer to meet specific major requirements (i.e., a specific required course for the major). The chair looks for close congruence with the Skidmore requirement. For required Social Work courses, transfer credits must come from other social work programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
5.	Many students seek to transfer the independent study from the School for International Training as a 300-level course in their major discipline. Our experience proves that this learning experience is highly variable in content and academic rigor and is not usually acceptable for maturity level credit. However, a student may petition the department chair for maturity level credit for the SIT independent study. S/he provides: 1) a copy of the project report/paper. 2) the SIT supervisor's written evaluation of the project. 3) a transcript indicating the grade received for the project. The chair's review of the project/report assesses whether the independent study experience contains the theoretically or methodologically sophisticated work requisite for maturity level credit.
6.	A database is maintained in the department that documents courses that are approved for transfer credit.