An alternative to JHU study abroad - SIT has many diverse, education programs

If you're thinking about studying abroad at some point in your college career, you might want to take a look at the School of International Training, of the Accredited College of World Learning.

The School of International Training (SIT), which has programs in over 60 countries, offers not only study abroad opportunities, but also classes, masters programs, peace and conflict resolution training, and projects covering topics such as education reform. Based in Washington D.C., the School of International Training seeks to use its resources to work for education, peace, and social justice. According to their Web site at http://www.sit.edu, the SIT works to train both individuals and institutions so that they can work to promote change in the global community.

SIT sends students to places including Angola, Batswana, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar, Ecuador, Argentina, Australia, India, Pakistan, Greece, Romania, Russia and the United Kingdom, to name a few. The School also works in the United States on such projects as the Child Labor Education and Action Project (which educates youth to lead child labor reform efforts), International Youth Peacebuilding Camp (which brings youth from across the world together for a two-week long camp that promotes peace and understanding) and Cypriot Youth Camps (a peace camp for Turkish Cypriot and Greek teenagers). The program also offers Master's degree programs in teaching, International Education, Organizational Management, Conflict Transformation and Intercultural Relations.

SIT wants youth to learn about international politics so that they can learn how they can make a difference. Overall, SIT seeks to conduct each of its classes and programs with the consideration of its context in the world at large. For example, their Master of Arts in Teaching affords the same opportunities as a similar degree at another school (certification to teach in American public schools), but the program through which one earns their Master of Arts in Teaching at the School is considerably different. The Master of Arts in Teaching at the International School involves teaching English to non-English speakers in order to teach its graduates more about international education. SIT has several different programs and centers, including the Center for Social Policy and Institutional Development and the Center for Teacher Education and Training.

For study abroad opportunities, SIT offers 57 different programs in 40 different countries to college and graduate students. For high school students, SIT conducts the acclaimed Experiment in International Living program, which offers international programs in over 20 different countries. SIT also has an Overseas Travel Clinic which offers medical and health initiatives and care to students who travel abroad.

SIT's admissions office and central campus is based in Brattleboro, Vermont and offers open houses at the school several times throughout the year. The deadline for study abroad program applications is in early October for the spring semester and in early April for the fall semester. The deadline for degree programs is on a rolling admissions basis. SIT also offers financial aid to both domestic and international students. Eighty percent of the current students of SIT receive financial aid.

Johns Hopkins itself has a study abroad program which offers opportunities to live and study in countries including China, Italy, Germany, and many others. But if you've decided that SIT seems more appropriate for your needs, you can find out more at their Web site and also look at the Johns Hopkins undergraduate advising Web site at www.advising.jhu.edu, or talk to Dr. Ruth Arranow in Academic Advising about the more specific concerns, such as credit transfers and oter procedures.