Programs

The Florence Program provides an excellent opportunity to study Renaissance painting, sculpture,architecture, history, and literature for students interested in art, history, Romance languages and the humanities. Italian language instruction, a studio art course, and courses providing a broad perspective on Italian contributions to world civilization facilitate the study of Florentine artistic and cultural heritage. Visits to museums and galleries, short field trips to other cities throughout Italy, and discussions with local scholars supplement this course work. Staying with Italian host families enriches participants’ awareness of modern Italian life as well as the academic study of Italian Renaissance culture.

The London and Florence Program compares the artistic achievements of two historically prominent cities. Participants study the historical and political context of art, architecture, literature, and theatre as well as Italian language. Visits to museums, galleries, and theatres, short trips to other areas of England and Italy, and discussions with local scholars supplement this course work. Students spend eight weeks in each city and enjoy a week-long mid-semester break. An optional intensive course in Italian language is offered every January in Florence (three semester hours). In addition, a pilot program running from January through March based in Florence is available for a small number of students, particularly those from colleges with term calendars.

Located at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, this interdisciplinary program gives students the opportunity to experience the breadth of Botswana society and to study its culture, language, politics, and socioeconomic structures. Courses include: a program director’s course, taught by a visiting faculty member from an ACM college in their own area of academic expertise, a Setswana language course, taught by professors from the African Languages department, an elective at the University of Botswana chosen from a menu of options (taught by University of Botswana faculty), and an independent study project. The program will be enriched by several field trips. Students will live in international graduate student housing.

Students study at Waseda University’s School of International Liberal Studies in Tokyo after a brief orientation providing intensive language practice and cultural discussions. In addition to required language study, electives may be chosen from a wide range of Asian studies courses taught in English. A family living experience in Tokyo provides an informal education in Japanese culture and is in many ways the dominant feature of the program, offering total immersion in the Japanese way of life. The program is recommended for a full year of study, although a term or semester option is also available. The full academic-year program includes a month-long cultural practicum or internship in another region of Japan, usually in February or March. Administered by Earlham College, Japan Study is recognized by both ACM and GLCA.

This program offers students an opportunity to study for a semester at Universidade de Brasilia (UnB) or the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), one of Brazil's best-regarded universities. A wide variety of subject areas in the arts, humanities, sciences, environmental students and social sciences, as well as intensive Portuguese language, are offered. One option of this program focuses on environmental studies with an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural context. With the program’s global perspective, students can explore the interaction among environmental, agricultural, social, economic, and political forces, and the different solutions to environmental issues that may emerge in other regions and cultures.

The ACM Chicago Program engages students academically, professionally, and personally with this dynamic city. The primary areas of emphasis in the program are Arts, Entrepreneurship, and Urban Studies – students have the opportunity to explore one of these topics in depth, or participate in classwork and projects across these disciplines.

Arts:

The  Arts Program is a 15-week semester of urban art immersion during which students explore the arts through practical, creative, and scholarly activity. While living in Chicago, in addition to attending a wide range of cultural events, students meet and work with local artists and arts professionals in part-time internships, on independent study projects and in two courses: the core seminar, Negotiating Chicago’s Artworld, and an elective studio-based special topics workshop. Possible internship placements include, but are not limited to: museums and galleries, artists’ studios, theatre and dance companies, recording studios and popular music venues, literary organizations and publications, film and video production companies, architecture firms, arts education and community outreach organizations, and graphic and interior designers. Not limited to arts majors, the program benefits all students who have strong career interests or graduate school aspirations in the arts and humanities.

Entrepreneurship:

The Business, Entrepreneurship, and Society program is part of the ACM Chicago Program offerings. Students will participate in three or four courses within the program.

The first course is the Chicago core course (emphasizing immersion in the city) with students from the other ACM Chicago programs. The second course is a seminar in Business, Entrepreneurship, and Society which features Chicago entrepreneurs, business leaders, governmental authorities, and readings that ask for academic reflection. The third course is a substantive internship with an established Chicago business, a non-profit organization, or start-up company. Students who have a four-semester-hour internship will elect to participate in an independent study project or another seminar course. Students will be asked to consider the organizational, psychological, and sociological aspects of business in Chicago. The program benefits all students who wish to explore the intersections between liberal arts education and the economic, social, and strategic forces involved in the dynamic process of change and innovation central to the world of entrepreneurship and business.

Chicago is a quintessential American city that was founded on economic exchange, grew with America’s westward expansion, became the hub of Midwest economic and political power, and continues to illustrate the best and worst of American society. The Urban Studies Program immerses students in the life of Chicago while exploring both the historical and current forces that define urban life. Through supervised internships, seminars, a core course, and independent study, students experience the dynamics of a modern city while learning academic concepts to frame those experiences. Possible internship placements include: legal, criminal justice, community and social justice organizations, historical and cultural institutions, educational, public relations, media, political and philanthropic institutes, along with a host of other possible placements. Foremost, the Urban Studies Program develops the skills necessary for effective leadership in civic and political life by exposing students to effective models of action in light of the realities of urban America.

Chicago’s three million residents come from a wide range of ethnic, linguistic, socio-economic and religious backgrounds. With more than 80 cultures represented, the city’s schools reflect this diversity.  The nation’s third largest school system, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) enrolls more than 400,000 students in 675 schools, providing many opportunities for student teachers. CPS offers a range of schools — such as magnet, traditional, technical and career, performance, and military — and more than ten percent of CPS schools are charter schools, with a wide variety of missions and academic emphases.

The Oak Ridge Science Semester is designed to enable qualified undergraduates to study and conduct research in a prestigious and challenging scientific environment. As members of a research team working at the frontiers of knowledge, participants engage in long-range investigations using the facilities of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) near Knoxville, Tennessee. The majority of a student’s time is spent in research with an advisor specializing in biology, engineering, mathematics, or the physical or social sciences. Students also participate in an interdisciplinary seminar designed to broaden their exposure to developments in their major field and related disciplines. In addition, each student chooses an elective from a variety of advanced courses. The academic program is enriched in informal ways by guest speakers, departmental colloquia, and the special interests and expertise of the ORNL staff. Administered by Denison University, the Oak Ridge Science Semester is recognized by both ACM and GLCA.

Monmouth College participates in an arrangement with Central College in a program of study at the University of Granada (founded 1531), in Granada, Spain. Granada is both an ancient and a very modern university city that retains evidence of Phoenician, Greek, Roman, and especially Arab civilizations. This latter culture left Granada’s most famous site, a magnificent hill-top palace, the Alhambra. Classes are held at the University’s Center for Modern Languages, where students from all over the world (including Spanish students majoring in foreign
languages) study language, literature, and translation. The program offers Monmouth College students several different opportunities to study Spanish language and literature, as well as the possibility of studying business and economics, art, geography, history, music, and sociology, among other disciplines. Monmouth students can choose either a fall quarter or spring semester option. Students are placed at the appropriate level of language study by a test administered by the University of Granada and by an evaluation by the on-site director of Central’s Granada program. Students are then offered class options appropriate to their language ability from one of five different levels of Spanish, and at the superior level may study in a variety of disciplines at the university. All courses are taught in Spanish by Spanish professors at the University of Granada. The on-site director is a native of Spain and has taught in the United States. The program has been operated since 1968. It offers a strong orientation, home stays, participation in community service programs, cultural activities in Granada (flamenco dancing programs, dance lessons, excursions to the opera and to museums) and educational excursions to other areas of Spain. The different programs are open to any sophomore, junior or senior in good academic standing at Monmouth. Although students who have never studied Spanish are eligible, Monmouth recommends it especially for students who have passed SPAN 101 and/or 102 or the equivalent.

The Irish-American Scholars Program is sponsored by The United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Catholic Church in cooperation with the Business Education Initiative in Northern Ireland, the government of Northern Ireland, and Queens University, the University of Ulster, and the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education. One goal of the program is “to replace division with unity in a common goal of international business success.” Graduates of the program are better qualified to contribute in an international market place and to explore new Northern Ireland/United States partnerships and commercial opportunities.

Umea University is a large, modern university located in northern Sweden. A revolving list of courses are taught in English, and students should check the Umea Web site for course availability. Umea hosts many international students, and maintains an international focus in its courses as well. While students can find courses to support every Monmouth College major, Umea University is known particularly for its international business program, molecular biology, behavioral science, economics and environmental studies, computer science, and sports administration, including sports medicine. Students will live in on-campus dormitories in a single room with a shared kitchen. Umea University has several programs to assist international students; for example Umea offers a free intensive Swedish class, an International Housing Office, a health clinic on campus, and a mentoring program to smooth the transition to study in Sweden. Those students interested in the international business courses should be juniors or seniors at Monmouth.