Directed Study
The School may identify the need to offer a student a directed study, such as when a course that is not being offered is required by a student for graduation. All requests for directed studies are coordinated through the academic advising coordinator and must be approved by the Director for Curriculum Development. Approval is dependent on the availability and approval of an appropriate facilitator. A per-credit directed study fee is charged in addition to regular tuition and directed studies must be completed within the semester or session for which they are scheduled. In a directed study, the student works independently with a facilitator to achieve the learning outcomes of the selected course based on a learning contract between them. Please be advised, by course design, not all courses in the Catalog may be completed as directed studies.
Applicants for a Directed Study:
- Must be a degree-seeking student with 30 completed credits in his or her academic plan and must have taken nine residential (or local) credits.
- Must have a minimum of a 3.00 or higher GPA in the major and overall GPA.
- Must submit the application for consideration three weeks prior to the start of a semester or session.
Prior Learning Assessment
Prior Learning Assessment, PLA, is a process by which learning mastered outside of a formal classroom is reviewed for college-level equivalency. Credit for PLA may be granted for learning acquired from work and life experiences; civic, community, or volunteer work; individual study; and in-service training sponsored by associations, business, government, and industry, including the military. PLA is a rigorous process in which a student must demonstrate that he or she has college-level learning, which entails knowledge, skills, and competencies obtained as a result of prior experiences in a particular area. PLA is awarded based on learning, not experience. PLA provides students the opportunity to validate their relevant learning.
PLA creates a pathway for our non-traditional students to accelerate their academic progress toward earning an Elizabethtown College degree. Any Elizabethtown College program approved to award credit through PLA will have it clearly published on their school’s webpage. Credit for PLA will only be awarded when:
- A student is an actively enrolled, degree-seeking student at Elizabethtown College and has completed a minimum of 6 Elizabethtown College credits prior to applying for PLA.
- Students interested in pursuing PLA credit should check with their academic advisor to ensure that they do not enroll into a course for which they may later be seeking to earn PLA equivalent credit.
- Students must be in good academic standing with Elizabethtown College.
- Students must be in good financial standing with Elizabethtown College.
- A student has not previously attempted, completed, or transferred in the equivalent course for which PLA credit is being sought.
- The PLA credit must apply to the student’s major or program of study.
See Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) in Academic Policies for additional information.
Undergraduate Internships
Through internships, Elizabethtown College offers undergraduate students the opportunity to apply and augment their classroom learning with real-world experience. Internships can assist students with deepening and sharpening their personal learning and career goals.
The School has a process for students to request internships, and facilitators in the discipline are needed to coordinate the student’s work throughout the internship. To be eligible for an internship, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5, have completed 70 credits overall with a minimum of 9 credits through SGPS. Any courses directly related to the area of the internship placement should be completed prior to the internship as well. To determine eligibility and procedures for earning internship credit, students should contact their academic advisor.
For students who are currently employed, an internship must occur outside of the existing employment, although a student may intern in a different position within the current place of employment.
Students may request approval for up to six internship credits which are graded on a pass/fail basis. To be awarded academic credit, students must intern a minimum of 40 hours per credit over the course of the term in which the internship is registered. A three-credit internship equates to a minimum of 120 hours of work; six credits equates to 240 hours.
To determine eligibility and procedures for earning internship credit, students should contact their academic advisor.
Study Abroad
Students are eligible for study abroad opportunities per the following requirements:
- Undergraduate students possess at least a 2.6 cumulative GPA.
- Graduate students possess at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- Receive approval from the SGPS Dean, noting that no disciplinary history exists to inhibit success abroad and/or represent the college negatively.
Financing the Experience
SGPS students on a semester-long experience will direct pay the provider and would need a consortium agreement to determine if eligible for financial aid.
SGPS students on a winter or summer experience will direct pay the provider and may be aid eligible if the experience exceeds six credits.
All Elizabethtown College students are required to pay the study abroad fee to cover major medical insurance and emergency evacuation services for the duration of the program (semester, winter, summer), as well as the administrative support for their study abroad preparations.
Faculty-led trips
SGPS students may join any faculty-led program, typically held in May term. Fees, course credits, and course requirements vary with each trip.
See https://www.etown.edu/offices/study-abroad/short-term-programs.aspx for details.
Course approval
SGPS students must complete an Elizabethtown College Study Abroad Course Approval Form prior to departure that outlines intended courses, including the credit conversion and the intended course equivalency at E-town. Students are required to obtain approval from their Academic Advisor, Study Abroad Advisor, and Registration and Records.
Course transfer
All pre-approved courses will transfer back to the College as designated per the transfer credit policy. Students must earn a C- or better in the US equivalent of the grade.
All SGPS students studying abroad must complete the Study Abroad Office’s application and pre-departure orientation. For more information about the Study Abroad Office, please visit www.etown.edu/offices/study-abroad.
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