I am pleased to share information with you about the Master of Arts in International Education (IE) degree at SIT Graduate Institute. SIT boasts a long history of international education, dating back to the institution’s original programs over 75 years ago. Over the years SIT has done pioneering work in the use of learner-centered and experiential based learning approaches in its various graduate programs. In the IE degree we are always looking for new and exciting ways to engage our students and offer them cutting-edge programs. Last year, in addition to the traditional on-campus program, we launched a new Low Residency format of the IE degree. This year, we are introducing a new concentration option for the on-campus degree in Youth Program Leadership. And finally, we have hired a new faculty member to add to our already diverse knowledge base.
Focus on a Program: MA in IE, continued
Faculty Who Care
Regardless of which format you choose, the International Education faculty creatively uses a variety of experiential learning methods to provide a powerful, realistic and relevant learning environment. Our faculty has extensive professional experience worldwide in educational settings, government, local and international institutions in both the public and private sectors. They bring this, and their enthusiasm for their work, to the classroom and the larger SIT community. As a faculty, we are continuously working hard to ensure that our program is responsive to student needs and on the forefront of trends and practices in the field.
Multi-disciplinary Curriculum
Our multidisciplinary curriculum effectively blends established knowledge with contemporary theory and practice in various subject areas. Within the IE degree there are three optional concentrations which draw from SIT’s other degree areas in Management, Social Justice in Intercultural Relations, Sustainable Development and Conflict Transformation.
- NEW in 2008! Youth Program Leadership: This concentration develops professional skills and competencies for leaders of youth programs focusing on the principles and practices of youth leadership program design, particularly in leadership, global issues, and peacebuilding programs. More about Youth Program Leadership.
- Educational Exchange Management: This concentration prepares students to enter administrative or management roles such as: director or assistant director in a study abroad or an international student services office; manager of program development, supervision, and evaluation in a nonprofit exchange or educational travel organization.
- International Education Advising: This concentration prepares students to enter direct service roles such as: international student advisor; study abroad advisor; intercultural/international exchange trainer/programmer; international student recruitment, admissions, and placement specialist; field or sponsoring agency representative for exchange organizations.
SIT Graduate Andy Gavilanes talks about how SIT’s IE curriculum
prepared him for a career in the field.
Low Residency Option
This program offers the same high-quality courses as the on-campus format, though currently there are no optional concentrations. Students who choose the Low-Residency degree have the convenience of combining short on-campus sessions with on-line learning without having to leave their current jobs in the field. More info on the Low-Residency Master of Arts in International Education from WorldLearning.org.
Reflective Practice
A unique aspect of SIT’s degree International Education is the combination of critical theory with practical experience and skills. For on-campus students, after one academic year of on-campus coursework, students enter the Reflective Practice Phase, which involves a required practicum in an organization relevant to International Education, during which they put into practice what they have been learning in the classroom. In addition, before graduating, students complete an original written project and develop a portfolio that answers key questions about aspects of their work in the IE field. Low Residency students complete the Reflective Practice Phase at the same time as their coursework, applying their learning to their current work environments throughout the program, also producing an original written project and developing a portfolio. All students must then present their research at one of the Capstone Seminars that are offered four times a year.
Graduates with an IE degree can be found working around the world. Below is a list of Practicum positions and Capstone topics that highlight what some recent SIT students have done to complete their Reflective Practice Phase. For a complete list, please visit our post on the International Education capstones.
| PRACTICUM | CAPSTONE |
| The School for Field Studies | The School for Field Studies Summer Program, “Up North, Down South: Natural Resource Management in Australia and New Zealand. |
| Pro World/ Pro Mexico and Community Links – Oaxaca, Mexico | Mutuality: Opportunities and Challenges in International Service-Learning Programs-A Two Case Study in Oaxaca, Mexico |
| Borderlinks – Tucson, AZ | JustLearning: Creating Socially Responsible Citizens Through Community-Based Learning and Critical Experience on the U.S./Mexico Border |
| Bard College Institute for International Liberal Education | Alumni-Based Recruitment in Study Abroad: The Bard-Smolny Program |
| Study Abroad and International Student Offices, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA | The Impact of the Undergraduate Study Abroad on Ethnic Identity Development Among African American Women |
| Institute of International Education (IIE), San Francisco, California | Examining the Challenges and Unique Issues of San Francisco Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Undergraduate Students in Study Abroad Programs |
| University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa | Student Integration on the University of Port Elizabeth Campus |
| Bilingual Education for Central America – Honduras | From Study Abroad to Responsibly Engaged Citizenship: A Study of citizenship and civic engagement amongst alumni of the SIT Study Abroad Brazil: Culture, Development and Social Justice Program from 1999-2002. |
SIT’s degree in International Education is a truly unique program. I invite you to explore how we can help you in your personal and professional development as you prepare yourself for a successful career in an increasingly complex and growing field. If you have questions, please call our admissions office at 1-800-336-1616 (802-257-7751 outside the U.S.A.) or visit the SIT Graduate Institute website .
Sincerely,
Linda Drake Gobbo, Chair
International Education Degree
Tags: Andy Gavilanes, Linda Drake Gobbo, SIT Graduate Institute
