International Exchange Students

Most International Exchange Students are required by their home institution to register for a full course load at Mount Holyoke, which is 16 credits per semester. International Exchange Students who do not have such a requirement must sign up for a minimum of 12 credits per semester in order to maintain their visa status. In many cases, International Exchange Students must meet other requirements related to the subject or level of courses taken here; they should check with their home institution to clarify requirements and expectations before choosing their courses.

International Exchange Students are required to attend class meetings regularly and to complete the assigned readings, papers, and examinations. Most classes meet for 50 or 75 minutes two or three times each week; some seminars meet once each week for two or three hours.

International Exchange Students who complete a program of at least 20 credits (five courses) over the course of the year, with a grade point average of at least 2.0, will earn Mount Holyoke's Certificate for International Students. Students may choose to earn the certificate in a specific discipline which is offered as a major or minor at Mount Holyoke by electing at least three 4-credit courses in that field. All courses in the field of specialization must be graded, but students may elect the ungraded option for one course outside of that field during the year.

International Exchange Students may elect one course per semester at any of the other colleges in the Five College Consortium. They are required to be in residence at Mount Holyoke throughout the academic year, which is divided into two semesters: the fall semester extends from early September to mid-December, and the spring semester from late January to mid-May. The academic program during January is very different from and more relaxed than the two semesters, and International Exchange Students are encouraged (but not required) to participate in it.

Even the most fluent international student is usually unfamiliar with the conventions of American academic English and will need to learn how to construct an argument, structure an academic paper, and prepare a bibliography and footnotes consistent with U.S. standards. International Exchange Students for whom English is not their first language are encouraged to consider two English courses, which will address these special needs:

• English 103: English for Multilingual Speakers I
  (Writing-intensive course) This writing-intensive course will enable international and multilingual students to refine their English writing skills by focusing on subjects such as grammar, style, usage, textual analysis and research techniques at the college level. It can be taken as a single course in the fall semester or as part of a two-course sequence with English 104s in the spring semester.
• English 105: Writing Across Cultures
  (Speaking- and writing-intensive course) This course is designed as a workshop for international and multilingual students who want to improve their critical reading and writing skills. We will explore the forms of academic discourse through analysis, argument, and research. Readings may include short stories, poetry, drama, and essays. In class, we'll explore themes of culture and identity. Attention will be given to speaking skills through class discussion and oral presentations.

During orientation, students will meet with an academic adviser and the instructors of these courses, who can help them assess whether they should take one or both of these courses.