Begin at Sebago Lake, Then Go Anywhere
Discover the world with Saint Joseph's College through experiential learning opportunities. Explore craggy cliffs and lush, rolling hills of the Irish countryside, stroll down cobblestone streets of vibrant Spanish cities, or hit the hiking trail in the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon.
Whether conducting oceanography experiments aboard a schooner, reflecting on the significance of Catholic holy sites, or helping build a home for a family in need, our students return from their travel experiences with new perspectives and unforgettable memories.
For more information please contact:
careerstudio@sjcme.edu
3rd Floor Alfond Hall
Service Trips
Guatemala
This trip includes volunteering to provide medical aid, help to build basic cinder-block homes, distribute hundreds of pounds of donated items, and spent time simply relaxing and interacting with local families. Generally, the week also includes excursions to the Mayan ruins, the colonial capital of Antigua, and to Panajachel, a scenic village nestled on the shore of beautiful Lake Atitlan.
Haiti
Students, faculty, and staff complete a week-long service trip to Haiti where they construct new houses, volunteer in a health clinic, and assist on children’s programs. Recently, one faculty member worked on an organizational handbook for the field director of the Haitian PID operation, designing training for employees and volunteers, as well as creating job descriptions for the Haitian directors.
Spring Break Workfest
During Spring Break, SJC students participate in week-long programs serving the underprivileged in locations across the U.S. On a typical day at a Workfest site, students are up and out early, putting in a full day to volunteer at schools, food pantries and soup kitchens, resource centers for the homeless, building homes and repair projects, and other special projects needed by the community.
Alternating Year Programs
Fall Semester
Environmental Science Semester
The Environmental Science Semester (ESS) is a rigorous, ten-week scientific expedition with Saint Joseph’s College, one of the few programs in the country designed to immerse students full time in the practice of field science for an entire semester. Part of the Environmental & Marine Sciences majors, the Environmental Science Semester delivers a full load of four environmental and geoscience courses, studying such diverse topics as Climate Change and Glacial Geology, Marine Ecology, Oceanography, and Field Methods. The entire program is conducted off-campus between mid-August and late October in locations ranging from Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, Canada to the White Mountains of New Hampshire to the coast of Maine aboard a 72’ schooner.
Learn More:
Contact Professor Erikson at jerikson@sjcme.edu or 104 Mercy Hall.
Spring Break
Geology in Arizona & Utah
Travel to SE Utah, northern Arizona, southern Nevada, and the Death Valley area of California.
Study large sand dune deposits, hike the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon and discover some of the oldest hard fossils on Earth, and climb a 1000 year old volcanic cinder cone while documenting evidence of lava flows on the landscape.
Work your way through uplifted magma chambers of 15 million year old volcanoes, see evidence of Cretaceous dinosaur eggs, and investigate the faulting and tectonism that have created the lowest elevation spot in North America (280 feet below sea level).
Learn More:
Contact Professor Erikson at jerikson@sjcme.edu or 104 Mercy Hall.
Additional Study Away Programs
Ready to go beyond the classroom? Saint Joseph’s Study Away opportunities connect you with the world through exciting, educational, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences abroad.
Barcelona, Spain. Perth, Australia. Capetown, South Africa. Buenos Aires, Argentina—these are just a few of the hundreds of programs in over 50 countries provided to you by our partner organizations:
- Council on International Educational Exchange
- International Studies Abroad
- The Washington Center
- CISabroad
For more information about your Study Away opportunity, contact:
careerstudio@sjcme.edu
3rd Floor Alfond Hall