SEMO JOINS IN TRANSATLANTIC STUDIES PROGRAM

Southeast Missouri State University students can study in The Netherlands under a new program scheduled to begin next fall.

The Maastricht Center for Transatlantic Studies (MCTS) represents a new consortium arrangement that will bring faculty and students together from six American and six foreign institutions. They will examine historical, social, economic, cultural and political issues, Southeast officials said.

The studies will be offered at the Maastrict Center in the city of Maastrict, situated in the southeast part of The Netherlands.

Southeast is one of the newer members of the consortium, said Steve Chapman, director of extended learning.

The university joins

-- Eastern Illinois University

-- Central Missouri State University

-- St. Louis University

-- Ball State University

-- Lajos Kossuth University, Hungary

-- Masaryk University, Czech Republic

-- Vaxjo University, Sweden

-- Central Lancashire University and University of Glamorgan, both of the United Kingdom

-- Instituto Technologico y de Monterrey, Queretaro Campus, Mexico.

The Maastricht Center will operate on a semester-long basis with students taking four courses. Students will take one course on an intensive basis in each of four 3 1/2 week study blocks, rather than taking courses simultaneously.

Each semester at the Maastricht Center will have a specific theme.

Faculty will be drawn from all member universities of the Transatlantic Studies consortium, and Southeast faculty will be encouraged to consider developing courses for presentation.

All MCTS courses are offered in English, so there is no language barrier, Chapman said.

The overall cost of the Maastricht Center is extremely competitive when compared with other study abroad programs, including student exchanges, Chapman said. The program fee is projected to be around $3,400-$3,500, which includes housing and meals.

Southeast students who are accepted for the program will receive a scholarship covering half the cost of incidental fees.

Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or above based on a minimum of 30 semester hours completed. In addition, students must have the recommendation of at least two faculty members, Chapman said.

Interested persons can contact Chapman at (573) 651-2189.