Leading an Overseas Seminar
Overseas Seminars are two-unit classes taught by Stanford faculty in locations around the world that have direct relevance to the course topic. They take place over a period of three weeks in early September, immediately preceding the start of Autumn Quarter classes on campus. Overseas Seminars are open to Stanford sophomores, juniors, and seniors and are designed to appeal to a wide range of majors. Overseas Seminars are taught in English and typically do not call for any pre-requisites. Each seminar group includes up to 15 undergraduates and one graduate student assistant.
Faculty Responsibilities
Apart from their academic role in teaching the class, seminar faculty are responsible for making on-site arrangements, e.g. for student housing, classroom rental, and group meals. Faculty work with BOSP to create the seminar budget and keep track of expenses on site. Faculty review applications and select their seminar participants in Winter Quarter and also participate in the pre-departure orientation program for students during Spring Quarter.
Faculty receive a fixed salary payment for leading an Overseas Seminar. Round trip airfare (coach) to the seminar location, accommodation for the duration of the seminar, and meal expenses are reimbursed to faculty following standard Stanford business travel procedures.
Top of pageCourse Management
Overseas Seminars are two-unit, Autumn Quarter classes. BOSP assigns course numbers for the classes and creates course records in Peoplesoft. BOSP is also responsible for listing the class in Axess and the Bulletin. Faculty determine the grading basis for their Overseas Seminar class. Seminars can be offered for letter grade (RLT), for credit (RSN), or for a choice between the two (ROP). Grades for Overseas Seminars are entered into Axess at the same time as grades for other Autumn Quarter classes. Just as for other classes, students complete the familiar Stanford course evaluations for the Overseas Seminars.
Top of pageProposing an Overseas Seminar
Faculty are invited to submit proposals for an Overseas Seminar about one year in advance. Seminar proposals for Autumn Quarter 2008 are due October 15, 2007.
Seminar Proposals must meet the following criteria:- Academics:
The seminar content should be academically rigorous and unique. At the same time, courses should remain general enough to be accessible to a wide range of Stanford undergraduates. - Student Interest:
The seminar should appeal to a variety of undergraduate majors and generate significant student interest. - Location:
Ideal destinations for Overseas Seminars are locations where BOSP does not run full-quarter programs. Seminars should open opportunities to students that they would not be able to experience as part of BOSP’s other offerings, or on campus. The location must also be safe. - Site Knowledge:
Faculty leaders must have prior experience at the location. - Feasibility:
The seminar must be financially and logistically feasible.
As Overseas Seminar leaders, faculty must be prepared to:
- Contribute substantially to the non-academic aspects of the seminar. This includes developing a budget, creating an itinerary, and being responsible for on-site logistics, such as making reservations for accommodation and local transportation, and disbursing meal allowances to students.
- Review student applications in late February.
- Participate in pre-departure student orientation during Spring Quarter.
- Submit an evaluation after the end of the seminar.