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Southwestern University
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Study at Southwestern University!

Southwestern University offers ISEP students a unique opportunity to experience a small liberal arts institution in a small town, but with access to Austin, Texas's capital city, widely know as the "live music capital of the world." An international student's everyday experience at Southwestern is marked by personal attention. Southwestern prides itself on providing each student with the tools to be successful. Students often develop close working relationships with faculty, and have the opportunity to do research and engage in intellectual inquiry under the guidance of highly qualified academics (over 90 percent of Southwestern faculty have the highest degree in their field).

“People at Southwestern University are very welcoming and helpful. They are always there if you need something. Moreover, most of them are willing to learn about exchange students' culture, country, etc. ...It is easy to make new friends at Southwestern University." - Cédric Baurance, 2004 ISEP Participant,
from Université de Lille III, France

About Southwestern

History
The first institution of higher learning in Texas, the university was chartered by the Republic of Texas in 1840. It is affiliated with The United Methodist Church.

Profile
Southwestern is a selective, four-year, independent, undergraduate national liberal arts college consisting of The Brown College of Arts and Sciences and the Sarofim School of Fine Arts. The university offers a liberal arts and sciences curriculum with pre-professional programs in engineering, medicine, law, business, education, and theology. Southwestern is a member of the Associated Colleges of the South and the Annapolis Group, a consortium of the nation's leading liberal arts institutions.

Campus
Southwestern is situated on 700 acres, including a 100-acre academic campus and a 75-acre, nine-hole golf course. Facilities of note are two live-performance theaters, a language learning center, a spacious health and wellness center, a human performance laboratory, an aquatic animal research laboratory, and an observatory. Eighty percent of students live in on-campus residential housing, which includes internet, cable, and voice mail access.

Location
Located in historic Georgetown, Texas, just north of Austin, the state capital. The Austin metropolitan area—of which Georgetown is a part—is known for its live music, theatre, film, and art. Fortune Magazine named Austin one of the country's top five "intellectual capitals." Money Magazine named Austin one of the country' best places to live based on factors such as low crime rates and a high number of cultural opportunities.

National Recognition

Enrollment
Over 1,265 students
22% of students are minorities

Student to Faculty ratio
10 to 1

“The campus at Southwestern University is very nice. It is very enjoyable to go to class everyday when birds are singing and squirrels running around. Trees, grass, sun, blue sky, students studying on the grass, playing Ultimate Frisbee...all these things make the campus very attractive." - Cédric Baurance, from Université de Lille III, France

Academic Information

Quick Links

Academic Departments

Current Class Schedule

Course Descriptions

“Courses are organized very well and teachers are always available if you need help. Classrooms are not overcrowded—that makes it easier to study and participate." - Cédric Baurance, Université de Lille III, France

Student Life

Housing
Living in a residence hall is an integral part of the liberal arts experience. The residential university provides residence halls on campus not just for a place to live and sleep, but as a means of supporting and supplementing the intellectual experience found in the classroom.

Living in a residence hall involves day-to-day interaction with people of varying backgrounds and values, the opportunity to continue the discussions and debates of the day's classes, a first-hand experience in community development, and the opportunity for developing strong and lasting friendships. Life in the residence halls offers a variety of educational, recreational, social, and cultural experiences to the residents.

Campus Life

Sports

“I've lived in McCombs for eight months and I had a really good time there. You share an apartment with a roommate, but you have your own bedroom and bathroom...you only share the living room and kitchen. ...it was perfect apartment for a student." - Cédric Baurance, Université de Lille III, France

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Student Advice

Emilie Daireaux
2003-2004 ISEP Participant
Major: English
Home institution: Université de Caen, France

When one thinks of Texas, it may be hard to imagine how welcoming people are. They always have a nice word for you; it gets easy to meet students and become friends with them. When I landed in Austin, Texas, someone was waiting for me, even if I had missed my flight and was two hours late. My roommate and my neighbor were also waiting for me at home when I arrived on campus. Our house was just big and nice, my roommate and I shared a living room and kitchenette, and we both had our own bedroom and bathroom. The housekeeper came to clean the bathroom each week. My roommate and I became good friends.

The staff of the university was really nice and we used to speak together when we met. As for the courses, it was hard to understand at the beginning, but the professors did their best to help me and would ask me to come to their office so I wouldn't be embarassed in front of the class.

Southwestern University is really nice because the campus is old but well maintained. There are housing buildings, a main building (with the commons, the bookstor, the post office, and a big lounge), the administration building, the art building (with two rooms where I went to see plays and concerts), the library, the chapel, and some class buildings. The campus is not so big so that one can come and go somewhere easily.

As for Georgetown, it's a pretty little town, but there's not a lot to do there. Many students go to Round Rock, about 15 minutes away, or Austin, an hour away, if they want to go out. The university is situated three hours from Dallas and Houston, two hours from San Antonio, and eight hours from Mexico and Louisiana. Southwestern University is great if you want to spend the year without any kind of trouble, in a quiet place.

ISEP Coordinator

Sue Mennicke
Director of Study Abroad

Message to incoming students:

I was once an exchange student. I studied West Berlin (yes, back when it was West Berlin!) at the Free University. My experience in a direct enrollment program was very meaningful and started me down the professional path that has led me to Southwestern. I've been here for 10 years, and I look forward to welcoming new international students each fall. I serve throughout the year as your academic advisor and general "point of reference." If you don't know the answer to a question or how to solve a problem, you can always come to our office and we'll be happy to steer you in the right direction! You'll also have the chance to meet lots of SU students interested in study abroad, since my office coordinators that process. There may even be students planning to study abroad in your home country, in which case we'll probably call upon you as the "expert" for advice and cultural information!.

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About Georgetown & Austin







About Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country includes the cities of Georgetown and Austin (the state's capital), and is one of the most beautiful regions in the country. Rolling hills, spring fed rivers and lakes, and diverse art and music offerings make the Hill Country a favorite destination. With over 300 days of sunshine every year in such a breathtaking natural setting, there's no better place to be!

Georgetown

Learn more about Georgetown!   http://visit.georgetown.org/


Austin

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