THE EUROBRIDGE-US PROGRAM

The EuroBridge-US Program
at
St. John International University

Welcome and Overview:

As an American institution of higher education, St. John International University (SJIU) offers a unique program specifically designed for qualified international students who possess limited English language proficiency, but who aspire to receive an American university degree in the United States. The EuroBridge-US program comprises a 12-18 month course of study that prepares students to be admitted to an English-language university program.

Upon successful completion of the EuroBridge-US Program, participating students may enroll at a college or university in the United States, or, if the student prefers, he or she will be admitted to the appropriate SJIU degree program, with all transferrable University credit accepted.

About St. John International University

St. John International University (SJIU) is an American-chartered and -approved institution of higher learning, with its main campus located in Vinovo (suburban Torino) in the picturesque Piemonte region of northern Italy. SJIU is the first and only American university in Italy approved and authorized to award graduate degrees.

At the center of the Vinovo campus is the Castello Della Rovere, an exquisite and iconic 16th Century castle that provides faculty and students with an unparalleled setting for teaching and learning. The main campus is one hour’s drive from France (west) and Switzerland (north), as well as just over an hour’s distance from the villages and beaches of the Italian Riviera (south). The University is ideally situated for daily travel to the cities of Torino (20 minutes) and Milan (one hour).

SJIU offers undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree programs in architecture, art history, business, environmental studies, and film studies. At the graduate (master’s) level, St. John International University distinguishes itself by specializing in architecture, business, and the arts. The University offers a Master of Architecture (M.Arch.), with a focus on sustainable design; a Master of Business Administration (MBA), customized to serve the professional needs of managers in a range of business sectors, as well as government, NGOs, and other non-profit entities; and the Master of Arts in International Arts Administration (MIAA). As an American university, all instruction at SJIU is offered in English.

The University hosts an active Study Abroad program throughout the calendar year, including Fall semester, Spring semester, and Summer sessions; SJIU also sponsors shorter-term “signature” programs during Winter session (December/January intersession) and during the months of March and April. These programs attract a diversity of undergraduate and graduate students from the United States and around the world.

The EuroBridge-US Program Goals and Expectations:

EuroBridge-US at St. John International University has five distinct goals for our Program graduates:

Students in the EuroBridge-US Program will acquire competency/fluency in the English language to successfully pursue a graduate or undergraduate degree at a college or university in the United States.
Students in the EuroBridge-US Program will be well prepared for the rigors and expectations of the American university academic/classroom culture.
Students in the EuroBridge-US Program will possess no less than fifteen (15) transferrable (English language) academic credits upon successful completion of (graduation from) the Program.
Students in the EuroBridge-US Program will be prepared for a comfortable transition to American University life.
Students who complete the EuroBridge-US Program may enroll at an appropriate college or university in the United States, or they are welcome to transfer their EuroBridge-US-earned credit to an appropriate degree program at St. John International University.

The EuroBridge-US Curriculum:

The EuroBridge-US curriculum is carefully designed to provide each student with the comprehensive and individualized instruction and support essential to achieving the Program’s goals. Students may complete the Program in as little as twelve (12) months (two (2) semesters), but it is expected that most students will be enrolled for the full three (3) semesters of the Program (please refer to the Alternative Paths section of this Program Profile). The EuroBridge-US curriculum is comprised of:

Semester I

  Assessment of Personal Learning Styles
  English for Academic Success I
  English for Academic Success II
  The Nature and Culture of the American University
  Mathematics (choose from College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus)*

Semester II

  English for Academic Success III
  English for Academic Success IV
  English Composition (College Writing)*
  Introduction to Environmental Science*
  Fine Arts Elective*

Semester III

  University Testing: TOEFL and College Level Examinations
  English Composition (College Writing)*
  Introduction to Public Speaking*
  Science (choose from Biology, Chemistry, Physics)*
  American History and Politics*
  Preparations for Academic Transitions (1 credit course)

* These Courses each provide EuroBridge-US students with three (3) transfer- eligible academic credits.

Alternative Paths to Address Individual Student Needs:

During the first six weeks of the EuroBridge-US program, students will participate in a comprehensive assessment of their individualized needs with respect to communication, both verbal and written, as well as to the academic preparation and the personal flexibility essential to success in the American system of higher education. The goal of this assessment and the program it serves is to best accommodate the specific needs of our students and to accelerate their adjustment to the American model and, thus, their progress toward successful completion of the Program.

The comprehensive evaluation of each student’s needs conducted during the first six weeks of Semester I will determine whether students will be guided to the eighteen-month (three semester) curricular sequence or the twelve-month (two semester) curricular path. In either case, students will be supported by a personal mentor/advisor, experienced classroom faculty, and caring and skilled academic and student services staff.

Post-Baccalaureate/Pre-Master’s Program:

As with the EuroBridge-US Program available to international students at the undergraduate level, the EuroBridge-US curriculum for Post-Baccalaureate/Pre-Master’s students is carefully designed to provide each student with the comprehensive and individualized instruction and support essential to achieving the Program’s goals for those advanced students intending to pursue graduate study in the United States (or in other English-speaking countries). Students may complete the Program in as little as six (6) months (one (1) semester), but it is expected that most students will be enrolled for the full two (2) semesters of the Program. The EuroBridge-US curriculum for aspiring graduate students (Post-Baccalaureate/Pre-Master’s) is comprised of:

Semester

English for Advanced University Programs I
English for Advanced University Programs II
Reading and Critical Thinking
Research Paper Writing
University Testing: TOEFL and GRE, MCAT, and University-Based Exams
Preparations for Academic Transitions (1 credit course)

Pre-Semester

Students with limited English proficiency will take a preparatory semester of study immediately preceding the curricular offerings detailed above. The curriculum for this pre-semester is:
Assessment of Personal Learning Styles
English for Academic Success I & II
English for Academic Success III & IV
English Composition (College Writing)

For More Information:

For more information on the EuroBridge-US program at St. John International University, please contact:

Jennifer Redman
Registrar
welcome@sjiu.it

We welcome your interest and inquiries and invite you to visit our campus in Vinovo. Please do visit our website at www.sjiu.it.