St. John International University (SJIU) is a new American free-standing university in Vinovo-Torino (Turin), Italy. SJIU offers study abroad, undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the areas of art history, business administration, environmental architecture, environmental studies and film studies. As an American liberal arts college, SJIU provides students from across the globe the skills and tools necessary to be successful and competitive in today's job market. SJIU is dedicated to promoting humanism, fostering respect for the fundamental rights of the individual, emphasizing research, and instilling awareness of our physical and cultural surroundings. Through its high quality academic curriculum, SJIU prepares graduates to share the responsibility that each of us has towards our natural and social worlds.
  A B O U T    T H E    A M E R I C A N    H I G H E R    E D U C A T I O N    S Y S T E M  
   
 

American undergraduate degrees are 4-year programs and Masters degrees are 2-year programs. The American system of higher education encourages experimentation, particularly during the first two years of university experience. While students have a certain number of required credits, they have a lot of freedom in the types of courses they choose to take that will fulfill those required credits.
The University’s requirements are, therefore, divided into two categories: General Education Requirements (GER) and the courses specific requirements of the major.

The GER courses give students a broad exposure to the basic discipline of the liberal arts, including English Composition and Literature; areas of the Humanities such as Art History, Literature, Philosophy, and Religion; the Natural Sciences, (Mathematics and Computer Science); and the Social Sciences (Economics, Political Science and Psychology). In these courses, students are encouraged to explore subjects not yet familiar to them, broaden their intellectual interests, and discover previously unrecognized aptitudes and abilities. SJIU’s GER put a particular emphasis on addressing environmental issues in order to increase cultural understanding and awareness. These courses are eco-centric in that they consider the eco-system to be strongly connected to our culture and human artistic, economic and historical activities.

Within each degree program, there are specific requirements to be met by the student. These requirements include core courses, deemed by the Faculty to be essential to the discipline, and comparable to the requirements for the same degree at other recognized and accredited colleges and universities in the American system of higher education. In addition to the core requirements, students select electives that support the core program and courses in other discipline areas of particular interest.

As an American international university, SJIU attaches special importance to skills in written and spoken English. At the beginning of their education at the University, all students are required to take a sequence of courses in English composition and literature, with the goal of developing the ability to think logically, to communicate accurately and clearly, and to appreciate the beauty and force of the English language, as reflected in its rich literary heritage. These skills will be used and reinforced throughout students’ careers at the University, and in life-long learning. A Placement Examination is given to determine the entry level for each entering student in this important sequence of courses.

Generally, courses at SJIU carry three units of credit. The academic year is divided into two semesters of fifteen weeks each, beginning in September and January. In one semester, a student normally enrolls in five courses, earning 15 credits in the semester and 30 credits in the year. Two summer sessions of five weeks each allow students to take one or two additional courses. To earn a Bachelor’s degree, a student must complete 120 credits (40 courses). The earn a Master’s degree, as student must complete 60 credits (20 courses).