Greetings from the Wheaton College Graduate School!

All of us in the Intercultural Studies Department are looking forward to having you in the Intercultural Studies or Missions MA program. Please read the following information carefully because it is packed with a lot of important details.

Length of Program: The Intercultural Studies department offers four 40-hour MA programs. Students may earn degrees in Intercultural Studies, Missions, TESOL, or Evangelism and Leadership. Intercultural Studies and Missions students may customize a program that meets individual goals or choose from one of five emphases: (1) Community Development, (2) Church Leadership & Development, (3) Church Planting & Development, (4) Mission in Biblical & Theological Perspective, or (5) Urban Mission. Twelve credit hours are considered full-time during each fall and spring semester. The M.A. is usually completed in 3 semesters and a summer.

Planning Your Program: (1) Determine your area of interest. (2) decide when you would like to complete your MA, (3) determine whether you can take classes during the summer, (4) decide on the electives you would like to take, and plan the core courses around the electives, (5) try to balance your “A” and “B” quad classes, i.e., do not schedule 3 classes in A quad and 1 class in B quad, and (6) take Research (INTR 572) in your second or last semester. Full-time students have the option of taking one free audit in any department or giving your free audit to your spouse.As an aid in planning your program refer to the (1) Degree Requirements and (2) INTR Core Courses and the semester in which they are offered.

Sample Schedules/Student Worksheet: The sample schedule worksheets are a good model to use in planning your classes. Try to plan out your schedule for the three semesters you will to be with us. Be sure to note if there is a semester in which a course you want/need is not offered. See the Appendix section of the Handbookfor sample schedules or click the emphases page.

Classes: Classes are either 4 or 2 credit hours. A 4-credit class usually meets for the entire semester (16 weeks). A 2-credit hour class meets for half of the semester (8 weeks; known as a "quad"). Courses that meet for the first half of semester are assigned an “A” designation beside the course number indicating it is an A quad class. A “B” designation indicates the course is a B quad class that meets for the second 8 weeks of the semester. Click here to view the College calendar.

Summer School/Intensives: Consider taking summer courses because tuition is approximately 65% less than during the fall and spring semesters. Summer classes are usually in an intensive format with advance work (typically a combination of reading and small interactive papers due the first day of class. Advance work will be available to students approximately eight weeks prior to the beginning of class) and post work (due approximately three weeks after the last day of class; the exact date will be listed in the course syllabus). Intensives are also offered on the first business day after January 1 in the week prior to the first day of the spring semester. It counts as a spring semester load and tuition is

Pre-registration: It works best if you register prior to coming on campus because your financial aid package can be ready for when you arrive on campus. At orientation, your advisor will confirm the preliminary course schedule you have worked on and discuss any schedule changes or transfer credit you might have at that time.

Academic Advising: Each student is assigned an academic advisor at orientation. Be sure to meet with your advisor at least twice a semester. In addition to helping you choose courses and sign registration forms, your advisor is here to help you with career objectives, spiritual issues and problem solving.

Intercultural Studies Forum: The class is a vital part of our growth as a community of Christ as we hear about and pray for His followers around the world, develop skills that will help us to integrate our training with God’s work in the world, and grow in our understanding of God’s heart for the world. It is required of all full-time students every semester, graded on a pass/fail basis with your attendance determining yourgrade. It is zero credit and meets every other week during the semester.

Candidacy: Students must complete an Approved Master’s Degree Program form BEFORE 12 semester hours are completed (including certificate students) and prior to registration for the following semester. We recommend students complete the Application for Degree form at the same time as you file for candidacy so that it doesn’t “catch up” with you at the end of your program when so many other requirements are due. Click here to get more information regarding the candidacy.

Comprehensive Exam/Master's Thesis: The comp is a zero credit course taken during your final semester in the program. It is designed to test your knowledge of the core courses for the MA programs. In lieu of taking the comprehensive exam, students may choose to write a Master’s thesis. Talk to your advisor in your first semester if you are interested in writing a thesis.

Internships: The practical experience of an internship can be a valuable part of your education. Internships are available in North America or overseas and credit can be earned while you gain “hands on” experience. Further information is available in the Handbook or on the actual internship packet. Click here for an internship packet.

Exit Interview: Students should complete this form, return it to your advisor, and make an appointment with your advisor. This must be done 1- 2 weeks prior to the last day of class. The purpose of the exit interview is for students to give helpful feedback to the department on the strengths and limitations of the individual MA programs.

If you have questions, please contact department at intr@wheaton.edu.

Course Evaluations: All classes are evaluated online by the student. The evaluations are done anonymously. Students access the online evaluation from their proxy account that is also used to access the Library from off campus. An email reminder indicating the actual dates to submit the evaluation will be sent to the student. The evaluations are typically done mid October and December, the beginning of March and the end of April. The evaluations are tallied by a separate department and given to the Department Chair. Faculty receive a copy of the class evaluations after the grades for the course are submitted to the Registrar.

Application Process: To apply for the M.A. in Intercultural Studies or Missions degree, click here.

Scholarships: The Billy Graham Center offers special scholarships to international students, furloughing missionaries, missionary candidates who are committed to overseas service under an established mission agency and those called to evangelistic ministries who are committed to service in urban settings.

Bookstore: The Wheaton College Bookstore has a list of books for your class. You may order your texts online at www.wheatonbooks.com.

Library/Computer Lab: There is a computer lab located in Buswell Library and in the Billy Graham Center. The Buswell Library has a pod of eight computers that is available for anyone to use without a Student I.D.

• Access to Library Resources: For more information go to library.wheaton.edu/offcampus.

Computers: Personal computers can be connected to the campus network (ResNet) from on-campus residences or via public port connections in the Library and the Beamer Center. For more information go to www.wheaton.edu/computing/guide.html.

• Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). Wheaton has rules governing use of its computers, its network, and access to the Internet from campus. These rules apply to students, faculty and staff. They are detailed in a document entitled Terms and Conditions for Computer Accounts / Usage: Acceptable Use Policy. Everyone at the College signs a form each year, promising to abide by these rules. When you attend orientation on campus, you'll be told where to pick up this form. You must sign and return it as instructed. If you don't submit the signed form within a week of arrival, your accounts will be suspended until you do turn it in.

Housing: In addition to campus housing, Graduate Student Services has a list of off-campus housing. For more information, click here.

Meals: The College has excellent dining facilities. Click here for more information.

Health Insurance: All residential students who are registered for classes are automatically billed for the College insurance plan. If you do not require College insurance, be sure to submit the online waiver form at www.wheaton.edu/healthsvcs on or before September 1 for the fall semester and February 1 for the spring semester.

Immunizations/Physical: All students are required to have their immunization record on file with the Wheaton College Health Center. The Immunization Record form may be printed from www.wheaton.edu/healthsvcs. If further immunizations are needed and not acquired, it will result in a $100.00 medical records fine on the student’s account, and a registration hold will be put into place. A physical examination is also required. If additional information is needed, please contact the Health Center at 630-752-5072 or healthsvcs@wheaton.edu.

Parking: All students must have a parking permit to park on campus. Information will be given to you at student orientation.

Student I.D. Cards: Student I.D. cards allow access to the Student Recreation Center and checking out books from the Libraries. These cards will be issued to each student on the first day of class.