Mission

Chicago Semester is an off-campus program rooted in the Christian faith. The program challenges students to integrate their personal, professional and public lives through internships, academic seminars and urban experience.

• You will experience living in a large city with its possibilities and challenges.
• You will engage in learning about personal values, vocational goals and collective responsibility to society.
• You will be working under experienced mentors at internships suited to your career aspirations.

History of Chicago Semester

Chicago Semester was started in 1974 by six Christian colleges in the Reformed tradition to provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to experience the challenges of living and working in an urban environment while pursuing their career goals. Student enrollment grew steadily during the first twenty years of the program. Currently, 150-180 students participate in Chicago Semester each academic year.

Three professional tracks were added to the program to meet the request of sponsoring colleges. In 1992, an MSW-credentialed staff person was hired to supervise social work students whose practicum experience now meets the requirements of the Council on Social Work Education. A certified teacher educator joined Chicago Semester in 1994 to manage the placement and supervision of student teachers in Chicago Public Schools. In 2003, a nursing educator came on staff to facilitate placement and education of nursing students.

In 2002, Chicago Semester was named the Experiential Education Program of the Year by the National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE) and celebrated its 30th Anniversary year in 2004.

Sponsoring Institutions

• Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Central College in Pella, Iowa
• Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa
• Hope College in Holland, Michigan
• Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa
• Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois (administering college)

Participating Institutions

• Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa
• Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin
• Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois
• Judson University in Elgin, Illinois
• Luther College in Decorah, Iowa
• Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio
• Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan

Chicago Semester Policy Board

• Doug Carlson
  Associate Dean of Global Education & Professor of History, Northwestern College
• Sander de Haan, Chairman
  Professor of German & Dutch, Hope College
• Sherri Lantinga
  Dean of Social Sciences & Professor of Psychology, Dordt College
• Michelle Loyd-Paige
  Dean for Multicultural Affairs, Calvin College
• Vivian Rippentrop
  Assistant VP for Institutional Planning, Central College
• Burt Rozema, Secretary & Treasurer
  Director of Off-Campus Programs, Trinity Christian College