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Third Semester

01 A Learning Experience Beyond the Ordinary

Where the Classroom Meets the Real World

At St. Augustine Prep, education extends far beyond textbooks and lectures. Through our innovative Third Semester program, students engage in immersive, hands-on experiences that deepen learning, build empathy, and encourage global awareness.

Each year, all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors participate in a Third Semester course — a unique opportunity designed to complement their academic foundation while helping them grow as thinkers, leaders, and contributors to their world. Whether through travel, service, career exploration, or focused research, students emerge from Third Semester with new perspectives and strengthened purpose.

 

Third Semester is a transformational program that challenges our young men to apply what they’ve learned in real-world contexts. It’s not just an academic experience — it’s where growth meets purpose.

Mrs. nancy mchughDean of academics

02 Education in Action

Learning by Doing, Leading by Serving

Third Semester challenges students to step outside the traditional classroom and engage with the world around them. Through service in underserved communities, exploring careers in major cities, or immersing themselves in new cultures abroad, Hermits gain perspective, build empathy, and develop the confidence to lead with purpose.

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. 

Third Semester allows Hermits to encounter the world near and beyond Richland — engaging with diverse cultures, communities, and environments both across the U.S. and abroad.

Walking through ancient cities, collaborating with professionals in major American cities, or participating in immersive service-learning experiences, students return with a deeper understanding of their place in the world and the call to serve something greater than themselves.

These journeys — designed by our passionate and talented faculty — harness student-driven ideas, transform textbooks into lived experiences, and lessons into personal growth.

Guiding Your Journey

This is a journey where you never have to walk alone.  The Prep Faculty & Staff support our students through every step of this transformational experience.

Third Semester: The Details

Everything families need to prepare for a successful and enriching Third Semester — from sign-up to send-off.

2025-2026 courses are in development and will be shared in early fall.

Third Semester is a required course ~ Experiential Learning inclusive of customized assessments and transcript credits.

All students are placed on a waiting list to ensure that there are enough participants to run the course. Students will be notified once Third Semester registrations have been completed.

Please note:  All courses through vendors are PRIVATE; the minimum traveler requirement is typically 20 for international and domestic courses.

Courses sponsored through third-party vendors (i.e. EF, ACIS, WorldStrides) may require a registration fee with the school, as well as the registration fee and/or payment arrangement chosen by the family with the vendor.

QUESTIONS? Please contact Third Semester Coordinator, Mrs. Maria Enos P'13 '15 at (856) 697-2600 ext. 190 or enos.maria@hermits.com

2024/25 THIRD SEMESTER COURSE OFFERINGS