Spring Semester 2010 closed

12 weeks (January 11 - April 5, 2010)

Sponsored by the Department of Family and Child Ecology, the School of Social Work, and Interdisciplinary Studies in the College of Social Science and the College of Arts & Letters

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This 12-week multidisciplinary study program set in New Delhi will allow you to live, work, and absorb the unique cultures of the subcontinent of India and experience a once-in-a-lifetime journey into the heart of the mysterious East.  You will be immersed in the daily lives of the people.  The program will challenge your mind and spirit and support your growing awareness of the world as a global community.  You will learn about cultures and traditions dating back thousands of years, yet accommodating to the latest in modern technology and communications.  You will observe diversity in its most extreme forms - wealth vs. poverty, urban crowding vs. rural isolation, illiteracy and educational excellence, religions of every form and freedom of expression as never before appreciated!

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

• To develop sensitivities to different cultural, political, religious, and value systems
• To increase competence in analyzing social, educational and health needs and responses
• To recognize the basis and transferability of various approaches to social, economic, environmental and educational interventions
• To apply critical thinking skills
• To challenge students to learn from and grow from their engagement in alternative cultures and lifestyles

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

A series of pre-departure meetings will be held in late November and early December to help prepare students for their experience.  A series of readings and videos will be assigned, and students and parents will be invited to explore health, safety, and educational issues.

Although students are expected to arrange their own transportation, the group will exchange information about plans and possibilities.  All students will be met at the airport by a reliable travel representative.  Lodging, meals and local transportation will be arranged. 

A number of local field trips will include visits to Old Delhi, the Crafts Museum and the National Museum. A day-long field trip to the Taj Mahal and ancient city of Agra will be included in the program. On their own, students have visited other nearby cities such as the pink city of Jaipur.  Students will travel to a retreat setting for the mid-term and final seminar.  Local staff members will also help students arrange weekend excursions and involvement in cultural events to take advantage of this opportunity to experience Indian life and culture.

Where does it take place?

India is a large Asian country, roughly one-third the size of the United States, stretching from the high Himalayan mountains in the north, across the flat Deccan plateau in the center of the country, to the broad palm-covered seashore that surrounds two-thirds of the country to the south.  India is second only to China in the size of its population (one billion).  The Indian people are a mix of many backgrounds and ethnic and religious origins.  Yet, despite their differences in language, religion, lifestyles and customs, they live together with remarkable tolerance and acceptance.

India is both an ancient and a modern country.  It celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence from the British in 1997 - fifty years as the world’s largest democracy!  In this respect, India is young.

The core experience for all students will take place in New Delhi, the capital of India.  New Delhi is a modern city with wide boulevards, bustling traffic, colorful markets and an international mixing pot of peoples, communications, and transportation.  Field placements in India will be located throughout the city and in surrounding states and district centers of northern India. Many students have enjoyed working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Himalayan Region of the new state of Uttar Arnchal.

What can I study?

The focus and centerpiece of this unique program is a field placement experience.  Each student will be matched with an agency or organization working in an area of his or her professional interest.  For six weeks students will serve as interns, working alongside agency staff in delivering services to people.  A wide variety of settings are potential sites - educational institutions, hospital and health care services, child development centers, organizations providing micro-credit and income-generating skills for women, sustainable agriculture and environmental groups, marketing and media agencies, etc.  In addition to learning about the complexities of service delivery, interns will gain firsthand knowledge of the administrative challenges of operating non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), a major institutional force in international development.

Surrounding the field placement will be a set of classes and small-group learning activities.  This coursework will include a common set of topics covering the arts, humanities, history, social institutions, religions, cultures, economies, and political systems of the subcontinent.  Within this range of topics, students will select an issue to research and present it as a special project.  Issues such as women’s rights, population, child labor, food security, nuclear proliferation, and global trade can be chosen.

Students will be taught and supervised by local faculty members.  All instruction will be in English and field placement sites will have English-speaking staff members.  A faculty member from MSU will accompany the group for part of the semester.

All students will be required to enroll for a minimum of twelve (12), maximum of fourteen (14), semester credits.

The program is especially well-suited to satisfy field placement, internship or service learning requirements of majors.  It also supports the Women in International Development and Women’s Studies specializations.  Any six-credit internship or field placement course can serve as the core experience.  Check with your academic advisor for the appropriate course enrollment for your college.

A minimum of six (6) credits of collateral courses may be chosen from a variety of independent study or special topic courses from individual colleges, and may include:

An individualized program can be designed to meet your major requirements.  Check with your academic adviser.  Students organize their six credits of coursework in a number of ways. Often, a faculty member teaching a required course on-campus will allow the student to take the course off-campus in an independent study format. Alternatively, students have created independent study courses with faculty on-campus in topics of interest to their major. The study abroad coordinator can also supervise independent study courses. Students should discuss their options with both their academic advisor and the study abroad coordinator. Once courses are chosen, some additional paperwork is often required of departments and arrangements need to be made with the department to post the course with a 750 section number in the registration system.

Students in the School of Social Work will need to enroll in a 12-credit field work course.

Students must register for their courses here at MSU prior to leaving for their study abroad site.  Non-MSU Students will register as Lifelong Education Students and the paperwork will be managed by the Office of Study Abroad. MSU faculty members in consultation with local program coordinators will assign grades for all courses in this program.  MSU course numbers and grades will appear on transcripts.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

What are the requirements?

Both MSU and non-MSU students can apply. The target participant group is upper-level students of junior or senior status at the time of participation, or graduate students.  

All students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.50 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission. For instance, students must be independent learners, confident of their abilities and able to initiate interactions to profit from the experience. No formal papers or assignments exist. Each student has an independent set of expectations with their own professors and advisors. Thus students must exhibit the maturity necessary to take responsibility for their own learning.

Additionally, students must also submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program.

India presents a number of challenges to the comfortable lifestyles to which students are accustomed. Prior overseas travel and experiences in lesser-developed settings can help prepare a student for India. Participation may be denied to an applicant whose conduct prior to departure raises doubts that he or she would adapt to the situation in India or would be a serious enough student to prosper under these circumstances.

Past experience has suggested, however, that a wide variety of students have prospered in India. A number of returning students have applied to graduate school to further the training they were able to try-out in India. A few anticipate pursuing international careers. Four alumni are working abroad in Korea and Japan as English Language Teachers, and four others joined the Peace Corps. Some students use the India Study Abroad program as a time of testing—testing themselves and their ability to adapt and enjoy such culturally different peoples and societies.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will experience a variety of housing arrangements such as dormitories, guesthouses, and private homestays. While participating in the classroom portion of the program, students will be living on-campus at Lady Irwin College near Connaught Place in the center of New Delhi. The College has renovated dormitory rooms and two Guest Houses for student use. The cafeteria at the College provides meals at a nominal cost. A canteen is also available for snacks as well as the nearby shops at Bengali Market.

During the internship portion of the program, housing arrangements are made in consultation with the local agency hosting the student. Organizational guest houses, staff quarters, private homes and some commercial guest houses have been used. A housing allowance is available within the program fees to cover these housing costs.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Mary Andrews
Emeritus Director of International Extension Programs
Home Phone: (517) 676-3517

Mary P. Andrews, Past Director of International Extension Programs at Michigan State University is currently retired but continues to direct the program.  Dr. Andrews along with her husband, Harry, lived and worked in India as Peace Corps volunteers and are regular travelers to the subcontinent.  Her professional interests include non-formal education and international development.

Local lecturers, experts, and guides will assist in providing the instructional content of the program, and a local educator from Lady Irwin College, our host institution, will serve as program coordinator on site.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.   It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

U.S. citizens will need a valid passport and an Indian tourist visa. Information and forms with instructions to apply for a visa can be downloaded from the Government of India Consulate in Chicago.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

A series of inoculations is recommended for entry into India, although nothing is absolutely required.   Students should begin this process by visiting Olin Health Center or a local county Health Department Travel Clinic a few months in advance of departure. Consultations with health workers can provide insights about the use of medications and precautionary measures to prevent illness.  Any students planning to travel to southern India will need to take preventative medications for Malaria. Water is a problem throughout India, although bottled water is available at nominal cost. A portable water filter has proven to be especially convenient for those living in remote areas during their field placement.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $2,875 and includes the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• accommodations
• official travel to internship sites
• accident and sickness insurance
• field trips

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

• MSU tuition and fees*
• airfare
• meals
• books and supplies
• passport application fee
• visa application fees
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $2,940 for 2010.  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for these scholarships is October 15th for spring semester programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 15th for spring semester participation.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.