| Description |
This program will introduce students to Indian culture by focusing on social structures and religion in India. Students will learn about social structures surrounding marriage/family and socioeconomic status through reading and classroom discussion. They will visit sites in India where Indians are working on some of the issues created by these structures (e.g. juvenile home, orphanage, women’s training center) and spend time reflecting on their observations and experiences. Of particular focus will be learning about social structures and their impact on the lives of people, with the hope that participants will have the tools to successfully navigate future encounters with individuals from other cultures. Students will explore the religious traditions of Hinduism, Islam and Christianity in India through readings and interactions. They will also visit Hindu holy sites and Christian churches and ministries. |
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| Location |
India, bordered by the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, is slightly more than one-third the size of the United States but has three times the number of people. The second-most populous nation in the world, India has one billion inhabitants.
The program will take place in Southern India in the cities of Bangalore and Vellore, with a weekend excursion to Kodaikanal. Bangalore is home to World Cassette Outreach of India, operated by the Rajan family, whose son, JP Sundararajan, is an NWC alum (2000). Participants will be able to interact with the Rajans and their friends—many of whom are Hindu and Muslim. Vellore is home base for the Christian Counseling Center, where participants will take classes and be able to engage the “cultural other” through field experiences. |
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| Faculty leaders |
Jennifer Feenstra, a member of Northwestern’s psychology department, and Barb Dewald, associate dean of spiritual formation, will co-lead the program. Both have cross-cultural experience and have spent time in India strengthening contacts and building relationships with on-site personnel at the Christian Counseling Center and World Cassette Outreach. |
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| Course and credit |
This program is comprised of two courses: Gen 316, Cross-Cultural Prep: India, 1 credit (taken second half of spring semester 2008), and Gen 350, Topics in Cross Cultural Studies: India, 4 credits. Both courses will be taught by Jennifer Feenstra and Barb Dewald; participants must take both courses. GEN 350 fulfills NWC’s cross-cultural general education requirement. Tuition for the GEN 316 course is not included in the program fee. Tuition/credit for this course will be counted as part of participants’ regular spring semester load, and regular overload policies will apply for this course. Summer study abroad courses cannot be taken for audit. |
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| Program structure |
The required cross-cultural preparation course (GEN 316) will cover various academic and logistical aspects of the program through lectures, discussions, movies and Q & A time. Course work will include reading assignments, discussion questions, interviews and a reflection paper. Once in India (GEN 350), participants will be immersed in the culture through exchanges with Hindu and Muslim friends of various on-site contacts. Students will take classes at the Christian Counseling Center and then observe elements of Indian social systems. Discussion and reflection time will be built in after each planned activity, and students will be directed to analyze specific questions in journals. A final reflective paper will be part of the requirements for the course. |
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| Transportation |
Current plans have students flying as a group into India. On-site transportation around India will be via local trains, buses and autos. |
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| Housing and meals |
This program will utilize a variety of housing options, depending on the city. Current plans have students living in a hostel in Bangalore and in dorms and Indian homes in Vellore. Meals will be provided through the Christian Counseling Center, the hostel, the host family or via stipends. |
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| Excursions and day trips |
The program will include a variety of excursions and day trips within and around Bangalore and Vellore. Participants will take a day trip to Belur and Halibed to visit temples. They will have time to explore each city in which they stay, including visiting sites that are relevant to classroom discussions. A group dinner is planned at Hotel Darling after the homestay experience so participants have a chance to debrief as a group. A weekend cultural exchange is planned with Indian college students at Kodaikanal, a hill resort. |
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| Passport and visa |
For U.S. citizens, a passport and visa are required for entry into and exit from India. The faculty leader and summer study abroad office will assist participants in obtaining a visa. Information on how to obtain a passport is available from the summer study abroad office or http://travel.state.gov/. |
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| Vaccinations and health information |
Vaccinations must be up-to-date for persons from the U.S. traveling to India. Routine immunizations include influenza, chickenpox, polio, measles/mumps/rubella, and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus. Also recommended is hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, and—if traveling to smaller cities or rural area—rabies and Japanese encephalitis. It is suggested to have another polio vaccine, especially if the primary series was IPV or OPV. See the Center for Disease Control website (www.cdc.gov) for more information and complete details. |
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| Eligibility |
All NWC students with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or with the consent of the faculty leader are eligible to apply. This program is also available to non-NWC students on a space-available basis. |
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| Application |
The 2008 India application consists of the two-page application form, two recommendations (one from a faculty member, one from a resident director), and a student-copy transcript. Applications are available on the summer study abroad website. |
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| Application deadline |
Jan. 15, 2008. Early application is encouraged. A minimum enrollment of 12 is needed in order for the program to run. After the deadline, call for space-availability information. |
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| Program fee |
Tentatively, the program fee is $4,000 to $4,200 per student. The final fee will depend on the actual number of participants and confirmed prices for airfare, exchange rates, etc. A better estimate of cost will be given in February, and the final fee will be determined around April 1. Every effort is being made to keep the cost at a minimum. The program fee includes tuition for four credits (at a reduced rate of half off regular summer school tuition rates), airfare, in-country transportation, housing, meals or meal stipend, travel visa, international insurance (medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, basic health), pre-trip seminar and orientation, excursions, program activities and entrance fees. Participants will need to cover books, passport and pictures, some meals, and individual travel and spending money, among other items.
NWC summer study abroad programs are academic, credit-bearing experiences (not mission programs) that focus on broadening a student’s worldview through immersion in—and academic exploration of—a different culture. Therefore, the Northwestern College summer study abroad office does not sponsor nor coordinate fundraising activities to help participants cover the cost of the program fees. Payment of the program fees remains the responsibility of the participant. |
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| Tuition waiver |
The regular Northwestern College tuition waiver policy applies to summer study abroad courses. Eligible employees and their dependents may use the tuition waiver for the tuition amount only of the summer study abroad program fee. (See the staff and faculty handbook for more information.) Tuition waivers may not be used for the $250 deposit.
A full-tuition waiver for a 2008 four-credit course will equal $600 off the final program fee. (This figure equals the actual amount of tuition charged to participants as part of the final program fee, which is a special half-off discount of 2008 summer school tuition rates.)
Interested students should see Carrie Krohn in the summer study abroad office for more details. |
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| Deposit and financial aid |
Upon acceptance into the program, a $250 deposit will be required to hold a participant’s slot (participants will be notified of the exact payment deadline in the acceptance letter). This deposit will be applied to the final program fee. Financial aid in the form of loans may be available. Contact the NWC financial aid office for more information. |
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| Payment deadline |
After determination of the final program fee, on or around April 1, the SSAO will send out billings. Deadline for payment is May 1. Participants will be provided with the payment, cancellation and refund policies upon acceptance into the program. |
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Summer study abroad
