ipsl brochure - programs in the americas 2008
DESCRIPTION
Brochure detailing undergraduate service-learning programs in the Americas.TRANSCRIPT
|Th e International Partnership forService-Learning and LeadershipipSL
givereceive
theory
practice
globallocal
actionreflection
individual
community
knowing
doing
idealismrealism
servelearn
service-learningstudy abroad + volunteer service
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2008PROGRAMS
| ipSL.org
Make a difference
with your
semester abroad.
THE
AMERICAS
Ecuador
Mexico
Jamaica
Lakota Nation
Benefi ts of IPSL Programs
• Integrated study abroad experience
Your whole program—studies, service, living, and excursions—is designed to give you a complex and varied experience of the culture while making your learning immediate and relevant, and therefore more meaningful.
• Making a diff erence to people in need
Whether your service helps improve health or education, assists in community development, or alleviates suff ering, your service addresses human needs which would otherwise go unmet, and is valued by the community.
• Full cultural immersion
As an IPSL student, you are not just an academic tourist. You are immersed in several levels of the society, and contribute to the host culture through your service. For example, you might attend an elite university; live with a middle-class family; and work with destitute street children.
• Real cultural understanding
Through the combination of classroom theory and practical experience serving in a social agency, IPSL students develop a broad knowledge of the forces that shape the culture; an intimate understanding of its peoples, customs, and traditions; and deep insight into the complex social issues and realities of the society.
• Meaningful growth and personal insight
You will develop skills, discover talents, and gain meaningful personal insight about who you are, what you are capable of, and who you want to become. IPSL students often say their program experience stays with them for many years, helping to shape their values, aspirations, and career paths.
Why service-learning?
IPSL international service-learning programs integrate academic study with substantive volunteer service, creating a powerful dynamic between direct cultural exposure and academic learning. Interaction with the community teaches you how the culture functions. Time in the classroom teaches you why it functions as it does. By testing theory with practice, IPSL students fi nd their learning takes on greater depth and meaning.
Through your studies at a local university, volunteer service in the community, and living in a homestay or on campus, you are fully immersed in several levels of the culture simultaneously. Guided fi eld trips, refl ection, and other support services also help you to understand the culture and your experience of it.
IPSL students are adventuresome, idealistic, thoughtful, generous, curious, enthusiastic, and open-minded. Since 1982, they have been making a diff erence in local communities around the world, putting their education and skills to good use, and giving meaning to their education.
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IPSL International Service-Learning Programs
“
”
The two semesters I spent
serving and learning
abroad were the most
challenging, difficult,
wonderful, and incredible
semesters of my life. I
learned a great deal about
myself and I also learned
about the importance
of giving of yourself and
helping others. I saw that
I could make a difference.
— Julie, Rocky Mountain College (Mexico & Guayaquil programs)
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Why service-learning?
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Academic Year OptionsStudents interested in serving and learning abroad for an academic year may choose two diff erent IPSL program locations for a broader, comparative perspective. Some previous students have chosen diverse locations such as Mexico and India, while others have chosen a thematic focus, such as Mexico and Guayaquil for Spanish and Latin American studies; Quito and Lakota Nation to study indigenous peoples; or India and Thailand for Asian studies. If you are considering studying abroad for a year, please contact IPSL. We will be happy to help you fi nd a program combination that fi ts your interests.
Academic CreditAcademic credit in IPSL programs is not issued for the service alone. Rather, the service is thought of as a valuable resource for learning. Credit is awarded for the demonstrated learning (papers, journals, presentations, and examinations), evaluated by qualifi ed, in-country faculty, and graded according to familiar academic criteria. A transcript is issued by the host institution shortly after the program.
Questions?For complete information about IPSL programs, go to:
We welcome your questions and are happy to assist you with the application and fi nancial aid process. Please feel free to call or email us.
ipSL.org
(212) 986-0989 [email protected]
IPSL International Service-Learning Programs
IPSL programs integrate academic studies with volunteer service and full cultural immersion to give you a deeper, more meaningful study abroad experience.
Summer Programs (ranging from 3–12 weeks)
THE AMERICASEcuador (Guayaquil)MexicoJamaicaLakota Nation, USA
ASIAIndia*Philippines
* also off ered during J-Term
EUROPEFranceItalyRussia
CostsFinancial AidPassport & VisaEligibilityApplicationAbout IPSL
See p. 16
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EUROPECzech RepublicEnglandFranceItalyRussiaScotland
ASIAIndiaPhilippinesThailand
Semester Programs
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| | ||THE AMERICAS
Ecuador – Guayaquil, Quito, or Galápagos
Mexico – Guadalajara
Jamaica – Kingston
Lakota Nation – South Dakota, USA |||| || ||| |
|Overview
Ecuador spans the equator on the northwest coast of South America. With its cultural diversity and wide range of environments—the Galápagos Islands, the coastal areas of the Pacifi c, the Andes mountain range, and the headwaters of the Amazon—Ecuador provides an ideal location for you to live in and learn about South America, encountering directly the issues and concerns of this great southern continent. In Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city and gateway to the Galápagos, you will enjoy a tropical climate with varied and abundant fl ora and fauna and a newly revitalized waterfront, or “Malecon.” You will also encounter dramatic contrasts of wealth and poverty, and the social issues generated through that disparity.
You will spend a semester developing your Spanish skills; studying Ecuadorian history, culture, and society at Universidad Espiritu Santo; living with an Ecuadorian family; and serving 15–20 hours a week in an Ecuadorian community agency. Your volunteer service immerses you in the culture and deepens your understanding of Ecuadorian society in a way that goes beyond that experienced in traditional study abroad programs. It also facilitates your mastery of Spanish.
“
”
I will always view my time in
Ecuador with a smile on my face.
Great friendships, soul-searching
experiences, and eye-opening
sights are not easily forgotten. It
was wonderful to be able to take
from my experiences and give back
to the culture that accepted me. – Jenna, Middlebury College
Summer ProgramTwo month-long summer programs are off ered in Guayaquil, in June and July. See ipsl.org for details.
Program Facts
Language of InstructionSpanish and/or English
Language PrerequisiteMinimum of 2 years of secondary school Spanish or 1 year of college/university Spanish, or the equivalent.
Affiliated Institution Universidad Espiritu Santo (UEES)
Credits12–15 per semester
HousingHomestay
Dates DeadlinesSpring: early January – late April November 1Fall: late August – late December June 1
See ipsl.org for exact dates & costs
Application
ECUADOR
For more details on the program, go to ipsl.org.
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|Living in Guayaquil
Ecuador’s main port and largest city, Guayaquil is a bustling coastal urban center, known for its friendly people, tropical climate, and vibrant nightlife. You will enjoy the refurbished riverside “Malecon,” the colonial Barrio Las Peñas, the colorful houses and view from Cerro Santa Ana, the Mercado Artesenal (artisan’s market), beautiful parks and plazas, and an abundance of cafés and restaurants. Guayaquil is also the gateway to the Galápagos Islands and some of Ecuador’s most beautiful beaches.
You will live in a homestay with a middle-class Ecuadorian family, who provide most of your meals and introduce you to Ecuadorian family life. An integral part of the program, the homestay off ers you the opportunity to make life-long friends, reinforce language skills, and experience the culture from “the inside.” Host families are carefully selected and experienced with hosting students.
Academic Study
The program is based at Universidad Espiritu Santo (UEES). You will take three required courses for a total of 12–15 credits; optional electives are also off ered. A transcript is issued from Universidad Espiritu Santo upon successful completion of the program.
Spanish LanguageStudents are tested and placed in the appropriate level for Spanish language instruction: beginning, intermediate or advanced. Studies include the culture and literature of Ecuador and Latin America. You may move through one or two intensive modules (levels) during the program. 3–6 credits.
Ecuadorian SocioeconomicsGives a historical perspective on Ecuadorian social and economic issues starting from Pre-Columbian and colonial times through present-day Ecuador. Topics are addressed related to race, class, religion, ethnicity, geography, and other interconnected and relevant themes. Off ered in Spanish and English. 3 credits.
Institutions in Ecuadorian SocietyExamines the ways social institutions relate to and refl ect the larger society. Issues explored include: culture and development; oil and rights; religion and politics; religion and revolution; development and self-respect; community participation in development; politics and insurrection; gender and fashion; literature and politics; and class structure. Taught in English, but using as much Spanish as the class understands. 6 credits.
ElectiveOther language and academic courses (many of them taught in English) may be taken in addition to the required courses with the approval of the resident Program Director, and students who are fl uent in Spanish may participate in any of the regular classes off ered at UEES. A popular elective is “History of Ecuadorian Culture.“ 3 credits.
Volunteer Service
With nearly 2.5 million inhabitants, Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city. Like many cities in South America, Guayaquil has experienced tremendous population growth in recent years; parts of the city have undergone impressive redevelopment while other areas of the city have become vast tracts of squatter housing lacking basic urban services. Urban growth is also putting signifi cant pressures on unique, delicate ecological reserves that provide homes for endangered fl ora and fauna. These many challenges form the framework for the community service agencies in which IPSL students are placed.
You will serve 15–20 hours a week in an established Ecuadorian agency. Your placement will be determined by community and agency needs, as well as your interests, goals, and skills, including Spanish language ability. Some service placements are in the “invasion” communities of rural and poor migrants.
Areas of service may include: teaching English as a Second Language; health care through medical and dental clinics; health education; tutoring and recreation for children and teens; community and economic development. You might aid homeless (street) girls; assist in projects for the disabled; work at an adoption agency for abandoned infants; teach in primary or secondary schools; assist in a hospital; or serve in other areas. See examples at ipsl.org.
Excursions
Field trips may include visits to: Quito, the historic capital; the Andean mountain towns, including Otavalo (world-famous for its handcrafts market); the Cotopaxi Volcano; the line marking the equator; Cuenca, the capital of the Azuay province; El Cajas National Park; and local NGOs. A four-day trip to the headwaters of the Amazon River and/or a trip to the Galápagos Islands may be available for an additional cost. Specifi c fi eld trips depend on conditions and events in Ecuador at the time of the program.
Ecuador - Guayaquil ipSL.org
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Program Facts
Language of InstructionSpanish
Language PrerequisiteMinimum of 3 years of secondary school Spanish or 3 semesters of college/university Spanish, or the equivalent.
Affiliated Institution Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Credits12–15 per semester
HousingHomestay
Dates DeadlinesSpring: early January – mid-May November 1Fall: late August – mid-December June 1
See ipsl.org for exact dates & costs
Application
Overview
Ecuador spans the equator on the northwest coast of South America. With its cultural diversity and wide range of environments, Ecuador provides an ideal location for you to live in and learn about South America, encountering directly the issues and concerns of this great southern continent. Surrounded by the magnifi cent volcanic Andes mountains, the capital city of Quito boasts one of the fi nest collections of Spanish colonial architecture in the world. It is home to a large Indian and mestizo population, as well as those of European descent. You will be challenged by serving the social and educational needs of the many marginalized people in the city.
You will spend a semester developing your Spanish skills; studying Spanish language and Ecuadorian social issues at Universidad San Francisco de Quito; living with an Ecuadorian family; and serving 15–20 hours a week in an Ecuadorian community agency. Your volunteer service immerses you in the culture and deepens your understanding of Ecuadorian society in a way that goes beyond that experienced in traditional study abroad programs. It also facilitates your mastery of Spanish.
“
Quito
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”
Beyond a change of scenery, I wanted
to have a real-world context in order to
put college in perspective. I knew that
I would not be satisfied if I didn’t feel
like I was interacting with real people
and giving back to the community from
which I was absorbing so much. By
placing myself in different surroundings
and exposing myself to new situations,
I learned about myself in many ways. – Bronwyn, Stanford University
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|Living in Quito
Located in the heart of the Andes mountains, at the base of the Volcano Pichincha, Quito sits an altitude of 9,300 feet and enjoys a temperate climate year-round. It is home to people from a variety of ethnic and cultural communities, including the “indigenas” of the Andes. The Centro Historico is a magnifi cent example of Spanish colonial architecture, with beautiful plazas, government buildings, and a cathedral. Today, Quito is a modern, bustling, capital city with dozens of museums, beautiful parks, cafes, and restaurants. At the same time, it faces challenging urban issues, which you will have the opportunity to address in your service.
You will live in a homestay with a middle-class Ecuadorian family, who provide most of your meals and introduce you to Ecuadorian family life. An integral part of the program, the homestay off ers you the opportunity to make life-long friends, reinforce language skills, and experience the culture from “the inside.” Host families are carefully selected and experienced with hosting students.
Academic Study
The program is based at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, in the beautiful suburb of Cumbaya, 20 minutes by bus from Quito. The well-equipped facilities complement the high quality of faculty and students. Students may participate in university sports, music and any other activities of interest. You take two required courses and 2–3 electives for a total of 12–15 credits per semester. A transcript from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito is issued upon successful completion of the program.
Spanish LanguageSpanish language (conversation and reading) is taught at the upper-intermediate and advanced levels. Readings from Latin American literature are used to illustrate characteristics of the culture and society. 3 credits.
Social Organizations and DevelopmentTeaches the theories and concepts of development and the interaction with social organizations and communities. You will learn techniques of ethnographic studies and apply them in the fi eld at your service site, testing the academic theories against your actual experience in Ecuadorian communities. Your fi eld service is an essential part of this class. 3 credits.
Electives Students may choose electives from the full range of courses off ered by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. Usually 3 credits per course.
Excursions
Field trips include two excursions in Quito, and a 3–4 day trip to the Amazon. You may easily travel on your own to mountain towns that are the centers of Indian life and handicrafts. Students interested in exploring the volcanoes or Andes may join university clubs and participate in the outings/climbs with Ecuadorian students.
Volunteer Service
You will serve 15–20 hours per week, directly participating in the ongoing work of a local agency. Your placement will be determined by community and agency needs, as well as your interests, goals and skills, including Spanish language ability.
In Quito, you might:
• work at a school with children who alternate street work with school attendance
• assist children from the countryside with their school work and family issues
• work with young women at a city maternity and family planning center
• serve in medical centers or agencies addressing healthcare issues and education
• work with people with physical and mental disabilities
• assist artists in a special program of education through art
• provide educational and didactic child support in a public children’s hospital
• teach or assist in a pre-school• work at local history or cultural
museums• serve at a day care center for elderly
people living on the streets• teach marketable job skills to adults• work in human rights or women’s rights• work with urban environmental issues.
Ecuador - Quito ipSL.org
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ECUADORGalápagos
Program Facts
Language of InstructionEnglish
Language PrerequisiteWe recommend that students have had at least 2 years of high school Spanish or 1 year of college/university Spanish to facilitate the service experience.
Affiliated Institution Galápagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences / Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Credits15 per semester
HousingHomestay
Dates DeadlinesSpring: early January – early May November 1Fall: late August – late December June 1
See ipsl.org for exact dates & costs
Application
This program offers so much: from
its unique classes to its passionate
professors. It’s the Mecca of Biology, an
opportunity to practice Spanish, and
a constant classroom for problems of
the Galápagos. From helpful staff to
friendly locals, educated guides to unique
classmates, all really helped to make
lasting memories by the bonds created.
“
”
Overview
The Galápagos Islands are a world-renowned ecological treasure—important in world history as the place where Charles Darwin began his work on the theory of evolution, but known equally today for unparalleled beauty and ecological diversity. Here, wildlife not only reverberates above and below the sea surface, but most plants, animals and other forms of biodiversity are unique to the region.
Service-learning in the Galápagos off ers an opportunity available nowhere else to live in and learn about a delicate and complex natural environment and the impacts—both positive and negative—of human settlement, fi sheries, and tourism in that setting and, at the same time, contribute through service to maintaining this unique environment.
You may choose one of two concurrent tracks of study, with either a biology focus or a social science focus. After an initial period on the campus of the Universidad San Francisco in Quito, and traveling to the Ecuadorian highlands and the Amazon jungle, you will attend a full schedule of classes at the Galápagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences (GAIAS) on Isla San Cristobal, learn from world-class faculty, and engage in service related to island ecology and/or the local island community. All program courses are taught in English.
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Living in the Galápagos
The program begins in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. You will stay in a hotel, begin your coursework at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and also travel to Riobamba in the Ecuadorian highlands and to the Amazon jungle.
In the Galápagos, you will live in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Isla San Cristobal, the capital of the Galápagos and the oldest settlement of the Archipelago. This small bayside village is home to the Galápagos Academic Institute for the Arts & Sciences (GAIAS), the Galápagos National Park Interpretation Center, a small museum, souvenir shops, and local townspeople. The people of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno make their living principally by artisanal fi shing and tourism.
You will live with a local host family, giving you the opportunity to make life-long friends, reinforce language skills, and experience the culture from “the inside.” In your free time, you may participate in outdoor activities such as swimming, snorkeling, diving, hiking and surfi ng.
Academic Study
The program is based at the Galápagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences (GAIAS), an arm of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, a highly regarded university in Ecuador. World-class professors come from the mainland to teach at GAIAS. You may choose one of two course tracks of study: “People, Politics and the Environment” (a social science focus) or “Evolution, Ecology and Conservation” (a biology focus).
All IPSL students take a special class, “Social Organizations and Development,” which begins in Quito and continues through the semester, in which you explore issues related to development, the environment and service, and relate them to your volunteer service experience. In addition, you will choose 4 of 5 GAIAS courses off ered in your program focus (biology or social sciences). GAIAS courses are intensive courses taught in 3-week modules, worth 3 credits each. You may earn 15 credits for the semester. A transcript from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito is issued upon successful completion of the program. For course details, see ipsl.org.
BIOLOGY FOCUS: Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation in the Galápagos Designed for students of the life sciences, this program examines the central concepts of evolution and ecology and their application to conservation biology. Courses off ered include:
• Social Organizations and Development• Population Ecology• Evolutionary Biology• Native and Introduced Plants of the
Galápagos• Introduction to Marine Life of the
Galápagos Islands• Human Ecology and Maritime Communities
SOCIAL SCIENCE FOCUS: Politics, the Environment, and the Galápagos Designed for students of the social sciences, this program examines the social and economic considerations relevant to the management of fragile environments. Students will explore the impact that people have on fragile environments, and the ways in which confl icts and
Volunteer Service
In the Galápagos, you will volunteer approximately 15 hours a week in a local service agency, development or conservation organization. Your service may include volunteer work in:
• conservation• introduced species control• pest control• reforestation with local species• sustainable agricultural practices• waste management• working with the local community in
day care centers, elementary and high schools
• teaching in languages and mathematics in the community college.
Your placement will be determined by community and agency needs, as well as your interests, goals, and skills, including Spanish language ability. Students with no Spanish language ability will have a limited range of service options available to them.
Excursions
• City tour of Quito, Mitad del Mundo (Equator monument), Otavalo (an Andean Indian town) and Cotopaxi (a volcano)
• 5-day excursion to USFQ’s Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon jungle
• 4-day trip to Riobamba (Ecuadorian highlands) and USFQ’s Instituto Santiago de Quito
• 4-day Galapagos boat tour, which includes visits to several islands and trips with local fi shermen to learn about the local marine economy.
• Extended visits to Isla Isabela and Isla Santa Cruz, including lectures by leading scientists and experts in the fi eld
• Usually one fi eld trip for each academic course, either on Isla San Cristobal or other islands of the Galápagos.
issues created around these concerns can be resolved in just and peaceful ways. Courses off ered include:
• Social Organizations and Development• Conservation and Wildlife Management• Human Ecology and Maritime
Communities • Environmental Economics • Environmental Security• Tourism, Community and the
Environment• Independent Project
Optional courses for all students include:
• Basic Spanish class at the beginning of the term
• Dive Course (additional fee)• Introduction to Digital Photography
(additional fee; 1 credit)
|Summer ProgramA two-month summer program is off ered in Guadalajara. See ipsl.org for details.
Program Facts
Language of InstructionEnglish and Spanish
Language PrerequisiteMinimum of 2 years of secondary school Spanish or 1 year of college/university Spanish
Affiliated Institution Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara
Credits8–14
HousingHomestay
Dates DeadlinesSpring: mid-January – mid-May November 1Fall: mid-August – early December June 1
See ipsl.org for exact dates & costs
Application
“
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Overview
The blending of the great Meso-American and Spanish cultures has made Mexico one of the world’s most rich and glorious cultures. Its architecture, music, folk art, and food are appreciated throughout the world. As part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mexico struggles to achieve economic parity with Canada and the U.S. It works to strengthen its democratic institutions and broaden the participation of its citizens in economic prosperity and education. Guadalajara, the nation’s second-largest city, is the capital of the State of Jalisco, which has given the country much of its distinguished character, justifying the traditional slogan, “Jalisco is Mexico.” It is an ideal place to experience this great nation in all its variety and complexity.
You will spend a semester in Guadalajara developing your Spanish skills; living with a Mexican family; studying Spanish language and contemporary Mexican social issues; and serving 15–20 hours a week in an established service agency. Your volunteer service immerses you in the culture and deepens your understanding of Mexican society in a way that goes beyond that experienced in traditional study abroad programs. It also facilitates your mastery of Spanish.
MEXICO
My boys at Casa Hogar have challenged
me forever. I can no longer see any child—
Mexican or of any other nationality—with
the same eyes as I had before. My boys
taught me to look deeper into each person
before passing any judgments. They
taught me that each person has a story to
be told, a reason why they act as they do. – Shana, Pacifi c Lutheran University
For more details on the program, go to ipsl.org.||
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Guadalajara
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Living in Guadalajara
Guadalajara, a historic city with roots in both the indigenous and Spanish colonial cultures, has given Mexico some of its greatest artists, artisans, and political and social leaders. Today, it is a contemporary cosmopolitan cultural center and thriving business city, noted for its beautiful public buildings, plazas, markets, arts and crafts, classical and folk music and dance, museums, and extensive murals by Orozco. The state of Jalisco, in central Mexico, has a temperate climate virtually year round, giving Guadalajara the name “City of Eternal Spring.” It is in easy traveling distance to many of the important cultural destinations of Mexico, as well as its beautiful beaches.
You live in a homestay with a middle/upper-class Mexican family, who provides most of your meals and introduces you to Mexican family life. An integral part of the program, the homestay off ers you the opportunity to make life-long friends, reinforce language skills, and experience the culture from “the inside.” Host families are carefully selected and experienced with hosting students.
Volunteer Service
You will serve 15–20 hours per week in a local agency or program. As you work with local people and care for those in need, you will fi nd your Spanish skills advance quickly, and your experience and understanding of the culture will be enriched and deepened.
In Guadalajara, many agencies address the needs of street children—those abandoned or abused; those as young as four years old who work in the streets selling gum or other goods; and those whose parents work long hours or are in prison. Many IPSL students work with these children, providing teaching, recreation, and companionship. Other service opportunities include special education, helping in a public hospital, teaching English, or working with Mexican social workers on programs designed to help the poor.
Excursions
Guided fi eld trips to nearby places of interest are arranged by the university at a small additional cost, and may be connected to your Spanish courses. Excursions usually off ered include visits to: Guadalajara historic downtown; the village of Tonala; Tequila Jalisco; Tlaquepaque; Lake Chapala; Guachimontones archaeological area; Hacienda La Llave and Tepatitlan; and Amacueca and Sayula. A three-day trip to Mexico City is also off ered at an additional cost.
Academic Study
The program is based at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG), one of the leading universities of Mexico. Students take three required courses for a total of 8–14 credits. A transcript is issued by UAG upon successful completion of the program.
Spanish LanguageStudents are given a language examination for placement in one of eight levels, from beginning to advanced. Each level is taught in intensive 4-week modules, each module equating with a U.S. semester at that level. Semester students may move through as many as four modules, each of which carries 2 semester credits. 2–8 credits.
Social, Political and Economic Structures of MexicoIntroduces students to the current social, economic and cultural realities of Mexico, and links their volunteer service experience to these studies. 3 credits.
Transcultural Awareness and Social IntegrationThis course is a guided group tutorial intended to lend structure and direction to the process of orientation and basic acculturation into Mexican society for IPSL students. Students keep a literary-style journal, using the IPSL textbook Charting a Hero’s Journey. 3 credits.
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JAMAICAKingston
Summer ProgramA two-month summer program is off ered in Jamaica. See ipsl.org for details.
Program Facts
Language of InstructionEnglish
Language PrerequisiteFluency in English (see Eligibility on p. 16.)
Affiliated Institution University of Technology, Jamaica
Credits12 per semester
HousingHomestay
Dates DeadlinesSpring: early January – early May November 1Fall: late August – mid-December June 1
See ipsl.org for exact dates & costs
Application
“
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Overview
Jamaica’s famous beaches and resorts are only a part of the life and culture of this mountainous island nation. The people of Jamaica and their rich historical and cultural background are as varied as the geography. You will learn about the original Carib and Arawak Indian peoples, Spanish and British colonialism, the plantation period and economy, the achievement of independence in 1962, and Jamaica’s eff orts toward development in the contemporary world as the leader of the Caribbean community. Kingston, the national capital, is a vibrant, colorful, yet challenging city which displays in full Jamaica’s connections by culture to Africa, by geography to the Americas, and by history to the British Commonwealth.
You will spend a semester in Kingston, living with a Jamaican family; studying Jamaican and Caribbean history, literature, and social issues; serving 15–20 hours per week in a local agency; and exploring Jamaica and Jamaican culture through fi eld trips. Your volunteer service immerses you in the culture and deepens your understanding of Jamaican society in a way that goes beyond that experienced in traditional study abroad programs and by tourists.
I learned so much about Jamaica, its
people and culture, as well as about
myself. I have changed in a lot of ways.
I feel I can see and understand things
that I took for granted in the past. My
service placement challenged me to use
all of my resources and gave me a new
perspective on American society as well. – Sharon, SUNY Oneonta
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Living in Kingston
Kingston, the capital city, boasts the seventh largest natural harbor in the world, and is home to almost one-third of the population of Jamaica. The national language is English (with a melodious lilt), but you will equally hear the “second language,” patois. In Jamaica, you will enjoy reggae music and beautiful beaches, but you will also directly encounter the social, cultural, economic, and political issues and concerns facing this developing nation. Kingston is home to many cultural and historic attractions, including the Bob Marley Museum; the National Gallery of Jamaica; Port Royal; Devon House; Hope Botanical Gardens; Spanish Town; the nearby Hellshire and Lime Cay beaches; and many other historic sites.
You live in a homestay with a middle-class Jamaican family, who provides most of your meals and introduces you to Jamaican family and social life. An integral part of the program, the homestay off ers you the opportunity to make life-long friends and experience the culture from “the inside.” Host families are carefully selected and experienced with hosting students.
Academics
The program is based at the University of Technology, Jamaica. As the national university, it is highly regarded in Jamaica and the Caribbean, preparing students from a wide variety of backgrounds with strong qualifi cations and skills for entry into the workplace or for further studies. You will take four required courses for a total of 12 credits. A transcript is issued by the University of Technology, Jamaica, upon successful completion of the program.
Introduction to Caribbean LiteratureIntroduces students to the written and oral works of the Caribbean as expressions of the lived experiences of its peoples. Through the study of novels, poetry, biography, and historical journals, students will examine the socio-historical context and Caribbean realities refl ected in literature of the region. 3 credits.
Caribbean SociologyExamines major sociological issues, questions and themes in contemporary Caribbean society. 3 credits.
Caribbean HistoryExamines the political, social, and economic history of the Caribbean, as well as current topical issues in the Caribbean. 3 credits.
Profi le of a Service Agency / Refl ective & Literary Journal WritingConducted in two concurrent parts. One is a guided fi eld exercise, in which you use the agency in which you are serving as a case study. You prepare a major paper analyzing the agency as a microcosm of the cultural, social, economic and political issues of the larger society. For the other part of the course, you write a literary, refl ective journal based on the IPSL textbook, Charting a Hero’s Journey, drawing on the realities of your service activities and other experiences in Jamaica. 3 credits.
Volunteer Service
You will volunteer 15–20 hours per week in a local agency or program. As you work with local people and care for those in need, you will fi nd your experience and understanding of the culture enriched and deepened.
As a developing nation, Jamaica has a wide range of social concerns requiring intervention, making the volunteer service needs in Kingston many and varied. Often they include programs of tutoring, from pre-school through community college, helping children and young adults with basic literacy and coping skills; health care clinics, health education, and drug abuse programs that address medical issues; and micro-business and women’s projects that contribute to community and economic development.
In Jamaica, you might:
• supervise recreation at the YMCA • mentor at-risk adolescents • work with “street” children• assist in health care, the arts,
or community and economic development
• work with a citizen’s rights action group• help with women’s projects • or serve in other areas of need.
Excursions
Through guided fi eld trips and individual travel you will experience rural village and town life revolving around tropical agriculture, indigenous craft enterprise, and bustling city life with a variety of entrepreneurial activities. The cool hills of the Blue Mountain area with its world-renowned coff ee, and the banana and coastal sugar plantations present an interesting contrast to the white sand beaches of the tourist areas on the North and South coasts.
Excursions, some of which are linked to the academic courses, may include trips to: a popular play; the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston; Port Royal (a former haven for pirates, once called the wickedest city in the world); the National Gallery of Jamaica; a coff ee plantation in the Blue Mountains; or coastal areas.
Volunteer Service
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|Summer Program
A summer program in South Dakota follows the same pattern as the semester program, for a total of 15 credits. See ipsl.org for details.
Program Facts
Language of InstructionEnglish
Language PrerequisiteFluency in English (see Eligibility on p. 16)
Affiliated Institution South Dakota State University
Credits15 per semester
HousingHomestay on a reservation
Dates DeadlinesSpring: mid-February – mid-May December 15Fall: mid-August – mid-November June 1
See ipsl.org for exact dates & costs
Application
Overview
The state of South Dakota, in the heart of the Great Plains of the United States, with its unique geography and the culture and history shaped by it, has been a defi ning image of the United States. It is a major homeland of the Lakota/Nakota/Dakota peoples of the Great Plains, often referred to as the Great Sioux Nation. Understanding the origin of these terms and what is appropriate and acceptable to the Indian culture is part of what you will learn during the program. You will live and serve on an American Indian reservation, studying the history, culture, and issues of the Indians of the Great Plains and directly encountering the issues and concerns confronting this “culture within a culture.” In the fi rst week of the program, you will be on the campus of South Dakota State University at Brookings for an intense orientation in Lakota/Dakota culture and to begin your academic work through classes, guest lectures and fi eld trips. In the second week, you go on a van trip across the state with the American Indian program director as guide, visiting Reservations and important historic, geographic, and cultural sites. You will then go to your service assignment for 10 weeks, continuing your academic study through weekly correspondence with your professors. The program director makes a mid-term visit to each student and keeps in touch weekly by phone and/or email. Depending on the time of year, you
may be able to attend regional pow-wows or be introduced to other special aspects of the Lakota/Dakota heritage. In the fi nal week of the term, students return to South Dakota State University campus to review their fi nal academic assignments, make a major presentation on their learning, and hear those of their fellow service-learning students.
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While living and working on the Standing
Rock Reservation in South Dakota, my
heart has been widened to understand
and accept more than ever before. My
whole outlook on life has been altered
with the completion of this amazing
program. I learned more than could ever
be attained through a classroom setting
about Native Americans. – Michelle, Kenyon College
LAKOTA NATIONSouth Dakota, USA
For more details on the program, go to ipsl.org.||
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Living in the Lakota Nation
In the beginning of the program, while you are at South Dakota State University, housing and meals are arranged by the University. For the period of service, you will live on an American Indian reservation in a homestay with an Indian family and will be provided with a monetary food allowance.
An integral part of the program, the homestay off ers you the opportunity to make life-long friends and experience the culture from “the inside.” Students are welcomed as if they are members of the community, and often are invited to participate in such “private” Indian events as the sweat lodge. Former students have developed a deep and lasting relationship with their hosts and return after the program for visits. Some have been off ered and accepted jobs within the Lakota Nation.
Academic Study
The program is based at South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings, South Dakota, a state land-grant university committed to the issues and concerns of American Indians. You take two required courses for a total of 15 credits. A transcript is issued by South Dakota State University upon successful completion of the program.
Interested students may be able to earn an additional 3 credits in Lakota or Dakota language study, depending on location of service placement and availability of classes at tribal colleges. (Additional fee required.) Offi cial student transcripts for language credits are issued by tribal colleges.
The Lakota/Dakota ExperienceThrough an intensive orientation seminar, students become knowledgeable about the culture, history, art, religion, language, and contemporary issues of American Indian life in South Dakota, preparing them for their experience of living and serving with the members of the Lakota/Dakota nation. 3 credits.
American Indian StudiesThis course draws upon the student’s service experience to generate a thoughtful analysis and understanding of contemporary Lakota/Dakota life. Through assigned reading, weekly descriptions of activities, an agency profi le that is built up over the course of the semester, a structured journal, a fi nal paper and presentation, students will demonstrate what they have learned through working in an agency serving an indigenous population. 12 credits.
Volunteer Service
You will serve 30–40 hours per week on a Lakota/Dakota reservation. (Note: Students participating in Americorps must serve 40 hours per week.) American Indians face many of the diffi culties of other Americans, but have some especially acute issues on their reservations as they see their culture disappearing and experience a lack of support from U.S. leaders. Your volunteer service immerses you in the culture and deepens your understanding of the society in a way that goes beyond that experienced in classroom study of American Indian culture. A few examples of service opportunities include:
• being a teacher’s aide at an Indian school or Reservation Head Start program
• working as an advocate at a domestic abuse shelter
• providing programming at an after-school club for at-risk teens
• assisting with community and economic development
• working at a tribal radio station• aiding in tribal historic preservation.
Your placement will be determined by community and agency needs, as well as your interests, goals, and skills.
Excursions
During the fi rst week of the program, you go on fi eld trips to Pipestone National Park, Upper and Lower Sioux Agency, or cultural events such as tribal art shows or pow-wows. In the second week, students travel by van across the state with the American Indian program director as guide. You will visit service sites and program host families on the Rosebud, Pine Ridge, Cheyenne River, Standing Rock, Lower Brule, Crow Creek and Sisseton Reservations, as well as important historic, geographic, and cultural sites, including Bear Butte sacred mountain, the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre, the Black Hills, Crazy Horse Mountain, Devil’s Tower, and the Akta Lakota and Journey Museums. Information and presentations at signifi cant historical sites are from the indigenous peoples’ perspective.
AmeriCorps
U.S. students participating in the Lakota Nation program may be eligible for membership in AmeriCorps, the national program for domestic community service. AmeriCorps members receive education awards in the form of vouchers, which can be applied to previous or future education loans or tuition. Inquire. |
Program CostsCosts vary by program. For specifi c information about costs and what’s included in the program fees, visit ipsl.org.
Financial AidMany students are able to apply some or all of their fi nancial aid toward the cost of IPSL programs. Under federal law, U.S. students can receive federal fi nancial aid (such as Pell Grants and Staff ord Loans) for study abroad if their home institution has approved the program for credit. Federal law also states that fi nancial aid can cover all “reasonable” costs for a study abroad program, including: tuition and fees for the program; round-trip transportation; living costs; passport and visa fees; and health insurance.
Policies and practices regarding fi nancial aid vary widely among U.S. institutions, so you should consult with the fi nancial aid offi ce and/or study abroad offi ce at your home institution to determine whether or not you will be able to apply fi nancial aid, scholarships and/or other support received from your home institution toward an IPSL program. For further information on potential sources of funding, see ipsl.org.
Passport & VisaStudents must have a passport to participate in IPSL programs (except for U.S. students on the Lakota Nation, USA program). The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of the program. For many programs, a visa will also be required. Students will be informed of visa requirements at the time of acceptance.
Undergraduate Programs
Czech RepublicEcuador EnglandFranceIndiaItalyJamaicaMexicoPhilippinesRussiaScotlandThailandLakota Nation, USA
Graduate Program
M.A. in International ServiceTheory & practice in 3 nations for 1 year
About IPSLThe International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership (IPSL), founded in 1982, is a not-for-profi t educational organization serving students, colleges, universities, service agencies, and related organizations around the world by fostering programs that link volunteer service to the community with academic study.
IPSL has two related missions: (1) off ering programs uniting academic study and volunteer service to the community in international/ intercultural settings that are models for the practice of service-learning, and (2) promoting the theory and practice of service-learning through research, publications, conferences, and training.
Today, IPSL off ers 15 undergraduate service-learning programs in 13 nations—programs in which students from more than 400 universities or colleges in the U.S. and 25 other nations have participated. The IPSL M.A. in International Service program, developed in cooperation with partner universities in Jamaica, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, prepares graduates for careers in international non-governmental relief and development agencies.
ipSL
815 Second AvenueNew York, NY 10017 USA
212.986.0989 tel212.986.5039 fax
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EligibilityStudents of all nations are welcome to apply. Participants must be 18 years of age or older before the start of the program. Programs taught in English have TOEFL requirements for non-native English speakers. See ipsl.org for complete information about eligibility requirements for each program.
ApplicationYou may download an application at ipsl.org, or call or email IPSL to have one sent to you. Applications are reviewed as they are received. You will be notifi ed within approximately three weeks of our receipt of your completed application. Early application is strongly advised.
© 2007 The International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership
NOTE: At time of printing, program details are as accurate as possible, but may be subject to minor changes. See ipsl.org for most up-to-date information about all programs.