India
Jaipur & Delhi, India
May 10 – May 30, 2010

Total Program Fee: $4,460

  Academics and Courses    Application    Cost of the Program    Important Details

Program Location:

India, the largest democracy in the world, has been referred to as the planet’s most multidimensional country, located in Southwest Asia and south of the Himalayas. The recorded history of India dates back 5,000 years. It has been home to some of the oldest civilizations on Earth with a current population of over 1 billion. India has become a leading economic power in the 21st Century, boasts a high quality educational system, and is producing recognized professionals from medicine to business. However, India does have a problematic social structure and traditions which suppress much of its population. Therefore, India is an ideal laboratory for study in a wide range of academic areas and even a short three week study in the country will almost certainly be a life changing experience for students.

Program Description:

Students will begin the program with three days in India’s capital, New Dehli , then on to Agra with a visit to the Taj Mahal. Students will then travel on to Jaipur for the remainder of the program. Jaipur, India, known as the City of Victory, is located in the desert state of Rajasthan. With busy bazaars, camel carts, and rickshaw drivers one will experience all India has to offer. Other day excursions may include a trip to Keuladeo Ghana National Park or Ranthambore National Park. All courses offered will incorporate into the curriculum the local culture, including visits to local religious sites, historical sites, visiting social service groups, guest lectures from local Universities, and other appropriate sites.

UPDATE: All students will be required to participate in a faculty directed service learning project during the India program. Each student, regardless of course, will earn 25% of their grade through the service learning project. Service-Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach global responsibility, and strengthen communities.

Please note: Prospective students should be aware that study abroad programs require a great deal of walking. You should be prepared to walk at least a mile or two each day. You may also walk over uneven, possibly slippery or rocky terrain even in cities.

Excursions: Excursions will include visits to Jama Masjid (India’s largest Mosque), the National Museum, and Sandhi Smriti (memorial to Mahatma Gandhi) in Delhi. In Jaipur, visits to Amber (ancient fort), an AIDS clinic, a vocational school for street children will be planned. Around Jaipur students will visit Barefoot College, Keuladeo Ghana National Park or Ranthamboro National Park and the Taj Mahal. Individual instructors will arrange other optional excursions related to their classes.

Classes: Classes will be held for approximately three hours a day during the week at various locations, including museums, local campuses and onsite lodging facilities.

Accommodations: In New Delhi and Agra, housing will be in a tourist class hotel. All rooms will be air-conditioned. In Jaipur, housing will be at a family owned hotel with onsite meal service. Two meals a day will be included in the cost of the program: breakfast and dinner.

Academics:

All TnCIS programs are academic in nature and course work that takes advantage of the program location will be the central focus. TnCIS program courses are for credit only. In India, students will enroll in ONE of the following courses:

SOCIOLOGY: Social Problems/Social Change (No Prerequisite)
This course will focus on the increasingly acute and intense problems such as poverty, health care, population, crime, inequality, and environmental abuse within the context of social change with a specific focus on India. Assessment of control and strategies will also be explored. See course syllabus

PHILOSOPHY: Introduction to Philosophy (No Prerequisite)
This course is a general introduction to the concepts, terms and principles of philosophy. The course will emphasize the concepts that humans have wondered about since ancient times and how they have sought to explain them. The philosophical method will be introduced. See course syllabus

HISTORY: World History/Civilization II (No Prerequisite)
This course is a study of world history from 1500 to the present. The areas of study besides the world in general include an emphasis on India. See course syllabus 

ANTHROPOLOGY: Culture and Medicine in India (4000/5000 level)
This course explores the interchange between health, culture and illness with a focus on the Indian medical system. Examines cultural meanings of the body and illness, inequality and suffering, traditional healers and folk medical traditions, and medical pluralism. See course syllabus

Application:

Applications will be available online beginning October 15, 2009 and are due on February 11, 2010. APPLY NOW. Late applications will be considered on a space available basis. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have completed a minimum of 12 college credit hours. Eligible students currently enrolled or accepted and in good standing (this includes academic and disciplinary matters) at a TnCIS Member Institution may apply to any TnCIS study abroad program. A complete application consists of:

     1. The completed online application
     2. The nonrefundable $100 application fee (paid at your home institution)
     3. An official transcript sent to TnCIS by the registrar at your institution
     4. A letter of recommendation

Please click here to download the letter of recommendation form. This letter should be filled out by a professor who can make a statement regarding your preparedness for the program and how you would benefit from the program.

Other important forms you need to review prior to submitting your application include the program contract, agreement, medical surrogacy and medical history forms. These forms will be filled out by the applicant after being accepted into the program and turned into the TnCIS office. Details will be sent out in the acceptance letter. These forms are updated every year as needed. DO NOT complete these forms before being accepted. Any updated forms will be sent to you via email. Click here to view the forms. 

Students will be notified of acceptance by email and a letter. Once accepted, please consult the TnCIS website and the email address used on your application on a regular basis for deadlines and other important information. In international travel frequent changes are to be expected. Email is the primary channel of communication for the office and you will be responsible for information sent to you via email. This information is intended to keep you updated on all activities necessary in your preparation to participate in the program.

Cost of Program:

The total cost of the program is made up of the application fee, program fee**, tuition and airfare. All fees are paid at your home institution.

Application Fee: All students are required to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100 by the February 11, 2010 application deadline.
 
Total Program Fee: The total program fee for India is $4,460. It covers roundtrip international travel from Nashville, program lodging, group excursions, required ground transportation, two meals daily, and limited health insurance. Expenses not covered in the total program fee are: passport, textbooks, one meal per day and personal spending money.

Tuition: All member institutions provide a tuition scholarship. Therefore, tuition is charged to the student account, but then covered by the institution.

Airfare: The group roundtrip international airfare from Nashville is included in the Total Program Fee.

**TnCIS estimates fees based on the current global financial environment and all attempts are made to keep costs down whenever possible. However, due to the constant fluctuation in the value of the American Dollar and currencies in program countries, it is possible that costs may increase. Therefore, TnCIS reserves the right to notify students regarding an increase in fees due to exchange rates by March 18, 2010.

Payment Deadlines: February 11th - $100 Nonrefundable Application Fee
                       March 18th - Full payment due (Program fee and airfare)

Cancellation Policy: Through March 18th – Full refund less $100 application fee
                       Between March 19th and April 15th - $1500 cancellation fee 
                       After April 15th – No Refund

Important Details:

Financial Aid: Applications for financial aid (scholarships, grants and student loans) must be made through your home institution. Please consult your TnCIS campus representative (see member list) for information and instructions. Scholarships are available at many member institutions. To see FAQ’s on study abroad financial aid click here.

Mandatory Orientation: A thorough pre-departure orientation is an essential part of your preparation to study abroad. The mandatory TnCIS orientation for all programs will be held Saturday, March 27, 2010, from 1:00 - 4:00 PM in Central Tennessee. According to Tennessee Board of Regents policy, all students must attend. Exact time and place will be announced at the beginning of March on the TnCIS website and in your acceptance notification. Please reserve the date.

Passports: It is critical that you obtain a passport if you do not already have one, or renew yours if it has expired. If you already have a passport, it must be valid for at least six months after your return date. For an application and details on obtaining a passport or renewing one, please refer to the US Department of State passport website at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.

Non-US Citizen Participants: If you are an international student or non-US citizen (i.e. do not hold or are unable to obtain a US passport), you must provide a copy of your current passport and a visa to enter the country of your study abroad program. If a visa is not required, a statement from the program country embassy which indicates that you have appropriate documentation for entry to that country is required. Necessary documentation is the responsibility of the participant. Please contact TnCIS for assistance.

TnCIS Contact Information:

TnCIS Office TnCIS
PO Box 22990
10915 Hardin Valley Road
Knoxville, TN 37933-0990

Theresa Castillo
Program Coordinator, TnCIS
tcastillo@pstcc.edu
865-539-7279