Netherlands
Amsterdam, Noordwijk, & Rotterdam
June 18 – July 12, 2010

Total Program Fee: $4,850

   Academics and Courses    Application    Cost of the Program    Important Details

Program Location:

Spend 25 days in beautiful and cultured Holland, a low-lying nation of canals and bridges, windmills and wooden shoes. The Netherlands is a small, friendly country located north of Belgium, west of Germany, and east of England. The Dutch people speak English well and willingly, and welcome Americans. They enjoy a rich history of shipping, agriculture, and art. The Netherlands is the home of the largest port in Europe, a thriving business and financial center, and is the birthplace of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh.

Program Description:

The Netherlands is an ideal location for the courses offered in this program. Graphic design students will be fascinated by the strong Dutch design presence. There are more designers here per capita than anywhere in Europe! Students in the Linguistics course will be amazed at the bilingual culture of Holland. Though Netherlanders speak Dutch in their day-to-day lives, they can switch to English at a moment’s notice, since they are taught it in school from age 8. Business students will be interested in Rotterdam as the largest port city in Europe, home to consumer goods giant Unilever, and the largest steel company in the world. And marketing students will be interested in how the Dutch create and maintain demand for goods and services through a sophisticated consumer culture.

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: There will be multiple excursions in and around the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Excursions will include visits to museums of art, history, and architecture. Individual instructors will arrange local excursions related to their classes.

Classes: Classes will be held for two hours per day, four days a week.

Accommodations: Students will share a room with other same-gender students in clean, comfortable European-style Stayokay hostels. The hostels include a private bath, dining area for breakfasts, a 24-hour desk clerk, and paid wi-fi in the lobby. Breakfast is included daily and packed lunches are included on teaching days.

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 the Netherlands, students will enroll in ONE of the following courses:

MARKETING: Basic Marketing (3000 level) (Prerequisites: Junior standing and ECON 2120) This course is a comprehensive overview of the process employed by profit and non-profit organizations of marketing goods, services, and ideas. The modern marketing objective is customer satisfaction at a profit (or other measure of success) through product, distribution, promotion, and price. This study of basic marketing concepts and terminology is in the real-world context of the organization, competition, the economy, regulation, culture/society, and technology. See course syllabus

MANAGEMENT/MARKETING: International Business (4000 level) (Prerequisites: TBD)
Examination of strategic issues facing marketing managers. Emphasis placed on challenges of marketing outside a firm’s home country including external marketing environment, cultural considerations, and adapting the marketing mix to host countries.  See course syllabus

GRAPHIC DESIGN: History of Graphic Design (No prerequisites)
This course examines major styles, movements, and individuals in graphic design from early man to the present, with particular emphasis on the rich contribution of Dutch graphic designers, type designers, and artists. 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 the Netherlands is $4,850. It covers roundtrip international travel from Nashville, program lodging, group excursions, required ground transportation, breakfast daily, packed lunches on teaching days and limited health insurance. Expenses not covered in the total program fee are: passport, textbooks, one meal per day on teaching days, two meals per day on non-teaching days 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