Guilford College

Study Abroad (International)

1652 Quaker Country. 4 credits. Graded. 50006 GST 250 001.
Location: Birmingham, England.
Staff leader: Frank Massey

Students explore the birthplace of Quakerism, Northwest England, gathering a sense of the rich heritage through the visiting many of the historic sites; engage in conversation with Friends of Britain Yearly Meeting Friends in the life and witness; understand the context (political, religious, cultural) of England in the mid 1600s at the birthing of the Religious Society of Friends. Requires: daily reflective entries, daily meeting for worship (with local Friends), Fast Track I Colloquium to cohere experiences, reflections, insights, 12-15 page research paper. Cost: $2375 plus airfare. Includes lodging/food. $250 deposit. APPLICATION: stage 1 at Study Abroad website (APPLY); stage 2 is a required interview with instructor.

Actor Training Intensive at Dublin’s Gaiety School of Acting.
3 credits. Graded. 50016 GST 250 010
Location: Dublin, Ireland. No Guilford faculty presence.

IES Abroad sponsors this conservatory-style training at the Gaiety School of Acting. This intensive is open to students at all levels of training and consists of practical rehearsal workshops, supplemented by elements of voice, movement and improvisation. Students read the plays of Beckett, Friel, O’Casey and Synge and rehearse scenes for a final presentation. Includes visits to other cultural attractions, such as the James Joyce Museum, the National Museum of Ireland, and the Book of Kells in the historic library of Trinity College Dublin. Students will live in an apartment in a residential area of Dublin. PREREQUISITE: 3.0 GPA. Cost: $4500, plus airfare. Food not included. $500 deposit. (APPLY).

Afro-Brazilian Cultural Exploration (Salvador) Education & Community Development with Africana CHANGE & CCS .
4 credits. Credit/No credit.  50007 GST 250 002.
Location: on campus and Brazil.
Staff leader: Jada Drew.

The project serves as the global extension of the current Africana CHANGE (AC) program. Students will learn about community development methods in Salvador by volunteering with a grassroots organization to tutor youth in Brazil and work in community-organizing. Upon return to the USA, students will design a social justice and multicultural infused curriculum for youth at our community partner Dudley High School. Proposed major themes are history, neo-colonialism, the arts, religion, and resilience. Video chats between youth in Brazil and at Dudley High School introduce direct global communication. Cost: $3258, plus airfare. $275 deposit. Housing and food in Salvador included. Utility and board fee for those living on campus. PREREQUISITE: Instructor permission. APPLICATION: stage 1 at Study Abroad website (APPLY); stage 2 is a required interview with instructor.

Caribbean Sailing and Leadership. 2 credits. Graded. 50017 GST 250 011
Locations: Dominica, Grenada, Ile des Saintes, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Barts, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St.  Martin, Statia, Trinidad and Tobago.
No Guilford faculty.

Broadreach College offers this course that puts students at the helm – of a 50-foot boat, the journey, the crew and most of all, the overall experience. Learn basic seamanship, navigation and more as you sail 500 nautical miles, past fifteen Caribbean islands. Sail through the night on 80-mile, 15-hour jaunts. Learn and practice Theories of Risk Management, effective leadership, group dynamics, problem solving and decision-making. A large portion of the program lies in the hands of the students themselves. Each student leads a segment, plans passages, maintains a budget, and guides discussion. PROJECT DATES: 12/27/12-1/20/13. PREREQUISITE: 2.5 GPA.

Cost: $5480, plus airfare. Housing/food incl. $1000 deposit. (APPLY).

Caribbean Tropical Marine Biology. 3 credits. Graded. 50018 GST 250 012
Location: Leeward Islands: Ile Fourche, Saba, St. Barts, St. Kitts, St. Martin, Statia.
No Guilford faculty presence.

This Broadreach College program is an eye-opening exploration of the biology and ecology of marine communities. Living aboard a 45-foot yacht and hopping from one diverse island to another, gives students the freedom and flexibility to discover the unparalleled diversity of ecosystems found in this tropical region of the world. Learn under the guidance of professional marine biologists. Tackle marine conservation. Understand the biochemical nature of marine environments. Learning is always active, experiential. PROJECT DATES: 12/27/12-1/20/13, PREREQUISITE: 2.5 GPA. Cost: $6140, plus airfare. Housing/food incl. $1000 deposit. (APPLY).

Clinical Observation and the Cultural Aspects of Health Care in Chile. 3 credits. Graded. 50019 GST 250 013.
Location: Santiago, Chile.
No Guilford faculty presence.

IES Abroad offers this project (ideal for students considering careers in health-related fields), which offers the opportunity to learn about health care policy and delivery systems in the context of Chile’s community-centered public health care system. An important component of the program introduces students to historical, social, and cultural aspects of health care specific to Chile, including the treatment of illness and patients’ rights. The project is one course divided into two components: Clinical Observation (examines the epidemiology and prevalence of frequent health deviations) and intensive Spanish, designed for students who do not have any previous training in Spanish.

PREREQUISITE: 3.0 GPA. Cost: $3315, plus airfare. Housing/food incl.  $1000 deposit. (APPLY).

Competing Narratives: Understanding the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict.
4 credits. Credit/No credit. 50008 GST 250 003.
Location: Ramallah, Ibillin, Jerusalem – Israel/Palestine.
Faculty leader: Max Carter

Using the template of 14 previous study programs in Israel and Palestine, this program introduces students to the political, religious, social, cultural, and economic parameters of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through the lenses of direct experience and persons directly involved on both sides of the conflict. Students will meet with Israelis and Palestinians, especially those actively involved in work toward a just peace, and come to understand the complexity of a conflict in which there are at least two narratives that are both true – but don’t meet.

Cost: $2700, plus airfare. Housing/food incl. $250 deposit. APPLICATION: stage 1 at Study Abroad website (APPLY); stage 2 is a required interview with instructor.

Costa Rica & Panama Primate Behavior and Conservation.
3 credits. Graded. 50020 GST 250 014
Locations: Bocas del Toro, Cariari, Pacuare River, Quepos, San Jose.
No Guilford faculty presence

Work with Broadreach College to learn everything you ever wanted to know about monkeys, in a place where your hands-on work can further their survival and preserve their endangered habitats. Learn about primate biology, behavior, natural history and ecology in a spectacular rainforest setting. Participate in ongoing monkey research alongside primatologists. Then assist local organizations with animal rehabilitation, reforestation, conservation and education efforts. The White-faced capuchins, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys and mantled howler monkeys need you. PROJECT DATES: 12/27/12-1/20/13, PREREQUISITE: 2.5 GPA.

Cost: $4780, plus airfare. Housing/food incl.  $1000 deposit. (APPLY).

Fiji Shark Behavior and Conservation.
3 credits. Graded. 50021 GST 250 015.
Location: Fiji
No Guilford faculty presence.

Work with Broadreach College to survey the natural history, biology, behavior, and ecological and social importance of these formidable creatures that now, after millions of years, are in danger of extinction. Observe and study sharks up close in a controlled underwater environment at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve (SRMR). Witness shark habitats and work toward protecting them. There’s even time for a cultural visit in a Fijian village, where stories of an ancient protective Shark God are shared. Return from this trip having performed vital community service and engaged in cultural exchange. PREREQUISITE: PADI Open Water certification. PROJECT DATES: 12/27/12-1/20/13. PREREQUISITE: 2.5 GPA. Cost: $6140, plus airfare. Housing/food incl.  $1000 deposit. (APPLY).

France: Reconsidering “Religious” Experiences and Sacred Space in Southern France.
4 credits. Graded. 50033 GST 250 017. 
In partnership with Elon University.

Taught in English in the vibrant medieval city of Montpellier, France, just ten minutes from the Mediterranean Sea, this course will explore both historical and current notions of sacred space and perceptions of religious experience in French culture through the lenses of immigration and the interconnectedness of socio-political, economic and educational systems, and globalization.  We will also examine France’s paradoxical relationship to itself and study this country’s shifts in national identity vis-à-vis organized religion due to decolonization and immigration during the last century with policies of staunch secularism in place since 1905 in particular.  Course facilitation will include cultural studies texts, journal articles, French/Francophone literature in translation, video news reports and podcasts, films, documentaries, popular music, and on-site visits in the south of France to places such as cathedrals, abbeys, Cathar castles, the Papal palace in Avignon, mosques, a medieval synagogue and Jewish ghetto. Cost: $6000 plus transcript fee; includes airfare, housing, & breakfast. $400 deposit due Sept. 10. APPLICATION: stage 1 at Study Abroad website (APPLY); stage 2 enrollment at Elon University by Friday, Sept. 14th.

Hawaii: Nation or State? In Search of National Identity.
4 credits. Graded. 50044 GST 250 028.
In partnership with Elon University.

Most people think of Hawaii as a tropical paradise where they can be entertained by Hula dancers and opulent luaus.  This course is designed to show students the complexity of the Hawaiian islands and the fight that continues to this day for those who are in danger of losing their very identities.  We will explore the many tensions that exist in Hawaii that rest under the surface of the tourist propaganda.  From classes at the University of Hawaii to talks with native Hawaiian activists, we will look at such issues as whether Hawaii should be seen as its own nation or a state.  Historical, cultural and personal aspects of life there will be studied with the hope that students will come to understand in a deeper way the tensions between the image and the reality of the Hawaiian Islands. The design of this course is to explore the heritage of the indigenous peoples of the Hawaiian Islands, and to consider the issues of identity formation and political reality in the Hawaiian Islands.

Cost: $4575, plus transcript fee; includes airfare, housing, & breakfast. $400 deposit due Sept. 10. (APPLY)

International Relations and Politics in the EU. 4 credits. Graded. 50025 PSCI 250 002
Location: University of Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Comprehensive coverage of the key political and economic policies of the European Union with analysis of the different approaches to regional  integration throughout the history of the European Union. Analyzes the historical, political and economic bases for the rise of the EU from its origins in the post-World war II recovery to its historic enlargement in 2004 and 2007. Also examines human rights with a comparison between the European and UN-framework for the protection of human rights applied to specific cases. This course will be highly interactive and engaging. Pedagogy includes study trips to Brussels and Bruges, The Hague and Amsterdam. Counts toward Political Science major. PREREQUISITE: 3.0 GPA. Cost: : $3645 (double room), $3765 (single), plus airfare. Food not included.  $250 deposit. (APPLY)

Maya Civilization. 4 credits. Graded. 50010 GST 250 005.
Location: 10 days on campus/10 days in Yucatan, Mexico.
Faculty leader: Robert G. Williams with Hastings College.

Students will see first-hand the artistic, architectural, and scientific feats of the Maya Civilization of Mesoamerica that reached a classic peak around 800 A.D. Ten days at Guilford will be devoted to intensive preparation in the history, geography, economics, politics and culture of the Maya Civilization to be followed by a ten day field trip to the Yucatan Peninsula. Requires critical journaling, research and oral presentation of discoveries. Cost: $3020 including airfare, housing, and most food off-campus. $300 extra money for non-covered food, $100 materials. Utility and board fee for those living on campus. $1250 deposit. APPLICATION: stage 1 at Study Abroad website (APPLY); stage 2 is a required interview with instructor.

The Oxford Fantasy Writers. 4 credits. Graded.
Location: Oxford, England. 50005 ENGL 250 001
Faculty leader: Caroline McAlister

Lewis Carroll, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Phillip Pullman all spent most of their adult lives living and working in Oxford. While their fictional works are set in alternate fantastical worlds, they all found their inspiration in the physical reality of Oxford’s libraries, living quarters, churches, pubs, parks. We will immerse ourselves in their world in order to gain a deep understanding of their lives and works. PRE-REQUISITE: ENGL 102 and HP. Counts towards the English major. Cost: $3163 plus airfare.  Weekday breakfasts included from January 7-23. $800 deposit. APPLICATION: stage 1 at Study Abroad website (APPLY); stage 2 is a required interview with instructor.

Peru: Field Biology. 4 credits. Graded. 50032 BIOL 250 002.
In partnership with Elon University.

The goal of this course is to learn foundational concepts of ecology and field biology through field studies in the forests, highlands, and coasts of Peru.  Understanding tropical ecology is becoming increasingly important for understanding global climate systems and ecological patterns and processes.  Peru offers a unique opportunity to experience ecosystems ranging from the rainforests of the Amazonian Basin, to high-elevation cloud forests, to the driest coastal desert in the world.  Biological diversity will be studied within and between ecosystems, with students experiencing diverse, rich forests and the wildlife that lives there — have you ever met a penguin face-to-face or walked in the tracks of a jaguar? Students will also learn about local cultures and traditions, such as learning about the varieties of potato, and experiencing the diverse regional cultures.  The relationships between humans and the natural world will also be emphasized as students learn about effects on these environments from deforestation, farming, and mining.

Cost: $5000, plus transcript fee; includes airfare, housing, & breakfast. $400 deposit due Sept. 10. (APPLY)

Positive Psychology. 4 credits. Graded. 50027 PSY 250 001
Location: University of Maastricht, The Netherlands.

In this course, students will get acquainted with the field of positive psychology, gaining insight in different theories, scientific findings, experiments and measurement tools. As an applied science, the results of positive psychology lead to the creation of real-world interventions that can improve school, businesses, governments, and other aspects of individual and social life. Throughout workshops and interactive meetings, students will be provided not only with tools to be able to evaluate and design research in the area of positive psychology, but also with the skills to apply some (basic) intervention techniques. During two weekends, staff will take students around different European cities for cultural excursions and activities. Counts towards the Psychology major. PREREQUISITE: 3.0 GPA.

Cost: $4760 (double room) or $4880 (single room), plus airfare. Food not included. $250 deposit. (APPLY)

The Power of Australian Summer: Integrating Sport, Culture, Health & Wellbeing. 3 credits. Graded. 50029 SPST 250 001
Location: Sidney, Melbourne, and Canberra, Australia.

Arcadia University’s College of Global Studies has designed the experience for students who wish to gain an understanding of the significance of sport and recreation in Australian culture. The course includes lectures, guest speakers, field trips and activities that focus on a range of sporting/recreation pursuits in society while exploring the dimensions of health and wellbeing. A critical analysis of the practice and meaning of sport and health in Australian culture provides an understanding of not only the unique nature of Australian sport, health & wellbeing, but also of Australian culture and society. Includes experience of the Australian bush and natural landscapes. PRE-REQUISITE: 2.5 GPA. Cost: $4590, plus airfare. Food not included. $500 deposit. (APPLY)

Quaker Service Trip to Cuba. 4 credits. Credit/No credit. 50012 GST 250 007.
Location: Holguin and Las Tunuas, Cuba. FUM leader onsite.

Friends United Meeting (FUM) sponsors this experiential immersion into Cuban culture, language, history and Quaker peace. It is designed to take students on both a journey of cultural awareness and a spiritual journey. Daily meeting for worship is required. Students partner with Cubans to learn basic communication skills, visit local establishments, homes and churches, and to participate in local festivals while absorbing cultural etiquette and awareness. Students will also join in a work project several days each week doing challenging but unskilled physical labor. Independent side trips are not allowed and all participants are expected to refrain from smoking and alcoholic consumption. Interest in community building and group cohesion is essential for participants in this project. Cost: $3600 includes airfare from Greensboro, food and lodging. $500 deposit. APPLICATION: stage 1 at Study Abroad website (APPLY); stage 2 is a required interview with study abroad staff.

Spanish Studies Abroad in Seville. 4 credits. Graded. 50028 SPAN 250 001
Location: Seville, Spain.
No Guilford faculty leader.

Intensive Spanish language work at the intermediate or advanced levels. 3.0 GPA in Spanish coursework required as a prerequisite. All courses are taught in Spanish by Spanish university professors with extensive experience in teaching American students. Intended for students who want to learn Spanish and truly immerse themselves in another culture. Students live with local host families. DATES: Jan. 3-26. Cost: $3400 plus airfare. Includes housing/most food. $300 deposit. (APPLY)