Brochure
| Program Terms: |
Summer |
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| PROGRAM COST |
Summer |
| Dates / Deadlines: |
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| Term | Year | App Deadline | Decision Date | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | 2013 |
04/05/2013  **
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Rolling Admission | 07/09/2013 | 08/05/2013 |
** Indicates rolling admission application process. Students will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline. |
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| Indicates that deadline has passed |
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| Fact Sheet: |
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| Language Requirement: | None | GPA: | good academic standing |
| Professor(s): | Dr. Judith Liu | Disciplines offered: | Sociology |
| Accomodations: | Hotel, Residence halls | Prerequisite(s): | None |
| Service-Learning: | Yes | Program Advisor: | Alicia Gonzales - agonzales@sandiego.edu |
| Program Description: |
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CHINA: Teaching, Service and Immersion Summer Program
Sociology 494: Culture and Education in China
Dr. Judith Liu
PROGRAM LOCATION
ACADEMIC INSTITUTION
The Educational Poverty Alleviation Project was initiated by Tsinghua University in 2003. It is a public project aimed at benefiting the poverty-stricken areas in China. Its goal is to provide people in underdeveloped areas with the opportunity to utilize high-quality educational and training resources for local officials, teachers, students and even farmers through the support of modern technology. The ultimate goal of the program is to eliminate poverty by spreading knowledge.
COURSE INFORMATION
Dr. Judith Liu - liuusd@sandiego.edu - View Dr. Liu's Bio
SOCI 494: This course provides a community service and learning opportunity for students who want to experience first-hand the current poverty-stricken areas in China, and an opportunity to utilize their education through teaching the local teachers and students oral English, mathematics or social sciences. Participants will also instruct basic research and learning methods with the goal that these activities help locals to become good academicians, and ultimately alleviate poverty through education. Specifically, USD students will, with the guidance of USD faculty, participate in a one-week cultural program at Tsinghua University and then a three-week service-learning program in satellite rural areas.
USD students have a unique opportunity to participate in a month long experience that involves two components. The first component takes place in Beijing followed by a second component where the student applies their knowledge at a rural location in China.
First component (Beijing): The Chinese Language and Culture Program (CLCP) offers an intensive language program that will teach participants either basic or intermediate Chinese, increase their understanding about Chinese culture and society, as well as meet international friends at one of China's most renowned universities. Those students with NO Chinese language knowledge will learn basic Chinese phrases while those with more advanced language skills have the opportunity to increase their language abilities that can be used in their rural sites. Included in this program are cultural courses and tours. Participants will carve their own stone signature seal; will attend the world famous Beijing Opera, see an acrobatics show; and visit the Great Wall, Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven.
Second component (rural China site visit): Students will see China beyond the "tourist" brochures and visit areas that seldom have foreign visitors. In an effort to deal with China's enormous poverty issues, in 2003, Tsinghua University launched its Educational Poverty Alleviation Project to deal with China's enormous poverty issues. Considered to be the "MIT" of Chinese universities, Tsinghua is making a concerted effort to try and alleviate poverty in rural areas through education.
Its Summer Service Learning Program (SSLP) is designed to send teams of Tsinghua University undergraduate students, faculty, and foreign volunteers to 30 different locations in rural China. Since 2004, over 1,000 Tsinghua students, 130 Tsinghua faculty, and 300 students and faculty from abroad have participated in the SSLP. Teams spend 10-14 days at their sites where they teach English and computer skills, provide lectures and intercultural communication exercises for students and teachers in rural counties. The hope is that by exposing Chinese middle and high-school students to a wide range of educational experiences, they would be inspired to continue their higher learning.
To access a tentative calendar/schedule for this program, please click here
For students who want to experience the "best of Beijing," teach English, see how life is lived in rural areas as well as interact with Chinese students and teachers both at the university and middle/high school level in a meaningful endeavor, this is the summer study abroad program to attend.
COST
Cost for the program is $4,500 and includes 3 units of USD tuition, accommodations, most meals, international health insurance, ground transportation between Beijing, Xi'an, and the rural teaching location, some site visits around the city of Beijing and selected cultural activities. Not included in the program price are flight tickets, Chinese visa application fees, ground transportation to/from airport, ground transportation throughout the city and spending money while abroad. For a detailed description of program costs please see the Program Cost in the box at the top of this webpage. Click on the link which corresponds to the term you plan to study abroad.
EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
Beijing is the perfect location for this course, partly because the program runs at Tsinghua University which is in Beijing, and partly because students will have a chance to visit historical landmarks, such as the Great Wall and Forbidden City, to experience the history and culture of China. They will also be teamed with undergraduates and faculty from Tsinghua during the service-learning component of the course, to get more insight about the country.
