Study Abroad

Studying in another country can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a student's undergraduate career. Studying abroad will widen your horizons and provide you with new ways of thinking about the world as you experience a different culture.

Community College of Philadelphia has several study abroad opportunities for its students:

Study Tour of Mérida, México (March 3–10, 2012)
Looking for a unique way to spend your spring break? Join faculty and students on a noncredit study tour of ancient and contemporary Maya culture in and around Mérida, Mexico. Visit museums, ancient Maya cities and contemporary Maya villages, and spend one night in a resort in Cancun. The cost of this trip is only $850.00, which includes airfare and travel in Mexico, hotel, entrance to exotic sites and a number of meals. Contact tour leaders Oscar Cabrera, ocabrera@ccp.edu, or Sarah Iepson, siepson@ccp.edu, for more information. Space is limited, so submit your application soon. Applications are due December 1.

Mérida Application

2012 Student-Faculty Fellowship Programs: Israel, Turkey and Cambodia
Community College of Philadelphia’s Center for International Understanding is offering three Student/Faculty International Fellowship Programs for 2011. This is an exciting opportunity to study a particular country and theme and then travel to the destination to experience directly the culture and contemporary society. All students applying are considered for travel scholarships.

Students in each group will take a one-credit course and travel with a team of experienced Community College of Philadelphia faculty. Final travel dates listed below may change slightly due to airfare availability.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 3, 2012

Participation Requirements and Selection Criteria

Israel: Renewable Energy, Sustainable Development and the Quest for Peace
May 5-May 15, 2012
Israel is a country with a rich cultural and religious history and also one on the forefront of solving environmental challenges. Professors Miles Grosbard, Architecture, and Margaret Stephens, Environmental Conservation and Geography, will lead visits to Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem, introducing you to Israel’s extraordinary history and to contemporary concerns. You will stay at the pioneering Arava Institute, which brings together scholars and leaders from Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories to develop solutions to regional problems. We will also visit renewable energy installations and organizations dedicated to conflict resolution. This program is especially appropriate for students interested in environmental and renewable energy issues, sustainable design, geography, leadership, international affairs and Middle Eastern studies.

Program fee: $500 plus cost of a one-credit Interdisciplinary Studies course, passport, visa, any necessary inoculations and travel insurance.

For more details on this trip, please plan to attend an upcoming information session:

Thursday, November 17, 2011, 3:30–4:30 p.m., B2-26
or
Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 12:15–1:15 p.m., B2-22I

Istanbul, Turkey
May 9–19, 2012
Professors Cynthia Giddle and John Joyce, teachers of English and Humanities courses
Cynthia Giddle and John Joyce, professors of English and Humanities courses, will introduce you to the magnificent architecture and historic sights of Istanbul, reflecting on the Christian history of the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Muslim period and the modern secular Turkish state. You will visit a local university, have an opportunity to attend lectures with Turkish faculty, and stay at a small, Turkish family-run hotel. By studying one country in the Middle East, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the cultural diversity in this area of the world.

Program fee: $800 plus cost of a one-credit course, passport, visa, any necessary inoculations and travel insurance.

For more details on this trip, please plan to attend an upcoming information session:

Thursday, November 17, 2011, 10–11 a.m., B2-22I
or
Wednesday, December 7, 2011, 2–3 p.m., B2-22I

Cambodia and the Human Condition
May 21-May 31, 2012
Experience the magnificent architecture and historic sights of Cambodia while reflecting on how key points in Cambodian history—from the ancient Khmer empire to 20th century genocide—illustrate the resilience of humankind. Guided by professors Daravann Yi, Counseling, and Linda Fellag, English, you will visit the famed temples of Angkor Wat, a rural farm/factory, an orphanage and other sites. You will also have the opportunity to meet students and faculty at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. This trip gives you the chance to gain firsthand knowledge of a Southeast Asian country and develop an understanding of this part of the world.

Program fee: $500 plus cost of a one-credit Interdisciplinary Studies course, passport, visa, any necessary inoculations and travel insurance.

For more details on this trip, please plan to attend an upcoming information session:

Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 3:30–4:30 p.m., B2-26
or
Wednesday, December 7, 2011, 11 a.m.–12 p.m., B2-22I

Participation Requirements and Selection Criteria

1. To be eligible, students must have completed 12 credits of courses at Community College of Philadelphia by the end of fall 2011 and be registered in spring 2012 courses at the College and be in “good standing.”
2. When the selection process is complete, the selected students must enroll in and pay tuition for the one-credit course, Interdisciplinary Studies 120: Introduction to a Study Abroad Site. IDS 120 will require approximately nine hours of pre- and post-departure meetings, which will be arranged by group leaders. Attendance is mandatory. In IDS 120, students will read, write and discuss materials to prepare for and reflect upon the study abroad experience.
3. Grants cover a large portion of each selected student’s travel expenses. Students awarded scholarships will be financially responsible for (a) Securing and paying for a passport and a visa. Each program will give students information regarding deadlines and the country’s visa requirements. (b) The program fee of $500 to $800, depending upon final program costs. (c) Travel insurance for approximately $120. Insurance will be secured by the College to insure that necessary coverage is uniform. Accepted students are expected to contribute to the dissemination of information about their study abroad experience.
4. Note that a $250 deposit by check or money order, made out to Community College of Philadelphia, must be submitted with initial application. Your payment will be returned to you if you are not selected. The application is due on Wednesday, February 9, 2011. Hardcopy applications must be submitted to Jackie Harrey in BR-21.
   
   Interviews of the finalists will begin the week of February 14. Selected students will be notified by February 25. If you are selected, your balance of the program fee will be due not more than 10 days after you are notified of your selection. You will be invited to a meeting to review the program.

Selection Criteria Among Eligible Applicants
A diverse group of students will be selected based on the following:

1. Academic performance in Community College of Philadelphia courses, including those being taken in spring 2012, as indicated by grades in courses. A current College transcript is required.
2. Preference will be given to students who have taken, or are currently taking in spring 2012, at least one Community College of Philadelphia three-credit course with significant international content, or content related to the theme of the program.
3. One teacher’s written recommendation is necessary, unless the student has one of the lead faculty members as his or her teacher. Faculty recommendations must address the following: (a) The student’s interest in the target destination, intellectual curiosity and/or relevant personal/career goals, as well as markers of solid academic work. (b) The student’s reliability, as demonstrated through his/her activities, such as being prepared for class, attending class and getting assignments in on time. (c) The student’s ability to function abroad in a small group: getting along with the faculty leaders, other student participants and people he/she meets abroad.
4. Students must include a carefully written statement of 300–600 words explaining past coursework, reading and/or experience that led them to be interested in this particular opportunity, and how studying and visiting specifically Isreal, Turkey or Cambodia would further their personal or career goals.
5. 5. On the basis of the application, finalists will be interviewed by the pair of teachers of each IDS 120 course.