Monday, October 15, 2012

2013 Summer Study Abroad Opportunities!

The Global Scholars Program is happy to offer 3 opportunities for summer study abroad in 2013. The two locations for the summer abroad programs are the Galapagos Islands and Istanbul! Below are descriptions and dates for the three courses offered and taught by American University faculty:

International Environmental Politics - Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
(May 19-June 8)
The course introduces students to the socio-political dynamics of global environmental affairs. In Quito, students will have the opportunity to visit the village of Otavalo where they will learn about the indigenous community as well as marketing plans necessary to keep the culture intact. In the Galapagos, students will explore San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Floreana and Isabella islands. Expedition and research sites include Kicker Rock, Turtle Bay, the Darwin Center, flamingo lagoons, and the land tortoise rearing program. 


International Economic Policy - Istanbul, Turkey 
(June 30-July 20)
The course is designed to provide students with a broad introduction to international economic relations and to the political aspects of international economics, with special reference to the foreign econoimc policy of the United States of American. Students will study at Bilgi University in Istanbul and have the opportunity to visit major Istanbul landmarks such as Takism Square, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, and the Topkapi Palace. Also, each 3-week stay in Istanbul will include one 2-3 day excursion to a site such as Cappadocia. 


International Development - Istanbul, Turkey 
(July 21-August 10)
The course explores and critically evaluates the basic assumptions underlying the major competing theories and visions of international development. Similar to the course above, students will study at Bilgi University in Istanbul and have the opportunity to visit major Istanbul landmarks such as Takism Square, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, and the Topkapi Palace. Also, each 3-week stay in Istanbul will include one 2-3 day excursion to a site such as Cappadocia.



Saturday, October 13, 2012

Celebrating Fall Break - WE, THE PIZZA!

This past Friday, Oct. 12 was AU's Fall Break! It's that time of the semester to feel extremely accomplished - we have survived the first 1/2 of the semester! During this long weekend students take the time to visit family, catch up on assignments and readings, and also go out and explore the great city of Washington DC!

On Friday some of the Global Scholars dined at a local favorite on Capitol Hill called WE, THE PIZZA (http://www.wethepizza.com/)! Check out some pics from  the outing below!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Community Meeting - October 2

The Global Scholars community meeting this week was filled with a great selection of Chinese food, useful information, and interesting guest speakers!

For the first half of the meeting the Global Scholars group was split between first and second year students. The second year students met the staff of the graduate advising and admissions offices in SIS and discussed the SIS BA/MA option available for Global Scholars students. The first year students met with the undergraduate advising office staff for general advice on how to structure coursework throughout the three year program. The summer study abroad options for 2013 will include opportunities in the Galapagos Islands and Turkey (more to come on this on another post).

The second half of the meeting, all the Global Scholars students were reunited and heard from two very interesting guest lecturers, one from the USAID and the other from the World Bank. The USAID speaker addressed mainly his work with smallholder farmers in the world's poorest countries and his efforts to change the way the US government handles food aid programs. The second speaker from the World Bank spoke on disaster risk reduction and recovery programs and international aid and humanitarian relief.