Study Abroad Office Northwestern

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• Africa
• Americas
• Asia
• Europe
• Middle East
• Oceania

Online Guide to Study Abroad

• Academic Considerations
• Requirements
• Financial Considerations
• Health and Safety Abroad
• Diversity Abroad
  

Publications and Forms

• Study Abroad Guide 2012-2013
• Study Abroad Guide 2011-2012
• NU Summer Program Application
• CASB Fall 2012 Fees
• Applicant Money Matters
• Non-NU Summer Application 2012
• NU Summer Application 2012
• Barcelona Summer Interview Schedule
• Munich Summer TUM App
• Prague Summer Handbook
• NU Summer Scholarship Application 2012
• Bonn Summer Handbook 2011
• Barcelona Summer 2011 Handbook
• Summer 2011 Pre-Departure Guide
• Non-NU Summer Worksheet
• NU Summer Pre-Departure Forms

Global Engagement Studies Institute in the Dominican Republic

» General Information

Location:

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Description:

The Global Engagement Studies Institute (GESI) is a two-course summer study abroad program focused on community development in a global context. Students from around the country learn about international development, global engagement practices, project management, leadership, entrepreneurship and the realities of contemporary Bolivian, Dominican Republican, Indian, Nicaraguan, South African or Ugandan life by connecting them with community based organizations to co-design and collaboratively implement a small-scale community development project. GESI starts with a 6 Pre-Departure Summit at Northwestern University in which students prepare for their project-based immersion by taking two courses—Intro to International Community Development and Theory and Practice of Community Consulting—as well as learning from guest speakers about the cultural, historical, political, and economic background of their country. Students then spend 7 weeks in either Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, India, Nicaragua, South Africa or Uganda living in home stays, working with a local non profit in a team of three to five, and participating in guest lectures and discussion with local experts and a Northwestern TA. GESI concludes with a 2-3 day Final Reflection Summit in Chicago.

Terms:

Summer term: June 15- August 20. (Pre-departure training at Northwestern: June 16-21; overseas component: June 23 - August 17; final summit at Northwestern Aug 18-20)

Sponsor:

Northwestern University Center for Global Engagement (CGE) at the Buffett Center for International and Comparative Study (BCICS)

Website:

Global Engagement Studies Institute

Program Contact:

Karina Walker, Program Coordinator, Center for Global Engagement 620 Library Place Phone: 847-491-5932

Language Requirements

1 year or the equivalent of college level Spanish

Northwestern Requirements

Cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Academic Specialties

International community development, non-profit organizations, cross-cultural collaboration, community engagement, entrepreneurship, history/culture/politics, Latin American studies, internship.

Course Type

NU courses:
    •    International Studies 390: Approaches to International Development
    •    Communication Studies 395: Doing International Community Development: Theory & Practice of Community Consulting

Additional Information

Policies:

• Read about the refund, cancellation and withdrawal policies for Northwestern's summer study abroad programs
• All students who participate in Northwestern Study Abroad programs are required to purchase HTH health insurance. Read about HTH costs and enrollment.
• All students who participate in Northwestern Study Abroad programs must register prior to their departure with International SOS, a free travel and security assistance program. For registration instructions, click here.

Housing

Homestays

Program Costs

Summer 2012: $7,500, which includes:

• Tuition for two Northwestern courses
• Lodging, food, and city transport during Pre-departure and Final Summits in Chicago
• In-country programming, including an orientation upon arrival, a mid-term field trip, a home-stay with three meals a day, language instruction, biweekly guest speakers, transportation stipend for travel to and from work, and ongoing oversight and support.

Financial Aid: Northwestern students receiving financial aid during the academic year may be eligible for summer aid for this program. If funding is available, it may count as one of their 12 quarters of aid. For more information, please contact Mike Frechette, Assistant Director of Study Abroad Financial Services, at 847-491-7400. Non-Northwestern students should contact the Financial Aid office at their home institution.

GESI Scholarships: The Global Engagement Studies Institute will offer partial to full need-based scholarships to NU students. Awards are based on financial need, essay quality, and academic merit. Underrepresented minority students are encouraged to apply. See here for more details.

Approximate Program Size

4-8 students

Application Requirements

Global Engagement Studies Institute deadlines:

• December 15: Priority application deadline 1
• January 16: Priority application deadline 2
• March 1: Final application deadline for Northwestern and non-Northwestern students

*Spaces are filled on a rolling basis; the sooner you apply, the greater your chance of acceptance into the program. Students must follow the application guidelines the listed on the CGE website.

Note:

Make sure your passport is valid through February of the following year. If you are planning to apply to this program and you do not yet have a passport (or need to renew your current passport), you should begin this process as soon as possible so that it is completed by the time of application in early March.  The processing time for a passport application is approximately 6-8 weeks. For more information on how to apply for or renew a passport, please visit the State Department's passport web site.

Contact Returnees

Returnee information is not yet available since this program will run for the first time in 2012.