2006 Summer Study in China—General Studies Program

University System of Georgia

 

Zhengzhou University May 9-June 5, 2006

 

Director

 

Baogang Guo, Ph.D.,Associate Professor,  Dalton State College, Phone: (706) 272-2678, Fax: (706) 272-2698, e-mail: bguo@daltonstate.edu

 

Co-director

Wilson Huang, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Valdosta State University, Phone: (229) 333-5486, Fax: (229) 333-5492, e-mail: whuang@valdosta.edu

 

I. Nature and Purpose of the Program

 

  1. Title and Theme

Summer Study in China—General Studies Program. The theme for this year will be: “The United Sates and the Rising China: Fostering a Cross-Cultural Understanding”

 

B.  Date and Location     

The program will be conducted in 4 weeks beginning in early-May at Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.  The tentative dates of the 2006 program are between May 9 (Tuesday) and June 5 (Monday).  

 

C.     Sponsors and Administration

This study abroad will be a collaborative program to be sponsored by the Asia Council of the University System of Georgia (USG), Valdosta State University (VSU) and Dalton State College (DSC). Our primary host will be the College of International Education at Zhengzhou University (ZU) in China.  Campus Representatives of the Asia Council will serve as program coordinators who administer recruitments of faculty and students at their own institution.  Program activities and budgets will be managed by the program director/co-directors through the Office of Fiscal Affairs at Dalton State College.

 

D.    Program Director/ Co-directors

Dr. Baogang Guo of DSC will serve as 2006 program Director, and Dr. Wilson Huang of VSU will be its Co-director. Additional Co-director(s) may be added if necessary. The Director or Co-director(s) of the program are responsible for planning, coordination, implementation, and instruction for the program.  The Director/Co-directors will administer budgets, recruitments, pre-departure orientations, and other related meetings to facilitate a smooth development of the program.  An on-site director may also be appointed to manage administrations during the study period at the study site.

 

E.     Faculty Selection

All USG full-time faculty members either on tenure or non-tenure tracks are eligible to apply for participation in the program.  Interested faculty will submit an application form and complete curriculum vitae to the program Director/Co-directors.  Applicants will be selected by the Directors based on merits of proposed courses, strengths of professional credentials, and student characteristics of their affiliated institutions.  The selected faculty will be responsible for student recruitment and instruction of two courses.  One of the accompanying professors will be able to speak Mandarin fluently; this faculty member will function as the group’s interpreter.

 

F. Program Goals

The main goal of this study is to help students acquire a general grasp of the social, economic, and political systems of China, and formulate a comparative worldview that can enhance their competence in their career.  Equally important to the main goal are the following objectives the program intends to achieve:

·        To promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the American society through comparisons with civilizations of a different culture

·        To internationalize students in a foreign setting where that can develop a much broader base of information and knowledge to strategize decisions best for their educational advancement and their future profession as well

·        To further the understanding of details of a diverse culture through first-hand experience and personal exploration of the infrastructures of a non-western society

·        To advance intellectuality, independence, and responsibility in the student through course requirements accomplished in a culturally challenging setting

 

II. Descriptions of Program Curricula

 

A. Academic Theme

Depending on the year and context in which the program is conducted, the curriculum of the program may be designed around a theme.  In the program’s inaugural year, it is proposed that courses offered are united by the theme “The United States and the Rising China: Fostering a Cross-cultural Understanding.” In a specific year, the program may be promoted under the theme “International Cooperation and Integration” for a study of the US-China-Taiwan relations at host universities in China and Taiwan.

 

B. Credit Hours

The program will offer a maximum of six semester hours of credit.  Students will register for their courses at their home institutions, where it is possible.  Students may also register for courses as transient students if their home institutions do not offer equivalent courses.

 

C. Class Size and Structure

The program is designed to accept 18-30 students guided by three or more USG professors. The minimum enrollment to the program is six which will enable one professor to participate.

 

Formats of the instruction will include class lectures, written projects, field trips, and weekend excursions. An orientation session will be given to students on the first day of the class in the host university.  The instructional formats specified above will meet the minimum number of class contact hours stipulated by the Board of Regents.

 

Regular classes will meet in morning and afternoon sessions on selected class days. Each accompanying professor will teach two courses -- one in the morning, and another in the afternoon.  Group tours, guided projects, field observations, home visits, cultural enrichments, and other activities related to the courses will be organized to enrich students’ experiences. 

 

D. Field Trips, Excursions, and Cultural Enrichment

The program will begin in Beijing for a three-day cultural tour of the city, and a two days visit of Xi’an.  Weekend excursions in Zhengzhou will include a visit of Luoyang, Kaifeng, Dengfeng. Special course-related field trips in Zhengzhou will be arranged with the help of our local host.

 

Some cultural activities will be organized to entertain the students.  Short non-credit courses on Chinese language, martial arts, Tai-Chi, culinary arts, classical dances, movies, etc. can be offered to students at additional cost or without charge.  Group meetings with ZU students and faculty will be arranged to exchange views on Chinese and American systems.  One or two ZU students will be solicited as cultural ambassadors or “buddy” to assist each American student.

 

E. Learning Assessments

Students are expected to complete academic requirements such as exams and assignments as comparable as those required in regular courses taught at their home institution.  At the end of the course, students will complete an exit survey describing their assessments on the following items: the contents of the course, quality of instruction, learning outcomes, strengths and weakness of the program.

 

F. Examples of Course Numbers and Titles

 

Faculty members may consider the following undergraduate courses for their instructions to students, or suggest some of their own courses. Graduate students may also participate in the program conducting independent studies upon the approval of an accompanying USG professor.

 

ARTH 4150: Contemporary Art History

ANTH 3040: Cultural Anthropology

COMM 3500: Fundamentals of Cross-cultural Communication

CRJU 4010: Comparative Justice Systems

ECON 3600: International Economics

ENGL 2110-2140: World Literature I, II, III, IV

GEOG 1102: World Regional Geography

HIST 1011-1013: History of Civilization I, II, III

HIST 4401: East Asia

HIST 4402: Asia in the Modern World

MDIA 4450: International Media

MGNT 4800: International Management

MKTG 4680: International Marketing

MUSC 1110: Music Appreciation - World Music

MUSC 2450: Introduction to World Music

PHIL 2XXX: Introduction to Philosophy

PHIL 4XXX: The Chinese Philosophical Tradition

POLS 2401: Introduction to Global Issues

POLS 3300: Comparative Politics

POLS 3400: International Politics

POLS 4340-4440: Comparative and International courses

REL 2020: World Religions

REL 3700: Buddhism

SOCI 3060: Race and Ethnic Relations

SOCI 3800: Social Stratification

XXXX 4700: Special Topics

XXXX 4900: Directed Study

 

G. Chinese Language Program

 

A six-weeks Chinese Language program led by USG faculty members and sponsored by the Asia Council will be available immediately after the four-weeks program is finished. Students who plan to take Chinese language should register designated courses before they depart for the four-week study.

 

III. Travel, Lodging, and On-site Management

 

A.     Departure and Arrival

The China Travel Service Head Office in Beijing and its local representative the Imperial Pacific Travel will be responsible for making all the essential travel and tour arrangement. The group will depart from Atlanta; arrive in Beijing for a three-day cultural excursion, then fly to Xi’an for a two-day visit.  Then the group will stay in Zhengzhou for about 17 days to conduct regular in-class course instructions. The group will depart Zhengzhou and visit Shanghai for 2 days. The group will return to the U.S. from an international airport in Shanghai on June 5.

 

B. Accommodation

In Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai, students will be housed at three-star hotels.  In Zhengzhou, Students will be housed in a foreign students residence with meals served three times a day. Western style meals will be served occasionally.  Two students will share a room equipped with air-conditioning, desks, closets, and a full bath (shower and toilet). The residence hall will include long-distance telephone connection and laundry facilities. A on-site computer-lab with Internet is also available for use by students without charge.  Accompanied USG professors will have their own private room equipped with bed, desk, and lighting fixtures.

 

C. On-site Management

While the study-abroad group is at the Zhengzhou University, the program Director or Co-director will have access to a computer, a printer, and Internet. The Director will have a local cell phone accessible all the time. The Director of a faculty member will always be on-site when the students are conducting regular course works on ZU campus.

 

IV. Faculty Compensation

 

Faculty salary and course reduction are arranged directly between the selected faculty and his/her home institution.  Faculty expenses including round-trip airfare, lodging and meals, and transportations for the program in China are paid form program funds.  A small Per Diem stipend may also be paid depending on the availability of program funds.

 

V. Timeline (due dates in parentheses)

 

Faculty applications (9/15/05)

Selection of participating faculty (9/20/05)

Program guides completed (9/15/03)

Student recruitments (Fall 2005/Early Spring 2006)

Student application deadline (2/10/05)

 

VI. Estimated Costs per Student

 

The program cost estimated at 24 students with three instructors is $US 3,190 per student. This cost does not include tuition and registration fees students will pay to their own institutions.