Programs

Location

Mumbai, Vadodara, Agra, Delhi, Bhubaneswar, India

Program Description

This program is intended to provide intensive exposure to students in three different geographic regions of India. This summer program takes the students from the west coast to the east coast of India with a break to visit Delhi and Taj Mahal in north India. During the first two weeks of the program Students will be asked to arrive in Mumbai India on Saturday July 5th we will stay in Mumbai July 5 and 6th. On July 6th we will have a guided tour of Mumbai to ease into the India experience. On Monday July 7th we will travel by train to Vadodara in Gujarat. In Vadodara we will begin our course work which will focus sustainable community interventions with an intensive field experience. Gandhi said “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” This experience will help students through a process of self-reflection, cross cultural education and effective culturally sensitive community building as an equalizing factor in social justice. There will be opportunity to explore Vadodara, experience the local flavor and make connection with the faculty and students at the department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Baroda. On July 13 we will travel to Ahmedabad the home of the Gandhi Ashram and Manav Sadhna a not-for- profit which works to strengthen underprivileged communities through a range of community programs. This week will focus on field experience at Manav Sadhna. On Saturday the July 19th we will travel by train to Delhi were we will visit some culturally significant site, visit the Taj Mahal and make our way to Bhubaneswar for the second half of the course.

During the second two weeks, the course participants will arrive in Bhubaneswar (Eastern India on the coast of Bay of Bengal) and complete the requirements for the first 3 credit hour course via on-site lectures, day trips, and service learning activities at local organizations. The program also includes cultural trips to various locations in Bhubaneswar (a modern city fast emerging as a hub of education and information technology), Puri (ancient coastal city with beautiful beaches, and one of the main sites of Hinduism, the main religion of India), Konark (ancient city with stunning architecture from the 11th century and beautiful beaches), and Chandaka Reserve Wildlife Sanctuary (Overnight stay at lodges to watch wild elephants). During the transit between the two primary locations the course participants will have an opportunity to visit New Delhi (the capital city), and enjoy a day trip to Agra (home of the Taj Mahal).

Location Description

Gujarat, the western-most state of the Indian Republic, has its own 2,000-year history and language, and the longest coastline of any province. Immigration of people to this region and the rich diversity of cultural expression in Gujarat makes it possibly the most diverse of Indian provinces, hosting more religions and ethnic groups than others. and it is the land of Mahatma Gandhi, whose doctrine of non-violent protest came out of earlier indigenous forms of social action. More Indians living in the United States come from the province of Gujarat than from any other region of India.

Director

Ayasakanta Rout | routax@jmu.edu | Communication Sciences and Disorders
Gary Race | racegs@jmu.edu | Director of Institute for Innovation and Human Services

Accommodations

Accommodations to be announced.

Application Process

For this program, students are required to submit the following material(s):

• JMU Short-Term Application Form

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.0.

For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs.

Official transcript required for first-semester transfer students and non-JMU students.