Location

Mathura, Delhi, Agra, India

Program Description

In a time of growing digital overwhelm, this unique course offers you a chance to pause, reflect, and create. Based at the Vedic Psychology Institute in sacred Vrindavan, you’ll explore ancient Indian models of the mind and emotion, while reflecting on your own digital habits.

This is more than study abroad—it’s an invitation to reclaim your attention and reimagine technology as a force for inner balance. As you study the Vedic view of self (manas, buddhi, ahamkara, atman), you’ll conceptualize a wellness app designed not for dopamine hits—but for stillness, clarity, and intentional use.

Students from around the world are seeking digital detox. This course asks: what if you could design a tool that helped people truly unplug—with spiritual and psychological depth?

You’ll be immersed in a culture where introspection, sensory regulation, and dharmic living are traditions—not trends. And when these ideas meet the creativity and insight of Western learners, they can inspire apps and technologies that serve the soul—not just the screen.

Alongside your coursework, you'll travel to Delhi for urban field observations, visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, and explore the royal architecture, vibrant markets, and artistic heritage of Jaipur—the famed Pink City of India.

Program highlights:

• Students will explore how ancient models of consciousness can support personal and digital well-being in an age of tech overload.

• Through a mix of guest workshops, daily reflective practices, and field-based learning, they’ll examine the psychology of digital overstimulation, study intention-centered design, and visit wellness centers applying these insights.

• The course culminates in a conceptual capstone project: designing a digital wellness app inspired by Indian psychology. The course is a mix of guest lectures, hands-on learning, and sightseeing.

• Sightseeing includes visits to the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, and key cultural sites in Delhi and Vrindavan.

Location Description

Students will spend most of their time in Vrindavan, India. It is one of India's most vibrant towns - an ancient center of reflection and inner science. The students will also visit:

- Jivagram, where students can unwind and restore balance with ancient therapies

- The iconic Taj Mahal in Agra

- The Pink City of Jaipur, with its palaces, crafts, and cultural heritage

Director

Prajakta Belsare | belsarpp@jmu.edu| Computer Science

Accommodations

Accommodations will be provided for students on-site with internet access.

Students will be in shared double rooms.

Most meals will be provided in the program fee.

Additional Items to Consider

Visa Fees: $35

Purchasing a SIM card in India for local communications. (Students may need to carry a phone that can accommodate this SIM).

Students are advised to meet with their PCP to understand the vaccinations to take before traveling to India.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 3.0

Open to Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate Students in Computer Science, Inofrmation Technology, Physchology, and Health Sciences. 

Students will complete some asynchronous content before departure. Due date is 07/10/2026. The content will be made available to the students at the beginning of the Summer semester.