Students may be able to use their financial aid for study abroad. The amount of the financial aid awarded and its availability will be determined by the Office of Financial Aid.
Winter 2009-2010: December 27-January 9
Approx. Cost: $3300 - $3500 (includes itinerary program and transportation)
Contact: Tamara Wilkins at tamara.wilkins@mnsu.edu
Colleen Clarke at colleen.clarke@mnsu.edu, Department of Political Science/Law Enforcement
This MSU, Mankato Criminal Justice course offers students credits in political science and/or law enforcement through international travel and study. The tentative trip itinerary is as follows:
December 27: Morning departure from the Twin Cities (MSP) on Delta Airlines to Barcelona with connecting service in Atlanta.
December 28: Arrive in Barcelona and transport via private motocoach to Decimononico. Apartments (quad apartments), with an orientation tour en route, including the port, the promenade, the Christopher Columbus monument, Montijuich, the Ramblas and Plaza Catalunya.
December 29: Full-day guided tour of the city, including a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter and the 15th Century cathedral Santa Maria del Mar, Calle Montcada, and Gaudi’s architecture, including exterior views of Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Parc Guell, and a visit to the Sagrada Familia.
December 30: Program arrangements by course instructors.
December 31: Full-day guided tour to Montserrate Monastery and Basilica, with visits to Open Air Museum and Interactive Exhibition “Inside Montserrate.” Happy New Year’s Eve!
January 1: Program arrangements by course instructors.
January 2: Morning free for optional activities. Early evening departure to the Port of Barcelona, then take a Grimaldi Lines Ferry for overnight travel (twin/triple berth cabins provided) to Civitavecchia, Italy.
January 3: Arrive at Civitavecchia and transfer to Hotel Diana in Rome, Italy.
January 4: Half-day guided tour of Ancient Rome including the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Forum.
January 5: Half-day guided tour of St. Peter’s and the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel.
January 6: Program arrangements by course instructors.
January 7: Early morning departure by private motorcoach to Florence, Italy. Upon arrival, we will take a walking tour of the city, including entrance into the Galleria dell’Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s David.
January 8: Program arrangements by course instructors.
January 9: Depart Rome on Delta Airlines for the Twin Cities, with connecting service in Atlanta.
Our students experience personal growth through interaction with citizens, educational institutes and criminal justice organizations in the cities we visit. This study tour presents a learning experience for students to enjoy local cultures, differing perspectives on terrorism and comparative criminal justice institutions. This year’s itinerary promises to be a lot of fun, so consider going with us! A student need not be majoring or minoring in political science or law enforcement to go with us.
Spring Semeter 2010: January 2-9, 2010
Approx. cost: $1162 plus meals per student (based on 22 participants)
Inclusions:Contact: Dr. Jose Lopez at jose.lopez@mnsu.edu, Department of Geography or Dr. Kebba Darboe at kebba.darboe@mnsu.edu, Department of Ethnic Studies
The purpose of the tour is to provide students with insights into the natural and cultural diversity of the Hispanic Caribbean.
During the one week tour, we will be based in San Juan, the cultural hub of Puerto Rico.Old San Juan, where our circuit begins, is the setting for an unforgettable array of Spanish colonial churches, monuments, and forts, with the Castillo San Cristóbal and Castillo del Morro, ranking among the greatest masterpieces of colonial military engineering.
Also included is a visit to the El Yunque Rain Forest, home to over 200 species of trees and plants. Puerto Rico offers excellent opportunities to study other tropical environments and a diverse cultural geography. The island’s enviable climate is always warm and without extremes.
For travel between Puerto Rico and the U.S., no passport is required, making it easier for travelers who don't have a passport.
Open to both undergraduate and graduate students. The Puerto Rico tour classes are two credits each and you can take both courses (an ethnic studies class and a geography course) simultaneously.
Spring Semester 2010: Spend Spring semester in Finland. Also available in Fall semester. (Ongoing)
Approx. cost: Student pays tuition to MSUM and is responsible for room and board and any other personal and travel expenses. Federal Financial aid can be used for study abroad programs
Contact: Debra Gohagan, Professor, Department of Social Work at d.gohagan@mnsu.edu
Social Work majors and minors can register for 12 credits at MSUM and spend a semester taking classes at Helsinki Stadia, School of Social Welfare. This program is taught in English.
Spring Semester 2010: March 4-14 (11 days)
Approx. cost: $3,150
Contact: Dr. Joseph Kunkel at joseph.kunkel@mnsu.edu, 507-389-6930, 109 C Morris Hall, Department of Political Science/Law Enforcement
Join us for an exciting study tour of Italy! For eleven days over spring break we will visit Northern Italy with stops in Venice, Florence, Lake Como and Milan, but this will be much more than a tour of beautiful sights and famous places.
The first half of spring semester 2010, we will hold weekly classes (Wednesday 3:00-5:45 pm) to learn and prepare for the tour. In a political science class with Professor Joseph Kunkel’s students, you will learn about Machievelli’s world; the city-states of Renaissance Italy, as well as the politics and culture of modern Italy. Each week we will join with students from Professor Suzanne Bunkers’ English class to get acquainted with the group and to prepare for travel.
Then, over spring break, we will travel to Italy as a class. Arriving in Milan, we will relax after our flight at beautiful Lake Como on the Swiss-Italian border. Later, we will travel by coach bus to Venice. After two days, we will go to Florence, the City of Art. We will end our tour in Milan. In Italy, in addition to expert guided tours, you will have much free time to explore Italy’s beautiful museums, churches, piazzas, and other landmarks as well as opportunities for shopping and dining.
Summer Semester 2010: 5 weeks in Tropea, Italy
Approx. cost: To be determined
Contact: Dr. Maria Bevacqua at maria.bevacqua@mnsu.edu, 507-389-5569, Department of Gender and Women's Studies
Students will receive 9 credits for this cultural study experience, in Tropea, Italy. Students will spend their time at Piccola Universita Italiana in intensive language and culture studies. Piccola Universita Italiana is located in the beautiful coastal city of Tropea, Italy.
At Piccola Universita Italiana cultural studies will include planned excursions into the surrounding area (identified below), student sessions with fifth year high school students, as well as interactions with local residents. One MSU faculty member will be traveling with the group to Italy to help with activities during the first two weeks in Italy. In Tropea, Minnesota State Mankato students will have single rooms in shared apartments with kitchenettes, where they will be able to practice their Italian culinary skills.
Cultural excursions included in the study abroad package are to Sicily, Calabria, and Pompeii, where students will visit Pompeii, Messina & Teatro Greco di Taormina, Locri & Gerace, Cosenza & Altomonte, Crotone, Le Castella, Isola Capo Rizzuto e Santa Severina, Vibo/Pizzo: Castello Normanno Svevo, Castello Aragonese & Chiesetta di Piedigrotta, Scilla & Museo Nazionale di Reggio Calabria, Serra San Bruno - Visita alla Certosa.
Summer Semester 2010: May 12-27
Approx. cost: $4600
Contact: Dr. Raymond Asomani-Boateng at asomar@mnsu.edu, 507-389-5032 or Dr. Miriam Porter at miriam.porter@mnsu.edu, 507-389-5032, Department of Urban and Regional Studies
Description of program: MSU’s Ghana Study Abroad Program allows MSU students to take a course entitled, “Cross-Cultural Field Studies in Ghana”. This is a two week intensive field study in Ghana worth 2 credits. The will be conducted in English and includes field trips to urban centers and important cultural sites in Ghana, as well as the opportunity for valuable discussions with Ghanaian scholars, city officials, traditional rulers and community groups. This field study is designed to help students gain first-hand experience about Ghanaian culture and to allow in-depth examination of issues.
Why Ghana? Ghana is an English-speaking country and has long been among Africa’s safest and most politically stable. It boasts a democratic system of government and some of the friendliest people on the continent. The partner universities at which segments of MSU’s Ghana Program will take place—Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Ghana—have a long history of successfully hosting American and European university students. For instance, during the 2002-2003 academic year, over eight hundred American students participated in study abroad programs in Ghana. The author and Program Director of MSU’s Ghana Program, Professor Raymond Asomani-Boateng is originally from Ghana and maintains numerous contacts throughout the country. Participating MSU students will derive tremendous benefit from this program. Time in Ghana will expose students to the Ghanaian culture while increasing their awareness of African issues in a way that would not otherwise be possible.
SummerSemester 2010: May/June for 3 weeks
Approx. cost: $6,187 estimated
Inclusions:Contact: Dr. Forrest Wilkerson at forrest.wilkerson@mnsu.edu, Dr. Ginger Schmid at ginger.schmid@mnsu.edu, or Dr. Don Friend at donald.friend@mnsu.edu, Department of Geography
Course of study: Physical and cultural geography including geomorphology, biogeography, historical and urban geography. At least one week on the Aeolian Islands and one week hiking in the German Alps. Study will include the interaction between the physical geography and the cultural ties that develop and change through time on international, regional, and local scales. The course offers 9 credits in Geography (3 spring 2010 semester and 6 summer 2010 semester credits).
The proposed itinerary is as follows:
May 9: Shuttle to MSP; Flight MSP to Naples, Italy
May 10-12: Sorrento, Pompeii, Vesuvius, Naples
May 13: Ferry to Aeolian Islands
May 14-19: Salina, Lipari, Vulcano
May 20: Ferry to Naples
May 21: Train to Erlangen, Germany
May 21-23: Erlangen and Nurnberg
May 24: Train to Munich, Dachau
May 25: Train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
May 26-28: Hike in Reintal
May 29: Flight to Naples; Flight back to MSP
Summer Semester 2010: 2 weeks in July
Approx. Cost: $2950 + academic credit and transportation
Contact: Robin R. Wingo at robin.wingo@mnsu.edu or
Bill Anderson at william.anderson@mnsu.edu, Department of Social Work
Course of Study: A variety of teaching modalities will be utilized in this program.
Additional sight-seeing visits and tours are offered to historical sites such as Mayflower Steps, Bristol Suspension Bridge, Stonehenge, Roman baths in historic city of Bath, Salisbury Cathedral, Glastonbury, and castles in Wales during downtime (some with additional cost of $25 - $35).
Special Opportunities:
Summer Semester 2010: July 30-August 16
Approx. cost: To be determined
Contact: Michelle Alvarez at michelle.alvarez@mnsu.edu
The Social Work Department is developing a course that will allow students to travel to Singapore and both Cairns and Melbourne, Australia. Students will work side-by-side with school social workers in each country and compare and contrast school social work in the United States with the two other countries.
The course will be offered for 1-3 undergraduate or graduate credits.
