Samoa: Pacific Communitys and Social Change

  Samoa

Apia

Term: Fall, Spring 
Dates: September to December / February to May

Description: The School for International Training's Study Abroad programs offer field-based study in over 57 countries. Students earn 16 semester credits on a 15-week experience designed to encourage a global awareness that enables people to live and act in an interdependent world. Groups of seven to 25 students are lead by one or two academic directors.

The Pacific Ocean is home to some of the world's most remote habitats, including more than 20 island nations that make up the distinct cultural zones of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia. Today, these traditional societies are being transformed, as Pacific Islanders struggle to maintain their cultural identities in the face of increasing social, political, and economic pressure.

The program is based in Samoa, the cradle of Polynesian tradition and the first Pacific Islands country to become an independent nation, in 1962. It is an ideal setting in which to immerse yourself in the study of the peoples of a small island state and their response to a changing world. Drawing upon field excursions and local university resources in Hawai'i, Samoa, American Samoa, and Fiji, you gain a broad understanding of the physical and historical forces that have shaped contemporary life in the Pacific Islands and an appreciation for the rich cultural traditions of the region.

Highlights: Homestays in 'Upolu (10 days), plus Savai'i and Fiji

The program includes visits to cultural and historic sites on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i; a village stay and short trips to places of interest around Apia and the island of 'Upolu; a natural history excursion to the island of Savai'i to gain perspective on Samoa's topographical and ecological diversity; and visits to American Samoa and Fiji for comparative social analysis.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: please inquire for more information

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American and Worldwide Participants.

Scholarships are Available. To make study abroad opportunities available to a wide range of students, SIT Study Abroad offers a variety of scholarships. We base all scholarship awards on need and merit. Awards range from $500 to $5,000. For a full list of scholarships, and to download a scholarship application, please visit our web site.

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

SIT Study Abroad's Mission Statement: SIT Study Abroad is the accredited higher education institution of World Learning, a private, nonprofit international organization promoting international and intercultural understanding, social justice, and economic development through education, training, and field projects around the globe. SIT prepares students to be interculturally effective leaders, professionals, and citizens through SIT Study Abroad, undergraduate, field-based academic programs operating in more than 50 countries worldwide, and thorough short-term professional training and graduate degrees in language teaching, conflict transformation, international education, social justice in intercultural relations, management, and sustainable development.

Year Founded: 1932