Fall – 12 weeks (early September to early December)
Spring - 12 weeks (January 6 - March 30, 2008)

Sponsored by James Madison College and the College of Social Science

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This program is hosted by BRAC University, and offers five-day/week, full-time internships. The objective of the internships is two-fold:

1. Expose MSU students to the poverty alleviation, rural development, women's empowerment, and education activities of non-governmental agencies in a developing society, and;
2. Engage in field research on, and evaluation of BRAC programs.

Originally named the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, BRAC was founded in 1972 in the immediate aftermath of the Bangladesh war of liberation as a refugee resettlement and humanitarian relief organization. Today it is the largest national Non-Governmental Organization in the world, and is active in (among other areas) micro-finance, social development, education, public health, and training and capacity-building. It sees women as principal agents of social and economic change in Bangladesh, and thus works primarily with women at the grassroots level. It has programs in every region of Bangladesh, in 99% of the sub-regions, and in 60,000 of the 86,000 villages in the country. It has a full-time staff of 25,000, and additionally employs 34,000 part-time teachers in its primary education program. It is mostly self-financing, through activities like textile manufacturing and marketing, handicraft sales, horticultural greenhouses and retail nurseries, health products manufacturing and marketing, dairy production, and silk processing. While BRAC is headquartered in Dhaka, all BRAC projects are in the rural regions. The BRAC Training Division operates 12 Training and Resource Centers (TARCs) across the country. The TARCs run year-round training courses for BRAC staff, program participants, and other development organizations and agencies.

Where does it take place?

BRAC UNIVERSITY

Located in Dhaka, BRAC University (www.bracuniversity.net) was founded in 2001 as a private university accredited by the University Grants Commission of the Government of Bangladesh. BRAC University's mission is to foster national development through higher education that is responsive to social needs. Currently the University offers undergraduate programs in Business Administration, Economics, English, Computer Science and Engineering, and Architecture. It currently offers two graduate programs: Masters in Business Administration and Masters in Development Studies; and is developing a Masters in Public Health program. Once fully developed, it will offer programs in all branches of Arts, Social Sciences, and Sciences at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels.

TRAINING AND RESOURCE CENTER (TARC)

Each Training and Resource Center is equipped with a trainees’ hostel, a cafeteria, classrooms, computer facilities (including Internet access), audiovisual equipment, a library, auditorium, and staff dormitories.

What can I do?

Interns will work with BRAC University faculty and members of the BRAC Research and Evaluation Division to develop individual research projects. Specific topics will depend on the interests and skills of the intern. These placements will allow interns opportunities not only to observe BRAC projects, but also to engage in significant research on the impacts and effectiveness of those programs at the grassroots level. Opportunities to visit grassroots project sites will be maximized, but language difficulties will prevent BRAC from assigning interns directly to those project sites. Visits will normally be made in the company of RED and/or BRAC field staff, who can help to translate. The BRAC Training Division will work with BRAC University to oversee the placement, and will ensure that internship logistics and daily living requirements of the interns are met. BRAC University faculty will be available to give advice and guidance on research projects within their spheres of expertise. Interns will also have access to BRAC University workshops and seminars on areas of relevant academic interest, as well as to library and computing facilities. MSU will normally send interns during the spring semester of each year (January-April), for 12 weeks.

ORIENTATION AND LANGUAGE TRANING

The first week of the program will be devoted to orientation trips and seminars, at BRAC headquarters, and through exposure tours to BRAC project sites in the rural areas. Throughout the internship, instruction in the Bangla language (arranged by BRAC University, either in Dhaka or at the TARC) will be available. The objective is to equip MSU interns with rudimentary language skills, such that they have some basis for communication in Bangla, and a base on which to improve their Bangla fluency through their own initiatives. The work of the internships will conducted entirely in English, and the level of English-language fluency of staff at BRAC headquarters is very high. As the language of instruction at BRAC University is English, all BRAC University faculty are fluent in the language.

COURSE ENROLLMENT

James Madison College students will enroll in MC 400 and MC 401, for a total of 12 credits. This will satisfy the JMC Field Experience requirement.

What are the requirements?

Students must have at least junior status (preference given to those with senior standing), and must be enrolled for MSU internship or field study credit. Please speak with your college or department internship coordinator to discuss credit arrangements and academic requirements. If you’re uncertain who that is, please speak with your academic advisor.

To take full advantage of the opportunities offered by BRAC, students need have significant academic preparation and intellectual maturity. Applicants will be screened for:

• international experience and cultural adaptability
• at least a basic understanding of issues of poverty, socio-economic inequality, and development challenges in South Asia
• intellectual seriousness and relevant academic preparation

All applicants will be interviewed prior to acceptance in the program, and reference letters from academic instructors will be requested. Applicants must also demonstrate their eligibility to earn academic credit for the experience.

Additionally, students must submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

All MSU students will be housed together at the TARC at Savar. Savar is located approximately 35 km. from BRAC headquarters in Dhaka (where the Research and Evaluation Division is also located). The TARC at Savar has comfortable, well-furnished private rooms (with shared bath), and excellent dining facilities. All meals at the TARC are included. It also has a large computer lab, with good internet connections. BRAC will provide transportation (in BRAC vehicles with BRAC-employed drivers) to BRAC offices in Dhaka, and to rural project sites as the need arises. BRAC vehicles and drivers will be made available at cost. Savar’s proximity to Dhaka allows for close interaction with BRAC headquarters staff, BRAC University faculty and facilities, and the urban amenities of Dhaka. Should overnight travel be necessitated, interns will normally be housed at other TARCs.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Grant Littke
James Madison College
329 Case Hall
Phone: (517) 353-6757
E-mail: littke@msu.edu

Oumatie Marajh
College of Social Science
201C Berkey Hall
Phone: (517) 353-9202
E-mail: marajhou@msu.edu

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of twelve weeks are usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/passports.html

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.

For more information about visas visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/visas.html

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/health.html

How much does it cost?

The program fee for Spring Semester 2008 is $3,465 and includes the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• accommodations
• most meals
• daily on-site transportation
• accident and sickness insurance

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

• MSU tuition and fees*
• airfare
• additional meals
• books and supplies
• passport application fee ($100)
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Students may request a cost sheet which estimates these additional expenses not included in the program fee by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

*Check http://www.ctlr.msu.edu/studrec/ for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate, regardless of state of residence.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university. If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/finaid/index.html

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadline to apply for these scholarships is October 15th for spring semester programs.

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/index.html

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form by visiting http://studyabroad.msu.edu/applications/index.html

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 15th for spring semester participation. We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter. You can also read the handbook online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.