The Transformation of Modern Latin America and the Caribbean in Brazil

Summer 2009

4 weeks – early June to early July

Sponsored by James Madison College

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

The program is designed for undergraduate students with an interest in international relations, international business, political science, political economy, comparative cultures, political theory and social policy. It offers formal coursework and lectures by faculty from Michigan State University and Brazilian institutions.

This intensive program is designed to provide an up-to-date, balanced, and objective understanding of public policy issues and state society relations in Latin America and the Caribbean. It will address the outcomes of economic liberalization reforms and the political and social contexts, institutions, preferences and conflicts emerging from these reforms, including the emergence of ethnic social factors and multicultural policies in individual countries, in particular, Brazil, in recent years. The coursework can be counted toward requirements of the majors in James Madison College and the MSU specialization in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

What can I study?

Two James Madison College (MC) courses will be offered which meet requirements for JMC majors in International Relations. These courses also serve as valuable electives for Comparative Culture and Politics, Social Relations and Policy, and Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy majors, as well as students earning the Latin American and Caribbean Studies specialization. Preparatory lectures and seminars will be held in James Madison College during April.

MC 324C	Regional Politics, Cooperation, and Conflict in Latin America and the Caribbean
This course will examine Latin America and the Caribbean’s development patterns in the 19th and 20th centuries, the processes of structural adjustment during the 1980’s and 1990’s, the more recent pragmatic and neo-populist approaches to economic policy, the processes of democratic consolidation in recent years, and the relations between Latin America and the United States.
MC 325	State and Society in Comparative Perspective
The central theme of this course is the relationship between the state and civil society. We will focus on the issues of race, ethnicity, class, status, nation building and development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The course will examine the construction of national identities; nationalism, globalization and ethnic majorities and minorities; the political economy of discrimination; the exclusion of minorities from the processes of development; minorities, economic power and democratic governance; and culture liberty and public policy.

What are the requirements?

Students from Michigan State University, as well as students from other colleges and universities, are eligible to apply. Non-MSU students should check with their home institution regarding the transfer of credit.

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.3 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

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?

The program will be based in Salvador in the northeast region of Brazil. Salvador was the capital of Brazil during most of the colonial period. Nowhere does the theory of racial mixing find a more plausible definition of Brazilian national identity than in Salvador. It is one of the main cities of Latin America and the Caribbean with a developed industrial, social, educational and cultural infrastructure. It is the capital of the State of Salvador, the most important state in the northeast region of Brazil. Students and faculty will be accommodated in the Salvador Prara Hotel in the upscale neighborhoods of Ondina.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Professor Jonas Zoninsein
James Madison College
360 S. Case Hall
Phone: (517) 355-5117

Do I need a passport or visa?

A valid passport and visa are required for entry into Brazil.

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to 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 eight to ten weeks is 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 the web page.

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. If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

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 or medications 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.

See the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook for further health information and recommendations.

How much does it cost?

The program fee in 2008 was $1,996 and included the following:

application fee ($100)
deposit ($200)
pre-departure orientation
accommodations
meals
accident and sickness insurance
field trips

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
visa application fees (if applicable)
pre-departure doctor visits
pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
personal spending money

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs were estimated at $3,620 for 2008. Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts 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.

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.)

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 the Web page.

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 March 1st for summer 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, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, 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 the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs. 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.