Freshman Seminar in Dublin and Cork, Ireland

This program is closed

Summer 2008

On-campus orientation: July 27 - July 29, 2008
On site in Ireland: July 30 - August 10, 2008

On-campus follow-up meetings throughout fall semester 2008

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Office of Study Abroad

To view a printable flyer for this program, please click here.

What's this seminar about?

Due to popular demand, MSU is offering two Freshman Seminars in Ireland. Program A will take place in Cork and Galway and Program B will take place in Cork and Dublin.

PROGRAM B: "Go Green!" on the Emerald Isle and explore the impact of the "Celtic Tiger" phenomenon on the Irish countryside and Irish identity by appreciating the beauty of the land, getting to know its friendly people, learning about contemporary culture, and visiting historic sites. This exciting program takes place in the cities of Cork and Dublin and offers course work designed specifically for first-year students. Two thematic tracks will be offered: “Globally You!” focuses on the topics of globalization, culture, and identity. “The Lexus and the Leprechaun: Progress and Cultural Identity in the Emerald Isle” will take a look at the socio-economic implications of the clash between progress and tradition in modern Ireland. Participation in this seminar will allow students to hit the ground running once fall semester begins! Students will be exposed to college-level academic expectations and skills while they explore a culturally, historically, and socially fascinating region.

Where does it take place?

The first-half of the seminar takes place in Cork, in Ireland 's southwest. This region offers students a unique look at Ireland's rural small towns and rolling hills. The seminar then moves to Dublin, on Ireland's eastern coast. Dublin offers students a chance to explore modern Ireland with an emphasis on Ireland's culture, history, and economy.

What can I study?

Students earn two credits for UGS 102 and receive a numeric (4.0-scale) grade for their work. Credit earned in UGS 102 counts as elective credit, regardless of students' major or area of interest (although some majors may allow the course to fulfill a requirement). UGS 102 is designed to provide students with an introduction to scholarship and inquiry in international contexts. Special disciplinary-based topics are focused to develop intercultural abilities and deepen international understandings.

Students will enroll in one of two thematic tracks. Enrollment in these tracks will be on a first-come, first-served basis with every effort being made to give students their first preference.

1. Globally You!

In this track, globalization serves as the backdrop for explorations into cultural encounters. Specifically, we will explore where and how cultural encounters occur; what their characteristics are; and how we can negotiate them constructively and in mutually beneficial ways. Throughout the course, we will zoom in and out of the micro level of personal identities and the macro level of globalization, moving between the two in order to become better prepared for the global citizenship required in the 21st century. Our (inter)cultural explorations will take place in and around Cork and Dublin and will involve walking tours and some hiking.

2. The Lexus and the Leprechaun: Progress and Cultural Identity in the Emerald Isle

Irish cities like Dublin and Cork have emerged as cosmopolitan urban centers with expanding populations and growing economies.  The understandable enthusiasm occasioned by the expansion and growing sophistication of the Irish cities has been offset by mounting fears that Ireland 's unique cultural identity will become lost in the race for global stature.  In his book, The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Thomas Freedman explores the inevitable conflict between embracing progress and retaining traditional mores and traditions.  Is Ireland in danger of losing its unique, historical image?  If so, is this a positive or negative development?  What can be done, especially in some of the poorer, rural areas to preserve cultural identity while, at the same time, stimulating economic development?  We will explore these and other questions—questions­ that affect us all­—whether we live in Ireland, Michigan, or the Middle East. 

What are the requirements?

To be eligible, applicants must have first-year freshman status at Michigan State University beginning in fall 2008 AND have paid their Advanced Enrollment Deposit (AED). That is, a student must be admitted to and attending MSU for the first time as a full-time college student during the 2008-09 academic year.

It is strongly recommended that students apply early as acceptance into the program is on a rolling basis and the program may fill to capacity (30 students per program) before the priority application deadline.

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

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please email Mr. Jim Lucas at lucasjam@msu.edu.

Where will I live?

In Cork, students will stay in apartments at the University College Cork (http://www.ucc.ie/campusaccommodation/). Apartments vary in size from three to five bedrooms-most of which are single occupancy and have their own bathrooms. Breakfast is provided.

In Dublin, students will stay in hotel-style dormitories at the Dublin City University (http://www.dcu.ie). Breakfast is provided.

Laundry is available at all locations.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Dr. Kirk Heinze
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Phone: (517) 432-8655
Email: heinzek@msu.edu

Dr. KIRK L. HEINZE has served in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) for three decades as a faculty member, a department chairperson and, most recently, as director of Agriculture and Natural Resources Communication. The majority of his work is focused on creating greater public understanding of issues related to agriculture, food and the environment. He is an ardent proponent of the value of undergraduate international experience, and he has planned and participated in study abroad programs in Australia , New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, England and Nepal. In addition, he has conducted substantial teaching/training work at the University of Chapingo, Texcoco, Mexico.

Earlier in his career, Kirk directed the Agricultural and Natural Resources Communication undergraduate program which boasts successful alumni in key marketing, public relations, advertising and journalism positions across the U.S. Kirk has a B.A. in English from Albion College, an M.A. in English from Wayne State University and a Ph.D. in English from MSU. He and his wife, Katha, met at Albion and have been married for 36 years, and they have two daughters. Kirk is a devoted Spartan football and basketball fans. In addition to study abroad programs, he has traveled extensively in Europe, Mexico and throughout the U.S.

Dr. Inge Steglitz
Office of Study Abroad
Phone: (517) 432-2685
E-mail: steglitz@msu.edu

Dr. INGE STEGLITZ is a native of Germany and a product of the globalization of education: she studied abroad and didn't go back home. She has worked and taught at a number of U.S. institutions, including the University of Minnesota, and currently serves as assistant director in MSU's Office of Study Abroad. In addition to her administrative duties, every fall she teaches a course on "Cultural Difference and Study Abroad" and this spring co-taught a freshman seminar on campus that also explored the relationship between globalization and intercultural encounters. In her free time she enjoys reading, creative writing, spending time with friends, and exercising. Her son, Piet, is twelve years old, has dual U.S. and German citizenship, and likes to cook.

Our program assistant this year will be Ms. CATHLEEN CLARA, a second year doctoral student in teacher education at Michigan State University where she teaches two courses for pre-service teachers in content area literacy and children's literature.  She completed her undergraduate degree in 1996 at Central Michigan University. After working for several years in the service sector, she discovered that teaching was her calling.  She completed her teacher certification at Olivet College in 2001 and went on to teach English and history at an alternative high school in Lansing for five years.  While teaching she also completed her Master's degree in Teaching and Curriculum in 2004.  She left her teaching position to begin work on her PhD in hopes of helping pre-service teachers learn to work with diverse student populations in an unbiased, inclusive manner.  Last summer she traveled with a freshman seminar abroad to Cork and Galway, Ireland as support staff and had an amazing time working with the thirty freshmen participating in the seminar. Cathleen is married and has a four year old daughter.

Do I need a passport or visa?

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 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 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.

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

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $2,725 and includes the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• overnight stay, meals and orientation program at MSU
• transportation (Roundtrip travel from MSU campus to Chicago O'Hare Airport; round-trip airfare Chicago-Shannon/Dublin-Chicago)
• lodging while in Ireland
• some meals while in Ireland
• books and academic resources
• excursions and field trips
• accident and sickness insurance

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

• MSU tuition and fees*
• additional meals
• local transportation during free time
• passport application fee ($100)
• 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.

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 two credits. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

*Check http://ctlr.msu.edu/COStudentAccounts/Tuition_Fees.aspx for current tuition, fees and taxes

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 seminar, including airfare.

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

Freshman Seminar Abroad (FSA) Scholarships

Students participating on an FSA program may be eligible for up to three awards created just for these programs. General information about the awards is available below.

Freshman Seminar Abroad Study Abroad Scholarships: The Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education (APUE) and the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) offer a limited number of scholarships specifically for eligible FSA participants. In all cases, to be eligible for the award a student must be (1) admitted to MSU with their deposit paid, (2) have submitted their application to an FSA program, and (3) have on file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the MSU Financial Aid Office. Students must submit a scholarship application form located at: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/scholarapp.pdf.

Awards funded through the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education (APUE) are for $1,000, and require applicants to be Pell grant eligible and to have demonstrated high academic merit. The priority deadline for APUE awards is April 15, 2008.

Awards funded through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) are for $200, and require applicants to have a 2.5 GPA or above and demonstrate financial need. The deadline for OSA awards is June 9, 2008.

Please note that it may take several weeks after the deadlines to process and select the recipients of these awards.

Freshman Seminar Abroad Honors College Scholarship: MSU's Honors College offers a limited number of awards specifically for FSA participants who are also incoming Honors College students. Scholarships will be awarded by the Honors College to the first eligible students who register for each program, so apply early!

How do I apply?

The application is available by clicking here.

Once admitted into Michigan State University , you may submit your application to the MSU Office of Study in person, by fax, or by mail. A complete application requires your signature on the application form (and a parent's/guardian's signature, if you are under age 18 at the time of application). A $100 application fee is required. You will receive an electronic bill (e-bill) from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the application fee, which is applied to the cost of the seminar and is non-refundable once you accept admission into the seminar. If you are denied admission into the seminar, you will receive a full refund of the $100 application fee.

Deadlines for application depend on seminar departure dates and logistical planning, and applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. The following Priority Deadlines should be taken into consideration when applying for a 2008 seminar:

The Office of Study Abroad suggests you apply well before the priority deadline date. Faculty will accept students into seminars until they are full or logistical factors make it impossible to add additional participants. To increase your chances of being accepted into your desired seminar, you should apply as early as possible.

Admission into these seminars minimally requires you maintain your status as an MSU freshman and be in good academic and disciplinary standing.

You will be notified of your acceptance status by an official letter from the Office of Study Abroad. Participation is contingent on maintaining your status as admitted student for fall 2008. Your participation may be denied or your participation approval may be revoked if your conduct before departure raises doubts as to your suitability for seminar participation.

If admitted into a seminar, you will receive an official acceptance packet in the mail that includes a Decision Form, Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization, Statement of Responsibility, and a Travel Permission for Minors (required for participants under age 18 at the time of the seminar's departure). To confirm your admission into a seminar, you must sign and return the forms included in this packet to the Office of Study Abroad within two weeks of the date of your acceptance letter or you may lose your space in the seminar. Students admitted into a seminar less than six (6) weeks prior to the seminar's departure date must sign and return the forms upon receipt.

Once you return the forms indicating your acceptance of admission you will be billed a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit. This deposit will be posted and due on your student account and must be paid by the due date indicated on the e-bill. It will be applied to the program fee. If you do not pay the application fee and/or deposit by the due date indicated on the e-bill, the fees will accrue monthly late charges until paid in full.

Students who are wait-listed because a seminar is filled to capacity will not be billed the $200 deposit until formally accepted. The application fee will be refunded to wait-listed students who are unable to participate due to seminar space limitations.

Billing notification will be sent to your MSU e-mail account, so you must check it regularly! To activate your MSU e-mail account visit http://help.msu.edu/newstudent/. This site will provide you with instructions on how to activate your account. You will then be able to view your bill and determine when payment is due.

Further details can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook available on line at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html (including information about withdrawing from a seminar).

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

What's next?

Visit the OSA Web site
http://studyabroad.msu.edu

Check out the following Additional Resources:

Office of Financial Aid
http://www.finaid.msu.edu
252 Student Services

MSU Travel Clinic
http://travelclinic.msu.edu
East Circle Drive

Academic Advisers
http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html
Located in each individual college/department

Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities
http://www.rcpd.msu.edu/Home/
120 Bessey Hall

Area Studies Centers
http://www.isp.msu.edu
International Center

MSU Global Access
http://www.msuglobalaccess.net
Information about the world - its regions and peoples and important international issues