Freshman Seminar in Montreal & Quebec City, Canada

Summer 2008

On-campus orientation: July 18 - July 19, 2008
On site in Canada: July 20 - July 31, 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?

Don't miss this opportunity to experience first-hand Montreal's cosmopolitan style and the French flair of Quebec City in a bilingual setting. The program begins in Montreal with visits to provincial government buildings, museums, and cultural and historic sites, including a tour of the Bell Centre, home of the 24-time Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens. The program moves to Quebec City, celebrating its 400th anniversary, for artistic, cultural and community visits, and the Feast of Ste. Anne. The thematic tracks, focused on psychological perspectives on social and individual change and a comparative look at work, leisure and employment relations, will assist students to improve academic skills in friendly personalized learning environments.

Where does it take place?

Montreal was incorporated as a city in 1832 and is now known as the second-largest French speaking city in the world. Its international status was cemented by the Expo '67 and the 1976 Summer Olympics. McGill University, our host for this portion of the program, is centrally located in Montreal and provides easy access to the downtown core.

Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain and known as the cradle of French civilization, Vieux-Quebec was proclaimed a “world heritage site” by UNESCO in 1985. Quebec is a modern city that has preserved its traditional character and language – 95% of the population in the greater Quebec area is French-speaking. Laval University is the oldest French-speaking institution of higher education in North America and is conveniently located just 4 miles from downtown Quebec, easily accessible by bus.

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 enroll in one of two thematic tracks. Every effort will be made to give students their first preference. The tracks will be small-group based. Through large group activities, students will have plenty of opportunity to share their experiences and learning with each other. The specific topics covered in each seminar depend on the faculty members teaching them.

Track 1: Work, Leisure and Employment Relations in our Global World

Montreal and Quebec workers, employers, and unions are experiencing the impacts of globalization and an increasingly multiethnic and immigrant workforce. Also significant are changes in the organization and technology of work and in the human resources and labor relations fields. Some Canadian changes are unique to the province of Quebec, but many are similar to what's happening in Michigan and the USA. We will take a comparative look at work, leisure, and employment relations, in­ both historic and current perspectives, and will integrate the visits to museums, churches, and other sites, as they relate to worker culture and the arts and humanities. Ice hockey will thus serve as one of the areas in which we will investigate work, leisure, and employment relations. As part of our discussions, we will also look at future trends and where students will experience the world of work.

Track 2: Understanding Identity and Transitions: A Comparative Approach
 
“Who are you?  Who, who are you?” or so the song by The Who asks its listeners. This question is not easy to answer.  You could give a military-style response—name, rank and serial number—or provide the collegiate equivalent: your name, where you went to high school, where you live, your major, etc.  Identity though, the real answer to the question “Who are you?”, is much trickier to answer. 

This track explores how individuals go about constructing an identity, the role social relationships play in that process, and what happens when those relationships change.  There's no better place to ask those questions than in Quebec, where an entire society transformed its identity in the past four decades. In Montreal and Quebec City you will experience changes in yourself as you confront an exciting, welcoming, and decidedly different multicultural, French-speaking society.  As we will see, the answer to the question The Who posed will change throughout our lives, but this is great time and place to start.

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 (20 students) 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?

Students will be housed in single rooms in the McGill University (Montreal) and Université Laval (Quebec City) dormitories.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Dr. Elizabeth Plagwitz
Office of Study Abroad
Phone: (517) 432-9544
E-mail: plagwitz@msu.edu

Dr. Elizabeth Plagwitz coordinates programs to Canada, German-speaking Europe and the BENELUX countries. A native of Canada, she has spent time as a student, teacher and study abroad professional in Germany. Her academic background is in the field of language and literature; specifically, she has a Ph.D. in German Language and Literature from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. In addition to her administrative duties, Dr. Plagwitz co-teaches a course at MSU dealing with cross-cultural communication and study abroad.

Dr. John Revitte
Labor & Industrial Relations
Phone: (517) 353-8884
E-mail: revitte@msu.edu

Dr. John L. Revitte, Professor of Work, Leisure and Labor Studies, has been a faculty member with MSU's School of Labor and Industrial Relations since 1977, and with the new Residential College in the Arts and Humanities since spring 2007. He has taught courses for undergraduates, graduate students, human resource professionals, and labor union leaders on topics including collective bargaining, dispute resolution, employment and labor laws, labor history and current events, as well as leadership skills. In recent years he has taught freshman seminars on labor and oral history, work and leisure, and student involvement in workplace justice issues. John also provides service to MSU as the university's faculty grievance official, conducts research on several history projects, and continues to write articles and book and film reviews. He co-authored several Michigan labor history videos, and he is often interviewed on labor events by television, radio and newspaper journalists. He recently was a featured interviewee on the "Michigan at Risk" public television show on "Whatever Happened to Organized Labor," and he can also be found on MSU's spartanpodcast.com discussing auto negotiations. He has traveled to Canada, France, England, Ireland, and Russia, and he enjoys gardening, fishing, playing senior hockey, and MSU sports. Revitte studied at the University of Michigan's Residential College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and further information can be found on his website: www.msu.edu/~revitte.

Dr. Philip Handrick
Center for Integrative Studies in Social Science
Phone: (517) 353-9349
E-mail: handrick@msu.edu

Biographical information coming soon!

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 $1,790 and includes the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• overnight stay, meals and orientation program at MSU
• transportation (airfare Lansing - Detroit - Montreal - Quebec City - Detroit - Lansing)
• lodging while in Canada
• all breakfasts and lunches while in Canada
• 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 program, 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