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Social Science in the Eastern Mediterranean (Greece)
Summer 2008
Session I: May 4 - June 12, 2008
Session II: June 15 - July 24, 2008
Sponsored by the Department of Sociology and the Center for Integrative Studies in Social Science in the College of Social Science
Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)
What's this program about?
This interdisciplinary program offers students the opportunity to earn credit through the College of Social Science, including specialized field research, while experiencing Eastern Mediterranean culture, society, and tradition.
Eastern Mediterranean society and culture is relatively “open” compared with that of northern European countries and North America. Students will be exposed to the techniques of participant observation as a research field method and will apply these techniques as part of the course requirements. Festivals, rituals, family, household, village, and city customs and practices are all valuable mechanisms for learning the social, economic, cultural, political, and religious mechanisms that make a society definable, distinctive, and durable. Furthermore, the relevance of archeological ancient sites for gaining an understanding of the emergence of Western civilization is obvious and the Eastern Mediterranean region is replete with easily accessible national monuments, parks, and sites.
Field trips have been explicitly written into the course requirements for successful completion of this program. These field trips will give MSU students a broad exposure to Eastern Mediterranean history, culture, and society.
Where does it take place?
The program is run in collaboration with the Department of Sociology at the University of the Aegean. The University of the Aegean is located in the city of Mytilene on the Greek Eastern Aegean island of Lesvos which affords participants the unique opportunity to experience the cultural, economic, educational, and social conditions and disparities of the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Greece is located in the Balkan Peninsula and shares borders with other southwestern Balkan countries ( Albania, Bulgaria, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia [FYROM]), with Turkey and Cyprus approaching the Middle East, and with Western Europe (it is a long-standing member of the European Union). Greece’s complex relationships with these three sets of neighbors on the edges of Europe and the Middle East dominate current Eastern Mediterranean politics and society. The relationships between Greece, the Balkans, and Turkey/Cyprus and the European Union typify the difficulties and challenges involved in seeking regional unity and cooperation.
Four field trips are scheduled as part of the program. The first field trip will be to the northern Lesvos tourist cities of Molyvos and Petra to examine first-hand the impact of tourism on regional economic and social development. The second field trip will be to an eco-tourism/agro-tourism site, enabling participants to experience and understand new, emerging trends in tourism. The third field trip will be to Athens. The final field trip is to the western coast of neighboring Turkey, which will include a visit to Pergamos, home to one of the first medical facilities in the ancient world, established by Asklepios.
What can I study?
Classes will be based on lectures, discussions, guided field trips, and independent study. Participants may also have opportunities for individual or group explorations and trips. Classes will be led by MSU faculty and faculty at the University of the Aegean.
Greek language is not required as a prerequisite for this program. Instruction will be in English. Greek Language classes will be offered as part of the course to enhance students’ immersion in and understanding of Greek culture.
Students will be required to enroll in a minimum of seven (7) semester credits Two combinations of course groupings are offered:
- Students can take SOC 100 and SOC 315 for a total of seven (7) credits OR
- Students can take ISS315 and SOC 331 for a total of seven (7) credits.
Students wishing to take up to a maximum of ten (10) credits may elect to take SOC 497 (Independent Reading) for between 1 and 3 credits.
Students may also elect to take Modern Greek language classes, possibly for credit. Full information on the Greek Language courses will be provided at the information sessions.
| ISS 315 | Global Diversity and Interdependence | 4 cr. |
| Contemporary issues in global political economy. Social forces and competing ideologies in a world context. Global resource distribution, social capital, and development strategies with an emphasis on the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. The Balkans, Eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East are currently experiencing tremendous changes in their geography, culture, politics, economics, and racial and ethnic composition. These changes create challenges, chances, and conflicts that will continue well into the new century. This class will investigate the causes, content, and consequences of the diverse transformations that the Balkans, Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East have experienced in the second half of the twentieth century The main objective of this course is to present a comprehensive analysis of contemporary issues in global political economy. The course takes as its point of departure the notion that development and underdevelopment are integral parts of a unitary world system; it is not possible to isolate nation states from the structural parameters of the larger global system of which they are an integral part. | ||
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 4 cr. |
This course is designed and taught with the understanding that Sociology has an important role to play in modern intellectual culture and has a central place within the Social Sciences. Sociology 100 is intended to introduce you to a way of observing, interpreting, and understanding the social world around you and your relationship to it. We tend to take our social environment too much for granted, seldom systematically asking questions such as, “How do social institutions come into existence, evolve, and change?” “Why is social order possible?” “Are we really as independent and self-sustaining as our cultural ideology would have us believe?” “How can we understand the concepts of individual freedom and oppression from a sociological perspective?” This introductory course has six major purposes:
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SOC 315 |
Sociology of the Family | 3 cr. |
| With a focus on Eastern Mediterranean selected institutions such as economy, education, and politics, this class will discuss and explain diverse family forms and organizations in relation to personality, class, race, and gender. Extended family networks and obligations are a key component of Eastern Mediterranean social structure and play a much more prominent role than similar networks and obligations in the United States. This course will include a comparative analysis of the two family types and structures. | ||
| SOC 331 | Political Sociology | 3 cr. |
Political Sociology can be viewed as the study of politics at four levels:
Today we live in a time of great and rapid changes. Old nations have collapsed. New states arise from their ashes. Capitalism, and the pursuit of profit, thrives in a world no longer centrally occupied by the forces of communism. Democracy has been “victorious”, but older democracies still seek ways to revitalize themselves. Territorial barriers between nations have broken down; migration on a massive scale has become a defining characteristic of the relationship between nations. The world is no longer threatened by the great wars, but acts of terrorism. These threats, and the sometimes unprecedented reaction of large states against them, are an imminent danger, more ominous and potentially catastrophic than the military force of earlier times. This class will discuss and explain the various ways that political sociologists think about these issues. Within a comparative U.S./European/Eastern Mediterranean context, social power theories, dynamics, and structures will be examined and explained. Special comparative topics will include: the economy and the polity; power elites and democracy; social bases of political behavior and participation; sociopolitical movements. |
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| SOC 497 | Individual Readings: Mediterranean Society and Institutions | 1-3 cr. |
| This independent reading course (taught in English and supplemented by bi-weekly meetings and seminar presentations) will enable students to focus on any specialized social science sub-topic related to Eastern Mediterranean society, economy, and culture. Students will work under the close supervision of faculty. | ||
MSU faculty will teach the SOC100 and SOC315 combination of classes and the ISS315 and SOC331 combination of classes. The 1-3 variable credit directed study of specified research topics (SOC 497) will be supervised by University of the Aegean faculty.
Students may also elect to take modern Greek language classes, possibly for credit.
Students will also be required to attend several pre-departure orientations during Spring Semester 2008.
What are the requirements?
Michigan State University students from all academic majors, as well as students from other colleges and universities are welcome to apply. Non-MSU students should check with their home institution to ensure that credits will transfer.
Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.
Additionally, students will be required to submit an essay 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?
Students will live in local hotel accommodation in the village of Thermi, 8 kilometers north of the city of Mytilene.
Who can tell me more about this program?
Brendan Mullan
Department of Sociology
202 Berkey Hall
Phone (517) 355-6673
E-mail: mullan@msu.edu
Sophia Koufopoulou
Department of Sociology
316 Berkey Hall
Phone: (517) 355-6640
E-mail: koufopou@msu.edu
Oumatie Marajh
College of Social Science
302 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 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 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 following Web page: 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 the following Web page: 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 the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/health.html
How much does it cost?
The program fee is $3,601 and includes the following:
- application fee ($100)
- deposit ($200)
- pre-departure orientation
- accommodations
- some 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 ($100)
- visa application fees (if applicable)
- pre-departure doctor visits
- pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
- personal spending money
Students may request an itemized breakdown of program costs 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.)
Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.
*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.
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 following Web page: 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 March 1st for summer programs.
A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the 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 following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/index.html
How do I apply?
You can apply online or download an application form by visiting the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/applications/index.html
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. You can read the Handbook online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html or you can stop by the Office of Study Abroad in 109 International to pick up a hard copy.
| What's next? | |
| Come to a study abroad fair | |
| Talk with a Peer Adviser | |
| Read program evaluations | |
| Attend an info meeting
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| Apply online | |
| Additional Resources... | |
| Office of Financial Aid | 252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu |
| MSU Travel Clinic | East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu |
| Academic Advisers | http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html |
| Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities | 120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu |
| Area Studies Centers | International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu |
| MSU Global Access | Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/ |
| OSA contact info: | Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu |
