Summer: 4 weeks (mid May to mid June)

NOTE: will not run in 2008; check the web for ’09 updates

Sponsored by the School of Criminal Justice in the College of Social Science

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

The School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University sponsors this interdisciplinary program that takes place in the medieval city of Lviv, the Black Sea coastal city of Odessa, the Crimean cities of Simferopol and Yalta, and Ukraine’s capital city of Kiev. Open to all majors, the program offers a unique opportunity to study first-hand Ukraine’s transition from communism to democracy through integrated classroom and field experiences.

Students have the option to build on the core program by examining topics of personal interest in greater depth. Students from other universities are welcome to join the program.

Where does it take place?

LVIV

In Lviv, faculty of the Institute of Internal Affairs will provide an introduction to Ukraine, including its history and culture, as well as political, social, and economic background. A comprehensive review of all aspects of the Ukrainian criminal law, legal, and social welfare systems will also be provided. Included will be seminar sessions with a wide variety of local government bodies including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tax Police, Traffic Police, and the Judicial Branches. Students will have an opportunity to examine, in-depth, old and new problems facing the Ukrainian legal and social welfare systems as they struggle to adapt, consolidate and reconfigure these systems and deal with new social and legal issues that arise in an open and free society. The program in Lviv will combine classroom lectures, seminars and field visits within the city and the surrounding Oblast (region).

ODESSA, SIMFEROPOL and YALTA

While in Odessa, Simferopol and Yalta, the program will be conducted in cooperation with the Odessa Institute of Internal Affairs and the Simferopol Institute of Internal Affairs. The primary focus will be on the legal and social welfare systems of Ukraine. Students will be exposed to both public and non-governmental organizations that deal with the rapidly changing social, economic, and political structures in Ukraine. Students will also participate in round table discussions with Ukrainian professionals and students. The program format in Odessa, Simferopol and Yalta will include seminar/lecture sessions in the morning and field excursions in the afternoon.

KIEV

The program will conclude with a two-day segment in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine and arguably the cradle of Russian culture. This program segment will focus primarily on the history and culture of Kiev and will include field study excursions throughout the city.

Additionally, a variety of field trips are planned, some optional, including visits to many old and new towns as well as excursions to well known museums, churches, buildings and historical relics, such as the 16th-17th Century Pochayivskiy Monastery, Olessky Castle and Belgorod-Dnestrovskiy Fortress. Field trips are integrated into the program’s learning objectives, taking advantage of historic cities as well as Ukraine’s beautiful, natural environment – the Carpathian Mountains, the Black Sea coast and Crimea.

What can I study?

The academic program is designed for undergraduate students from all majors who are looking for a challenging, exciting adventure. Majors in social science, criminal justice, political science, public policy and law will particularly benefit from the program. In addition, graduate students from the School of Criminal Justice are also welcome to apply.

Undergraduate students will be required to enroll in a minimum of nine (9) and maximum of twelve (12) semester credits from the following courses:

Graduate students will be required to enroll for a minimum of six (6) credits from the following courses:

In addition, students may enroll for other MSU credits upon approval by faculty leaders and relevant departments/colleges.

Courses will be either taught in English or delivered in English by Ukrainian/English translators.

Faculty for the program include instructors and staff from Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice, the Lviv Institute of Internal Affairs, the Odessa Institute of Internal Affairs, and the Simferopol Institute of Internal Affairs, as well as a number of Ukrainian guest speakers from Lviv, Odessa, Simferopol, Yalta, and Kiev.

What are the requirements?

Students from Michigan State University, as well as students from other colleges and universities are eligible to apply for this program.

Undergraduate students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time of application. Graduate students must also be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 3.00 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Because there is a limit of students for this program, we strongly urge that students apply early.

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?

To assimilate the culturally rich Ukrainian language, food, and family traditions, the program living arrangements will include home stays. Host families will provide housing and most meals, including breakfast and dinner daily, offering students a unique opportunity to experience Ukrainian hospitality, a national treasure indeed! English will be spoken in host families.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Dennis Shaw, Specialist
Program Coordinator
School of Criminal Justice
E-mail: shawde@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 six to eight 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 in 2005 was $1,975 and included the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• accommodations
• most meals
• visa
• 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 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 deadlines to apply for these scholarships are February 1st for spring break programs, March 1st for summer, academic year and fall semester programs, and October 15th for winter break and 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, 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 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 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. 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.