International Service Learning Course in the Dominican Republic
Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Program Dates: March 1 – March 10 2013
International and Global Studies Program
Course Overview
The University of Michigan-Flint and the Community Service Alliance in the Dominican Republic is a collaborative program providing an opportunity for UM-Flint students to work with faculty and health care professionals working directly with communities in identified health care needs. This course promotes the respect and understanding of human and cultural diversity, contributes to educating students in an environment that emphasizes critical thinking, and humanistic and scientific inquiry, and provides opportunities to collaborate with local and regional health care institutions from a different culture in the provision of nursing care.
Through this “hands on” service learning course, students are able to apply critical thinking skills, experience a culture different then their own, enhance cultural competence, language, and provide health care to a medically underserved community. Students will have opportunities to collaborate with local and regional health care institutions in the provision of nursing care to individuals experiencing developing world health conditions.
Country Profile
The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti located between the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean. The Dominican Republic is the largest economy in the Central American and Caribbean region although there is a stark contrast between wealth and poverty, modernity and antiquity, rural agricultural regions and crowded cities, mountainous vistas and crowded beaches. The Dominican people are a mixture of cultures woven together with many traditions, strengths, and spirit in the face of poverty.
Faculty
This course is taught by Clinical Assistant Professor Maureen Tippen from the Nursing department.
Eligibility & Prerequisites
- All undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply
- All majors are eligible to apply
- Guest students are eligible to apply
- 3.00 GPA minimum
Additional application forms and an interview are required by faculty site leader prior to acceptance to the program.
Download required forms here
Course Registration
This is a 3-credit course being offered in the Winter 2013 term. Students are required to register for one of the following courses:
- INT 394 – Special Topic in Study Abroad (undergraduate)
- INT 594 – Special Topic in Study Abroad (graduate)
- NUR 381— Directed Study-International Service Learning (undergraduate)
Payments & Costs
The cost of this program is $1,380*. This includes:
- Housing/Meals while in the Dominican Republic
- Health insurance
- Transportation in the Dominican Republic
- Partnership fee
There is a $300 enrollment deposit required at the time of application. Students are required to submit full payment of program fee by February 15, 2013. Scholarships are available for this program.
Not included in the program fee: Tuition charges, airfare, passport.
Deadlines
| Application & Deposit | Program Fee Payment in Full |
|---|---|
| Friday, December 7, 2012 | Friday, February 15, 2013 |
Cancellations & Refunds
Students who withdraw on or before February 15, 2013 are eligible to receive $200 from the enrollment deposit. Any withdrawals must be done in writing and submitted to the Office of Study Abroad. There will be no refunds after February 15, 2013. Students who withdraw after February 15, 2013 will be responsible for paying the full program fee.
Scholarship Eligibility Information
- Students must be accepted into a UM-Flint faculty-led program.
- Students must be full-time UM-Flints undergraduate or graduate students at the time of the application.
- Students must have completed a minimum of 24 undergraduate credit hours, or 9 graduate credit hours at UM-Flint at the time of submitting application.
- Students must have a 3.0 GPA for undergraduates and 5.0 GPA for graduates at the time of submitting application.
- Students must register for the course associated with the program.
The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Friday, January 18, 2013. Application can be downloaded at http://www.umflint.edu/international/studyabroad/forstudents/financialinformation/SAScholarships.htm.
*Program fee is subject to change based on currency exchange rates.
