Center for International Programs

221 VARNER HALL (248) 370-2154
Fax: (248) 370-4280

Director: Peter J. Bertocci (Sociology and Anthropology)

International Studies Faculty:

Africa and African-America: Getnet Bekele (History), DeWitt Dykes (History), Matthew Fails (Political Science)

East Asia (China): Linda Benson (History), Hsiagn-hua (Melanie) Change (Chinese), Alan Epstein (Political Science), Shuishan Yu (Art History), Richard B. Stamps (Anthropology)

East Asia (Japan): Stephen Filler (Japanese), Seigo Nakao (Japanese)

Latin America: Henri Gooren (Anthropology), Emmett Lombard (Political Science), Aldona Pobutsky (Spanish), Cecilia Saenz-Roby (Spanish)

Middle East: Peter J. Bertocci (Anthropology), Kellie D. Hay (Communication), Paul J. Kubicek (Political Science), Laura K. Landolt (Political Science), Weldon C. Matthews (History)

Slavic World: Paul J. Kubicek (Political Science)

South Asia: Peter J. Bertocci (Anthropology)

Drawing on faculty from various disciplines, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Center for International Programs (CIP), offers for general education a variety of interdisciplinary courses that introduce students to the civilizations of seven world areas outside of North America and Western Europe: China, Japan, Africa and African-America, India, Latin America, Russia and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. In these courses, students will explore various aspects of these civilizations: art, government, history, language, literature, music, religion and social organization. The CIP also offers major and minor programs that focus on these world areas. Its major programs include East Asian Studies (China or Japan) and Latin American Studies. Its minor programs include African and African-American Studies, Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Slavic Studies and South Asian Studies.

Departmental honors

Honors are available to outstanding students in the majors. A GPA of 3.60 or higher in courses credited to the major is required. Because basic language courses at the 100 and 200 level are not counted toward the total number of credits for the major, such courses may not be figured into the GPA for departmental honors. Qualified students may apply for honors at the start of the semester in which they will graduate. For more specific information, students should contact Center for International Programs, 521 Varner Hall, (248) 370-2154.

Study Abroad Opportunities

The Center for International Programs offers the following study abroad opportunities:

Student Exchange Program, Nanzan University, Nagoya, Japan. Two-semester program. One year of Japanese language required. Courses taught in English. Housing with Japanese family. Coordinator: Seigo Nakao, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, 403 Wilson Hall, (248) 370-2066 or messages at (248) 370-2154.

Japan Center for Michigan Universities, Hikone, Shiga, Japan. Two-semester program. No language proficiency required. Courses taught in English. Housing in Center’s dormitory. Coordinator: Margaret Pigott, Director of International Education, 520 O’Dowd Hall or 322 Wilson Hall, (248) 370-4131 or messages at (248) 370-5112.

Vienna Study Abroad Program. One-semester and two-semester program. No language proficiency required. Courses taught in English. Housing with Viennese family. Director of International Education, Margaret Pigott, 520 O’Dowd Hall or 322 Wilson Hall, (248) 370-4131 or messages at (248) 370-5112.

Macerata and Siena, Italy, Study Abroad Program. One-semester and two-semester programs. No language proficiency required. Courses taught in English. Housing with Italian family. Director of International Education, Margaret Pigott, 520 O’Dowd Hall or 322 Wilson Hall, (248) 370-4131 or messages at (248) 370-5112.

Segovia, Spain, Study Abroad Program. Fall, winter or summer program. Two years of college-level Spanish required. Courses taught in Spanish. Housing with Spanish family. Director of International Education, Margaret Pigott, 520 O’Dowd Hall or 322 Wilson Hall, (248) 370-4131 or messages at (248) 370-5112.

Student Exchange Program, University of Orléans, Orléans, France. One-semester or two-semester program. Two years of college-level French required. Courses taught in French. Housing prior to start of class and holidays with a French family; otherwise, in university dormitory. Coordinator: Stacey L. Hahn, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, 419 Wilson Hall, (248) 370-2062 or messages at (248) 370-2060. Offered in cooperation with the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.

Student Exchange Program, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany. One-semester or two-semester program. Two years of college-level German required. Courses taught in German. Housing in university dormitory, shared flat with other students, or room in private house near University Buddy Program with German students. Coordinators: Barbara Mabee and Christopher Clason, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, 418 Wilson, (248) 370-2099 or messages at (248) 370-2060.

Chinese Language and Culture Program at the China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing. Intensive 6-week language and culture study in May and June. Beginning and intermediate level Chinese language courses taught in Chinese; culture courses taught in English. Culmination of program is a one-week tour of historic sites in Northern and Southern China. Housing in college’s international guest house/dormitory on campus. Coordinators: Barbara Mabee, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, 418 Wilson Hall, (248) 370-2099 and Richard Stamps, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, 518 Varner Hall, (248) 370-2425.

British Studies at Brasenose College, Oxford University, Oxford, England. Two three-week summer sessions. No foreign language proficiency required. Courses taught in English. Housing in college’s private rooms. Coordinator: Brian Connery, Department of English, 517 Wilson Hall, (248) 370-2254 or messages at (248) 370-2251.

For specifics about any of these programs (minimum GPA requirement, if any, course offerings, costs, faculty and other eligibility requirements), the student should contact the individual program coordinator. For additional information about other study abroad opportunities, see the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures