Area: Global Classroom

Location: Karagunda, Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Karkaraly, Abay

Country: Kazakhstan

Term: Maymester

Faculty and Staff: Magdalena Stawkowski

*Students must speak with Magdalena Stawkowski first before completing an application through the Education Abroad Office*

Dates: 05/11/2024 - 05/22/2024

Program Contact: stawkows@mailbox.sc.edu

Program Description: This Maymester program takes us to Kazakhstan, one of the most unique and accessible of the five so-called “Stans” of Central Asia. It is famous for the legendary Mongol tribes and Genghis Khan who once roamed the vast and open steppes on horseback. It is the origin of many of the world’s apples varieties that grow naturally in its mountain valleys. Less known is that Kazakhstan was once the second largest republic in the Soviet Union and was a vast laboratory for some of the biggest industrial, agricultural, and military modernization projects of the 20th century. The country hosts the famous Baikonur Cosmodrome, the oldest, largest, and one of the busiest rocket launch facilities in the world that sent the first human into space. Kazakhstan also hosts the infamous Polygon, the largest and now abandoned land-based nuclear test site in the world where hundreds of atomic bombs were tested. A diverse and extensive list of natural and mineral resources, like oil, coal, manganese, gold, uranium, copper, aluminum, tin, and many others made Kazakhstan an important mining venue during the Soviet period and these resources continue to form the backbone of its economy today. At the same time, the country faces severe environmental problems from its industrial and scientific past that have a profound effect on people’s lives. In this course we will ask: what are the lasting political, social, cultural, and environmental legacies of modernization projects that characterized much of the 20th century? How have people dealt with the consequences of damaged environments? How can we best reflect on the “aftermaths” of science and industry that characterized much of the region and the ways in which people cope with adversity?

This program is for intellectually adventurous students. As this is a study abroad course, the first objective is to immerse us in a new learning environment in a “hands on” manner. The desired educational experience is to learn about the Kazakhstani society and its environment in an intensive learning setting. The program is a combination of class lectures, discussions, group projects, and planned activities. Most of the time we will meet in a classroom setting at a local non-governmental organization in Karaganda city and you will be expected to complete out of class assignments “in the field” at locations pertinent to our topic of study. The program includes: 1) classroom lectures and participant observation at a local non-governmental organization; 2) field excursions to former labor camps, military sites, and mining enterprises where we will visit museums, as well as interview local residents about the history and present of industry to gain a deeper understanding of social, economic, and environmental impacts; 3) tour two of Kazakhstan’s most celebrated recreation areas and national parks; 4) live in a Kazakh village to learn, observe, and participate in the traditional stockbreeding culture that has returned to the area. This visit is all the more unique, as the village is home to many survivors of Soviet era nuclear testing; 5) one day tours of capital Nur-Sultan and Almaty, two of Kazakhstan’s most exclusive cosmopolitan centers and learn about the future of this unique country.

Walker Institute Area of Study: Global Studies and Russian & Eurasian Studies

Application Deadline: March 1

Visit the Education Abroad Office website for more information about the program and application process.

 

Area: Global Classroom

Location: Prishtina

Country: Kosovo

Term: Summer

Faculty and Staff: Carl Dahlman

*Students must speak with Carl Dahlman first before completing an application through the Education Abroad Office.*

Dates: 05/30/2025 - 06/19/2024 or 05/30/2025 - 07/27/2025 (Internship included)

Program Contact: carl.dahlman@sc.edu

Program Description: This 6-9 credit hour program is targeted to students in Global Studies, International Business, Geography, Anthropology, International Studies, Journalism, and Tourism Studies and related majors who seek to better understand post-conflict changes in a recently independent country. The program takes advantage of our faculty leader's extensive knowledge of the country and region, as well as the reliable support of local colleagues and service providers, to deliver students a robust experience that connects their courses of study with real-world opportunities to participate in the changes taking place in Kosovo. Learning activities are built around two interrelated courses, both offered under the flexible GLST 391 topics in Global Studies header. One is an anthropological approach to understanding identity and conflict. The other course discusses the war and the peacebuilding activities undertaken since 1999. This program also includes fieldtrips, guest lectures, and a home-stay experience to deepen students' exposure to the local people and cultural habits of Kosovo.

Unique to our program is the option to extend one's stay for an additional 6 weeks (8 weeks total) and to complete a 3 credit hour internship GLST 490. These unpaid internships will be with local NGOs in Prishtina that are engaged in peacebuilding work in multiple sectors from minority and gender rights, democratization, public health, media, and more.

Walker Institute Area of Study: Global Studies, European Studies, Islamic World Studies, and Russian & Eurasian Studies

Application Deadline: March 1

Visit the Education Abroad Office website or our Kosovo Study Abroad page for more information about the program and application process.

 

Area: Global Classroom

Location: Seoul, Gyeongju, and Pusan

Country: South Korea

Term: Maymester

Faculty and Staff: Na Sil Heo

*Students must speak with Na Sil Heo first before completing an application through the Education Abroad Office.*

Dates: 05/13/2024 - 05/24/2024

Program Contact: nheo@mailbox.sc.edu

Program Description: Students will deepen their understanding of S. Korea and East Asia in this exciting program. Experiential learning opportunities include iconic locations such as the Gwangjang Market, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Buckchon Hanok Village as well as various temples and museums and a day trip to the DeMilitarized Zone (DMZ). There will be a chance to unwind at an overnight temple stay-a unique, bucket-list experience for any traveler to S. Korea! Other overnight excursions will include a trip to Busan as well as Gyeongju to visit the ancient Daereungwon Tomb Complex.

Walker Institute Area of Study: Asian Studies Minor

Application Deadline: March 1

Visit the Education Abroad Office website for more information about the program and application process.

Area: Global Classroom

Location: Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Kyoto

Country: Japan

Term: Maymester

Faculty and Staff: Matthew Brown 

*Students must speak with Matthew Brown first before completing an application through the Education Abroad Office.*

Dates: 05/05/2024-05/14/2024

Program Contact: mtbrown@mailbox.sc.edu

Program Description: During the course of this trip, students will develop advanced knowledge of the professional sport industry in Japan through exposure to various professional sport tournaments (professional baseball, professional soccer, and sumo wrestling). By learning about the history, culture, people, and language of Japan as well as acquiring an understanding of how Japan has become a major player in the Asian sport industry, students will become better acquainted with global sport management practices.

Students will be able to compare and contrast the differences between the sport industry in the US and Japan and also develop an understanding about the role Japanese professional sports play in the Asian and global sport industry. Students will also research information about the trip prior to departure in order to take full advantage of the wealth of opportunities presented by this study abroad experience.

In order to become more aware of Japan and its cultural opportunities, students will develop a basic knowledge of the history and cultural importance of the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Kyoto, in general, and specifically as they relate to managing the business of sport. Of particular interest will be exploring how best practices in global sports management have originated in this region. Students spend 3 days in Tokyo learning about Nippon Professional Baseball and the Tokyo Olympic legacy. They will be exposed to industry professionals and academic experts, and then spend 1 day in Osaka, 2 in Hiroshima, 1 in Kyoto, and 2days back in Tokyo exploring sport sites and cultural attractions in order to compare how sport business is practiced within Japan and overall in Asia.

Walker Institute Area of Study: Asian Studies Minor

Application Deadline: March 1

Visit the Education Abroad Office website for more information about the program and application process.