Asia - Academics

The Asia Study Abroad Program is integrated closely with the four-year Liberal Arts curriculum at St. Stephen's University (SSU). That curriculum explores essential themes in the development of Western Civilization in relation to other world civilizations. Thus, the Asia term is integral to the academic learning objectives of the undergraduate curriculum at SSU. The Asia study abroad term has been developed to help students reinforce and refine their understanding of the history, philosophy, literature, religion, social sciences, languages and the arts of Southeast Asia - the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand in particular.

Following the criteria and guidelines set out in this Program Syllabus, students undertake preparatory work prior to their departure for Asia, they continue their studies while abroad for two months under the supervision of SSU instructors who travel with them, and then students complete their academic requirements in the weeks following their return from Asia. This study abroad experience constitutes a full term of interdisciplinary, cross-cultural study. Students and Program leaders travel together as a community of scholars--24 hours a day, seven days a week, for eight weeks.

As such, the academic components consist of five, 3 credit-hour courses which are described later in this Syllabus. Pedagogically, the Program is structured around formal lectures, on-site presentations by local experts, student-led seminars, field-trips and work carried out by students individually and in small teams. Students are required to attend all sessions and are graded on assigned projects, class participation, independent research and final papers. Notwithstanding the specialized content of each course, components of the Asia curriculum complement one another and students are required to make these interconnections while they compare and contrast Southeast Asian societies with those of the West.