India Program
The India program is being offered by Saint Mary’s College in collaboration with Wells College in Aurora, New York. The program will be based in Mumbai at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) at Deonar, Mumbai in India. TISS is a reputed Institute enjoying national and international stature in the area of gender and development studies, social work and social sciences. It is well known for its close connections with the communities in which it works. TISS has a leafy green campus about 10 miles out of the center of Mumbai which is a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city. Mumbai is India’s largest and busiest metropolis. It is home to the country’s financial and film industry.
Location
Students will be hosted at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, India. The TISS campus is located 10 miles outside of Mumbai. It is lush green and quiet even in the midst of the frenetic activity of Mumbai. TISS was established more than 70 years ago. It is a deemed University that offers mostly graduate degrees in social work, health administration, women’s studies, development studies and other areas of social science. It is a co-educational institute and is recognized for close connections with communities in which it works.
Program of Study
The program will offer a semester’s load of credits, a one week yoga camp, a visit to the Institute’s rural campus, some service learning opportunities and many field trips in and around Mumbai. The program will be of interest to any undergraduate student who wishes to gain an in-depth understanding of gender and development issues in India, understand the challenges of urban and rural life in modern India, experience working with a volunteer service project, and to develop an appreciation of the country that transcends a cursory tourist perspective.
Courses are taught in English by experienced faculty of selected universities in India. The program is rigorous and includes lectures, independent readings and discussions; directed tours of museums, galleries, villages, and commercial, industrial and governmental institutions; visits with leaders in the arts, commerce, industry, various religions and the government; and stays with Indian families.
See selected course offerings:
The following courses will count towards SMC’s general education requirements.
Indian Society: Issues of Class, Caste, Religious,
Tribes and Minorities—3 Credits
Modern Indian History: Gender and Culture—3 Credits
The following courses will count towards SMC's elective credit requirement.
Indian Social and Economic Development Trajectory—3 Credits
Gandhian Philosophy in Contemporary Society—3 Credits
Gender Justice and Human Rights Seminar—3 Credits
Classes will be conducted in English separately for the students of the program. There is no language requirement for this program.
Students also have limited possibility to take self-designed courses provided in TISS. All the classes will be conducted separately for SMC/Wells students. And the classes will be highly participated.
Admission requirements—3.0 GPA
Housing
Students will live in shared accommodation in apartment with furnished rooms within walking distance of the campus. There will be an on-site resident director to support student’s academic, cultural and personal needs. Mobile phones will be provided to students, but students may have to bear the charges. All meals are provided in dining hall on campus. Paid laundry service is also available.
Transportation, Cost, and Financial Aid
The program will begin in January with a week long orientation held in Mumbai by on-site resident director and staff of TISS. Classes will end in late April. You will be expected to make your own travel arrangements, though a group discount on the air ticket is possible if you plan in advance.
The India Program does not have an extensive travel component other than course-related field trips. If you wish to travel around India, you could plan to do this on your own or along with your friends either before the program begins during the December holidays, or after it ends in the month of May.
For those who are interested in traveling in Asia, the China Program at Saint Mary’s College has been designed to begin immediately after the India Program ends in May. Students could join the China Program directly from India. (The China Program is a separate program, involving a separate program fee.) Please contact Prof. Marcia Rickard from Saint Mary’s College for details at mrickard@saintmarys.edu)
Students will be expected to bear the cost of airfare, and pay a semester’s tuition fee to Saint Mary’s College. The program costs include accommodation, tuition, meals, orientation, tutoring, visiting to the rural campus and yoga center and excursions throughout the semester. Other than personal expenses, you may incur a small expense on laundry and telephone calls, and on purchasing a few text books, that are generally very reasonable priced in India.
Eligibility
Undergraduate students from any discipline who have a minimum 3.0 GPA average may apply for the program. Students are expected to accept their selection by signing a participation agreement and paying certain amount of deposit designated by Saint Mary’s College.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Ujvala Rajadhyaksha, Assistant Professor, Business Administration and Economics, Director of Semester Around the World Program, #230 Madaleva Hall, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN 46556, telephone: 574-284-4138, email: urajadhy@saintmarys.edu
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