Southeastern NEWS
Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Information Office
publicinfo@selu.edu
SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
Date: 2/9/99
Contact: Christina Chapple 22
Editors: Photo accompanies release
SLU ADDS FRANCE AND AFRICA TO STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES
HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University students will have the opportunity to
study and travel this summer in Mexico, Italy, England, Austria, the Caribbean, France and
Africa.
The university's International Studies Program, sponsored by the College of Arts and
Sciences, has expanded from 43 students studying at four sites in 1996 to 85 students at six sites
last summer. In 1999, Southeastern is adding a study abroad opportunity in Kenya, and is
moving its French language program from Canada to France, program director Al Dranguet said.
"Study abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Dranguet. "Students are exposed
not just to languages and culture, but to different teaching methodologies. It's really invigorating.
Our students come back as different, mature people."
Southeastern administers three foreign language immersion programs and participates in
four consortium programs headed by other universities. Offered in summer 1999 are:
African Studies in Nairobi, Kenya, June 8-July 4. Students will fly into London
June 9-11, then travel to Nairobi for this four week program on "Culture and Ecology in Modern
Kenya." Undergraduates can earn four hours credit and graduate students three hours in
anthropology, sociology or geography. Field trips will explore Swahili coastal villages and
African big game parks. Part of a consortium operated by the University of Southern Mississippi,
the program costs approximately $4,899.
French Language and Culture Program in Paris and southern France, July 1-
Aug. 5. Accompanied by Southeastern foreign languages and literatures department head
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SLU STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS Add One
Margaret Marshall, students will spend two weeks in Paris, where in addition to studying French
grammar, civilization, and language teaching methodologies, they will visit cultural icons such as
the Louvre, Versailles, Fountainebleu, Monet's garden and experience the July 14 Bastille Day
celebration. The group will then move to Le Puy-en-Velay, a town in the south of France, and
will also tour areas such as Lyon, Provence and Auvergne. Students can receive six hours of
credit and the cost is approximately $3,999.
Universidad de las Americas, Puebla, Mexico, May 29-July 12. This six-week
Spanish immersion program is Southeastern's oldest. Students, who will be accompanied by
professors Cheryl Javaherian and Kellin Gilbert and graduate student Jane Dunn, can receive
nine hours of credit for courses such as intermediate Spanish, advanced grammar, conversation,
Latin American civilization and anthropology. "Tons of excursion trips," Dranguet said, will take
students to anthropological museums in Mexico City and Mayan and Aztec cultural sites. The
cost is approximately $2,899.
Italian Language and Literatures Study Program, Verona, Italy, May 27-July 1.
Foreign languages professor Lucia Harrison will accompany Southeastern students, who will also
be instructed by guest professors from the University of Verona during this five week program.
Students can earn six hours credit in elementary and intermediate Italian and Latin, Greek and
Roman mythology and Italian culture and civilization while taking field trips to places such as
Venice and Rome. The cost is approximately $3,899.
Caribbean Studies Program, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, May 16-June 2. This 17-day
interim program is run by the University of Southern Mississippi and is taught between the
spring and summer semesters. Students can earn four hours credit in criminal justice, sociology,
nursing, geography, history and English literature. This cost is approximately $1,999.
British Studies Program, London, England, July 7-Aug. 9. Another USM
consortium, the five-week program offers students a choice of more than 25 courses including
anthropology, art history, computer science, English literature, geography, history, library
science, political science, sociology, speech and hearing sciences, accounting, management,
finance, economics and marketing. The cost is approximately $3,699.
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SLU STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS Add Two
International Summer School, University of Innsbruck, Austria, July 2-Aug. 14.
This University of New Orleans-University of Innsbruck six-week program encompasses 55
courses including anthropology, business administration, drama and communication, economics,
English, fine arts, geography, German, history, management, marketing, music, philosophy and
political science. Students can earn six-nine hours credit while living and traveling throughout
Central Europe. The program's cost is approximately $4,426.
Dranguet said financial aid is available for summer study programs. "You have to
perceive it as an investment," he said. "It's almost impossible to say no to studying abroad when
you weight the costs plus the benefits." Prices, he said, are inexpensive because they are based on
group rates. Students receive many price breaks on transportation costs and get a student
identification card that also entitles them to a variety of discounts.
"I tell students and parents, 'Do it now, or you might not be able to afford foreign travel
for another ten years,'" Dranguet said.
John Miller, dean of Southeastern's College of Arts and Sciences, said Southeastern's
International Studies Program also benefits faculty. In addition to the professors who are
accompanying Southeastern students abroad, three Southeastern faculty members will teach in
the Innsbruck program this summer, he said. History and Political Science Department head
Roman Heleniak will teach history, and professors Kurt Corbello and Danielle Lewis will teach
political science and economics, respectively.
"Our faculty get to know colleagues and students in other countries. When they return,
their experience helps to internationalize our campus," Miller said. "I am very pleased withour
program's progress and expansion."
For additional information and applications, contact Dranguet at 504-549-5354,
cdranguet@selu.edu or room 246, D Vickers Hall.
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