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Virginia Tech in the Caribbean
(in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)
Spring Semester 2008
"Perspectives on Caribbean
geography, culture and biology"
Access the
VT application form here
What and
where is it?
It is
a semester-long program offered in the beautiful eastern edge
of
the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Sea. Undergraduates in
any
major are eligible to apply, including freshmen in good
academic standing.
The Spring
Semester 2008 program is based at the Biodiversity Center of the PUNTACANA Ecological Foundation, which is located
directly on a scenic beach near the coral reef. Virginia Tech
faculty will teach all courses. We anticipate having two
Dominican students taking all classes alongside the Virginia
Tech students. While in Punta Cana, students have an opportunity to work on a
service-learning project in a nearby community. Instruction will
be given in English (students wil advanced Spanish skills will
have some instruction in Spanish).
Students will be offered an opportunity to be involved with
cultural and biological diversity research.
Outreach
activities in the nearby community of Veron are an integral pat
of the semester. This incredible program not only benefits students' lives,
but also to rural and urban communities, the environment, and the
scientific community.
In addition to the main location of the PUNTACANA Biodiversity
Center, this program also includes field trip excursions to Los
Haitises, Cordillera Central, and Santo Domingo.
Where will I live?
Students live on-site at the PUNTACANA Center for Biodiversity
and Sustainability near the Hotel and Resort complex.
Accommodations are air-conditioned multiple-occupancy dorm rooms
on the second floor
of the new Biodiversity Center building, built in 2000. Half of
the upstairs is a common area that includes a large kitchen and
recreation area with tables and a sitting area including
wireless internet access.
Breakfast and lunch are served in the Center while
dinner is served from 7 to 10 pm at the hotel buffet dining
room (which is where non-student guests at the hotel also have
dinner).
The ground floor of the Punta Cana Biodiversity Center holds the
main administrative offices, a reading/conference room, a
computer lab with three machines (open 24 hours a day), a
classroom, and several biology and chemistry labs used for
teaching (though we will not be using them). The air-conditioned
building is next to several
botanical and herbal gardens and is monitored 24 hours a day by
security services.
Dates
The 13 week
program is scheduled to begin around January 19, 2008 (actual date to be
determined) and will run through mid-April. It concludes
with a
three-day wrap-up session in Blacksburg. The cost of a hotel
room in Blacksburg for the mandatory wrap-up session is included
in the program fee.
Costs
For Spring 2008,
the program fee is tentatively set at $6700, plus reduced Virginia Tech tuition
and fees (80% of the normal rate).
The program fee, subject to change, includes round-trip airfare between Roanoke and
the Dominican Republic, most meals, lodging, buses, park fees,
selected museums, and field
trips. The program fee does
NOT include personal expenses and
a few meals
while traveling. Breakfast and lunch are served in the dorms
while evening meals are served at the delicious buffet at the
PUNTACANA Resort and Club.
Students may
earn a maximum of 18 semester credits. The list of courses to be
offered in Spring Semester 2008 has not been finalized. Below is
the list of courses being offered
during Spring Semester 2007. More
complete course descriptions are also available here.
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Physical
Geography (GEOG 1104) -- Dr. Lisa Kennedy (likenne1@vt.edu)
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Introduction to Spanish-American Culture and Civilization
(SPAN/HUM 2754) -- Dr. Antonio Fernandez (afernand@vt.edu)
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Tropical
Ornithology (BIO 4984) -- Dr. Jerry Via (viaj@vt.edu)
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Human
Geography
(GEOG 1004) -- Dr. Korine Kolivras (korine@vt.edu)
-
Globalization in the Caribbean (SOC 4984) -- Dr. Dale
Wimberley (wimberly@vt.edu)
-
Spanish
language (SPAN 2984) -- Nancy Lopez (paloma@vt.edu)
Which Tech faculty will be
teaching?
More information
about the Virginia Tech faculty who are teaching in Spring 2007 is
available here.
Applications
and Eligibility
Applications for
the Spring 2008 program are due by Friday April 27, 2007.
Applications will be accepted thereafter on a space-available
basis. Virginia Tech undergraduates
in any major are eligible to apply, and freshmen in good
academic standing are eligible.
Students will be selected
based on their GPA (2.5 minimum is required), a statement of
purpose, and academic references. Virginia Tech students
should access the VT application form,
non-Virginia Tech students should access the
application form
for non-VT students. You may also pick up a
printed copy of the application form in OIRED/Education Abroad in 1820
Litton Reaves Hall. A non-refundable application fee of $500 is
required ($1000 for non-VT students); this application fee will be applied to the program
fee.
Submit the completed application form, a
statement of purpose, official transcript, and the names and
contact information for two academic references to Education
Abroad/OIRED, 1820 Litton Reaves, Blacksburg, VA 24061. Late applications will be accepted
for a limited time if space is available.
Additional
Information
Read a
recent article published in Attache Magazine about Punta
Cana, environmentally friendly activities at the Punta Cana
Hotel and
Resort, and the region as a whole.
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