Experience the Real Caribbean!
Barbados
History and Culture
6 credits in History and African American Studies
July 20 – Aug. 14, 2007
Dr. Bernard Moitt
$2,930 + applicable VCU tuition
Registration deadline: May 15, 2007
Download printer-friendly program description [PDF]
10th Anniversary Celebration (1997-2007)
The Office of International Education, the Department of History and the Department of African American Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University are pleased to offer a unique opportunity to study on site in Barbados. This program will highlight the historical and cultural heritage of the Caribbean during Crop Over, a time in Barbados when the island is in the midst of celebrating its African cultural traditions through music and dance. Lectures will be held at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies.
Course and credit options: Students are required to sign up for both HIST 391 Caribbean History and Culture and AFAM 491 Caribbean Perspectives on the African Diaspora to receive 6 VCU credits.
Course description: Through lectures and field visits led by faculty members, students will explore the evolution and development of Caribbean societies from around the 15th century to the present, as well as study the responses of Caribbean people to forces that have shaped their lives. This exploration will include, but not be limited to, the following: plantation slavery, gender, language, migration, education, religion, race, identity, sports, architecture, archaeology, music, dance, the Kadooment Day celebration and cuisine. The Barbados study abroad program is designed to give students, with or without a background in Caribbean studies, an authentic, stimulating and memorable Caribbean experience. It will appeal to broad-minded individuals who are open to ethnic and cultural diversity. Participants will gain a greater appreciation of the history and culture of the Caribbean, and the significance and uniqueness of Barbados in particular.
Program cost: $2,930 + applicable VCU tuition
The program fee is $2,930 and includes the following:
- Round-trip airfare from either Washington, D.C., or Richmond
- Pick-up and drop-off at the Barbados airport
- Accommodations
- Study visits and tours
- On-site Program Director support
- Application fee and deposit
- Pre-departure orientation
- VCU administrative fees
- International Student Identification Card
The following are NOT included in the program fee. Students are responsible for:
- VCU tuition and fees
- Some meals
- Passport application fee
- Personal expenses during the program (estimated at $600-$1,000)
- Anything not specifically mentioned above
Please budget for these additional expenses.
Tuition: Tuition is charged separately and additionally at standard VCU rates for in-state students and at a 40 percent discount for out-of-state students. Estimated costs, based on current tuition per credit, are as follows: undergraduate in-state, $179 (per 3 credit class: $537); undergraduate out-of-state, $401 (per 3 credit class: $1,203); graduate in-state, $379 (per 3 credit class: $1,137); graduate out-of-state, $533 ($1,599 per 3 credit class).
Airfare: Round-trip airfare from either Richmond or Washington, D.C., is included. The departure city will be determined at the time of ticket purchase.
Payment of fees: The nonrefundable registration fee of $50 is due upon registration. A nonrefundable deposit of $200 is due two weeks after receipt of acceptance packet. Students who register after April 1 must pay the deposit and registration fee together upon registration. The balance of the program fee and the tuition costs (based on the number of credits taken) will be billed separately through VCU Student Accounting after May 2007. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)
Eligibility: Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA to participate in this program.
Application deadline: May 15, 2007. Applications will be accepted until the deadline, or until participant space is full.
Activities and excursions: A highlight among the program activities is Family Day, where a Barbadian family hosts students for a day of tours to various locations and a large cookout celebration. Participants will visit the Barbados Museum, wildlife reserves and local potteries. Other outings include visits to an underground cave with natural formations of stalactites and stalagmites, the refurbished home of U.S. President George Washington (who came to Barbados in 1752), local folk festival events during the Barbados carnival Crop Over, and a boat cruise (ending with a swim) up the beautiful west coast of Barbados. Students also may choose from a wide variety of activities to do on their own, such as horseback riding, deep-sea diving, guided nature walks and swimming with sea turtles on the west coast.
Accommodations and meals: Students are housed in the beautiful seaside dormitories of the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies. Meals are not included.
Financial aid: Eligible VCU students may apply for need-based financial aid to participate in this program. Visit VCU Financial Aid, Ginter House, Room 110B; call (804) 828-6669 or e-mail faidmail@vcu.edu. VCU offers its students a limited number of scholarships for study abroad participation. Contact VCU Education Abroad or click here for further details.
Passports: If you have a passport, make sure it is valid for at least six months after your return date. If you do not have a passport, apply early because the processing time is up to eight weeks. For more information on how to apply, visit http://travel.state.gov.
Program director: Dr. Bernard Moitt, chair of the history department at VCU, was born and raised in Antigua and specializes in the histories and literatures of Africa and the Caribbean. He has a keen interest in gender and slavery, and is nationally and internationally recognized for his scholarship and intellectual activities. His vast knowledge of the Caribbean, along with his extensive personal and professional contacts in Barbados and other parts of the region, make his study-abroad program a unique opportunity that should not be missed. This is his 10-year anniversary of leading the program to Barbados.
Every effort is made to provide updated and accurate information at the time of publication. The sponsors reserve the right to make necessary changes to the programs and costs.
