SIT Study Abroad launches new programs in Oman, Peru, Cyprus, Viet Nam



			June 2, 2004 SIT Study Abroad launches new programs in Oman, Peru, Cyprus, Viet Nam SIT Study Abroad has announced the addition of four new programs starting with the Spring 2005 semester. The programs, focusing on diplomacy, literature, natural and cultural ecology, and conflict resolution, expand SIT's extensive study options further, particularly in the Islamic world. SIT Study Abroad offers over 60 innovative international programs in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. SIT has already begun accepting applications for these programs and additional information will be on the SIT Study Abroad web site shortly. The programs include: Oman: Diplomacy, Development, and Identity in the Middle East Although one of the more traditional countries in the Gulf, Oman's domestic and international policies are uniquely pragmatic and independent for the region. Based in the capital city of Muscat, a meeting point of Arab, Asian, and African civilizations, this program explores Oman in the context of social and economic development, global diplomacy, inter-Arab relations, and regional reform. Program includes an intensive 6-credit Arabic language component. Cyprus: Transnational Identities, Intercommunal Relations Centuries of struggles that have shaped the everyday lives of Cypriots form the backdrop for this program as it explores the historical, social, religious, and cultural construction of Cypriot society. Homestays are in both Greek and Turkish communities and students study both languages. Educational excursions are taken on each side of the "Green Line," as well as to the countries of Greece and Turkey. Peru: Literature, Arts and Culture Peru's literary and artistic creations reflect and express the nation's rich cultural identity. From the program base in the sacred city of Cuzco, students actively engage Peru's rich literary and artistic traditions through firsthand encounters with literary specialists, authors, artists, and artisans. Exploration continues in Lima and Arequipa, and a rural homestay with Quechua-speaking families on Lake Titicaca, together with a brief visit into the Peruvian Amazon. Mekong Delta: Natural and Cultural Ecology This interdisciplinary program, based in Viet Nam, explores the natural and cultural ecology of the Mekong Delta. Students explore mangrove forests, shrimp farms, migratory bird habitats, freshwater swamps, and grasslands, together with cultural ecology topics such as sustainable development, contemporary social pressures on natural resource exploitation, and eco-tourism. Field excursions include a two-week comparative analysis of the Tonle Sap ecosystem in Cambodia. For more information about these programs, email studyabroad@sit.edu or call (888) 272-7881 (toll free in the U.S.) or (802) 258-3212. Back to top