Summary
With its multiplicity of religions and more than 50 different languages and ethnicities, all committed to a shared national identity, Nepal is a powerful example to the rest of the world; this course focuses on Hindu Kingship to take an in-depth look at the way this unique country’s at-times-turbulent political history was shaped by its various faiths and expressed through its art and architecture.
Travel Dates
January 3 - 30, 2021
Locations
Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel, Bodhnath, Gorkha, Pokhara, Lumbini, NEPAL
Required In-Person Orientation
*each school can note date here, and note that it is on their own campus
Required Online Orientation
There will be one required online orientation for this course between late October and mid November. The date/time of the orientation will be communicated by October 15. Every effort should be made to participate in the live orientation session, as it will be interactive, provide a chance to virtually meet the course professors and other participants, and should be considered the first class meeting. Students who do not participate will be required to view the recorded session once it is available.
Minimum Enrollment: 16
If the course does not meet the minimum enrollment, students will be given the option of switching to another course (as space is available) or withdrawing their application and receiving a refund of the program deposit.
Maximum Enrollment: 26
Accessibility Information and Requirements:
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UMAIE (pronounced “U-may”) is the Upper Midwest Association for Intercultural Education, a consortium of six colleges and universities offering intercultural courses during the January Interim. UMAIE was founded in the fall of 1963 when several colleges adopted the 4-1-4 academic calendar. The UMAIE pioneers recognized that they could expand the international curricula, control costs, and increase participation in study abroad if several campuses cooperated in offering courses overseas. This vision has enabled hundreds of students to study abroad every January since 1964. Current UMAIE member schools are Augustana University (Sioux Falls, SD), Elmhurst College (Chicago, IL), Hamline University (St. Paul, MN), St. Ambrose University (Davenport, IA), St. Catherine University (St. Paul, MN), and St. Thomas University (St. Paul, MN) |
Academic Overview
Ever since the first drivable road into the Kathmandu Valley was opened in the late 1950’s, its very name has been synonymous with spiritual awareness and soul-stirring beauty. From 405 CE to the late 1700’s, the Valley kingdoms were ruled by competing monarchs who lavished resources on temples, shrines and palaces, both to fulfill Hindu religious dictates regarding kingship, as well as to outshine one another in a quest for political glory. Modern Nepal, however, presents us with an unmatched example of a strong national identity coupled with religious tolerance in a multi-ethnic society, and this course will trace its development from the Medieval period to the present, intertwining the study of primary and secondary sources on history and religion with time spent at sites of religious significance, critical battles, massive royal building projects, and shocking palace intrigue.
Prerequisites
None
Course Equivalency
*Each campus can list their own course equivalency here
About the Professors
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Emily West has been a professor of Classics & History at St. Catherine University since 2004, where she teaches classes on the history, art, and literature of the ancient world. Her research and interests are focused equally on the Mediterranean and India, and her published work deals with the evolution of narrative and the shared Indo-European heritage of the Greek and Sanskrit epics. This will be Dr. West’s 5th time leading a UMAIE course. |
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Carol Chase has been teaching painting and drawing at St. Catherine University since 2007. She received her MA from California College of the Arts in Oakland, CA and her BA (studio Art/French) from University of Wisconsin – River Falls. Her artwork is focused on painting and interdisciplinary projects. She exhibits her work locally and nationally including venues at Riverside (CA) Art Museum, Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis and Minnesota Museum of American Art. |
Required Readings
Each student should purchase:
Mayhew, Bradley, Lindsay Brown, and Paul Styles. 2018. Lonely Planet Nepal, Any Edition. Lonely Planet
The rest of the course readings will be posted through the online learning platform, including selections from:
- Classical Hindu Mythology, by Cornelia Dimmitt & J.A.B. van Buitenen
- A History of Nepal, by John Whelpton
- Forget Kathmandu: An Elegy for Democracy, by Manjushree Thapa
- History of Nepal, by Daniel Wright
- Ancient and Medieval Nepal, by Rishikesh Shahi
- The History of Nepal, Sylvain Levi
- As well as various articles from the excellent online Nepalese History Project
Evaluation
D2L Tests 25%
Presentations 35%
Travelogue Sketchbook 20%
Final Reflection Paper 20%
Program Estimated Cost
$X,XXX - $X,XXX
Cost estimates will be available on or after April 1, 2020. Final costs will be available in late October.
There will be a $500 deposit, due at the time of application. Please see the Cancellation Policy tab for information on when this deposit is refundable.
Included in the Program Cost
International airfare
Hotel accommodations in twin/triple rooms
Ground transportation
All entrances and activities required for class
Breakfast daily
Application Procedures & Deadline
Applications will open on April 1, 2020·
To Apply:
1. Select the Apply Now button at the top to start your online application.
2. Login using your username and password
3. Complete all the application requirements. Your application will not be considered complete until ALL requirements have been completed.
All applications received by the Priority Application Deadline will be sent to the faculty in a batch at the end of the priority application period. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after the priority deadline for programs with space still remaining until the final application deadline of October 1, 2020.
Priority Application Deadline
April 15, 2020
Final Application Deadline
October 1, 2020
Passport Requirements: All course participants must have a current, valid Passport that expires no less than 6 months from the date the program returns. A legible scan of your passport must be submitted to your home school Study Abroad Office by October 20, 2020. STUDENTS WHO APPLY AND ARE ACCEPTED IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER AND DO NOT HAVE A CURRENT PASSPORT MUST EXPEDITE THEIR PASSPORT APPLICATION. Students who do NOT submit their passport by the deadline will be subject to a $100 Late Passport fee.
Visa Requirements: Please note that a visa IS required for U.S. Citizens to travel to the country(ies) included in this course. Students should plan that their passports will need to be sent to the Nepalese Embassy during the month of November for their visa to be processed. Citizens of countries other than the United States or people who have Travel Documents (Issued by the United States or any other country) should contact their school's Study Abroad Office as soon as possible.
U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories: The U.S. Department of State uses levels to indicate risk in travel to particular locations. Please see the
U.S.Department of State website for more information on the particular locations of this course.
U.S. Department of State STEP Enrollment: The U.S. Department of State has a Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The UMAIE Consortium encourages all travelers to ensure that they are enrolled before travel. Some students' home campus Study Abroad Office may enroll student travelers automatically. Please check with your home campus Study Abroad Office for more information on your school's process, and see the
STEP website for more information and to enroll.
Health and Travel: The Center for Disease Control issues travel vaccine recommendations by country. Please see the
CDC Traveler's Health website for more information on the particular locations of this course.
CISI Insurance: All UMAIE participants will be enrolled in an international emergency and medical insurance policy with CISI through their home institution. Please see your home campus Study Abroad Office for more information.
Flight Deviations: Airline tickets are booked as Group Tickets. If a student wishes to deviate from the group (go early, stay after, etc.), the student will need to submit that request as part of the application. The final date to request a flight deviation is Oct. 1, 2020. Please note that there are additional costs to flight deviations. It will be the responsibility of the student to pay the additional costs at the time the booking is made.
UMAIE Withdrawals and Refunds
Once students have completed a UMAIE application and been notified of their acceptance, the following Withdrawal and Refund policy applies:
Refund Available Withdrawal Date
No cancellation fee and full refund of deposit September 15, 2020 (must be received by 4:00pm)
No refund of $500 deposit September 16 – October 1, 2020
No refund of $500 deposit & refund of RECOVERABLE COSTS ONLY* After October 1, 2020
No refund 30 days or less prior to departure
*NOTE: Students who cancel after October 1 will be charged the full amount for the course up front; recoverable costs will not be calculated until after the group returns in February, at which point students will receive a credit for any portion of the course that was able to be recovered. The ENTIRE COURSE COST, INCLUDING AIRLINE TICKET, may be forfeited.
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO YOUR SCHOOL'S STUDY ABROAD OFFICE. The date this is received is the official date of cancellation
Travel cancellation insurance is recommended for students with preexisting medical conditions. This insurance must be purchased at the time of application. Please discuss this with your Study Abroad Office.
If a course price increases by more than 6% over the highest price in the range (due to general inflation or lower enrollment) a student may cancel without penalty.
No refund is given to students who wish to omit portions of the course.
