Study Abroad in China

Where	Guangzhou, China
When	May 16 to June 18, 2016
Who	Any program / major, age 18+
Cost	$3,465 (including tuition, lodging, field trips, and fees)
Prerequisite	GPA 2.5+
Credit	Seminar: 3 units; undergraduate research: 3 units Credit to your liberal studies, diversity (global), or other

Look around yourself, you may find your jeans were made in Mexico, your shirt in El Salvador, and your shoes in Vietnam. Besides, you may find your smartphone was made in China, but it was designed in the U.S. with processors manufactured in South Korea, the screen made in Taiwan, and the cameras made in Japan. When you you call your phone provider you may be answered by a customer service representative located in India. As globalization moves forward, our every day life gets closely related to the rest of the world.

Globalization is a process of international integration in which people around the globe are closely connected, information is effectively shared, economic activities are tightly integrated, and cultures are extensively exchanged...  Today, globalization is happening at unprecedented scale and speed. To understand why globalization occurs, how it works, as well as what implications it has on us, this study abroad program will take you across the Pacific Ocean to Guangzhou, China. As a fast rising power and one of the top trading partners of the U.S., China has been rapidly integrated into the global system since the 1980s. In turn, China has been substantially reshaped in all dimensions by globalization. This has made China an ideal place to study globalization.

Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province and the third largest city of China. Located on the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou is about 80 miles northwest of Hong Kong and 70 miles north of Macau. The Pearl River Delta is an area first opened to the world in the early 1980s. Globalization has brought about rapid industrialization, urbanization, as well as social and environmental changes to the area. It is where Shenzhen has miraculously turned from a small fishing village into the major financial center of South China. It is also where Dongguan has dramatically evolved from a traditional agricultural society into the world’s factory that gathers more than ten thousand foreign-funded enterprises. This is where you can observe interactions between different cultures, as well as where you can hear live stories from iPhone assembly line workers.

The program is stationed at the Guangdong University of Finance and Economics which neighbors the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center. You will study with local students at the hosting university and take excursions to Guangzhou and nearby cities including Shenzhen and Dongguan. Guangzhou is a historical city with more than two thousand years of history. While you experience the vigorous modern life in Guangzhou, you can also explore the traditional Chinese culture and learn some basic Chinese language.

Course Information

• SA 250: Understanding Globalization (3 units, letter grade): interdisciplinary reading and research seminar. Topics including concepts of globalization, globalization and economy, politics, culture, environment, ideologies, etc.
• GSP 485: Undergraduate Research (3 units, letter grade): Directed independent research. Each student will choose a topic and conduct field research.

A note on credit transfer: during our program, you will be registered for a “holding courses" such as CIE 299 or an equivalent. There is no need for you to register for any courses this summer. Upon conclusion of the program, your faculty will provide final grades for both courses and your grades will be registered by the Center for International Education. At that time, we will confirm which NAU courses these credits should be transferred to within your own department or somewhere else (such as for graduate credit).

Itinerary

May 16: Pre-departure meeting
May 19: Departure
May 11: Arrive in Guangzhou (time difference 15 hours)
May 23: Classes begin
June 17: Classes end
June 18: End of program; return home or continue traveling as you choose

Activities Designed for Cross-Cultural Experience

• Exploring Chinese culture in Guangzhou (architecture, festivals, food, etc.)
• Excursion to Shenzhen (South China financial center, urbanization, transportation)
• Excursion to Dongguan (the world’s factory and production chains)
• Introductory Chinese language class for beginners
• Study with local students in the same classroom and on excursions

Accommodation and Food

Students will be responsible for their trip to the destination in Guangzhou, although they may travel with the program leaders they wish. Trip directions will be distributed along with other program materials at the pre-departure meeting.

Students will be responsible for obtaining their own Chinese visa. Information about how to apply for the Chinese visa will be provided.

Students will stay at the Lavande Hotel, located on campus of the hosting university. Two students will share a standard double room. Lodging expense is covered by your program fee. Meals are not included but students can eat at the student dining hall at very affordable prices or at nearby restaurants.