The New School Graduate Program in International Affairs

 

Introduction to the International Field Program

 

An integral part of the Graduate Program in International Affairs (GPIA) is gaining hands-on experience working with diverse organizations. To that end, the 2008 GPIA summer International Field Program (IFP) offers eight unique summer programs ranging from rural community development fieldwork to internships with international organizations. Participating students earn six credits toward their GPIA degree.

Official IFP 2008 Presentation

Official IFP 2008 Information for download

2008 International Field Programs

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

• Hong Kong, China

• Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Mumbai, India

• East Africa

• International Rescue Committee Collaboration

• Bogota, Colombia - Cancelled

Upcoming Events

 

2008 IFP Julien J. Studley Fellowships

The Graduate Program in International Affairs (GPIA) invites GPIA students participating in this year's IFPs to apply for the 2008 IFP Julien J. Studley Fellowships. This is a great opportunity to receive additional funding for conducting extended fieldwork, enrolling in an in-country language intensive or participating in the IFP photography project.

• Extended Language & Fieldwork Fellowship
  

• Photography Project Fellowship
  

Students must fill out and submit the Fellowship Application Form 2008, as well as the additional documents required by each fellowship to summer@gpia.info. The deadline for the first round of applications is Monday March 24, 2008.

 

Student Presentations IFP 2007

Each group that participated in an IFP in 2007 gave a brief presentation at the 2008 program introduction on Sept. 28 outlining their experience. You can view the PowerPoints below. Note: some files are large and may take time to download.

• Introducing the GPIA wiki (6mb)

• Rio de Janeiro 2007 presentation (15mb)

• Kunming 2007 presentation (8mb)

• Hong Kong 2007 presentation (2mb)

• Bogota 2007 presentation (18mb)

• Buenos Aires 2007 presentation (27mb)

• Mumbai 2007 presentation (9mb)

• Johannesburg 2007 presentation (18mb). Note: this IFP is not offered in 2008.

IFP Through the Eyes of Students

IFP 2006-Through the Eyes of Students (2.6MB)

Course Requirements

To receive a grade, students will be required to

• fully participate in their respective programs’ spring semester course
• fully participate in their respective programs' pre-trip preparation
• successfully complete their full-time internship assignments during the summer
• fully participate in on-site projects and program activities
• complete a final paper/project as directed by each program
• present their work during the fall semester at the New School

The specific requirements for each program will be determined by the respective Faculty Coordinators.

Costs

Fixed costs:

tuition (6 credits): $6,396.00 ($1,066/credit)
(2007-08 subject to change)

GPIA summer program fee: $1,000

 

Variable costs: The student is responsible for:

• travel to and from the program site
• local travel and transportation
• living and personal expenses beyond housing
• cost of all visas; students must obtain their own visas. We strongly encourage students to check their country sites’ Embassy website for any specific visa information.
• cost of vaccinations and other medical expenses

Financial Aid

GPIA offers a limited amount of financial aid for students going on the summer programs, based on merit and need. All students will be considered for financial aid.

Financial aid for the summer program works as tuition remission. In other words, the amount you receive in financial aid is subtracted from your tuition charge. Students are still responsible for the remainder of their tuition and for the summer program fee.

Appeals process of Financial Aid: To appeal for a reconsideration of financial aid, the student should submit a letter (by email or in hard copy) outlining any questions and/or objections within two weeks of receipt of notice of the financial aid decision to the IFP Team at summer@gpia.info. The IFP team will submit a written response to the student's letter within two weeks of receipt.

For issues concerning carrying over your academic year financial aid to the summer session, or for other issues regarding your personal loans, scholarships and other sources of financial aid, please contact Student Financial Services in advance at sfs@newschool.edu or call 212.229.8930. The GPIA cannot answer these specific financial questions.

Application Process

Students must fill out and send in the GPIA Summer International Field Program Application IFP Application Form 2008, as well as attach the following documents:

• Recent CV or resume including contact information for one reference
• Brief essay (approximately 500 words) explaining why you want to participate in the IFP, what relevant skills or experience you may have, and how the IFP fits into your future studies and goals
• Evidence of language proficiency, if required (see language requirements)
• Photocopy of front page of passport
• Doctor’s note confirming that you are medically cleared to travel abroad (this can be acquired via University Health Services if you are insured by Aetna)

By Monday October 29, 2007, all electronic forms and materials must be submitted by e-mail to summer@gpia.info. Any supporting materials that cannot be e-mailed must be clearly marked with the student's name and left for IFP Coordinator, Fabiola Berdiel, in her mailbox at the GPIA office. Do not send applications directly to Faculty Coordinators. Questions regarding the application process should be addressed to summer@gpia.info.

We will notify students of admission by early November. Accepted students must confirm their participation by Friday February 8, 2008 with the $1,000 nonrefundable deposit of the summer program fee.

Accepted students must hand in a completed and signed release form two weeks after being notified of acceptance. The completed form must be left in Fabiola Berdiel's mailbox at the GPIA office.

Language Requirements

Students should coordinate with the Faculty Coordinator for each country program’s language requirements.

• The Argentina and Colombia programs require high proficiency in Spanish. Students applying for these programs must either pass the placement exam offered by The New School Language Department, or attend a Spanish course during the spring semester. Students applying to these programs that feel their knowledge of Spanish is sufficient and wish to opt-out of the spring semester language course must take the placement exam offered by the Foreign Language Department, located at 64 W 11th Street on the 1st floor.

• Students joining the Rio de Janeiro program are required to attend a Portuguese course during the spring semester with the Language Department of The New School.Students applying to this programs and that feel their knowledge of Portuguese is sufficient and wish to opt-out of the spring semester language course must take the placement exam offered by the Foreign Language Department, located at 64 W 11th Street on the 1st floor.

• Students joining the Hong Kong and Kunming programs are strongly encouraged to attend a Chinese (Mandarin) course during the spring semester with the Language Department of The New School.

• Students applying to the Mumbai program are encouraged to attend a Hindi course.

• Students applying for the Kenya (East Africa) program are encouraged to attend a Swahili course.

The Foreign Language Department is open Monday through Friday, from 10 PM to 6 PM. Students are encouraged to take their placement exam between 2 PM and 6 PM. Please let the department know that you are a GPIA student interested in joining the IFP. They will submit the results of your placement exam directly to us.

Language Courses

GPIA students currently registered for degree credits may audit appropriate language courses offered by The New School, without charge. These courses do not carry academic credit and are not graded, but do appear on student transcripts as audits. You may register for language courses once you have registered for GPIA courses, following these steps:

• You can find the Spring 2007 language courses listed at: http://ceregistration.newschool.edu/register/index.cfm?deptcode=NFLN&semesterpick=200710. If you need to determine your correct language level, proficiency tests are available through the New School Foreign Languages department: 64 W 11th St/1st Floor, or telephone (212) 229-5676
• Complete a course Drop/Add form available in the GPIA office and have it signed by an advisor.
• Take the Drop/Add form to the Coordinator of Academic Student Services in the Dean's Office of The New School for General Studies (66 W.12th St. 3rd floor, phone: 212.229-5615) who will issue a "fee waiver" form.
• Take all forms to the Registration Office at 65 5th Avenue.

Health Requirements

Students should be in good health to participate in the summer programs. Check with the faculty coordinator of each IFP program for specific health requirements. We strongly encourage students to check their country sites’ Embassy website for any specific vaccination information.

• Colombia: http://www.colombiaemb.org/
• Brazil: http://www.brasilemb.org/
• India: http://www.indianembassy.org
• China: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/
• Argentina: http://www.embassyofargentina.us/
• Kenya: http://www.kenyaembassy.com/
• Ethiopia: http://www.ethiopianembassy.org/

 

IFP & Student Health Services

IFP participants covered by Student Health Insurance are eligible to receive a free physical at Student Health Services. In addition, SHS can prescribe vaccines for Hepatitis A & B, tetanus, anti-malaria and MMR at cost.

Student Health Services Vaccine Prices

Location & Hours:

Student Health Services
Henry and Louise Loeb Residence Hall
135 East 12th Street, 1st & 2nd Floors
New York, NY 10003

Open weekdays Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m

212.229.1671

For tips on health and safety while traveling abroad, take a look at the Center for Disease Control's Traveler's Health Kit: Traveler's Health Kit

For suggested vaccines and prescriptions for relevant countries of travel:

Current Recommended Vaccines by Country

For travel immunizations not carried by Student Health Services, you may consult an international travel clinic. The Student Health Services recommends the Interchurch Medical Center, whose prices and hours are inside the following link:

Interchurch Medical Center

475 Riverside Drive

New York, NY, 10115

(212) 870-3053

 

Advice from past IFP Students

This is a guide to 2008 IFP destinations, with reflections by 2007 IFP students. This document includes general advice for all programs, and site-specific recommendations including what to bring, what to leave at home, getting around and getting used to life abroad.

20/20 Hindsight - Advice from past IFP students

 

The IFP Team

Mark Johnson - IFP Coordinator, Assistant Professor of International Affairs

Fabiola Berdiel - IFP Coordinator

Marc Mousky - IFP Assistant

 

FAQs

Will there be a make-up session for those who cannot attend the IFP Information Sessions?

Unfortunately we will not be holding make-up information sessions. If you cannot attend the session, read up on the individual programs above. Those pages may change, particularly after the information session, so you should check back for additional information. If you have any additional questions you can then contact the programs' coordinators directly, their e-mails are listed on their respective country program page. Students interested in the IFP are also encouraged to check out presentations by 2007 IFP participants.

Can I use the same application to apply to more than one IFP program or should each program be applied to separately?

Please apply to all programs with the same application. Even when applying to multiple programs, one essay per application is sufficient. Be sure to point out on the application what your first, second and third choices are.

What is the IFP Program Fee for?

The program fee covers a number of different costs that makes running the IFP possible. The fee of $1,000 covers, among other things, the IFP participants' housing during their stay, finances the collaboration with the local organizations that students will work with, and funds any excursions students take or materials students receive while on their IFP. It should be noted that most IFP students will get some or all of this fee back through financial aid.

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Disclaimer: Information in this announcement is subject to change. GPIA reserves the right to cancel programs for any reason at any time, including low enrollment. All programs are subject to final approval by the GPIA and The New School.