The New School Graduate Program in International Affairs

The New School Graduate Program in International Affairs

International Field Program Spring 2010 Seminar

Syllabus

NINT 5900

Section:  Kosovo, Wednesday 6:00-7:50 pm, Room A-617

 

The goal of the International Field Program Spring Seminar is to prepare you for your summer field and academic experience such that you arrive feeling organized and confident, and you leave feeling you made the most of the experience. We will try to familiarize you with the context in which you will be living and working; discuss the country's history, culture and politics; and review your proposed work on the ground. The seminars will include skills workshops, simulations, speakers, films and readings.

Successful completion of the IFP Spring Seminar is a prerequisite to participate in the IFP Summer Session. This will be determined by:

• Attendance at all seminars.
• Reading all material.
• Active participation in discussions.
• Attendance at and participation in skills workshops, simulations, and IFP events.
• Completion of Country Briefing, Terms of Reference for internship and Research Proposal for summer.

Absences must be approved by the Faculty Country Coordinator.

 

Schedule:

Session 1 - IFP 2010 Orientation + GPIA Welcome Back Party

Friday, January 29. Wollman Hall

Faculty: Mark Johnson, Fabiola Berdiel

IFP-wide orientation session:  Requirements, calendar, preparation, simulation, managing expectations.

IFP+GPIA Welcome Back Party

 

Session 2 - Seminar 1

Wednesday, February 3, Room 609

Seminar: Introductions. Country - history, culture, politics. Discuss focusing papers for Spring pre-requisite courses on their IFP country.

 

Session 3 - Meeting IFP '09 Participants

Wednesday, February 24

Faculty: Faculty Country Coordinator

Meeting with 2009 IFP participants. Discussion of internship organizations and country experience.

 

Session 4 - Seminar 2

Wednesday, March 10

Seminar: Country briefings due. Discuss students' work in country. Continue discussion on history, culture, and politics. Discuss research proposal for summer.

Assignment: Draft research proposal due session10

 

Session 5 - IFP-Wide Meeting

Friday, March 5 Sections A-L, Room A-404

Faculty: Mark Johnson, Fabiola Berdiel

IFP-wide meeting: Financial aid, health services and immunizations, and travel requirements. This session will get you on track to prepare for your upcoming IFP.

 

Session 6 - Schedule Language Proficiency Test

Week of March 22

Not required for Kosovo

 

Session 7 - Skills Workshop

Wednesday, March 24 and Friday March 26

Skills Workshop I: Terms of Reference

Faculty: Mark Johnson, Fabiola Berdiel

On the first skills workshop, students will prepare a Terms of Reference for their internship placement.

Assignment: Draft Terms of Reference due Session 10

 

Session 8 - Individual Meetings

Wednesday, April 7

 Review Terms of Reference, internship coordination, and discussion on  Research Proposal.

 

Session 9 - Skills Workshop

Wednesday, April 14

Faculty: Mark Johnson, Fabiola Berdiel

Skills Workshop II

On the second skills workshop, students will learn practical skills directly related to the type of internship work they will be conducting during the summer. Proposed workshops are: grant-writing, budgeting, surveying, interviewing, and analyzing survey and interview data.

 

Session 10 - Individual Meetings

Wednesday, April 28

Individual meetings with students. Terms of Reference due. Follow up on internship coordination, and review Research Proposal.

                       

Session 11 - Seminar 3

Wednesday, May 12

Pre-departure seminar. Finalize Terms of Reference and Research Proposal.

 

Session 12 - Group Dinner

Week of May 3

 Group dinner

 

Session 13 - IFP-Wide Meeting

Friday, May 14, Wollman Hall

Faculty: Mark Johnson, Fabiola Berdiel

Preparing to go. How to get the most out of your experience. Security and emergency plan. Managing expectations.  

Session 14 - IFP 2010 Conference

Friday, September 10

Faculty: Mark Johnson, Fabiola Berdiel, Faculty Country Coordinators         

Every student participating in an IFP is required to publicly present the work they conducted over the summer at the IFP Conference in the beginning of Fall semester.