Description

Explore traditional society and social transition in Oceania.

Through interdisciplinary coursework, field study, and independent research, students explore processes of change in Samoa and other Pacific communities. Students consider the impact of new and different values on Pacific Island communities and social structures in light of development and globalization pressures.

Topics for study in the context of the Pacific include:

* Impacts and incorporation of Christianity
* The shift from a subsistence to cash economy
* Introduction of human rights into a communal society
* Migration patterns and the role of remittances
* Social changes resulting from globalization, migration, and development in Samoa, American Samoa, and Fiji
* The current "coup culture" in Fiji

Learn from local academics and university resources
Utilizing SIT's strong in-country partnerships, students enjoy access to local academics and university resources while at the program base in Apia, Samoa as well as during the orientation period in Hawaii, and on excursion in American Samoa and Fiji. Academic resources include the University of Hawaii and East West Center, the University of the South Pacific (USP) in both Samoa and Suva Fiji, and the American Samoa Community College (ASCC).

Live with host families and learn Samoan
Through Samoan language instruction and homestays with host families in several Pacific island communities, students are exposed to diverse perspectives on social change and transition in the Pacific context, learning directly from Pacific Islanders.

Experiences include:

* Working in the lo'i talo, or taro patches, alongside young Hawaiians where students learn about the challenges Hawaiian youth face as indigenous people in the context of a US state.
* Staying in the eco-tourist village of Abaca in Fiji where students observe the impact of tourism on a small indigenous village.
* Living with an Indo-Fijian family, which provides a firsthand look at the similarities and differences in the values, beliefs, and practices of Fiji’s two
major ethnic groups.
* Living with families in rural Samoa where students experience the growing, harvesting, and preparing of food on a daily basis. This deepens their understanding of subsistence living.

Highlights

Homestays in 'Upolu (10 days), plus Savai'i and Fiji

The program includes visits to cultural and historic sites on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i; a village stay and short trips to places of interest around Apia and the island of 'Upolu; a natural history excursion to the island of Savai'i to gain perspective on Samoa's topographical and ecological diversity; and visits to American Samoa and Fiji for comparative social analysis.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

please inquire for more information

Program Fees Include:

Please inquire for costs: Fees include tuition, full room and board, all field trips and related fares, health and accident insurance, and other direct program expenses. Participants pay for international airfare and domestic travel to the point of departure from the USA.

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

American and Worldwide Participants.

Scholarships are Available

To make study abroad opportunities available to a wide range of students, SIT Study Abroad offers a variety of scholarships. We base all scholarship awards on need and merit. Awards range from 500 to 5,000 dollars. For a full list of scholarships, and to download a scholarship application, please visit our web site.

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Transcript
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

3 weeks

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

SIT Study Abroad's Mission Statement

A pioneer in experiential, field-based study abroad, SIT offers semester, summer, and academic year programs for undergraduate students in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as comparative programs in multiple locations.

Programs focus on critical global issues in specific geographical and cultural contexts using an interdisciplinary approach. Studying with host country faculty and living with families, students gain a deep appreciation for local cultures and become immersed in diverse topics ranging from the politics of identity to post-conflict transformation, from global health to environmental policy. 

Year Founded

1932