Belize - Kinesiology

Living with a Disability in the Developing World—KIN371b

Program Dates: December 30, 2013–January 13, 2014

Prerequsite: Students must complete KIN371A: The Role of Medical Missions in the Developing World during the Fall 2013 semester. (2 credits, W 12:30–2 p.m.)

How are the challenges of disabilities and congenital disorders addressed in the developing world?

How do people live with these live with these disabilities in societies that have limited government support for such needs?

These are two of the central questions which KIN371B: Living with a Disability in the Developing World invites you to explore. Join in this international summer seminar for an immersion experience in a new culture that will compare and contrast the experience of Belizeans and North Americans living with common physical disabilities. On the field lectures and readings will be supported by trips to rehabilitation clinics and hospitals and by guest lectures presented by local clinicians. Students may also have the opportunity to shadow medical doctors on their visits to neighboring villages.

Fulfills Global Understanding Core when taken with COR210 and 211 through the GEO. See details below.

LOCATIONS

After on-campus examination of disabilities and rehabilitation in the United States during the Fall Semester prerequsite, participants will travel to Belize. There, the international portion of the course will be divided into two main components.

The seminar will begin in Belmopan, Cayo, Belize.  The focus will be on living conditions and resources available in the city.  Students will visit rehabilitation and healthcare facilities, schools, ect. and will hear from special speakers.

The second part of the field experience will move to Punta Gorda, Belize where the focus will be on living conditions for the disabled in the rural setting.  Students will participate in community projects in the villages served by Laugh Out Loud Ministries.

Syllabus KIN371A (PDF)

COURSE FORMAT

Participants will be required to attend lectures, and a visit to a local rehab clinic, and write a reflective essay during the spring semester.

In-Country:

• Visits to clinics
• Interviews with local clinicians
• Visits to local villages
• Reflective Essays
• Daily Journals

APPLICATION

Applications will be considered for acceptance in the order received.

• Complete online application (link available to Gordon students only)
• Contact Prof. Ventura about your interest in the seminar
• Submit applications no later than April 16, 2013
  
• Submit a non-refundable $30 application fee

CORE CREDIT

Students wishing to fulfill Global Understanding core through participation in the Belize Seminar must:

• Participate in COR210/211 New Perspectives in Global Understanding 1 and 2 (0-credit). Lab fees apply as of Fall 2013.
• Register for COR210/211 on the online international seminar application

Pre-Departure: COR210 New Perspectives in Global Understanding 1 is an all-day SATURDAY seminar taken in November.  This course equips students to reflect purposefully upon the theory and praxis of what it means to be citizen-sojourners and deal with the challenges of interpreting cultural difference, ethnocentrism, and how culture shaped behavior and values.

Re-Entry: COR211 New Perspectives in Global Understanding is again an all-day Saturday seminar taken in January/February upon return to campus. This course equips students to ask the deeper questions of their global experience and explore how both reintegrate and deepen the learning of your short-term cross cultural experience. 

Contact the GEO for further details.

COURSE REGISTRATION

Registration for international seminars is handled by the GEO. After accepted students have paid their deposit to the GEO, the GEO will send a list of the seminar participants to the Registrar’s office.

COST

Program costs include: tuition, site fees, meals and lodgings, travel related to program, roundtrip airfare to and from Boston Logan airport, and non-refundable deposit.The total cost will be approximately $3,000.

Final costs will be determined based on the number of student participants, final flight costs, etc. Students will be responsible for any extra travel outside of course assignments.