Location

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Program Description

This course is offered during the spring semester and focuses on the concept of “global citizenship” in the context of an international service-learning trip. Students will travel to the Dominican Republic (DR) and engage in an intensive service-learning project. The course seeks to address definitions and issues of global citizenship, development and service, using the service-learning experience as an aid to learning within the course. Students will also experience/learn about contemporary social, political, cultural and economic conditions within the DR, through service-learning, structured outings, cultural events, guest speakers, coursework and course readings and assignments. Ongoing structured reflection will provide a way for all participants to discover, articulate, integrate and act on what they learn from their experiences.

This one-week Spring Break program is embedded within HON 300. Students will enroll in the course and meet weekly on campus throughout the spring semester, both before and after the required one-week experience abroad.

Location Description

Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean and shares an island with Haiti. The project will take place in the city of Santo Domingo, the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. In past years, students worked in the education setting, which included teaching and working with school children and build/repair school facilities. 

Director

Felix Wang | wangch@jmu.edu | Honors College

Accommodations

Students will live in shared rooms with local NGO and hostel.

All meals will be provided as part of the program. Meal options include food prepared by local families, group meals and stipend.

Additional Items to Consider

No visas needed for travel to the DR.

*Students enrolled at JMU full-time during current Spring semester will pay no additional tuition to participate in a spring break program. The program fee will be the total required cost.

This Spring Break program is embedded within a semester-long, on-campus course taken during the spring semester term. The program travel dates correspond with a required one-week experience abroad.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.0

No language requirement

Students of all levels: first year, sophomore, junior, or senior standing

Open to non-JMU students