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PITTSBURGH: On August 27,
2003 580 undergraduate students, five from
Canada, will embark on a cross-cultural voyage
around the world with the Semester at Sea
program aboard the SS Universe Explorer. The
program will leave from the port of Vancouver
will sail onward to Kobe, Japan; Hong Kong; Ho
Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Bangkok, Thailand;
Chennai, India; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Cape
Town, South Africa; Bahia, Brazil and Havana,
Cuba before returning to Ft. Lauderdale, FL on
December5, 2003. In addition to the
undergraduate students, the university community
will include 10 senior citizens and 75 faculty
and staff. Semester at Sea is
administered by the Institute for Shipboard
Education and academically sponsored by the
University of Pittsburgh. This comparative,
global studies program uses a 23,500-ton ship as
a maritime campus to take students, from over
200 colleges and universities across the United
States and abroad, around the world each fall
and spring semester. A regional summer session
program focusing on Europe and the Mediterranean
has been offered since
2000. More than 38,000 students
have participated since the program began in
1964. Courses offered are accredited by the
College of Arts and Sciences at the University
of Pittsburgh and can be fully transferable to
the student's home institution. Students choose
from over 75 lower and upper division courses
during the fall/spring terms and over 40 during
the summer session that include a wide variety
of disciplines. Classes meet daily while the
ship is at sea. The faculty is comprised of
visiting professors from institutions across the
U.S. and abroad. All have extensive
international experience that serves to further
integrate course content with the countries on
the itinerary. When in port students
choose from a wide range of structured travel
opportunities that are developed by the
Institute and the faculty. Students may also
choose to travel independently. Each class has a
field component requirement that the student
must complete during the voyage. Students
satisfy the class field requirements by
completing assignments during their in-country
travel experiences. Activities in port can
include home stays with families in the
countries, visits to universities, travel to
places of historic, cultural and religious
significance, or simply experiencing life in the
cities and rural areas. Port visits range from
three to five days. In addition to examining
comparative global issues, Semester at Sea
students each term are participating in a
donation project that has been established to
assist those in need around the world. The
project adds an interactive service component to
the learning experience which results in
relationships with organizations such as the
Mombassa SOS Children's village in Kenya, Mother
Teresa's Mission in India, relief organizations
in Kobe, Japan and many others around the
world. Before commencing
educational service in 1996, the 23,500-ton S.S.
Universe Explorer underwent significant
renovations in order to meet the Institute's
needs to function properly as a floating
university. The vessel's facilities include
classrooms with closed circuit television
capabilities, a library, theater, student union
and two dining rooms. It also includes a
swimming pool, basketball and volleyball court
and a fitness center, providing a true campus
atmosphere. A residence life staff provides
support services and activities programming for
the community while at sea. Information about the
pier where the ship will be located can be
obtained by contacting: For further information
at the vessel on August 27 please contact: Additional information
can also be obtained by contacting: Julian Asenjo phone:
800-854-0195 Julian Asenjo Associate
Director Enrollment
Management Institute for Shipboard
Education 811 WPU University of
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA
15260 800-854-0195 412-648-2298
(fax) mailto:jasenjo@semesteratsea.pitt.edu |
