TnCIS expands study abroad programs to 11 for 2009

The number of study abroad opportunities offered through the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies, housed on the Pellissippi Campus, continues to grow.

In 2009 TnCIS will offer 11 different options for students to learn, grow and have fun. All students enrolled in a Tennessee Board of Regents school may apply to participate.

Next year’s programs span the globe, and all of them offer students the chance to earn college credit while gaining international perspective on life, culture and business.

The 2009 travel opportunities and their cost:

• Ireland: May 10-June 1, $4,280
• Greece: May 11-May 30, $3,930
• Mexico: May 11-May 31, $2,745
• Spain: May 11-May 31, $3,420
• France: May 11-May 31, $3,900
• South Africa: May 11-June 1, $3,980
• Brazil: May 14-June 25, $4,140
• Jamaica: May 15-June 4, $2,680
• The Netherlands: May 30-June 28, $4,850
• Scotland: June 10-July 6, $4,440
• England: July 7-July 27, $4,850

Topics of study for the 2009 trips range from marketing to philosophy, Spanish to anthropology, astronomy to physics. Thirty faculty members from 12 TBR institutions will be teaching.

Students at all destinations will go on excursions in addition to attending class. Some trips require choosing one course of study, and others require two.

“TnCIS strives to make study abroad accessible to students across the state of Tennessee,” said Theresa Castillo, TnCIS program coordinator. “Our goal is to help internationalize our students’ education and prepare them to work and live in a truly global economy.”

Orientation for all 11 TnCIS programs is Saturday, March 28, in Middle Tennessee, and all participating students must attend. The exact time and location will be announced at the beginning of March on the TnCIS Web site and in the acceptance notification.

A passport is required for each destination, and students with an existing passport must ensure that it is valid for at least six months after the return date of the trip.

Students from non-TBR schools must be admitted to Pellissippi State or another TBR institution to take part in TnCIS study abroad.

Interested students may apply for financial aid through their home institution. A General Study Abroad Scholarship is available for Pellissippi State students who meet certain criteria. The deadline for the scholarship application is February 1, 2009.

Applications are available online on the TnCIS Web site. The deadline for applying is February 19. Late applications will be considered on a space-available basis.

To learn more about the study abroad programs or to complete an application, visit www.tncis.org or contact TnCIS at tncis@pstcc.edu or 539-7279.