Study Abroad

Tahiti

Spring 2012

Tiki in Tahiti The faculty director for the Spring 2012 Tahiti program will be Professor Ron Warnet, and the program will be based at Simpson's partner institution, the University of French Polynesia (UPF) on the South Pacific island of Tahiti.
Tahiti, with its French colonial background and Polynesian heritage, is a setting that allows students to have a rich cultural experience through the combination of Western and non-Western traditions in one location. It also gives participants the opportunity to experience life in a location very different from Iowa-that of a tropical island.

All students, regardless of major, are welcome to participate in this semester-long study abroad program. Given that French is the language of communication in Tahiti and the language of instruction at UPF, participation in the program carries a prerequisite of one college-level French class (minimum 3-credit hours) or permission of the faculty director. Even this minimal language background will prime participants to make faster linguistic progress in country.

Students on the program will take a core of courses designed specifically for them: a level-appropriate French-for-foreigners course, Introduction to Polynesian Culture and Tahitian language, and a study abroad reflection course taught in English by the Simpson faculty director . The Introduction to Polynesian Culture and Tahitian language course will be offered by a UPF instructor in French, and the course will fulfill Simpson's Cornerstone 7 requirement.

In addition to the core courses, participants will have the option of several electives. The faculty director will offer a course focused on the vegetation in Tahiti, how it has historically been used for food, drugs, spices, and fiber, and how it is now being utilized in today's modern society.   Study abroad students will also be permitted to enroll in regularly offered classes at the University with the instructor's permission, as per their language level, academic interests, and curricular needs.

Students will live in a dormitory with kitchen priveledges with others on the program, and they will receive a regular meal stipend with which to purchase food for themselves.  A couple of weekend stays with host families during the program will give students the opportunity to learn more about Tahitian culture and society first hand.

Cost of the program
To participate in the program, students pay Simpson tuition, room and board plus a program fee of between $2,500 - $3,000. In addition, students are also responsible for covering their air transportation costs to and from Tahiti ($1,481 from Los Angeles or $1,860.80 from Des Moines) as well as the cost of their French student visa (approximately $150)

Requirements
Students must take a one-credit hour orientation course (or its online equivalent) during the fall semester preceding the semester in Tahiti. Students must also have a grade point average of at least 2.5 both at the time of application for the program, and at the time of departure in order to be able to study abroad. As mentioned previously, students must also have successfully completed one college-level French course (minimum 3-credit hours).

To apply for admission to the program, the following items need to be submitted to Simpson College's Office of International Education by Friday, March 11, 2011:

  • Two copies of the completed study abroad application form
  • A 1-2 page personal statement explaining why you're interested in this semester program and how it fits into your educational goals.
  • A copy of your current degree audit or an unofficial transcript from your home institution. 
  • The names, email addresses, and phone numbers for two people who can serve as references (neither of whom are related to you, and at least one of which should be a college or university professor who knows your work well).
  • A copy of the data page from your passport, if you already have it, but if you don’t already have a passport, then provide a copy of your completed passport application (with your SSN blacked out).
  • Proof of having made a non-refundable $200 deposit payment to the Business Office.

When you drop off your application materials at the Office of International Education, you will be asked to sign up for a 15-minute interview with the Program Director and the International Education Coordinator, which will take place during the week of Mar. 21, 2011.

Students will be notified of their status in the Tahiti program during the week of Mar. 28, 2011.  A second deposit payment of $300 will be due by Oct. 14, 2011.

Final program payment is due to be paid with Spring Semester tuition, room, and board prior to December 31, 2011.


For more information, contact:

Tiki Village

Ron Warnet
Program Director
Professor of Chemistry
(515) 961-1827 
ron.warnet@simpson.edu

or

Jay Wilkinson
International Education Coordinator
Simpson College
701 North C Street
Indianola, IA 50125
(515) 961-1288
toll free (800) 362-2454, ext. 1288
jay.wilkinson@simpson.edu

Last Updated: 11/18/11