Courses
Mandatory Pre-Departure Course at Cornell
All students who are going to India through the India SVYM GSL program are required to complete NS 4620 in the spring, a one-credit pass/fail course designed to prepare students for their field experiences in India, Tanzania and Zambia. This course will cover important topics including preparation for life abroad, appreciating cultural diversity, health and safety, gender issues, politics and issues surrounding development work. Students will have the opportunity to work in small location-specific groups to gain country-specific knowledge where appropriate.
Please note, ILR students will not be able to pre-enroll and should bring add/drop forms to the first class.
The course will be held on Wednesdays, 3-4:10pm.
Courses in India at SVYM
Two-weeks of courses at the Vivekananda Institute of Indian Studies (VIIS) begin the Learning component of the India SVYM GSL program in Mysore, Karnataka, India. Courses are lecture-based, and taught by local professors or experts in their respective fields. All students will take three classes:
- Indian Civilization and Culture
- Gender Relations in India
- Indian Labor History and Current Workforce (for ILR students) or the Indian Health Care System (for GH students)
Students are welcome, but not required, to participate in the course specifically designed for the other group of students. Some classes will consist of course-related field experiences, such as a tour of a textile factory for Indian Labor History and Current Workforce or a government primary care hospital for the Indian Health Care System. Classes in Kannada (the official language of Karnataka) will be held in the afternoons. Yoga classes will be offered for all students studying at VIIS every morning.
Local outings and sightseeing excursions in Mysore and the surrounding area will be offered during the weekends. Previous excursions have included Chamundi Hills, Mysore Palace, Sravanabelagola (a Jain holy site) and various Hindu temples.
