The United States Embassy in Armenia is pleased to announce the Study of the United States Institutes Summer 2011. The program is designed as a rigorous six-week faculty level seminar hosted at U.S. universities for multinational professional groups (see eligibility criteria below). The purpose of the institutes is to provide participants from countries worldwide with a deeper understanding of American society, culture, and institutions, past and present, in order to strengthen curricula and improve the quality of teaching about the U.S. in college, university, and secondary school classrooms abroad. This year SEVEN institute programs are offered:
1. U.S. Culture and Society
2. American Politics and Political Thought
3. Contemporary American Literature
4. U.S. Foreign Policy
5. Journalism and Media
6. Religious Pluralism in the U.S.
7.Institute for Secondary School Educators
Program Requirements and
Restrictions: Participants are expected to attend the entire program. They are also expected to attend all lectures and non-optional organized activities, and complete assigned readings. Family members and/or friends cannot accompany participants on any part of the program. Please note that teaching methodology and pedagogical techniques will not be addressed formally in the institutes. The institutes are very intensive and there will be very little time for personal pursuits unrelated to the program. While the equivalent of one day a week will be set aside for faculty-assisted curricular research and independent study, the institute should not be viewed as a research program.
Eligibility: Applicants should be citizens of Armenia, mid-career, typically between the ages of about 30-50, highly-motivated and experienced professionals from institutions of higher education as well as secondary school educators (including teacher trainers, department chairs, curriculum developers, textbook writers). The ideal candidate will be an experienced professional with little or no recent study experience in the U.S., whose home institution is seeking to introduce aspects of U.S. studies into its curricula; to develop new courses in the subject of the institute; to enhance and update existing courses on the United States, or to offer specialized seminars/workshops for professionals in U.S. studies areas related to the program theme. Very good knowledge of English is required as the seminars are conducted in English.
Program Funding: The U.S. Government will cover all institute costs, i.e. international travel and allowances; domestic travel and ground transportation; book, cultural, mailing and incidental allowances; admissions; housing and subsistence.