ISAT/Geography/Engineering/IDLS in Malta

Summer 2012: May 9 to June 9 (tentative dates)

Program Location

For over 15 years, James Madison University has organized a study abroad program in Malta, an island nation that is as rich and diverse as the island itself. Students explore the unique cultural, environmental, economic, and political issues of today’s Malta as they interact with Maltese citizens.  They are immersed into 7,000 years of history, as they meander the narrow, winding streets of Malta’s towns and visit ancient temples and grand palaces. The island has an extensive ancestry, connecting its customs, styles, and traditions to a myriad of cultures. As students step into its unique culture, they step into a world of adventure.

Megaliths, medieval dungeons and Calypso's Cave – The Maltese Islands are positively mythic. The narrow meandering streets of their towns and villages are crowded with Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces. As the countryside is dotted with the oldest known human structures in the world, the Islands have rightly been described as an open-air museum.

The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, with Malta 93km south of Sicily and 288km north of Africa. The archipelago consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino with a total population of 400,000 inhabitants over an area of 316sq km and a coastline of 196.8km (not including 56.01 km for the island of Gozo).

Malta is the largest island and the cultural, commercial and administrative centre. Gozo is the second largest island and is more rural, characterised by fishing, tourism, crafts and agriculture while Comino is largely uninhabited.

With superbly sunny weather, expansive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do. With a little help from any guidebook, captivating places of interest are immediately identified – the world famous Hypogeum selected as a place of World Heritage by UNESCO, prehistoric temples and grand palaces are but a few.

The long relationship between the Islanders and the various nationalities that occupied Malta over the centuries has created a marriage of styles and traditions, giving the Islands a fascinating eclectic culture.  True to the melting pot of cultural influences, the national languages are English and Maltese.
Text taken from VisitMalta Limited

Academic Program

ISAT, Geographic Science, Engineering, and IdLS students earn 6 credits, 3 on a field study project-oriented course and an additional 3 credits for participation in Sustainable Societies which includes lectures; tours of cultural, historical, educational, and commercial sites; and Malta exploration assignments that require travel around the island.

ISAT students can apply their 3 project course credits toward their concentration. Geographic Science and Engineering students earn at least 3 major credits. IdLS students will receive 6 hours of credit in their IdLS concentration and will have the opportunity to research how content relevant to their concentration is taught in multiple school contexts.

Each participant will take one of the first four courses listed above plus the last (fifth) course listed.

Tentative course offerings:
ISAT 416/480: International Studies in ISAT, (3)
GEOG 491: International Studies in Geography, (3)
ENGR 480: Advanced Projects in Engineering, (3)
IDLS 391: School-based Research, Ecology, or Human Genetics, (3)
ISAT 480: Sustainable Societies, (3)

The Malta program is a blend of instruction in the Sustainable Societies class and field-study projects which fulfill the requirements of the other classes.

Instruction includes lectures; tours of cultural, historical, educational, and commercial sites; and Malta exploration assignments that require travel around the island.  Students will also work on various projects at locations throughout Malta.  Each student will pick a project before arriving in Malta and work to complete it during the four week class.  Instructors and project mentors include JMU professors, University of Malta professors, and expert Malta citizens.

Student assessments for the Sustainable Societies class include graded assignments, reports, and a “sustainability scenarios” debate.  Student projects will be assessed through peer assessment, oral presentation, and final project report.  

There are no visa or immunization requirements for US citizens.  Malta is a well developed country and a member of the European Union.  English is well understood and travel around the island is relatively easy and safe.

Students interested in this program should attend an information session that will be scheduled during the fall semester. 

Tentative Itinerary/Schedule:
May 9 (Wednesday): Arrive in Malta, check in followed by group dinner
May 10-11: Orientation meetings, Valletta tour, Maltese introduction, project  orientations
May 15-16: (Saturday/Sunday): Tours, free time, “getting to know San Gwann group dinner

Weeks of May 14, May 21, May 28, and June 4
Monday and Friday: Lectures; tours of cultural, historical, educational, and commercial sites; Malta exploration assignments (require travel around the island)
Tuesday through Thursday: Project work at locations throughout Malta
Saturday and Sunday: Group tours including a village festa, the islands of Comino and Gozo (overnight), and Mdina; free time for exploration

June 8 (Friday): Final project presentations at University of Malta’s Aula Magna in Valletta followed by a farewell group dinner
June 9 (Saturday): Depart

Accommodations

Students will be house in residence halls in Malta. Some group meals will be provided.

Program Costs

For the current projected costs for this program, please click on the following link to the Fees for JMU Study Abroad Programs page.

Application

For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs.

In addition to the Short-term Application, interested students should submit an essay and a program-specific addendum application. Applicants must have rising Junior or Senior class standing and faculty recommendation.

For More Information

For additional information about the ISAT/Geography/Engineering/IdLS in Malta program, please contact the program directors:

Paul Goodall
Associate Professor
Integrated Science and Technology
Tel.: 540-568-2711
E-mail: goodalpb@jmu.edu

Amy Goodall
Associate Professor
Integrated Science and Technology
Tel.: 540-568-2688
E-mail: goodalal@jmu.edu

Keith Holland
Assistant Professor
Tel.: 540-568-5243
E-mail: hollansk@jmu.edu

Fletcher Linder
Associate Professor
IdLS
Tel.: 540-568-5270
E-mail: lindergf@jmu.edu

Jonathan Miles
Professor
Integrated Science and Technology
Tel.: 540-568-3044 (support) 
E-mail: milesjj@jmu.edu