Samantha Blons
Assistant News Editor
With priority deadline quickly approaching, it’s that time of year again — when freshmen choose which foreign country they want to make home the following year. Although Pepperdine’s year-long programs have historically received the most interest, the International Programs staff is working hard this fall to develop new and exciting summer programs to meet students’ ever-growing interest in studying abroad.
New programs for summer 2009 include three programs in Lausanne, an internship in Buenos Aires and a program in the Galapagos Islands. Also, the existing London Religion program will now be visiting Israel — the first time for a Pepperdine program in a decade, according to I.P. Dean Charles Hall. The University is also offering summer classes in the Shanghai Jia, which opened its doors to its first students this month.
Lausanne Running
Pepperdine is launching its first-ever athletic-based international program in summer 2009. Robert Radnoti, head coach of Pepperdine Cross Country, will teach a one-unit individualized exercise course in Lausanne, specially designed for Pepperdine athletes who are often unable to attend academic year international programs.
“We’ve been looking for opportunities — not just for our program, but for Athletics — to create for our athletes a summer opportunity where they can have a real full I.P. experience,” Radnoti said.
Lausanne is a perfect location, he said, because the Alps offer a high-altitude training experience for his team, and also the Swiss city is the headquarters for the International Olympic Committee.
Though track and cross country athletes can study abroad for a semester, sophomore Amanda Ajdari, a sprinter and hurdler on Pepperdine’s track team, said some hold back because they do not want to miss training or competitions.
“And [other] summer programs are a little more expensive. The five-week summer program in Lausanne is a little more appealing,” she said, referring to the three-week running program and the optional two-week Lausanne adventure program.
Though Radnoti and I.P. are encouraging athletes to apply, the program is open to all Pepperdine students. He said he will help create custom programs for each student, based on individual exercise goals and abilities.
“Whether it’s someone from our team, or someone from another sport, or anyone within Pepperdine, we’ll have a really good experience for them,” Radnoti said.
General education and upper division classes will not be offered in this program.
Lausanne Adventure (offered as an add-on program only)
This two-week excursion program is timed around the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival, a worldwide, annual cultural event in which artists perform in parks and pavilions. It is located about 15 minutes from Lausanne. Artists like Alicia Keys, Adele, M.I.A., Interpol and Sheryl Crow performed at the 2008 festival.
The program is open only to students as an add-on to the Lausanne humanities, French or internship programs, or to participants in the Lausanne Running program. The program charge will cover tickets to shows at the festival and also outdoor adventure excursions.
“What we’re trying to do is take advantage of the fact that students can stay in our facility, go to the festival and also do some adventure-type activities, [which may include] sailing, hiking, canoeing … rock climbing, mountain biking,” Hall said.
Though I.P. said students will not take official courses during Lausanne Adventure, Radnoti said he will be offering leadership training as part of the program.
Lausanne French Language
Students of Spanish have the opportunity to take upper division summer courses in a language immersion program at Pepperdine. In 2009, French students will be able to as well, at the Lausanne program in Switzerland. Students will pledge to speak only in French for the duration of the program, which offers courses in language and French culture. Participants will also spend one week in France.
Buenos Aires Internship
Last summer brought the new Lausanne internship program to the I.P. agenda, and in summer 2009, Pepperdine’s only South American
program will offer fresh opportunities to intern at a variety of Buenos Aires firms and non-profit organizations.
The I.P office suggests internships including La Nacion newspaper, Habitat For Humanity, Fulbright Foundation, law and accounting firms, doctors’ offices, banks and other local companies.
Galapagos Islands
Students will embark on a whirlwind tour of these tropical islands off the coast of Ecuador, at the site that inspired Charles Darwin’s theories of evolution. School of Law professor Ed Larson and biology professor Rodney Honeycutt will co-teach a course on evolutionary biology and one on the history of science and religion.
Students will spend the 18-day program living in hotel rooms and also on a ship touring the islands.
The courses offered fulfill the Religion 301 and Lab Science general education requirements.
London Religion (Field Trip to Israel)
An existing summer program to London will replace its past educational field trip with an excursion to Israel this coming summer, according to Hall.
London Religion, which offers general education courses in religion, has taken a tour of Paul’s Biblical journeys to Turkey and Greece.
“In the past, we haven’t been able to go to Israel [because] the perception is still there that it’s not safe,” Hall said. “But it really is. It’s as safe as Turkey.”
In the past, the University could not sponsor trips to Israel because its insurance policy would not cover it. However, special funding became available to supplement the University’s insurance. Hall said it has been at least 10 years since Pepperdine students last visited Israel with the University.
Students will visit the Jewish state for 7 to 10 days, though the details have not been worked out yet, Hall said.
Priority deadline for International Programs is Sept. 29 for summer 2009 and the 2009-2010 academic year. After that date, applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Apply online at seaver.pepperdine.edu/ internationalprograms
09-18-2008