What you need to ask OSEA
[OSEA answers are in next section below] |
What you need to ask yourself |
| 1 |
What formal outcomes
are expected from field school participants? (assignments, reading,
etc.)
|
Do you accept the
responsibility for these outcomes? |
| 2 |
What is expected from students
in terms of their participation in the field school?
|
Do these expectations fit your
own personality, interests and needs? |
| 3 |
What is the methodological focus
and orientation of the program?
|
Does this coincide with your own
personal and intellectual preferences? |
| 4 |
What is the time commitment for
field school participants? A. What is the overall duration of
the program? |
Does the duration of the program
fit your own schedule? |
| 5 |
What is the length of time commitment
for field school participants? B. How many hours per day &
per week are devoted seminars, research, rest/downtime, recreation,
independent study? |
Does the daily and weekly commitment
suit your personality and willingness to engage in the work commitments? |
| 6 |
What is the relationship between
the host community and the field school? |
Do you find this to be appropriate
and does it concord with your own expectations for involvement
in the life of the community?
Do you prefer to interact with the host community on an individual
basis or in a group setting? |
| 7 |
What are the language requirements
and prerequisites? |
Do you satisfy these language prerequisites
and can you meet these requirements? |
| 8 |
What are there other course requirements
and prerequisites? |
Do you satisfy these course prerequisites
and can you meet these requirements? |
| 9 |
How much and what kind of structure
does the field school provide students? |
A. Do you like to work in a group
or independently?
B. Do you feel more comfortable alone or in a group setting?
C. How much daily structure and day to day supervision and do
you want and do you need? |
| 10 |
Where does the program take place
— in what cultural and social settings? What aspects of
the program are conducted in what places? |
Do you want to spend time in these
cultural and social settings? Are these places you want to visit
and to be in? |
| 11 |
What kinds of security, health,
diet, climate, travel issues? |
Will you feel safe and comfortable
in these settings and with these issues? |
| 12 |
How much and what kind of guidance
and mentorship are provided participants? |
Is this the kind and quantity of
supervision that you seek? |
| 13 |
Does the program have an on-site
orientation period?Is there a pre-travel orientation meeting?
If so, when are these and what kind of issues are discussed? |
What kind of an orientation do
you need? What issues do I need to be covered in a more extensive
manner? |
| 14 |
How many course credits is the
OSEA program worth? Are the OSEA credits transferable? |
How many course credits do I need?
Do I have to transfer credits? Can I get concurrent enrollment
at my home institution (ask study abroad office)? |
| What you need to ask OSEA |
OSEA Answers |
| 1 |
What formal outcomes
are expected from field school participants? (assignments, reading,
etc.)
|
Participants are expected
to complete a brief reading assignment prior to arrival and to
perform normal classroom activities of reading, writing, discussion,
and presentations during seminar period
Participants design and conduct their own research projects; these
projects result in written, final products that include various
forms of documentation, description, and analysis
Research by graduate students is expected to produce materials
of publishable quality |
| 2 |
What is expected from students
in terms of their participation in the field school?
|
Strong commitment & openness
to experience and learn from the OSEA staff, fellow participants,
host families, and other community members is required; willingness
to accept responsibility and to devote time and energy to one’s
learning is mandatory |
| 3 |
What is the methodological focus
and orientation of the program?
|
Training focuses on qualitative
methods within a humanist framework |
| 4 |
What is the time commitment for
field school participants? A. What is the overall duration of
the program? |
Winter Quarter is an 11 week program
Summer Field School varies from 4-6 weeks |
| 5 |
What is the length of time commitment
for field school participants? B. How many hours per day &
per week are devoted seminars, research, rest/downtime, recreation,
independent study? |
Initial period of OSEA programs
are seminar based (4-5 hrs a day for 3-4 days a week, 3-4 hrs
reading & study time a day); during research participants
are expected to devote 4-7 hrs a day to their projects |
| 6 |
What is the relationship between
the host community and the field school? |
OSEA is total cultural and linguistic
immersion; participants are expected to immerse themselves in
the family and social life of the community |
| 7 |
What are the language requirements
and prerequisites? |
Summer: intermediary Spanish (1
year college)
Winter: basic Spanish (1 yr college or HS Spanish)
OSEA is not a language school, but offers Spanish coursework directed
for field research use |
| 8 |
What are there other course requirements
and prerequisites? |
Minimum 1 year introductory courses
to Anthropology or equivalent in Sociology, Cultural Studies,
and related fields strongly recommended; waivers under special
circumstances |
| 9 |
How much and what kind of structure
does the field school provide students? |
Formal structure of time and activities
is provided with initial seminar period; research period requires
students to create their structure with close supervision and
guidance from staff.
Participants can design collaborative or individual research projects;
assignments include collaboration and group activities |
| 10 |
Where does the program take place
— in what cultural and social settings? What aspects of
the program are conducted in what places? |
Primary site is the semi-rural
Maya community of Pisté, Yucatán, México;
additional sites include the capital city Mérida and the
nearby rural communities in both Yucatán & Quintana
Roo |
| 11 |
What kinds of security, health,
diet, climate, travel issues? |
There are no issues regarding physical
safety or security in terms of social dangers and politics. México
is politically stable and safe for all foreign students. Yucatán
is a major tourism destination and is well recognized for its
hospitality please see health, climate, travel issues [links] |
| 12 |
How much and what kind of guidance
and mentorship are provided participants? |
Seminar activities are formally
structured & designed to give participants ability to conduct
independent research
Participants design their own research project, which must be
meet specific requirements for the organization of time, activities,
and goals;
Participants are closely supervised during independent research
& meet regularly to inform each other of progress during field
workshops;
One-on-one with staff always available for guidance |
| 13 |
Does the program have an on-site
orientation period?Is there a pre-travel orientation meeting?
If so, when are these and what kind of issues are discussed? |
OSEA programs have an on-site orientation
program dealing with all issues of housing, home stays, cultural
adaptations & norms, and formal responsibilities and obligations |
| 14 |
How many course credits is the
OSEA program worth? Are the OSEA credits transferable? |
OSEA programs have variable credit
offerings.
OSEA credits are transferable
Concurrent enrollment may be available at your university [credits
appear directly on transcript] |
