International Course Abroad:
DYNM 753/754: China in Transition: The Context and Consequences of Economic Reform and Opening to the Outside World
Program Structure
Class Attendance and Requirements
Since each ICA program is a Penn graduate course, attendance in classes held before, during, and after travel, unless the course professor provides an exception, is required. In addition, each ICA requires one or more written paper(s) to be delivered on the date(s) set in the course syllabus.
On-Campus Meetings
All ICA on-campus classes meet on Monday evenings. Organizational Dynamics teaching faculty set the curriculum, readings, topics, and course evaluation requirements. In some cases, international faculty cooperating with the Penn ICA faculty may visit the campus to deliver lectures prior to travel.
Prior to departure, registered students are provided with information that will minimize the culture shock that is inevitable when traveling with a group and in an unfamiliar environment. Topics include business etiquette, language, cultural expectations, personal security and safety, and group travel tips. Information about necessary immunizations and other health issues is also provided before departure.
Traditional Academics
Organizational Dynamics arranges for experts at partner educational institutions abroad to provide lectures about important issues facing the region's business, cultural, educational, legal, and political communities. These lectures provide participants with direct information, the opportunity for question and answer periods, and, when appropriate, follow-up meetings.
Organizations/Government
These lectures and presentations bring students face-to-face with leaders of the region. Through meetings (generally held at their facilities and agencies) with company executives, public service diplomats, and senior administrators, students can observe how organizations operate abroad, how global market forces are perceived in the region visited, and what the organizational lecturers perceive as current and future problems.
Culture
Throughout the ICA, there are many opportunities to learn about the host country's culture and its influence on local society. These include planned group events such as city tours or excursions to significant historical areas; receptions with other students abroad; and interview assignments with an established network of contacts. As well, each ICA provides free time where one can explore the area without an academic agenda.
Role of Faculty and Staff
Leading each ICA program is a member of the Organizational Dynamics teaching faculty. Coordinating the course and participating while abroad is a member of an academic institution in the region visited. Most ICA programs also have a logistics coordinator from the Organizational Dynamics Program Office. Logistics coordinators and faculty have extensive experience and can provide important assistance as interpreters of the local language and/or culture.
The role of faculty is to plan and lead the academic components of the program and to help coordinate the travel itinerary in cooperation with local faculty and speakers. The role of the logistics coordinator is to manage everyday details and to support faculty and, where appropriate, student needs.
Tuition for DYNM 753/754
The tuition for an International Course Abroad program takes into account the within-country travel and accommodations costs, academic costs while abroad, and the number of anticipated students in each section.
Tuition for Penn Graduate Students
DYNM 753/754 is valued at 2 course units (CUs). Tuition is as follows*:
- University Tuition ~ $9166.00
- GSAS General Fee~ $520.00
- Program Fee ~ $4500.00
- Total cost ~ $14,186.00
- Tuition includes:
- ~academic course tuition
- ~academic course materials (books and other educational resources)
- ~group travel to and from JFK airport in New York
- ~air travel to and from the primary cities (New York, Beijing, Shanghai)
- ~academic-required group transits between cities in China (including airline, ground transportation, and transfers while with the class)
- ~academic-required overnight (business class) accommodations (including breakfasts)
- ~some group meals (lunches and dinners) connected to academic activities
- Tuition does not include:
- ~non-group, non-academic meals
- ~personal phone, fax, laundry or other discretionary interests
- ~travel documents (passports, visas, photos, etc.)
- ~health insurance and immunizations
- ~travel insurance
- ~individual excursions/side trips
*Note: Tuition is per student based on single occupancy (each person has a single room). A discount of up to $800 may be available if a hotel room is shared while in China. See reservation form for more information.
Registration and Billing
Students interested DYNM 753/754 must complete three steps.
- Complete and submit to the Program office an ICA Reservation Form.
- Send a deposit of $500.00. Make your check payable to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and mail it to the Program Office with your Reservation Form.
- Log in to the Program Website and register for DYNM 753/754 using the online Registration Form during Open Registration beginning March 15, 2009.
Confirmation of receipt of the ICA Reservation Form and deposit will be sent by email. AFTER we receive the ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM, final confirmation of course enrollment will be sent by US mail. Tuition (less the deposit) will be billed as a standard University tuition bill.
Critical Dates
If the participant cancels an ICA reservation/registration prior to or on April 1, 2009, the deposit will be refunded.
If the participant cancels the ICA reservation/registration on or after April 2, 2009, the deposit is non-refundable, unless a substitute participant (not previously registered) is found to take the canceled space. If the participant cancels the ICA reservation/registration so close to travel time (this date will vary, depending on the course registered for) that hotel, meals, and/or intra-country transportation costs have already been charged to Organizational Dynamics, the participant will be responsible for these charges, in addition to the deposit.
DYNM 753/754 is a graduate course, not a vacation. All students are expected to be present once a program begins, and to remain until the program ends.
Travel and Logistics
Airline Tickets
International airline tickets (from the U.S. to the arrival city and from the departure city to the U.S.) and all travel between cities in China is included with the course fees. Individual routing, including arrival before a program begins or extended stays after a program ends are permitted but must be arranged by the participant directly with the travel agent. Students who make special arrangements for arrival or departure (rather than traveling with the group) may also need to make and pay for their own transportation arrangements to and from the airport (arrival and/or departure). For information about how to reach the travel agent to request special arrangements, please contact Chris Angelucci in the program office.
Accommodations
Hotel accommodations in Beijing are described here: Crowne Plaza Beijing
Hotel accommodations in Shanghai are described here: Equatorial Hotel Shanghai
Rooms are single occupancy (double occupancy may be available in special cases). Breakfasts are included as part of the package.
Documents
A valid passport is necessary for international travel. A passport should be applied for as far in advance of travel as possible to allow time for processing. If you already have a valid passport, be sure to check the expiration date, and, if your passport expires by December 2009, consider renewing it now. More and more countries are requiring that passports be valid for six months AFTER the intended visit, and consequently some airlines will not permit travel without extended validity.
Travel to China also requires a Chinese Visa which is a stamp or endorsement placed by officials of China on a passport that allows the bearer to visit China. Information about the Chinese Visa is available here: http://www.passportsandvisas.com/visas/china-visa-faq.asp. Please contact the Program office if you have questions about how to acquire the Visa.
NOTE: It is better to be safe than sorry! Penalties for late withdrawal from classes, as described on this webpage, will not be waived for participants who cancel close to departure time because of passport or visa problems.
Health Insurance
The University of Pennsylvania strongly recommends that students studying abroad obtain health insurance coverage - valid overseas - to protect against the costs of hospitalization and physician care in the event of sickness or accident before departing, and should be aware of their individual insurance company's policies regarding international travel. NOTE: Health insurance offered through the University of Pennsylvania is valid overseas. Each student is solely responsible for obtaining his/her own insurance coverage.
Side Trips
Personal side trips during the course - when free time is scheduled - are at the participant's risk and should be undertaken only with the knowledge of the academic and logistics directors. No reductions in fare and/or partial refunds can be granted to participants who voluntarily deviate from the group itinerary or who depart the program prematurely. For persons who depart early due to medical or bereavement reasons, every effort will be made to recover any remaining accommodation and travel expenses.
Spouses or Companions
As each ICA is a graduate course, spouses or significant others are not permitted to participate unless they themselves are registered as Penn graduate students, members of the Penn faculty, or members of the Organizational Dynamics Exchange Network (ODEN).
Cancellations
The Organizational Dynamics Program reserves the right to cancel any study program for any reason before the date of departure. If the Organizational Dynamics Program cancels any ICA for any reason before the date of departure, all monies received are refunded. ICA programs also may be canceled due to lack of enrollment. Participants will then be notified 30 days prior to departure. In such cases, the Organizational Dynamics Program cannot assume the cost of individual travel arrangements made by participants prior to 30 days before departure. For this reason, it is recommended that personal airline tickets not be issued prior to 30 days, or that trip cancellation insurance be purchased.
If the participant cancels an ICA reservation/registration prior to or on April 1, 2009, the deposit will be refunded.
NOTE: If the participant cancels the ICA reservation/registration on or after April 2, 2009, the deposit is non-refundable, unless a substitute participant (not previously registered) is found to take the canceled space. If the participant cancels the ICA reservation/registration so close to travel time (this date will vary, depending on the course registered for) that hotel, meals, and/or intra-country transportation costs have already been charged to Organizational Dynamics, the participant will be responsible for these charges, in addition to the deposit.
Travel Protection Insurance
Students should consider the purchase of travel protection and trip cancellation insurance from the travel agency (ABC Destinations) or another provider. This type of insurance can cover costs of trip cancellation or other expenses incurred before or during travel abroad. The travel agency offers insurance at a cost of $139 - $159 per person. For more information, please contact Chris Angelucci.
ODEN: Tuition for Members of the Organizational Dynamics Exchange Network (ODEN) and Penn Faculty
Members of ODEN and Penn faculty may attend the China program as non-credit, non-degree participants. ODEN members and Penn faculty will travel as full participants in all activities while abroad but will not be responsible for assigned academic work. ODEN members and Penn faculty will not receive academic books or reading materials unless requested at the time of registration.
Registration of ODEN Members and Faculty
Members of ODEN and Penn faculty interested in attending the China program as a non-credit/non degree participant must register by completing the ODEN ICA Reservation Form and sending a $500 deposit check (payable to Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania) to the Program Office, by Thursday, March 12, 2009. Reservation forms received after this date will be accepted on a standby basis. Confirmation of registration will be sent by US mail. Fees will be billed Wednesday, April 9, 2009 and are due prior to departure.
3401 Walnut Street
Suite 328A
Philadelphia, PA 19104
T: 215-898-6967
F: 215-898-8934
SAS: School of Arts and Sciences
University of Pennsylvania