This page has information about our semester programs in India. Click Here to learn more about our 3-week long January program.
Study abroad in Auroville, an international community along the tropical coast of southern India dedicated to promoting human unity. Participate in an academic program that fosters collaborative inquiry, critical thinking, and dialogue while exploring daily awareness practices such as yoga, non-violent communication, and meditation.
Through engagement with a holistic approach to world issues that encompasses inner, cultural, and outer processes, you broaden and deepen your understanding of sustainability issues. Opportunities to learn about and have hands on experience with habitat restoration, local organic food production, teaching in local schools, working with village action groups and more helps students build a growing theoretical and practical understanding of issues relating to local and global sustainability.
Empower yourself and learn to empower others through a process whereby what you learn is integrated with how you live.
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Explore Auroville, home to one of the world’s most successful eco-reforestation efforts, the Center for Renewable Energy, and an extremely productive tropical habitat restored from ecological disaster |
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Engage in service learning that benefits local communities. Opportunities include: performing habitat restoration, interning at an organic farm, teaching in a village school, and working with village action groups to build understanding of local and global sustainability issues
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Overnight at Sri Ramanamaharshi’s Ashram and climb Arunchala Mountain, locally believed to be the body of the Hindu God Shiva |
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Experience a guided sacred solo at Auroville’s Nature Camp outside Kodaikanal, home of verdant hills, waterfalls, and the ever elusive Kurinji flower |
was founded in 1968 with the intention of realizing human unity,
and is now home to approximately 2,000 individuals from over 40
nations around the world. Vibrant community culture and its expertise
in renewable energy systems, habitat restoration, ecology skills,
mindfulness practices, and holistic education make Auroville
one of the best places to study abroad in India.
Read more about Auroville and its location »
Group Dynamics (Comm 352) (4 cr.)
Learn to recognize and analyze the physical, social, economic, political, ethical, and spiritual elements that make up sustainable communities. Students build strong conceptual frameworks and have opportunities for real-world experience by developing a
learning community and engaging with established host communities.
Global and Local Sustainable Living (Env. Design 592A) (4 cr.)
Study the role of human history, language, education, physical landscape, society, and world view on shaping human-place relations.
Explore methods of strengthening these connections through use of ecological footprint analysis, ecological literacy, mindful awareness, community/societal action, and systems thinking.
Applications and Practices of Sustainable Living (Service Learning 397I) (4 cr.)
This field-based experience, combined with readings, dialogue, reflection and a project paper, introduces you to the history, methods, and meanings of sustainable development. Students select, implement, record, and evaluate an internship project in sustainable development during their ten-week stay in Auroville, India.
Body, Mind, and Spirit: Cultivating Personal Sustainability
(Int’l Ed 292C) (4cr.)
Study the importance of worldviews and how they affect human behavior
and the earth, and gain an appreciation for the historical
role of religions and spirituality in creating culture. In addition
to seminars, readings, reflective journaling, and discussion on
philosophical and spiritual movements that link inner transformation
with political and environmental action, this course explores
how practices such as yoga and meditation, holistic health, and
rituals expand perceptions about who we are and how we live.
Earn 16 transferable credits through the University of Massachusetts
Amherst
Find
out about transferring credits to your home school »
View the full curriculum for this program » |
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| Expert faculty help students build skills in ecology,
habitat restoration and group facilitation through workshops,
coursework, seminars and internships, which take place outdoors
and offer transferable college credit. More
photos » |
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Particpants form a strong and supportive learning community within the dynamic living community of Auroville.
More photos »
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| Weeks
1 & 2 |
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Introduction to the vision, mission and history of Auroville |
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Visit Auroville projects and explore potential service learning sites |
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Talk with and engage Auroville community members |
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Visit and explore significant sites in Pondicherry |
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Explore and learn about the local bioregion |
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Participate in group building activities and service projects |
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Development of community agreements |
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Introduction to the academic courses |
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| Weeks
3 - 9 |
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Development of individualized learning plans |
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Daily engagement in internships |
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Active participation in faculty and Aurovillian seminars on the personal, community, ecological and socio-economic aspects of sustainability |
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Participate in learning community meetings and activities |
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Travel to Tiruvannamalai and climb Mt. Arunachala |
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Travel to Madurai and explore sites of cultural and historic significance |
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Mid semester evaluations, assessments and learning celebration |
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| Weeks
10 - 11 |
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Travel to the Auroville Nature Camp outside of Kodaikanal |
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Engage in service work projects |
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Explore and learn about the areas local ecology |
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Participate in a two day, guided sacred solo |
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12 - 13 |
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Community stays in Auroville |
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Student led seminars |
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Facilitate and participate in learning community activities and meetings |
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| Week 14 |
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Reflect on, synthesize, and integrate the semesters learning |
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Final assessment and learning celebrations |
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Develop a post program life map |
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credit... Included