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Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2010!

China. Few countries evoke the same curiosity, myriad images, and intense fascination. With 5,000 years of history and an expansive tapestry of cultures, this country generously presents our Semester adventurers with a fascinating semester experience. With a full thirteen weeks, we seize the opportunity to understand the reality of China’s transition. With a unique approach, Dragons’ semester in China does more than introduce the contemporary China that is seen in the country’s burgeoning cities; our course takes us deep among this country’s various faces and across disparate urban and rural landscapes. Exploring little-seen sides of this vast land, we challenge many preconceived Western notions about this country. We venture into remote areas where China is still dramatically underdeveloped. We explore regions of extraordinary natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Inventive travel experiences are balanced with a strong language curriculum and a comprehensive, inter-disciplinary exploration of Modern Chinese history and economic development, society, and cultural tradition.
 
Kunming - southeast of the Tibetan Plateau, within a few days’ reach of Burma, Laos and Vietnam  – is our home for six weeks of the program. This “city of eternal spring” is the capital of China’s southwest Yunnan Province, and it is an ideal location from which we explore Han Chinese/minority relations, economic reforms and development, environmental concerns, and China’s rich history. Through classes, lectures, discussions and mentorships we explore traditional Chinese approaches to healing, cooking, body discipline, art and music-making. In Kunming, students live independently with Chinese host families, many of whom represent the “new class” within contemporary society. At the Dragons Program House, we gather for Chinese language study, work on Independent Study Projects, hear lectures from visiting scholars, and cook traditional meals with fresh foods purchased at the local market.

Two travel segments bookend our Kunming experience, with options to sink deep into Central Asian culture in China’s Northwestern Provinces, or traverse the dramatic valleys of the Hengduan Mountains in Northwestern Yunnan, or connect lost and forgotten Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries, or cross ancient stone bridges to link Southeastern villages. With a broad curriculum and an itinerary designed to explore both thriving urban centers and back-water undeveloped villages, our China semester offers an unparalleled comprehensive overview of today’s China.

** The China Semester is accredited through Prescott College, and students can opt to receive up to four 4-credit courses, though Prescott charges an additional fee.  See "College Accreditation" link below for more information.