Southeast Asia in Context

National University of Singapore
22 June – 23 July 2010

Students must arrive by: Saturday 19 June 2010

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• Course Description
• Target Audience
  
• Delivery Method
• Assessment Details
• Accommodation
  
• Costs
• Further Information

Course Description

This course is a five-week ground-breaking thematically based exploration of Southeast Asia’s geographical and cultural diversity, which takes advantage of Singapore’s position and character as a microcosm of this diversity. It offers modules on Southeast Asian Studies with archaeological, anthropological and historical concentration. It also blends classroom instruction on NUS Kent Ridge campus with hands-on fieldwork at sites in Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

This course is available at two levels, Introductory and Advanced. Both levels emphasize the culture, history, and contemporary lives of Southeast Asians, including both urban and rural dwellers. Students must indicate which level they wish to participate in on the GSP Application Form. The introductory level prepares students for the intensive field trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Destination highlights include rice farming villages in Northeast Thailand, Ayutthaya, Bangkok and Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. The advanced level course prepares students for the field trip to Indonesia (Java) where students will visit Borobudur, Yogyakarta and traditional Gamelan communities.

Target Audience

The following pre-requisites apply to non-NUS applicants:

Introductory Level
All full-time undergraduate students with strong interest in Southeast Asian Studies are eligible. Applications will be assessed based on recruitment criteria and procedure administered by each participating university in consultation with the NUS Southeast Asian Studies Programme.

Advanced Level
Applicants should have some background knowledge in Southeast Asian Studies based on one or more of the following criteria:
(1) have enrolled in at least one introductory course on Southeast Asian Studies
(2) is an alumni of a previous introductory level summer school
(3) have some command of a Southeast Asian language, especially Bahasa Indonesia

Applications will be assessed based on recruitment criteria and procedure administered by each participating university in consultation with the NUS Southeast Asian Studies Programme.

Delivery Method

Classes will be held every day in the morning and afternoon throughout the course, except during field trips. Each class session will last 2 hours. There will also be lectures and discussions throughout the field trips.

Assessment

In general, all modules offered will be assessed based on the following components:

Class attendance and participation: 10%
2 x Reflection Essays (1, 000 words each): 20%
1 x Assignment on Southeast Asian history and culture in Singapore: 20%
1 x Field Trip Report (5, 000 words): 50%

Accommodation

Prince George's Park Residences (PGPR) is located Prince George's Park Road, off South Buona Vista road, and next to King Edward VII Hall. This residential complex offers 2854 single rooms.

The single rooms are grouped into clusters of 15 and offer its residents an apartment lifestyle. The 15 residents in each cluster are entrusted with collective responsibility for their shared facilities. Each cluster has its own kitchen, dining area, and bathroom facilities. The cluster lifestyle exposes students to independent living and also offers excellent opportunities for close interaction. 10% of the single rooms (Type A) are air-conditioned, with attached bathrooms, 20% of these are Type B, (single room with washbasin), and remaining 70% are standard Type C rooms.

Points for personal telephone, television and computer linkage to the university's network and the Internet, are provided in every room.

PGPR also houses a lecture theatre, seminar rooms, a multi-purpose hall, gymnasium, basketball and tennis courts, a jogging track, an exercise station, mini-supermarket, four food outlets and other service outlets. Distributed throughout the whole residence, are air-conditioned lounges, television rooms, meetings and reading rooms. PGPR is conveniently linked to the Faculties and other key facilities on campus via a shuttle service.

A typical Type B (Wash basin in-room, shared common toilets and showers)room has a floor area of approximately 9.5 square metres. The single bed provides a comfortable night's rest while the writing table, drawers and bookshelves allows you to work without interruption. You will also find little features such as a towel rack, a pin-up board, and a full-height wardrobe to make your stay more comfortable.

Residents share a common shower room (4 shower cubicles) and toilet (4 toilet cubicles) as well as a fully equipped kitchen located centrally on each level. Please note that cooking utensils are not provided.

Costs (Singapore Dollars)

Tuition fee: SGD $3,000
Tuition fee per module is SGD $1,500. Students are required to register for two modules each (applies to both introductory and advance levels).

Miscellaneous compulsory fees for enrolled students (Summer term at NUS): SGD $69.13 (Subject to change)

Accommodation: Approx. SGD $450 – 5 weeks on-campus accommodation (Subject to change)

Field-trip costs: SGD $1,500 (Subject to change)

Includes field-trip airfares, transport, accommodation and admission to field sites.

Estimated visa cost: SGD $40

Estimated text book costs: SGD $100–$150

Estimated living expenses: SGD $600 to $750
Meals – weekly on-campus $90–$120 (Off campus will be higher)
Transportation (public buses and trains – 3 weeks) $100–$150
Compulsory fees for enrolled students: $69.13 (subject to change)

Further Information

For further information about this course, visit www.fas.nus.edu.sg/sea/undergrad/summerSchool.html.