Coimbatore, India
Overview
The Program
Program Locations
Academics
Housing and Meals
Scholarships
Faculty Leaders
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| Term | Start Date | End Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2025 | Jan 04, 2025 | Jan 18, 2025 | Oct 01, 2024 |
Language(s) of Instruction
English
No
No
No
Class Standing
Sophom*ore
Junior
Senior
3.0
Credits
3
Program Advisor
Delve into local traditions and practices in India!
Be part of this inaugural program that will broaden your understanding of Agro-Food practices through a blend of cultural immersion, educational exploration, and collaborative student engagement in partnership with Amrita Vishwavidyalaya (Amrita University, https://www.amrita.edu). You'll interact with faculty and students specializing in plant natural products, food, and agriculture. Beyond the classroom, you'll visit a selected rural village and experience daily life through the host institution's Live in Labs® initiative. Working alongside Amrita University students, you'll delve into local traditions and practices, leveraging your academic experience to craft sustainable solutions for community Agro-Food challenges.
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India
Coimbatore
The program is offered in partnership with Amrita University at the Coimbatore campus. Coimbatore is one of the major metropolitan cities in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Students have a unique opportunity to earn three academic credits. This experience is particularly valuable for students majoring in Plant Science or Food Science as it satisfies the required Experience-Based Education component at SEBS. Additionally, students pursuing a minor within the Plant Science undergraduate program (such as Plant Science, Agroecology, or Medicinal and Economic Botany) can apply this course toward their elective requirements. For students in other SEBS majors, these credits can also be used towards Experience-Based Education or elective courses, pending approval from the program director or advisor.
COURSE LEARNING GOALS:
- Describe how agricultural practices and food production in rural India differ from modern agriculture.
- Explain the use of plant natural products in cultural and medicinal practices in India (Ethnobotany).
- Identify ethnographic and ethnobotanical issues for rural villages in India through community engagement.
- Formulate through collaboration, possible solutions to those issues by applying pedagogical background and on-site observations and analyses.
The Live in Labs® program affiliated with Amrita University is a multidisciplinary experiential learning program that exposes students to challenges faced by rural communities within India. The students collaborate to develop sustainable solutions through an inclusive approach method and are encouraged “to think outside the box.”
To view the syllabus for this program, please clickhere (schedule will be finalized soon). Please note this is a sample schedule, and the content is subject to change. Because this is a community-based program, the schedule may change based on the availability of community access. The specifics of the Live in Labs® project will be clarified during the Fall semester.
- Interview: Upon submission of your application, our faculty leads will reach out to schedule an interview. This will ensure that you are aware of what is expected of you during the program and that you will have a successful study abroad experience.
- Pre-departure Orientation: A mandatory orientation session will be scheduled to cover travel logistics, details about South India, define learning goals, understand personal motivations for participation and engage in group activities to foster a collective learning journey. Additionally, the Rutgers Global Study Abroad office will provide pre-departure guidance regarding health, safety, and other pertinent travel essentials.
Students will stay in the Amrita University Coimbatore campus in dorms with double occupancy. Three South Indian vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be provided. The meals in this region are typically spicy but delicious. If you have concerns or would like more information about the food, please contact the faculty advisors. Vegan options will be available. You are also encouraged to pack some of your favorite non-perishable snacks to bring just in case!
Available to all Rutgers students participating in a Rutgers Global–Study Abroad program.Applications can be found inside of your study abroad program application. For more information, please visit the Scholarship section of our website.
GILMAN APPLICATION
October 2024 Deadline
- Application Opens mid-August
- Application Deadline – Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 11:59pm Pacific Time
Dr. Nrupali Patel is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Plant Biology. She is also the Undergraduate Program Director for the Plant Science program and the Assistant Dean of Academic Projects at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS). She teaches Plant Science and Principles of Botany classroom courses. Her research focuses on the molecular identification of new plant pathogens in the state of NJ and provides research opportunities to undergraduate students for Experience-Based Education credits.
Dr. Chitra Ponnusamy is an Assistant Teaching Professor, Undergraduate Program Director of Food Science, an academic adviser to Food Science majors and first-year adviser to SEBS/intended Food Science majors. She teaches courses in Food Science and is responsible for curriculum development for undergraduate Food Science Program. She strongly believes that exposure to different cultures can inspire students to pursue further academic studies or careers with an international focus.
