ECE Study Tour Busan, South Korea 2015 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION STUDY TOUR Earn Your Early Childhood Education Certificate APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE
Welcome Thanks for your interest in studying abroad in Busan, South Korea! What is the Early Childhood Education Study Tour Program? The ECE Study Tour Program gives Pierce College students the opportunity to earn your State Initial Certificate in ECE to qualify as an assistant teacher in Head Start or ECEAP. The ECE study tour program is 5 weeks long with a requirement that you complete 12 credits. Once admitted to the program, students will then register for all three courses through Pierce College- the price for the course will be no different than regular cost of tuition at Pierce College. All courses in this program will be held overseas in Busan, South Korea. Additional costs will be airfare, food and board. Our partnership with DongJu College in Busan, Korea will provide lodging at $10/day and the price of food in Korea is very cheap and you can eat for about $5-$10/meal. You may also use financial aid to pay for your tuition during the Summer Quarter Study Tour. Please check with your advisor to make sure the program and cost fit with your academic and financial aid plan. When will the 2015 ECE Study Tour Occur? The ECE Study Tour will be to Busan, South Korea from July 5-August 12 What will we be doing? You will be in classes from 9 am until 5 pm Monday through Thursday with a one hour lunch break. Classes will be held at the DongJu College Campus and co-taught by Pierce College Professors and DongJu College Professors. Your class time also includes practicum hours in a kindergarden or preschool classroom. After classes and on Fridays your instructors may have cultural engagement events they offer, or you will have free time to explore the city. You will be staying in dorms on DongJu Campus. Study Tour Expectations What You Can Expect In order for us to fulfill our program s mission and goals, it is imperative that all participants fully engage in all aspects of their Study Tour. Being a Study Tour participant requires time, energy, and commitment, including meeting requirements before, during, and after the Study Tour. Below are details about what we expect of Study Tour participants:
We Expect That You Will If you are not a current Pierce College Student you must apply to Pierce College before signing up to take the ECE certificate courses. Attend the required pre-trip meeting. Apply for financial aid if needed. Scholarships are available for the first 10 participants. Participate actively in all aspects of your trip, including classes, reflection, and activities. You will respect others in your group and be willing to cooperate. You will be flexible, open-minded, and responsible as a representative of Pierce College. Understand that the use of drugs and/or alcohol is not allowed on this trip. Obtain a passport, travel insurance, and/or health insurance prior to your tripinsurance is MANDATORY and will be purchased through International Ed. at $1.50/day. Every student is individually responsible for the success of the trip and must exercise good judgment, respect the rights and feelings of others, and observe the laws and customs of the host site. In Return, You Can Expect To Earn your State Initial Certificate in Early Childhood Education, a total of 12 credits. Receive direction and support from the Department of Early Childhood Education in regards to the requirements for your study abroad time. Be educated about your trip location and host site. Attend orientation session before your trip.
Dates and Timelines: Milestone Date Winter Quarter 2015 Application Priority Due Date (lowest airfare cost) Application Open Registration Period (airfare costs may rise the later you apply- applications turned in during this period are accepted on a space available basis) Participants Notified of Acceptance April 30 March 16 th - May 15 th Within 2 days of applying Agreement Packet DUE- with payment #1 Within 1 week of being accepted Spring Quarter 2015 Payment # 2 DUE May 15 th Final Payment Due June 1 st Summer Quarter 2015 Pre-Trip Meeting July 2 nd (Pierce College FS: 9-3) Leave for Korea July 5 th Return from Korea August 12 th Cost and Payments: The cost of the program will be determined by your tuition for the courses you are registered in. You will be expected to follow the deadlines and regulations of the College when registering for classes and paying your tuition. You will pay airfare and travel insurance in three payments leading up to the departure date. Airfare will be approximately $1,400 and travel insurance an additional $55. Lodging will be an additional $350. You will be responsible for having the funds available to cover your meals in Korea. Airfare costs may fluctuate slightly, we will work with our travel agents to secure the lowest possible fare. The later you turn in your application & agreement package the higher your airfare could cost.
Participants are expected to pay their travel costs in three installments. All payments made will go directly towards your airfare and lodging which will be purchased by the Department of International Education. The first payment of $200 is due with agreement package and is non-refundable. Payments made by the Priority Deadline will guarantee the advertised airfare rate. The final 2 payments of $785, are due on May 1 and $785 due June 1. If you apply for the program after May 1, you will owe the first and second payment. Due with your agreement package Payment #1: $200 + $55 insurance (non-refundable) Due May 1st Payment #2: $785 Due June 1st- Payment # 3: $785 These payments cover airfare, insurance, and lodging only. Tuition for Courses Due at Registration Registration Deadline May 27th Once your first payment and agreement package are received you will be given the registration code for the courses of your choice. You will then be responsible for registering for your course and paying for your tuition by the May 27th deadline.
APPLICATION : INSTRUCTIONS: Please complete all required information and be sure to write legibly. Return this form in-person with attached short responses to the ECE office OLY 172 by May 15, 2015. (Priority Deadline: April 30) Basic Information: (Please list name as it appears on license or passport) Full Name: Student ID #: Last First M.I. Current Address: Street Address City State Zip Code Phone: Email Address: Where do you currently attend class? (circle one) Puyallup Fort Steilacoom Online Military Not Yet Enrolled If you are not yet enrolled please visit: http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/dist/admissions/getstarted/application T-Shirt Size: Gender: Please circle yes or no to the below questions: Are 18 years of age or older? Yes No (You must be 18 years of age on or before July 10, 2015) Are you a US citizen? Yes No Do you currently have a US Passport? Yes No (You must have a passport valid through DEC 2015 to participate on this trip) How did you hear about this trip? Written Responses: Please attach answers to the following questions on a separate typed sheet of paper. Please answer with short responses. 1. Why are you interested in participating in the Study Tour Program in South Korea? What do you hope this experience will help you learn about yourself, others, and the community? References Please see attached instructions and forms. As a participant you are responsible for including one sealed letter of reference with your application. Your reference must be from a professional in the Field of Early Childhood Education who can talk about how you interact with children. DEL Portable Background Check: Due to the nature of this program, you are responsible for submitting a copy of your DEL Portable Background check with your application. If you don t have a DEL Background Check you can get one here: http://www.del.wa.gov/requirements/info/background.aspx Return this form with attached short response, sealed reference form, and DEL Portable Background Check to Olympic Building Room 172 ATTN: ECE Office, 9401 Farwest Dr. S.W. Lakewood, Wa 98498
Reference Form To the student: After completing this To the student section, please give this form to a professional in the field of Early Childhood Education/ OR a job supervisor who can accurately describe you. They must return the reference form to you in a sealed envelope. You must turn in one sealed reference form with your application to the ECE office Olympic Building Room 172. Applicant Name: ID Number: Applicant Signature: Date: To the evaluator completing this form: The Study Tour Program uses these evaluation forms to help us choose our Study Tour applicants from among highlyqualified applicants. You are requested to seal the completed recommendation in an envelope and provide it to the student in a timely manner. The student s application packet, including your recommendation form, must be submitted to the International Education Office by Priority Deadline: April 30. Applications not accepted after May 15 Airfare costs may rise after the priority deadline. Background Information: How long have you known this student and in what context? How would you define this student s skills when interacting with children? Ratings: Interactions with children Quality of work/service Willingness to Work Cooperative Attitude Acceptance of Feedback Takes Initiative Works well with others Punctuality & Dependability Reaction to Setbacks OVERALL Poor Satisfactory Good Excellent Additional Comments: We welcome any additional comments you would like to include. Please feel free to write on back of this form or attach a separate sheet. Evaluator s Name: Email: Evaluator s Signature: Date:
Please return the completed reference form to the student applicant in a sealed envelope, allowing enough time for the student to turn it in with his/her application. Student Commitment Statements Please initial next to each statement signifying your agreement and commitment. I have voluntarily chosen to participate in this program and therefore will treat my participation in service, group activities, and educational events as my first priority during my trip. I pledge to abide by the Pierce College Drug and Alcohol Policy and the Pierce College Student Code of Conduct while on the entire trip. If I choose to violate this agreement I may be sent home from the trip at my own cost and my participation in future Study Tour trips may be temporarily or indefinitely suspended. I understand that if I am selected as a Study Tour trip participant upon my completed application and interview, I will be asked to complete and return an Agreement Packet and initial payment and I will do so by the given deadline. Upon my selection as a Study Tour trip participant, I also understand that I will be required to attend and fully engage in the pre-trip orientation which I will make a top priority to attend. If selected to participate in the Study Tour trip, I understand that I will be required to make payments on the scheduled payment due dates By signing as an applicant for Study Tour, I hereby give permission for Piece College administration to check my academic, judicial, and public records that may be seen as relevant to ensure the safety and security of myself and the group with which I am traveling. I recognize that any information that is received as a result of the aforementioned will be handled in the strictest confidence and with the utmost discretion. Further, discoveries will not necessarily preclude participation but will warrant a conversation with the Pierce College administration. Student Signature Date If you have questions or concerns please contact Krissy Kim, Director of Early Childhood Education at KMkim@pierce.ctc.edu or 253-964-6542