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Journey with Indigenous Cultures: Psychological Issues and Self Awareness

Course Title: Journey with Indigenous Cultures: Psychological Issues and Self Awareness
Course Location: Tuba City, Arizona, Navajo Nation
Course Dates: March 14, 2009 - March 22, 2009
Academic Credits: 3 credits in Psychology (PSYC 495) through West Virginia University
Academic Instructor: Daniel McNeil, Psychology Professor, West Virginia University

Focusing on the richness and complexities of interactions across cultures, this course examines psychological and social processes that are evoked when visiting, working, or otherwise living with a cultural group different from one's own experience. Personal comfort and effectiveness in interacting across cultures is a focal point, as is one's adaptability in moving across cultural groups. Self-assessment of one's knowledge, attitudes, and experiences in this course is intended to lead to greater understanding of one's own culturally-based values and expectations. This educative process is based in a Navajo community, which has an integral role in planning for and contributing to students' learning processes.

Common psychological processes inherent in cross-cultural interactions will be explored, including anxiety about lack of knowledge and information, hope for acceptance by others, worry about violating social norms, desire to learn cultural rules, need to help, and concern about a "chameleon complex." Individual and group reactions by the host culture to "outsiders" will be identified, as will common pitfalls in trying to bridge cultural divides. Ways to evaluate and enhance communication across cultural groups will be exemplified, both in terms of verbal and nonverbal messages. This course seeks to promote students' sense of self as cultural beings, and awareness of their own values, in relation to similarities and differences across cultures.

This course involves a one-week immersion in Navajo culture in a journey to the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. Students will interact with local Navajo people in a service-learning context. The teaching team will include a WVU professor, a local site director, and a facilitator. There will be opportunities to see majestic natural vistas and other sites on the Navajo reservation, allowing a fuller understanding of the role of the natural world in Navajo culture, and its integral role in shaping social and psychological processes. Students will have opportunities to learn more about Navajo history and spirituality, current social issues, and vision of the future from local individuals and local perspectives.

This experience is flexible in terms of its academic curriculum, and can be arranged as a 1, or 3 credit hour course. While this course will be especially relevant to students with interests in Psychology, Social Work, and Native American Studies, it is open to students from any major, at any level. The 3 hour version can count as a Psychology Capstone course or writing course, as recognized in the WVU curriculum. Keeping a journal, group discussions with fellow students and faculty, readings, and cross-cultural interactions through service learning are the key components. The generosity of our many teachers, the beauty of the landscape, the wisdom of the Navajo people, and the experience of living and working in a native community makes this course a rich educational experience.

Program Fee: $1817 (before 12/31)* $2067 (before 2/15)** $2317 (after 2/15) Apply Now!

The Program Fee includes room and board, local programming, staffing, and transportation, university credits, international health insurance, a contribution to the local community organization, and recreational and cultural activities.

Students are responsible for international airfare, passports and/or visas, immunizations and any books or required course materials.

* Students who are accepted and hold their place with a non-refundable $500 deposit by December 31, 2008 receive a $500 tuition discount.

** Students who are accepted and hold their place with a non-refundable $500 deposit by February 15, 2009 receive a $250 tuition discount.