UM and other college students have the opportunity learn travel writing and blogging in an international and intercultural setting. The class is newspaper, magazine, and online travel writing and it is offered in China during Summer Session I 2010 (May 19 to June 10, 2010).

The Course

The study-abroad course will focus on travel feature writing. The class will be begin in China's largest city, Shanghai, but will also include visits to Beijing and Hong Kong. Assignments and class discussions will be centered on activities in these three cities. Knowledge of Chinese is not necessary.

	A Beijing hutong resident and his dog

The class, CNJ 595, is offered by the Journalism Program in the School of Communication through UM's International Education and Exchange Programs. Students will learn about modern Chinese culture and history by living in the city centers of Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong. Students will experience today’s urban China, culture, and history. 

The People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Thailand as classrooms

Dr. Bruce Garrison, who will supervise the class, is a veteran Asian traveler. He recently spent six months in China on a Fulbright Program lecture grant. Garrison taught at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU). He also led groups of UM students to China in the summers of 2006-09 (see http://com.miami.edu/china).

The People's Republic of China is a focal point of globalization and the world's attention will be focused on much of what happens in China in the next decade. The PRC is experiencing a new openness driven by an economic revolution. It is dramatic and significant social and economic change. Students will see and experience modern Chinese life first-hand and the course will bring greater understanding to students about what is happening in the world's most populous country. Students will observe political, social, and economic change through their every-day activities and their class feature writing assignments.

	Xiamen temple monks at lunch

Students will also learn about the history of this vast nation through visits to historical and cultural sites and, from that, learn about China's future. Students will visit the modern major cities of China and have the chance to interact with Chinese students and professional journalists.

First-hand experience with Chinese and international news media

Students will also have the chance to visit Chinese news media and western news organizations and journalists based in Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong. The class will meet with Chinese journalists and western correspondents to discuss their work and to discuss how developments in China are reported to the rest of the world.

Climb the Great Wall of China

Exploring Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong

The class will spend the first week in the international business and economic center of Shanghai, one of the world's largest cities with a population of about 17 million. In Shanghai, we will see the popular shopping areas of Pudong, Xintiandi, and Nanjing Road, tour a water town, visit the famed riverfront Bund, and, importantly, attend the World Expo 2010 taking place from May to October.

After visiting Shanghai, the class will spend a week in Beijing. We will hike the Great Wall, tour the historic Forbidden City, and visit famed Tiananmen Square, the scenic Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the sites of the 2008 Olympic Games, shopping markets, and other sites in the Beijing area.

In Hong Kong, our last stop, the class will stay on beautiful Victoria Harbor in downtown Kowloon and visit Victoria Peak, Stanley, Temple Street night market, Ocean Park, and other locations in greater Hong Kong.

Course enrollment is limited. For additional information, interested students should contact Prof. Garrison at his office at Wolfson Building room 2009, by calling 305-284-2846, or e-mailing bruce@miami.edu.

© 2009 University of Miami School of Communication