The UNA Department of Communications sponsored its first study-abroad course in China. A dozen communications students and two faculty members traveled to Tianjin, China, located 60 miles southeast of Beijing, during the May intersession.  Students earned credit hours in chosen Arts and Sciences elective courses and/or these communications courses: COM 201/280/480/580.

Instructors: Dr. Patricia F. Sanders and Dr. Beth Garfrerick

Location: Tianjin Foreign Studies University

Students and Majors: Kaitlin Chappell (Broadcast Journalism), James Cochran (Public Communication), Kaitlin Collingnon (Public Relations), Kali Daniel (Journalism), David Johnson (Public Relations), Whitney Malone (Public Relations), David McCreary (Public Relations), Kennedy Pope (Film & Digital Media), Anna Terry (Public Relations minor), Will Riley (Public Relations), Ann Marie Russ (Public Relations), Dustin Varner (Public Relations)

The course offered a multidisciplinary introduction to culture, customs, public relations, and communications practices in China. The course involved study-visits, day trips, and guided study tours to facilities involving print/broadcast journalism or public relations communications, and historic sites including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and Qufu, the home of Confucius.  En route to China, the students visited Tokyo, Japan during a 22-hour layover before flying on to Beijing.  The students examined the most significant cultural, social, and communications trends in contemporary China with first-hand experiences and reflections.  They also observed spoken, nonverbal, and interpersonal communications in an everyday environment.

Activities: The students resided in a 13-story campus dormitory with all the modern conveniences, including a wi-fi lounge and restaurants on the main floor.  Each student experienced an overnight stay with a Chinese host family.  The UNA group were honored guests at welcome and farewell banquets arranged by their Chinese host university. In addition UNA students took Chinese cooking, calligraphy, and tai chi classes, enjoyed a cruise on the Haihe river and visited the Binhai School of Foreign Affairs at TFSU and Dagang Senior High School.  Highlights in Tianjin included People's Park, Italian Customs Area, Tianjin Museum, and Ancient Cultural Street.

Note: The Tianjin UNA study-abroad group also included 10 theatre and 12 business students and their instructors.

For more information about the many international programs at UNA, check out Study Abroad.