It's cold and rainy on campus today, but our thoughts are looking ahead towards sunny and warm summer. If you're not sure yet how you'd like to spend your summer break, there are tons of options available - keep reading for more information! 

Summer Study Abroad in Japan with Dr. Oakes

Dr. Oakes is leading a study abroad program this summer in which UMBC students can spend three weeks exploring the history and visual culture of Japan. The itinerary will take participants to Hiroshima, Nara, Kyoto, and Tokyo, including visits to temples, museums, and other important places. 

Information sessions will be held on campus in the coming weeks. Click here for more details about the program and the information sessions! 

Summer Internship with the Baltimore Museum of Art

The Baltimore Museum of Art is reinstalling its historic Asian art collection, and is hiring an intern to assist with this exciting process! If you have an interest in Chinese art and art history, curatorial work and research, or working in museums, this is a fabulous opportunity to gain meaningful experience! 

Learn more about the position and the BMA at the posting on their website. 

The deadline to submit an application for this position is January 29! 

Language Intensive Programs with Indiana University

Indiana University's popular and excellent Summer Language Workshop will take place again this summer! 

Earn a year of language-study credits in two months of intensive online learning, and take advantage of in-state tuition rates! A wide variety of languages are available, including less-common options such as Vietnamese, Mongolian, Pashto, and Kyrgyz! 

You can find more information about this opportunity, including program dates, costs, and options, at the workshop's website. 

The deadline to submit an application for priority consideration is Feb 3!

Lunar New Year Event on Campus

The Center for Global Engagement and the International Student & Scholar Services team have put together an event to celebrate the lunar new year. 

On January 30, red envelopes will be left around campus for students to find. One lucky participant will find the golden ticket and win a great prize! 

Check out the attached flier for more information about participating! 

Do you need to register for Spring 2022 classes?

Spring 2022 advising and registration is still available! Students must have registration clearance from their advisor before they can add classes to their schedule. Asian Studies students can be advised by Dr. Oyen - fill out the Google form on this page first. At your advising appointment, you and Dr. Oyen can discuss your plans for Spring 2022 and beyond. 

For additional information about how to sign up for classes for Spring 2022, visit our website's registration guide. 

Planning to study abroad next year? Apply for a scholarship!

If you have been accepted to a study abroad program that starts between May 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, consider applying for a Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant! This $1,000 award is available to undergraduate students who have a minimum 3.75 GPA. Applicants do not need to be initiated members of their chapter to be eligible. Find out more about the program on the Phi Kappa Phi website - the deadline to apply is March 15, 2022. 

UMBC's Education Abroad Office is also hosting an online info session about the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship: the award offers up to $8,000 to support students who have received a Pell Grant and want to pursue a study abroad program. The information session will take place on February 8, 2022. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is March 8, 2022. Learn more and register for the information session at the link above. 

Online Summer Language Intensives at the University of Indiana - Catch Up, Get Ahead, or Try Something New

Want to improve your language skills, but don't have space in your Spring and Fall schedules? Want to explore a new language outside of what you're studying at UMBC? The University of Indiana offers a variety of summer intensive programs in Asian languages in online or hybrid formats, giving you an opportunity to gain intermediate or higher ability in a language in just a few months. 

Available languages include Japanese (introductory level), Korean (introductory and intermediate level), and Chinese (introductory through advanced level), as well as opportunities in Burmese, Vietnamese, and central Asian languages such as Mongolian, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Tatar, and Pashto. 

Funding is available for these summer programs and any student is eligible to apply. 

Each program is slightly different, so if you are interested, check out the workshop's informational website to learn more! The deadline to apply is January 29, 2022. 

----
[thumbnail image ID: A photograph looking down from the top of a stone staircase, which is lined with small red lanterns on posts, taken on a snowy day at Kifune Jinja in Japan. At the foot of the stairs a red torii gate stands over the stone pathway, and the trunks of tall cedar trees are visible in the background.]