Do I have to take all the courses in the recommended sequence?

Yes. The Global Program is organized as a "cohort" -- which means simply that all students follow a course of studies together.  Participants in this cohort will take a common set of classes, starting and finishing the program together, for a total of 36 credits (12 courses).  Participants are guaranteed enrollment in all courses in the program, so there is no chance that a course would be full or not offered when needed.  The program is open to students from any part of the world.

I am from outside the United States.  Will I need to get a U.S. student visa?

No. Since you will not need to enter the U.S. for the program, you will not need a U.S. visa.  However, you are responsible for securing any travel documents or visas necessary to attend the residencies in Switzerland.

How much will this cost?

Participants will pay regular tuition and fees for Education graduate students, plus a program fee of approximately $1,000 for each residency, which will cover the cost of a shared room and breakfasts.  (Estimate only -- program fee is subject to change.)  Lunches and dinners are available at the John Knox Center at a reasonable cost.  Tuition is currently $624 per credit hour, or $416 per credit hour for Michigan residents.  Participants must arrange their own travel to Geneva.

Is financial aid available?

Students who meet eligibility requirements can apply for the same financial aid available to all University of Michigan - Flint graduate students, through the Office of Financial Aid. Some university-wide scholarships are available on a competitive basis. University-sponsored scholarships typically cover only a portion of the cost of the program, and applicants are encouraged to pursue other sources of financial assistance as well.

How do I apply?

Request an application packet from the Graduate Programs Office, at no charge. See our "How to apply" page for a list of required application materials. Application instructions and forms are also available online.  The application deadline for the program beginning in spring, 2009 is December 15, 2008.

Can I continue working at my regular job while I am in this program?

Yes.  Except for the Geneva residencies, all coursework can be done online from anywhere, at any time of the day.  During the fall, winter, and spring, you would be taking one or two online classes at a time, so it is possible to hold a regular job at the same time.  In fact, some of the coursework will involve piloting the activities you design, so you should be able to coordinate your coursework nicely with a teaching job.  Since the course schedule is fixed, though, make sure you will have adequate time to devote to your coursework throughout the year.

Will there be time to sightsee during the residencies?

The residencies are intense, and heavily scheduled Monday through Fridays. You are free to sightsee on weekends, however, and, of course, you may make your own travel plans before or after the residencies.

Do I have to stay at the John Knox Center the whole time?

You may arrange your own alternate accommodations at your own expense, but the same program fee will be charged whether or not you stay at the Center.  We have arranged for double occupancy rooms, to be shared with another cohort participant. The rooms are simple but clean, comfortable, and convenient, and they have private baths.

Isn't the John Knox Center religiously affiliated?

As an organization, the Center is affiliated with the International Reformed Church, but it hosts programs from several public and private American universities, facilities for meetings by all kinds of groups, and offices for a number of NGOs. The Global Program is not religiously affiliated, and we do not emphasize or favor any particular religion, culture, or creed.

What language will instruction be in?

All instruction will be in English.  However, projects may be developed for speakers of any language -- or even in multiple languages.

I'm not a computer expert.  Is this program for me?

You do not have to be an expert programmer or "computer nerd" to join the Global Program.  You do need to be very comfortable with computers in general, and be able to quickly pick up new skills. Ultimately, the focus of the Global Program is on using technology in innovative ways for teaching, learning, and positive social change, rather than on "technology for technology's sake."

I see, but what sort of technologies will we be learning?

For project development you will be learning leading open-source technologies, including Ruby on Rails, MySQL, Javascript, CSS, and AJAX.  In addition, you will be learning to edit and produce digital media, beginning with basic software such as Audacity and iMovie.  All of the software tools we will use have equivalents for both Macintosh and PC.

What else will I need?

You will need a wireless-enabled laptop computer for the residencies in Geneva.