Eligibility
You must have achieved sophomore status with a grade point average of at least 2.5 to study in Hungary. Preference is given to juniors and seniors when there are more applicants than spots in the program.
Cost
The Fall 2012 program cost is expected to be within $1000 of Calvin tuition and room and board on campus. More specific cost information will be sent with your acceptance letter. The final program cost is based on many factors and is not known exactly until the number of students in the group has been identified. The financial information page covers the details that go into the cost of the program and rough estimates for each. The cost includes:
- Tuition
- Round trip airfare Grand Rapids/Budapest
- Housing (in a KGRU dorm)
- Food allowance
- Program excursions
- Administrative fee
Additional expenses not included in the program fee: passport, residency visa ($100 paid once in Hungary), medical insurance (required), books, some weekend meals, any independent travel and spending money.
Accommodations
You will stay in a dormitory of the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University with a Calvin roommate. You'll have many opportunities here to meet other students, both international and Hungarian.
Courses
The following courses are required:
| Healthcare in Hungary Through the Eyes of Global Health Concepts |
|
Through this course students will gain a perspective on health care in Hungary while comparing it to other countries around the world. The Millennium Development goals – which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015 – form a blueprint agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions. Several are specific to health needs. The goals must be applied to Hungary as well as other countries but necessitate an understanding of global health concepts. This course will allow students to apply concepts of global health to health care in Hungary. They will be encouraged to consider their own role as Christians in dealing with health care in countries such as Hungary. |
3 semester hours |
| STHU 312 - Studies in Central European Culture | |
| This course defines the concept of East Central Europe geographically and linguistically, and presents a topical introduction to the political, religious, artistic, musical and scientific aspects of East Central European culture through guest lectures, readings, and excursions to Croatia and Ukraine. | 4 semester hours, fulfills Global and Historical Studies core |
| STHU 100 - Introduction to the Hungarian Language | |
In this course, students learn vocabulary and basic sentence structures needed to communicate on an elementary level as they live and travel in the city and region. |
2 semester hours, pass/fail, general elective credit |
You must also take two electives, one of which may be the following course:
| STHU 235 - Italian Renaissance Art | |
| A survey of Italian art from the Gothic period to the Late Renaissance, focusing on the artistic production of the main political and cultural centers of Renaissance Italy. The interpretation of the works of art is integrated into the fabric of life in the papal, royal, and ducal courts (Rome, Naples, Milan) and the rich republican cities (Florence, Siena, Venice). **Class size is limited. | 3 semester hours, fulfills The Arts core |
You may take one or both of your elective courses at the following universities. See the Calvin program director for up-to-date course offerings at these institutions.
- Corvinus University of Budapest - see their list of English-language course options.
- Budapest University of Technology and Economics
- Karoli Gaspar Reformed University
Excursions:
As part of the program, students will visit such locations as the region of Transylvania in Romania (including the Carpathian Mountains), Krakow, Prague, and Sarajevo.
Since Budapest is a hub for rail travel throughout Hungary and the rest of Central Europe, you'll easily be able to visit major cities like Vienna and Munich, the Tatra Mountains of Slovakia, the Julian Alps in Slovenia, and the Adriatic coast of Croatia.
Apply:
Submit a preliminary application to the the off-campus programs office. Once your eligibility for the program is determined (within 1–2 weeks), you will be sent an application. The final application deadline for this program is March 14, 2012.
Contact
Program Director, Fall 2012
Cheryl Feenstra, Nursing Department
616.526.6255
Past and Future Program Directors
Fall 2009
- Bruce Berglund, History
Fall 2010 -
Michael Page, CAS
Fall 2011- Jeff Bouman, Service Learning
Fall 2013 - Peggy Goetz, CAS
