SITA is a semester or year-long immersion experience offering unrivaled opportunities to observe and participate in the fascinating and complex cultural environment of Tamil Nadu, South India.

Classes in the ancient temple city of Madurai provide participants with information necessary to understand belief systems and historical events that underlie everyday social life, and are supplemented by village and temple visits, cultural performances, and other extra-curricular activities.

Increased cross-cultural understanding and the academic values of a study-abroad experience are emphasized, and field trips to other parts of South India provide exposure to the cultural and environmental complexity of the region. Academic, social, psychological and physical challenges for SITA participants are many, as are the truly life-changing rewards.

The pace of the program is demanding, as students balance coursework and extra-curricular activities with host families and personal research interests. SITA is a true cultural immersion experience because of the multi-faceted opportunities offered by living with Indian host families, taking classes taught by Indian faculty, making Indian friends, conducting field research within the local community, and exploring the diverse city of Madurai and its surrounding countryside and villages. This immersion facilitates both a “discovery of India” and numerous discoveries about oneself, with ever-present support from SITA faculty and staff.

SITA thus combines in-depth cultural immersion with academic study to produce a true intercultural learning experience. Complexities of Indian cultures, religions, and social groups are examined in the classroom, where students’ own daily life experiences serve as a basis for class discussion. The goal of academic work is both to gain a better understanding of local and regional cultures, and to learn to critically address the interaction of cultures, both in students’ personal experiences and more broadly.