Language Immersion Study Awards
All matriculated IPED students in good academic standing are invited to
apply for a Language Immersion Study Award (LISA). Each year up
to four IPED students will be awarded LISA Scholarships. Scholarship recipients
will be able to spend the summer after the completion of their first year
of study in an overseas language immersion program.
LISA scholarship stipends range from $4,200 to $5,200 depending on the
language immersion program, plus the cost of basic health insurance for
students studying abroad. These stipends roughly cover the costs of round
trip airfare, tuition, and board for language immersion programs lasting
at least eight weeks. LISA scholarship holders are expected to live with
native speaking families during their summer immersion program. LISA scholars
may use their stipend for the study of any language, provided that the
language immersion program is approved by Fordham. Students interested
in studying a non-western language should also apply, if eligible, for
a National Security
Education Program (NSEP) Fellowship.
Application Procedures
IPED students who wish to apply for a Language Immersion Study Award
must submit to the IPED office the following information by December
1st of each year:
-
resume (be sure to indicate language abilities);
-
two page maximum personal statement indicating how a LISA scholarship might
assist you in achieving your future career goals, your preference for a
language immersion program, and, if applicable, whether or not you have
applied for an NSEP fellowship (applicants for Portuguese study in Brazil
must indicate their interest in applying for a post-graduate field placement
with the Brazil Office of Catholic Relief Services as part of Fordham's
International Peace and Development Travel Scholarship program and include
an additional two page journalistic essay on the "Role of Civil Society
in Development");
-
transcripts of any previous foreign language class work; and
-
up to three letters of recommendation from individuals who jointly can
attest to (i) your academic ability (preferably from a professor), (ii)
your ability to adapt to a foreign culture, and (iii) your ability to work
cooperatively and productively within an organization (preferably from
an employer).
Selection Criteria
Successful applicants must be in good academic standing and preference
will be given to first year, full-time students who achieve a GPA of 3.5
or better during their first semester in the IPED program. Applicants should
also have completed at least two semesters of formal training in the language
they wish to study or a closely related language. Preference will be given
to those students who have more than 2 semesters of language training,
but have not yet achieved complete proficiency in the language. Preference
will also be given to those applicants who seek a career in relief and
development work or who will use this experience to prepare an application
for a post-graduate Fulbright, a post-graduate International Development
Fellowship with Catholic Relief Services or any other similar prestigious
fellowship.
In cooperation with Catholic Relief Services, we intend to target up
to two LISA scholarships to fund Portuguese language study in Brazil for
students who intend to apply for the International Peace and Development
Travel Scholarship so that upon the completion of course work at Fordham,
he or she can spend 6 months to 1 year interning as an assistant project
manager with the Brazil Office of Catholic Relief Services.