Program Overview

The University of Washington’s ISAYA Institute prepares tomorrow’s leaders with the knowledge of global issues they need today.

Students will explore their interest in Global Sustainability Studies and International Economies through taking the ISAYA Discovery Course. Students take a personalized mix of International Studies and/ or English language courses.

Students will be placed in the Cascade Division or the Olympic Division based on their English language ability. Students of both divisions will take the ISAYA Discovery Course and the Core Course.

The ISAYA Handbook for autumn 2011 contains details about what to expect from the ISAYA Institute and life in Seattle. Click here for the PDF copy.

 

	Cascade Division Advanced Proficiency	Olympic Division Intermediate Proficiency
Quarter 1	ISAYA Discovery Course & Academic Skills Section
	International Studies Course	IEP Course
		IEP Course
Quarter 2	ISAYA Core Course ~ Economies and Sustainability
	International Studies Course International Studies Course	IEP Course IEP Course IEP Course

 

Course Descriptions

ISAYA Discovery Course & Academic Skills Section

This class introduces the multidisciplinary study of the two themes of ISAYA: Global Sustainability Studies and International Economies. An academic-based bridge course, it is co-taught by highly esteemed Jackson School instructors who provide three hours of weekly lectures, and a UW English Language Programs instructor who leads weekly discussion and academic skills sections. These skills sections prepare students for lectures by discussing reading assignments, previewing lecture content and working on technical vocabulary. Students will also complete a group research project through which they will learn how to conduct academic research and report writing in English.

This course will be comprised of ISAYA students only.

 

ISAYA Core Course ~ Economies and Sustainability

ISAYA Core Courses are classes focused on one of the two ISAYA themes: Global Sustainability and International Economies. During the second quarter, a course will be offered in each thematic area so that students can choose a class depending on their interest.

In each ISAYA Core class, half the students are ISAYA students and half the students are local UW students. An advanced UW student is chosen to be a peer facilitator for each class. Peer facilitators lead optional support sections for ISAYA students to give the readings, lectures, assignments and vocabulary extra attention.

The following are examples of the types of topics that will be covered:

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIES

• Political economy
• International finance: systems, policy, and regulation
• Comparative economic systems

GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES

• Energy in East Asia: Regional Issues, Global Implications
• Culture, consumption, and conservation
• Sustainability in the Pacific Rim

 

International Studies Courses

Cascade division students enroll in one of a limited number of academic courses offered through the Jackson School of International Studies during the first quarter and two during the second quarter. These courses are regular UW courses and students should expect to be challenged by both professors and their American and international peers. Most courses meet approximately for 5 hours each week, and some include a quiz section (allows the students to meet with the Professor or TA in smaller groups).

Prior to the start of each quarter, students will be placed on Standby for their prefered courses. During the frist week of the quarter, students will be required to individually ask permission from the professor to finalize enrollment in a course; ISAYA staff will assist students in this process for the first quarter.

The selection of available classes changes each quarter and the quantity of options available to ISAYA students may be limited by time conflicts with the ISAYA Discovery Course and the ISAYA Core course. The following are examples of the types of classes that will be available:

• The Making of the 21st Century: Provides a historical understanding of the twentieth century and major global issues today. Focuses on interdisciplinary social science theories, methods, information relating to global processes and on developing analytical and writing skills to engage complex questions of causation and effects of global events and forces.
• Development and Challenge in Greater China: Studies the geography of development processes, patterns, and problems in "Greater China": mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Covers physical geography, history, and economic and political systems, with major focus on geographical issues in China's development: agriculture, population, industry and trade, and relations with Hong Kong and Taiwan.
• Introduction to Globalization: Provides an introduction to the debates over globalization. Focuses on the growth and intensification of global ties. Addresses the resulting inequalities and tensions, as well as the new opportunities for cultural and political exchange. Topics include the impacts on government, finance, labor, culture, the environment, health, and activism.

• States and Capitalism: The Origins of the Modern Global System: Covers the origins of the modern world system in the sixteenth century and its history until World War I. Addresses the interacting forces of politics and economics around the globe, with particular attention to key periods of expansion and crisis.
• Europe Today: A multi-disciplinary approach to contemporary Europe focusing on social, political, cultural and economic change, with special reference to developments in the countries of the European Union, Scandinavia and those in Eastern Europe in the post-Soviet era.

 

IEP Courses

The Intensive English Program at the University of Washington began in 1977 and today is one of the leading IEPs in the United States. Courses are taught by highly experienced instructors with advanced degrees in the teaching of English as a Second Language. Students generally take a combination of listening and speaking, reading, writing and elective courses. Most courses meet approximately for 5 hours each week.

The selection of available classes changes each year and vary depending on English level, but the following are examples of the types of classes that will be available:

• Advanced Conversation and Idioms: Everyday slang and expressions used by native speakers and cultural references behind common idioms.
• Academic Reading and Writing:  Academic English writing skills through classroom-based practice, strategies for success with academic readings, terminology and classroom culture in US university environment.

• Grammar: Syntax in an explicit, focused manner and apply this knowledge to communicative tasks.

• Grammar & Writing: Grammatical structures that are applied to writing paragraphs using various rhetorical styles.  The emphasis is on fully explaining personal opinions, reasons and examples. 

• Pronunciation: Improve overall pronunciation skills by isolating the individual components of speech and training students in how to improve these components. Key aspects are intonation, rhythm, stress, and vowel and consonant production.

• Listening and Speaking: Focus on listening, speaking and pronunciation skills. Practice the skills you need to collect, summarize, and analyze information, and to give your opinions and make presentations.  You will continue to improve your grammar and vocabulary in speaking.