The Governor's School of International Studies is a two-week residential summer program at Ramapo College that allows students to acquire an active concern for the future of New Jersey in relationship to global issues and provides an opportunity for them to research, formulate policy and debate challenging international problems.

This program is a full scholarship program that includes tuition, room and board. The only cost to the scholar will be for items of a personal or recreational nature and transportation at the beginning and end of the program.

Jeremy Geller directs the program and manages the staff and content and serves as the main point of contact for the program. His phone number is (201) 684-7530 and his e-mail is jgeller@ramapo.edu.

To find out more about the NJ Governor's School please visit www.nj.gov/govschool/index.html 

Applications are accepted from NJ high school students who are in their junior year. The application process is best started in the fall of the junior year. The program is open to all public, private and parochial schools in New Jersey as well as home-schooled students who reside in New Jersey. Potential scholars must contact their guidance counselor and submit their transcripts, recommendations, personal statement, extracurricular activities, community service, honors and PSAT scores, if available.

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The Governor's School of International Studies seeks to accomplish the following:

• Expose the Scholars to ideas that foster the development of a multi-disciplinary global awareness.
• Provide a learning environment that stresses a personal awareness of the diversity among peoples, ideas and future expectations.
• Examine selected world cultures by studying their traditions, values and policies.
• Afford the students an opportunity to better understand competing cultural values, and to develop a moral stance on conflicting cultural issues.
• Allow the scholars to research complex international issues, discuss possible solutions and debate the feasibility of these solutions.

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The scholars accepted to the School of International Studies will actively participate in intensive core courses on international problems, policy, culture, and research. They will be grouped into small country teams to examine those issues from the perspective of a specific country. Afternoon and evening activities include skill courses, ICONS (International Communications and Negotiations Simulation), field trips, speakers, and multi-cultural events. Sunday is allotted for family visits, worship, and recreational activities.

Academic Activities
Several types of academic activities are provided to the scholars: core courses, skill courses, movie screenings/ discussions, and ICONS research.

Core Courses
Negotiation and Diplomacy
Global Environment and Resources
International Trade and Economy
International Public Health
Human Rights

Scholars attend 3-4 sessions of each course. The core courses prepare scholars for the topics covered in ICONS (International Communications and Negotiations Simulation).

Skill Courses
Four workshop courses will be offered in the afternoon: Intercultural Communications, Media Literacy, Political Theory, and International Dance.

The Media Workshop takes an international and multi-cultural perspective. It provides opportunities for scholars to discuss media literacy and to debate its impact on society. Components of this workshop include: critiques of commercial and political advertisements, media literacy, alternative media, and broadcast journalism.

Intercultural Communications Workshop exposes scholars to the skills, attitudes, and knowledge required to interact effectively in other cultures. This is an experientially based workshop.

International Dance Workshop exposes Scholars to one or two genres of dance from different cultures.

Political Theory Workshops are led by each of the Resident Teaching Assistants and the Program Coordinator focusing on each of their areas of expertise in political theory and related social sciences research.

Social Activities 
GSIS Olympics
Alumni BBQ
Karaoke Night
Talent Show
Farewell Dance
Name that Tune Competition
Fashion Show

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The following are representative of the faculty teaching in the School of International Studies:

1. Jon Plaut (Global Environment and Resources/ICONS Coordinator) 
2. Clifford Peterson (Negotiation and Diplomacy/ICONS Coordinator) 
3. David Lewis Coleman (Human Rights; Rule of Law) 
4. Marcy Kelly (International Public Health) 
5. Jude Roberts (International Trade and Economy) 
6. Pat Keeton (Media Literacy) 
7. Ben Levy (Intercultural Communication) 
8. Sandra Antognazzi (International Dance) 

Additionally, a number of guest speakers have spoken to the scholars of the School of International Studies:

1. Robert and Stephanie Tansey, US Foreign Service
2. David Smith, U.S. Institute for Peace
3. Hazel De Wet, UNICEF Emergency Programs
4. Shannon Small, US Peace Corps
5. John Anugraha, Fireflies Ashram
6. Jon Plaut, Ramapo College/Political Science dept.
7. William Hyndman, CEA (Cultural Experiences Abroad)
8. Anjali R. Bhata, GSIS Alumna/ "Discover Worlds"
9. Mohammed Elmeski (Global Seminar: MDGs)
10. Nyieta Charlot (Global Seminar: MDGs)

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"I enjoyed the trip to the United Nations. I also enjoyed the Talent Share and the Fashion Show."          
----- International Studies Scholar

"I liked the people, and having time to get to know them, and their different beliefs. I also really enjoyed the Political Theory Workshops."          
----- International Studies Scholar

"I loved the people: RTA's, scholars, etc. The group was so diverse, it was amazing to listen to what people had to say about their own cultures. The UN trip was amazing!"          
----- International Studies Scholar

"It increased my awareness for self-concern and greed rather than cooperation. Some of the provisions were never passed based say on these two components. I learned how not to engage in communication and what kind of person I want to be (to a degree)."          
----- International Studies Scholar

"Hands Down, The People! This was the most amazing group I've even been exposed to, and I will miss everyone. I wish we could stay at Ramapo longer."          
----- Resident Teaching Assistant - International Studies

"I learned a lot about idealism and realism, and compromise."          
----- International Studies Scholar

"I really enjoyed being part of the Governor's School and instructing on the topic of International Human Rights/Rule of Law this July. The students were remarkable in many ways and the discussions were lively, thought provoking and quite sophisticated. A highlight was attending the Nuclear Missile Simulation and observing many of the scholars who were in my sections."          
----- Faculty, International Studies

"Nothing in recent memory seems to have had as much of an impact on my son as his two weeks at Ramapo College in the Governor's School of International Studies. We are constantly fed information gleaned from the program, and being reminded that the intellectual stimulations we offer is nothing compared to that which can be had from being with 29 of New Jersey's brightest! This Program has served to broaden his horizons and taught him the skills necessary to view problems from different perspectives and realize the multi-dimensions to not just international problems but even those encountered every day"         
----- Parent of International Studies Scholar

"My husband and I would like to thank you for the extraordinary two weeks our daughter had in Governor's School. She had "the time of her life," learned so much, and made many new friends."          
----- Parent of International Studies Scholar

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