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 assigned in teams of 10 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, Rule of Law
International Social Issues

Scholars attend 3-5 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, Global Seminar: MDG’s, 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.

Global Seminar: MDG’s involves the discussions of Millennium Development Goals, related projects, accomplished progress, and will seek to understand how these goals can be reached.

Social Activities
“Otherness Experience”
O.S. Earth
Cultural Expo
GSIS Olympics
Alumni BBQ
Karaoke Night
Talent Share
Farewell Dance

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

• Hank Bitten (Global Environment and Resources/ICONS Coordinator)
• Clifford Peterson (Negotiation and Diplomacy/ICONS Coordinator)
• Charlie Kelly (Negotiation and Diplomacy/ICONS Coordinator)
• Jon Plaut (Global Environment and Resources)
• Marta Vides Saade (Human Rights; Rule of Law)
• David Lewis-Coleman (Human Rights; Rule of Law)
• Marcy Kelly (International Public Health)
• Carol Bonilla-Bowman (International Social Issues)
• Thierry Rakotobe-Joel (International Trade and Economy)
• Jude Roberts (International Trade and Economy)
• Regina Clark (Media Literacy)
• Ruma Sen (Intercultural Communication)
• Emma Rainforth (Global Seminar: MDGs)
• Sandra Antognazzi (International Dance)

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

• Robert and Stephanie Tansey, US Foreign Service
• David Smith, U.S. Institute for Peace
• Hazel De Wet, UNICEF Emergency Programmes
• Shannon Small, US Peace Corps
• John Anugraha, Fireflies Ashram
• Jon Plaut, Ramapo College/Political Science dept.
• William Hyndman, CEA (Cultural Experiences Aborad)
• Anjali R. Bhata, GSIS Alumna/ “Discover Worlds”
• Mohammed Elmeski (Global Seminar: MDGs)
• Nyieta Charlot (Global Seminar: MDGs)

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 “ I enjoyed the trip to Quebec. I enjoyed the speakers in the World Cultures and Religions class. 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 our trip to Quebec.”

----- International Studies Scholar

“ I loved the people: RTA’s, scholars, etc. Everyone was so diverse, it was amazing to listen to what people had to say about their own culture. Quebec 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

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“ 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 Biological Warfare 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 four 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 99 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 month 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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