Study of the United States Institutes for Faculty.

The U.S. Embassy invites applications for the following ‘Study of the United States Institutes:’

• American Civilization
• American Politics & Political Thought
• Contemporary American Literature
• American Foreign Policy
• Journalism & Media
• Religious Pluralism
  

1. The Institute on American Civilization will provide a group of 18 people with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values and institutions. The program examines some of the critical historical epochs, movements, issues and conflicts that have influenced the development of the U.S. nation and its people and includes a strong contemporary component, particularly current political, social, and economic issues and debates. The complexity and heterogeneous nature of American society is highlighted as well as the institutions and values that have enabled the nation to accommodate that diversity.
   
   
2. The Institute on American Politics and Political Thought will provide a group of 18 people with a deeper understanding of U.S. political institutions and major currents in American political thought. The institute provides an overview of the origins, development and current functioning of the American presidency, Congress and the federal judiciary.  The institute also surveys important currents in the history of American political thought, including the Founding period, liberalism, republicanism, libertarianism, communitarianism, conservatism, neo-conservatism.
   
   
3. The Institute on Contemporary American Literature will provide a group of 18 people a deeper understanding of recent American literature and criticism.  Its purpose is twofold: first, to explore contemporary American writers and writing in a variety of genres; second, to suggest how the themes explored in those works reflect larger currents within contemporary American society and culture. The program explores the diversity of the American literary landscape, examining how major contemporary writers, schools and movements reflect the traditions of the American literary canon and, at the same time, represent a departure from that tradition, establishing new directions for American literature.
   
   
4. The Institute on Foreign Policy will provide a group of 18 people a deeper understanding of the domestic institutional foundations - political, social, economic and cultural - of U.S. foreign policy with particular attention to the post-Cold War era.  Principal themes, critical policy debates and contemporary issues in U.S. foreign policy will be examined in light of the history of U.S. international relations since World War II and in the larger framework of U.S. diplomatic history as a whole. The program will illuminate the relationships between U.S. policies and the political, social and economic forces in the United States that constitute the domestic institutional context in which such policies are formulated, debated, and executed. 
   
   
5. The Institute on Journalism and Media will provide a group of 18 journalism instructors and other related specialists with a deeper understanding of journalism's and the media's roles in U.S. society. It will examine major topics in journalism, including the concept of a” free press," First Amendment rights, and the media's relationship to the public interest. The legal and ethical questions posed by journalism will be incorporated into every aspect of the institute. The institute will cover strategies for teaching students of journalism the basics of the tradecraft: researching, reporting, writing, and editing. The program will also highlight technologies impact on journalism, addressing the influence of the Internet, the globalization of the news media, the growth of satellite television and radio networks, and other advances in media that are transforming the profession.
   
   
6. The Institute on Religious Pluralism will provide a group of 18 people with a more comprehensive understanding of U.S. society and culture, past and present, through an examination of religious pluralism in the United States. The program explores both the historical and contemporary relationship between church and state in the United States exposes participants to the diversity of religious practices in the United States, and to tolerance of this diversity.  Moreover, it examines the many ways that these different religious practices have influenced - and have been influenced by - the development of American democracy. 

The ideal candidate will also be an experienced professional with little or no prior experience in the United States, whose home institution is seeking to, introduce aspects of U.S. studies into its curricula, to develop new courses in the subject of the institute, to

enhance and update existing courses on the United States, or to offer specialized seminars/workshops for professionals in U.S. studies areas related to the program

theme. In this respect, while the candidate's scholarly and professional credentials are an important consideration, an equally important factor is how participation in the

institute will enhance course offerings in U.S. studies at the candidate's home institution.

a)  Full name (as appears on passport)

b)  Date of Birth (Spell out Month, Day, Year)

c)  City of Birth

d)  Country of Birth

e)  Country of Residence

f)  Country (ies) of Citizenship

g) Home Address, Telephone & E-mail

h) Gender

i)  Medical, Physical, Dietary or other Personal Considerations

j) Current Position & Title

k) Current Institutional Affiliation and complete address

l) Work Experience, including previous positions and titles

m) Education, Academic & Professional training, including degree earned and fields of specialization

n) Active Professional MembershipPublications (please do not list any more than 10)

p) Previous Experience in the United States: Please list any and all trips made to the U.S. including dates and purpose of visit.

q) Family residing in the U.S.: please list any family members who are currently residing in the U.S., including city and state.

r) Statement justifying participation in the Institute to include:

1. Current or projected extend of U.S. studies content of the course(s) and materials being taught of developed by applicant
2. Likely relevance of the program to the professional responsibilities of the applicant
3. Potential impact of applicant’s participation on a greater understanding of American society and/or culture at applicant’s home institution (in terms of enhanced teaching and curricula, etc.)

Applications should be send to: The Public Affairs Section Officer, Paul Engelstad by 3 February 2007.