For Academics and Government Officials

The United States Government is offering the opportunity for Australian academics and government officials to attend one of six fully funded six-week seminars on the study of the United States, commencing in June of 2013.

The seminars are intended to promote a better understanding of the United States among foreign educators and government officials whose professional responsibilities center on study of the humanities and social sciences.

The ideal candidate will 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 curriculum, to develop new courses on the seminar subject, to enhance and update existing courses on the U.S., or to offer specialized seminars/workshops for education professionals in U.S. Studies.

The programs include a four-week residency at a host campus followed by a two-week study tour to other U.S. venues.  The U.S. Department of State will pay all costs associated with the program, including international travel and allowances.

The timelines for the selection process are tight, so those interested in applying for the seminars should contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy at Canberra-PAS@state.gov for further details. 

Program dates will be announced in mid-February but are expected to be from early June to August, 2013.

Applications must be submitted not later than Friday January 4, 2013

Seminar fact sheet

The Institute on American Politics and Political Thought

This seminar will provide a multinational group of 18 foreign university faculty with a deeper understanding of U.S. political institutions and major currents in American political thought. The program will offer an overview of political thought during the founding period of the nation, as well as the development of how the American presidency, Congress, and the federal judiciary currently function.  The examination of political institutions will include the electoral system, political parties and interest groups, the civil service system, media and think tanks, and the welfare/regulatory state.  The seminar will address modern political and cultural issues in the U.S. (including but not limited to immigration and labor, the status of women, the environment, and civil rights) and the significance of public discourse in the formulation of public policy.  The program will be hosted by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

The Institute on Contemporary American Literature

This seminar will provide a multinational group of up to 18 foreign university faculty and scholars with a deeper understanding of U.S. society and culture, past and present, through an examination of contemporary American literature.  Its purpose is to study contemporary American writers and writing in a variety of genres and to suggest how the themes explored in those works reflect larger currents within American society and culture.  The program will explore the diversity of the American literary landscape, examining how major contemporary writers, schools, and movements reflect the traditions of the American literary canon.  At the same time, the seminar will expose participants to writers who represent a departure from that tradition and who are establishing new directions for American literature.  The program will be hosted by the University of Louisville.

The Institute on Journalism and Media

This seminar will provide a multinational group of 18 journalism instructors and other related specialists with a deeper understanding of the roles that journalism and the media play in U.S. society.  The program will examine the rights and responsibilities of the media in a democratic society, including editorial independence, journalistic ethics, legal constraints, international journalism, and media business models.  The seminar will cover strategies for teaching students of journalism the basics of the tradecraft: researching, reporting, writing, and editing.  The seminar will highlight technology's impact on journalism, such as the influence of the internet, the globalization of the news media, the growth of satellite television and radio networks, and other changes in media that are transforming the profession.  The program’s host will be determined at a later date.

The Institute on Religious Pluralism in the United States

This seminar will provide a multinational group of up to 18 foreign university faculty and practitioners with a deeper understanding of U.S. society and culture, past and present, through an examination of religious pluralism in the U.S. and its intersection with American democracy. Employing a multi-disciplinary approach and drawing on fields such as history, political science, sociology, anthropology, and law, the program will explore both the historical and contemporary relationship between church and state in the U.S.  Participants will examine the following aspects of religious pluralism in America: the ways in which religious thought and practice have influenced – and been influenced by – the development of American-style democracy; the intersections of religion and politics in such areas as elections, public policy, and foreign policy; and the sociology and demography of religion in the U.S. today, including a survey of the diversity of contemporary religious beliefs and its impact on American politics.  The program will be hosted by the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The Institute on U.S. Culture and Society

This seminar will provide a multinational group of 18 foreign university faculty and other specialists with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions.  The program will examine the ethnic, racial, social, economic, political, and religious contexts in which various cultures have manifested themselves in U.S. society.  It will focus on examining the ways in which these cultures have influenced social movements and American identity throughout U.S. history.  The seminar will draw from a diverse disciplinary base and will provide a model of how a foreign university might approach the study of U.S. culture and society.  The program’s host will be determined at a later date.

The Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy

This seminar will provide a multinational group of 18 foreign university faculty and practitioners with a deeper understanding of how contemporary U.S. foreign policy is formulated and implemented.  The program will include a historical review of significant events, individuals, and philosophies that have shaped U.S. foreign policy.  The seminar will explain the role of key players in U.S. foreign policy, including the executive and legislative branches of government, the media, the U.S. public, think-tanks, non-governmental organizations, and multilateral institutions.  The program’s host will be determined at a later date.

Updates and further detail on the above seminars will be posted to this website in mid-February. Placements are strictly limited so there can be only one successful candidate per seminar.