The Persian-Farsi Flagship Program at the University of Maryland, College Park offers two unique graduate programs: a Graduate Certificate of Professional Studies in Persian, and a Master of Professional Studies in Persian. Students who already possess basic functional ability* in Persian are eligible to apply. The program uses an innovative, modular, task-based, multi-strand curriculum to bring students to professional proficiency.
The main content areas are modern Iranian culture, politics and international relations, with some courses customized for individual students' research and professional domains. The first year of the program takes place at University of Maryland and consists of intensive coursework, immersion experiences, and a variety of cultural enrichment activities. In addition to choices among a rich array of regular course offerings in Persian language, literature and culture, students and their advisors will jointly select various combinations of new course options specifically designed for Flagship students. The capstone experience is a year of specialized immersion study in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
*Roughly ILR 1+ or better, ACTFL Advanced or better, or 3-4 semesters of Persian.
http://www.languages.umd.edu/persianflagship/
Contact: Dr. Ali Abasi at aabasi@umd.edu
The Overseas Persian Flagship Program, administered by American Councils, is designed to address the need for greater numbers of U.S. professionals in business, government, academia, and the third sector that are able to speak, read, understand, and write Persian at the highest levels of functional proficiency. With guidance by the Persian Overseas Flagship Academic Council, the nine-month program consists of regular tutorials and small group instruction combined with formal and informal professional language utilization.
Participants in the Persian Overseas Flagship Program primarily study the Iranian Persian (Farsi) variant of the language during their studies at the Dushanbe Language Center and Tajik State National University in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, with a smaller Tajik component to supplement the curriculum. Students attend lectures and seminars in their fields of specialization, reside with local host families, work regularly with peer tutors, and participate in internships with local NGOs, government, or businesses. Graduate students and working professionals who have already achieved the Advanced-Mid or Advanced-High level in at least two modalities in Persian are eligible to apply for this program. Heritage speakers are also welcome to apply. Students receive academic credit for graduate-level courses through Bryn Mawr College or the University of Maryland. Support services include mandatory pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C.; accident and illness insurance; a full-time U.S. resident director; and American Councils offices in Washington, D.C. and Tajikistan.
http://flagship.americancouncils.org/splash.php
Contact: Flagship Programs at flagship@americancouncils.org