Pitt in the Himalayas

 

Join a group of adventurous students for the semester in North India to learn about the culture and environment of the Himalayas, one of the most spectacular and diverse mountain ranges on earth. You'll go on backpacking expeditions to the source of India’s sacred rivers, to ancient Tibetan monasteries in Ladakh, learn about conservation at India’s premier Tiger reserve, Corbett National Park, and experience life in a mountain village during a village home stay. The program’s academic focus is based on experiential education during field expeditions, including trips to the sacred city of Rishikesh on the Ganga, engagement with environmental activist organizations, a community-based conservation project focused on restoring biodiversity, and trips to visit numerous institutions that reflect the rich cultural heritage of Mussoorie. The program includes a “spring break” when students can make their own plans for trips to other parts of India, including the Taj Mahal in Agra, The Red Fort in Delhi or to Goa. The courses that you take in the classroom are contextualized as you explore the towns, villages and environment offered by the Himalayan Mountains. Excursions to sites of cultural and historical significance allow you to know the region in a way that time in a classroom simply cannot provide. Spend some time living with a host family in a small village, learning yoga at the birthplace of the practice, and trekking along one of the most important pilgrimage routes in the country.

You can learn about the details of the program in this PowerPoint presentation. Please make sure to click on the speaker icon on each slide to hear Dr. Alter’s voice describing each aspect of the program.

Here is a DRAFT itinerary of the program from the past. Please note that this itinerary is simply to give you an idea of what to expect. The itinerary for this program is still underdevelopment. 

Read more about the student perspectives here: Himalayas Spotlight

 

 

What You'll Accomplish: 

As an engaged and active participant in this program, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Gain a deep understanding of how the environment shapes culture
  • Experience a life changing perspective on the fragile ecology of one of the planet’s most important ecological zones
  • Engage with individuals who embody the rich diversity of modern India
  • Develop eye opening insights on social, economic and gender inequality as well as an understanding of how people are finding creative solutions to these problems

 

 
 
The program is based at the Hanifl Centre for Outdoor Education and Environmental Study in Mussoorie.  Located at an altitude of 6500 ft above sea level, Mussoorie is a thriving tourist resort town with a panoramic view of the world’s tallest snow-covered mountains, a cool, comfortable climate, and numerous restaurants, hotels and coffee shops.  With access to a gym, climbing wall and swimming pool, the Hanif Centre also provides direct, easy access to forest land and isolated mountain villages. 
 
The Hanifl Centre is a small campus on the Woodstock School estate on the edge of Mussoorie, a colonial era town eight hours drive north of Delhi, the capital of India.  In addition to being a tourist resort town, Mussoorie is an educational hub with numerous international English language college preparatory schools.  Bringing together people from all over the country the town embraces linguistic, religious and cultural diversity. 
 

 

Where You'll Live: 
Located in a lush oak forest a mile and half from the edge of town, the Hanifl Centre has wifi, seminar rooms, a small field biology lab, library, and a dining hall as well as landscaped gardens and a campground.  With staff support from an experienced team of professionals, students live in a dormitory that is a 20-minute walk from the Hanifl Centre.  
 
The Hanfil Centre accommodations include most of the amenities that you are already used to.  
 
You can expect the following:
  • 3 meals per day
  • Double or triple rooms 
  • Bedding
  • Shared bathrooms 
  • Dining area 
  • Communal lounge space 
  • Communal kitchen stocked with pantry items
  • Wifi and computer lab 
  • Laundry service 
We do our best to provide the most accurate information about housing and amenities but due to the nature of the locations in which we offer programs and limited availability, these items are subject to change.  Contact your program manager with any questions. 
What You'll Study: 

You will take 4-5 courses for 12-15 credits. Some of the courses are cross-listed between Anthropology and Environmental Studies departments. If seeking Gen Ed credits for the cross-listed course, you must be registered in the ANTH version.

 
Explore your interests in anthropology, environmental studies, history and more on the Pitt in the Himalayas program.  All courses listed below are taught in English. About half the semester is spent in Mussoorie at the Hanifl Centre engaged in course work.  The other half of the semester involves expeditions, field trips, and site visits including hands-on experiential education activities.  Students spend program days at the Hanifl Centre campus engaged in seminar discussions, interaction with guest lecturers, structured educational exercises and experiential learning scenarios, with time in the afternoons, evenings and weekends to relax and explore the neighborhood of Landour and the town of Mussoorie. 
 

These courses are approved for General Education Requirements:

  • ANTH 1801 Himalayan Biodiversity – Natural Science, Specific Geographic Region (SGR)
  • ANTH 1764 Cultures and Societies of India - Diversity, Historical Analysis, Cross-Cultural Awareness, SGR
  • ANTH 0730 Himalayan Geography – SGR
  • ANTH 1798 Religion and Ecology – Cross-Cultural Awareness, Philosophical Thinking or Ethics
  • ANTH 1797 Mountain and Medicine – Cross-Cultural Awareness, Global Issues, SGR
 

Pitt Professor and program Academic Director, Dr. Joseph Alter, will be on-site/in-country for part of the program. Dr. Alter will co-teach/guest lecture and will meet with all students one-on-one. When not in-country, Dr. Alter will meet remotely with students. Most instruction will be provided by our local faculty. 

Cultures and Societies of India (ANTH1764)

India is a country with a rich history and tremendous cultural diversity.  No single course can do justice to this richness and diversity, which extends back to the earliest examples of human civilization, encompasses twenty-two languages, hundreds of dialects, all of the major religions of the world and a vast range of cultural variation in all of the details of cultural life – food, art, music, and everyday aspects of family and kinship.   India is also the world’s most populace country, as well as the largest democracy in the world. With a modern history anchored in a struggle for independence from British imperialism, India’s economy has undergone dramatic change since 1990, moving increasingly toward an open free market economy.  Drawing on the richness and diversity of Indian history and cultural heritage this course provides a broad, contextualizing, anthropological perspective on modern India. 

Himalayan Geography (ANTH0730)

The Himalayan region is characterized by a tremendous range of social and cultural diversity that corresponds to climatic, ecological and geographical variation, as well as local and regional geopolitical factors.  Historical change from the emergence of early forms of social complexity centered on chiefs and their forts – from which the regional designation of “Garhwal” takes its name – through the development of kingdoms and larger polities shows the intimate link between geography, environment and socio-political transformation.  Similarly, local language patterns, regional religious practices, musical styles, mythology, food culture, sartorial fashion, architectural design, agricultural and transportation technologies and engineering and trade networks have all been shaped by the structure of mountain barriers, bounded valley communities and bracketed lines of communication that follow river systems.  Whereas the political economy of the Himalayas has been structured around agricultural production, and the development of elaborate field terrace systems, there have also been subsidiary economies centered on trans-Himalayan trade and pilgrimage as well as pastoral nomadism and transhumance.  Since the colonial period, the Himalayas have increasingly become a place for rest, relaxation, tourism and adventure, and this – along with further political transformations since Indian independence -- has led to the rapid development of urban areas.  This course will provide a survey of Himalayan history, society and culture with a focus on the relationship between nature, the environment and geography.

Mountain and Medicine - Health and Environment in the Himalayas (ANTH1797)

The Himalayan range, which extends across northern India and Pakistan, southern Tibet, and the countries of Nepal and Bhutan, has the world’s highest mountains and a fragile environment threatened by climate change and large-scale development projects.  53 million people live in the Himalayas, where the economy is determined by topography and geography in relation to subsistence agriculture and forest resources.   All the major rivers in South and Southeast Asia drain from the Himalayan range, illustrating the dependency of low laying agricultural regions and major urban centers on this critical and fragile ecological zone.  Although threatened by many factors, including the construction of roads and dams, the Himalaya are comprised of extensive forested mountains and rich tributary river valleys many of which are remote.  Generally considered to be underdeveloped, many isolated towns and villages in the Himalaya do not have ready access to adequate medical infrastructure or public health facilities.  Focusing on geography and the environment, this course provides an overview of the economic conditions that shape public health and medicine in the mountains of northern India

Religion and Ecology (ANTH1798)

Taking inspiration from the Himalayan environment and contextualizing religious experience in the mountains, this course will draw on broad ideas about the relationship between religion and ecology to understand how belief systems and ritual practices are shaped by and shape environmental consciousness.  In the philosophical traditions of southern Asia, the Himalaya represent purity, transcendence, and deep introspection associated with ascetic ideals of ethical self-perfection.  In the structure of the ritual activities of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism, the mountains are a place of pilgrimage where individuals, families and whole communities go in order to experience divinity.  As the designation in Sanskrit indicates the Himalaya are considered to be the “home of the gods,” and the intimacy of entering into the domestic space of this divine wilderness produces the coordinates of a profoundly moral and ethical life deeply embedded in the natural environment. 

 

Himalayan Biodiversity (ANTH1801)

Ranging in altitude from several hundred meters above sea level to over seven thousand, from subtropical forests to high altitude meadows and deserts, and from areas with little or no rainfall to regions that are among the wettest in the world, the Himalayas define a geographical region of enormous geological variation and biodiversity.  The goal of this course is to gain an understanding of this diversity, with a focus on ethology, the study of animal behavior and the interaction of animal species. 

Introduction to Hindi in India (HINDI0111)

Introductory, conversational Hindi. The course will focus on communication skills and vocabulary that is relevant to common everyday use in the context of program.

Himalayan Geography (ENVSTD1310)

The Himalayan region is characterized by a tremendous range of social and cultural diversity that corresponds to climatic, ecological and geographical variation, as well as local and regional geopolitical factors.  Historical change from the emergence of early forms of social complexity centered on chiefs and their forts – from which the regional designation of “Garhwal” takes its name – through the development of kingdoms and larger polities shows the intimate link between geography, environment and socio-political transformation.  Similarly, local language patterns, regional religious practices, musical styles, mythology, food culture, sartorial fashion, architectural design, agricultural and transportation technologies and engineering and trade networks have all been shaped by the structure of mountain barriers, bounded valley communities and bracketed lines of communication that follow river systems.  Whereas the political economy of the Himalayas has been structured around agricultural production, and the development of elaborate field terrace systems, there have also been subsidiary economies centered on trans-Himalayan trade and pilgrimage as well as pastoral nomadism and transhumance.  Since the colonial period, the Himalayas have increasingly become a place for rest, relaxation, tourism and adventure, and this – along with further political transformations since Indian independence -- has led to the rapid development of urban areas.  This course will provide a survey of Himalayan history, society and culture with a focus on the relationship between nature, the environment and geography.

Himalayan Biodiversity (ENVSTD1311)

Ranging in altitude from several hundred meters above sea level to over seven thousand, from subtropical forests to high altitude meadows and deserts, and from areas with little or no rainfall to regions that are among the wettest in the world, the Himalayas define a geographical region of enormous geological variation and biodiversity.  The goal of this course is to gain an understanding of this diversity, with a focus on ethology, the study of animal behavior and the interaction of animal species. 

The Hanifl Centre was established in 2003 to promote the study of the Himalayan environment with a focus on outdoor education.  The University of Pittsburgh has partnered with the Centre since 2013 and now runs three programs there.  Hanifl Centre staff embody India’s multicultural modernity with a certified record of professionalism, having earned national and international recognition for their programs in leadership training and wilderness medicine.  India’s first green design campus, the Hanifl Centre is near a nature reserve in-between India’s two most sacred rivers, the Yamuna and the Ganga.  In 2019 Pitt’s Chancellor visited the Centre in recognition of our well-established partnership, innovative programs and proven record of success.  To learn more about the Hanifl Centre please visit haniflcentre.in.

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts: 

Lauren Perri

Hi! I'm Lauren, Program Manager for Arts & Sciences students. As an undergraduate student, I studied abroad in Marburg, Germany. Since then, my career in international education has taken me to many locations around the world. Particularly, I have an affinity for Florence, Italy. There is nothing quite like the challenge of navigating a new city, country, and culture! Let's chat about global experiences.

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways

Don't see a time that works for you? Just send me an email at lap140@pitt.edu

Dr. Joseph Alter (Academic Director)

Joseph Alter was born in the Himalayas and has been studying religion, culture and the environment in the mountains for thirty years.  He is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh with research expertise in medical anthropology.

Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Alter with any questions about the program. His email is: JSALTER@pitt.edu.

Your In-Country Contacts: 

Akshay Shah

Akshay Shah is the Director of the Hanifl Centre.  He is an environmental activist who has established conservation and leadership programs in the mountains.  He is also a certified Wilderness EMT with expertise in community health and medicine.

Items Billed by Pitt

  In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $10,077.00 $19,260.00
Program Fee $6,922.00 $6,922.00
Study Abroad Fee $400 $400
Total Billed by Pitt $17,399.00 $26,582.00

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs

Round-trip Airfare ~$1,900
Visa ~$200
Personal Expenses (including gear) $1,500 - $3,000

 

Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad. Visit our Budgeting page for more information.

Above costs are only for SPRING 2024. 

A certain amount of gear is required for the treks involved on this program. You will be provided with a recommended list. However, actual costs will vary. Regardless, you should anticipate additional, non-billable expenses.

What's Included: 

As a part of your Pitt in the Himalayas program fee, the following are included in the program:

  • Tuition for 12-15 credits
  • Housing
  • All meals
  • Health Insurance
  • Excursions
  • Airport Transfers
  • On-Site Transportation
  • End of the year gala reception
When You'll Go: 

This is a full semester program. It will run from early January to late April. Please check program sidebar for exact dates. 

What Else You Need to Know: 
  • No foreign language proficiency required.
  • There are no prerequisite courses, but any previous coursework in anthropology would be beneficial.
  • You should be prepared for an academically rigorous semester of study.
  • You should be prepared for a physically demanding semester with lots of outdoor activities including extended trekking to high altitude sites. The program includes two eight-day backpacking trips that are challenging but require no previous experience in the outdoors.  
  • Field trips include several journeys by train, bus and a flight by plane to the city of Leh, the capital of Ladakh at 12,000 ft above sea level.
  • Due to the nature of the program, the schedule is subject to change. There may be instances where a guest speaker or visit needs to be rescheduled. We ask for your patience and understanding in advance.

Pitt Professor and program Academic Director, Dr. Joseph Alter, will be on-site/in-country for part of the program. Professor Alter will co-teach/guest lecture and will meet with all students one-on-one. When not in-country, Dr. Alter will meet remotely with students. Most instruction will be provided by our local faculty.