Pitt at the Women's World Cup

 

Pitt at the Women’s World Cup of Soccer in Australia & New Zealand 2023 is a 4 week Summer 2023 study abroad program that will engage University of Pittsburgh students with the cultural and global spectacle of the World Cup. For 2023, this program will be based primarily in the host city of Sydney, Australia.  This program will help students understand the local and global implications of international sporting events and their influence on women in sport and gender politics in sport. Students will have the opportunity to meet and hear from local leaders and regional experts on the impact and significance of the World Cup in the region as well as growing global importance of women in sport. 

Students will spend the initial part of the program taking coursework giving them a foundation through which to engage sport critically. Over the course of the entire program students will have guest lectures from various experts. Students will also have time to experience cultural excursions and experiences unique to the region (i.e. visit stadiums, cultural centers etc) in addition to attending multiple matches (number dependent upon budget and availability of tickets – at minimum 2-3 matches) 

 

Note on Sporting Events:

 

Attendance at additional matches at student discretion will be allowed provided it does not conflict with other scheduled activities.  Program will provide students with experiences at other less costly early round matches.  Ticket availability will determine final schedule and opportunities during four-week period of program. 

What You'll Accomplish: 

 Academic Goals

  • Greater understanding of anthropological knowledge
  • Greater understanding of sport in social life
  • The development of critical and analytical thinking skills 
  • Students will have an understanding of Sport as a significant social category impacting major aspects of social life.
  • Students will be able to define and apply concepts of gender, sexuality, power, the body as a social artefact, race and racism, globalization, and capitalism.
  • Students will understand the role of anthropological theoretical models in understanding the human experience.

Personal Goals 
Students will learn to navigate a cosmopolitan city at its most intense level. Students will come into contact with people from all over the world in a small space and time that will give them the opportunity to engage in dialogue with not only the people of Australia and New Zealand but from all over the world there specifically for the World Cup. This will give students a greater understanding of the impact of globalization and citizenship. 
Professional Goals
Students will develop knowledge of the cultural place of sport and the industry of sport. Students will have knowledge they can apply within a variety of fields (Urban and Regional Planning, Civic Engagement, Journalism and Media relations, tourism).

Tourists come to Sydney for the Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House.  Sure, you’ll get to see these sights, and you might even hold a koala, but you will come to know Sydney for so much more.  As the economic capital of Australia, Sydney attracts people from across the globe, making it a diverse city.  You will meet your fair share of Sydney-siders, but don’t be surprised to make friends from countries far and wide.

 

 

 

Where You'll Live: 

Coming soon!

What You'll Study: 

This program will be of interest to any undergraduate at the University but more specifically to Anthropology majors, students completing the Sports Studies certificate, Sociology, History, Globalization, GSWS, Media/Broadcast journalism and Urban Studies and regionally students interested in the Pacific and Aboriginal world. Students from any Pitt campus are welcome to apply and attend the program.
The Nationalism & Identity course can be used to fulfill a Social Science, Diversity, or Global general education requirement. 

Ethnography of Sport: Anthropology and Methodology in Sporting Worlds (ANTH1550)

This course is designed to give students practical experience in conducting ethnographic fieldwork exercises in the world of sport. Students will learn essential qualitative research skills and tools to conduct research in anthropological contexts and frameworks. Students will learn human subjects review protocols, interview strategies, data collection and analysis and ethnographic writing practices. Through readings of anthropological ethnographies focused on sport and essential texts on qualitative methods students will be prepared to design, implement and report their own projects.

Nationalism & Identity – Race, Gender, Ethnicity & the Nation State in Sport (ANTH1746)

The Women’s World Cup of Soccer is more than a sporting event that has captured the imagination and dedication of a global audience for over 90 years. This course explores the ways in which the Women’s World Cup have become a venue to not only showcase sport but to teach, inform and establish norms around some of society’s core concepts. This course will demonstrate the ways in which our everyday understanding of gender, race, ethnicity, biology, and citizenship have been directly shaped by global sporting events like the World Cup. The World Cup has been a steady partner with the development of nationalism, globalization, modernity and science. Topics such as gender verification testing, biological racism and citizenship will be discussed as part of the program. 

Experiential Learning Description: 

Students have the opportunity to do research on this program.

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts: 

Anisha Mallik

Hi! My name is Anisha, I am a graduate student in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and at the School of Public Health, and I am a Program Assistant for a few Panther Programs at Pitt GEO! I studied abroad in Greece, the Czech Republic, and Ireland during my undergraduate career. In my graduate studies, my regional focus has been on South Asia, through which I had the opportunity to do a fellowship in India. I love connecting with other students looking to expand their perspectives and live and work abroad. Let's chat about your global experience options!

E-mail: 
anm268@pitt.edu

Schedule an appointment

Make an appointment with me to talk about program-specific questions using this link  https://pathways.campus.eab.com/pal/K1NEvWip-3  
Don't see a time that works for you? Email me at anm268@pitt.edu! 

Your In-Country Contacts: 

Dr. Gabby M.H. Yearwood

Gabby M.H. Yearwood is a socio-cultural anthropologist and Teaching Professor in the Department of Anthropology. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 2012 with a degree in Anthropology and a focus in Black Diaspora Studies, Masculinity and Sport. His research interests include the social constructions of race and racism, masculinity, gender and sex, Black Feminist and Black Queer theory, the anthropology of sport and the Black Diaspora. Dr. Yearwood first became fascinated with the spectacle of sports in 1976 when the Olympics were held in his home country in Canada. This early experience since childhood has continued to be a part of his scholarship, research and teaching.  Dr. Yearwood also serves as the Managing Faculty Director for the Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice at the Pitt School of Law. Dr. Yearwood also holds a secondary appointment with the Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Program at Pitt.

Items Billed by Pitt

 

In-State

Out-of-State

Program Cost

$6,099

$6,299

Study Abroad Fee

$300

$300

Total Billed by Pitt

$6,399

$6,599

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs

Airfare

~$1500

Meals and Personal Expenses

~$1000

 
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.
 

What's Included: 

As a part of your Pitt at the World Cup program fee, the following are included:

  • Tuition for 6 credits
  • Shared accommodations through the program
  • Tickets to 3 World Cup matches
  • Day trip to the Blue Mountains and Featherdale Wildlife Park 
  • Cultural activities such as an Aboriginal Walking tour, Australian Museum, and local food tour
  • Class related activities such as visit to Olympic Park, tour of a prominent stadium, and class related guest lectures
  • International travel health insurance

You're seeing student-submitted photos from Australia. There may be photos that do not necessarily represent this program or it's inclusions, but we hope you enjoy seeing what Panthers around the world are doing!