Return to Paradise: Chan Chich, Belize, Summer 2012

Spaces Are Filling! Apply Soon!

Welcome to the homepage for Texas Tech University’s Field School in Maya Archaeology (FSMA) Study Abroad program. The FSMA is part of the Chan Chich Archaeological Project, under the direction of Dr. Brett A. Houk of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work at Texas Tech. The 2012 season has space for only 12 very lucky students!

You can email Dr. Houk before applying to inquire about available slots.

Where?

The field school will take place at the ancient Maya site of Chan Chich, Belize, in Central America. Chan Chich is tucked away in the jungles of northwestern Belize and is home to Chan Chich Lodge, a beautiful jungle lodge built in the main plaza of the site. Belize is an English speaking country with a stable government. It is easily reached from Texas on flights going through Dallas and Houston. Dr. Houk ran the Chan Chich Archaeological Project from 1996 to 2001, so the 2012 season is truly a return to paradise and a fantastic opportunity for students to participate in the renewed investigations of an important ancient Maya city. The experience is open to students at Texas Tech and elsewhere.

Who Can Participate?

The field school is open to college students who have completed one year of course work and have at least a 2.5 GPA, regardless of major. Space on the Belize program is limited to 12 new students. The slots will be assigned to the most qualified students, but applying early will improve your chances of being accepted to the program.

Chan Chich Lodge

The field school is based at Chan Chich Lodge, which is located in the main plaza of the site. This makes getting to the field rather easy! Our project will be based just outside the plaza in cabanas normally used by group leaders. The thatch-roofed cabanas will be fitted with bunk beds, and they have 24-hour electricity, ceiling fans, and private bathrooms with hot water. Up to eight students will share a cabana; the exact number will depend on the numbers of men and women who are accepted to the program.. We will be served our meals in an adjacent house, which was formally the managers' home. Students will have the option of dining in the restaurant (on their on dime) if they feel like living it up occasionally. The lodge now has wireless internet in the restaurant and bar, cell phone coverage, and a screened-in swimming pool with hot tub.

As far as field camps go, you can't do much better. In 2011, Chan Chich Lodge won the Condé Nast Johansens Award for Most Excellent Lodge For Mexico & Central America and was a finalist for Condé Nast Best Eco-Resort.

When?

The dates for the 2012 FSMA are May 26 to June 20, 2012.

The closing date for applications is March 2, 2012, at 3:00 p.m.

How Much?

The estimated 2012 costs for new students are:

Tuition*: ~$1,400 for 6 hrs.

Program Fee: $2,500

Airfare**: ~$700

*Tuition estimate is for 6 hours of tuition and fees at Texas Tech University. Students from other universities should see the information packet for additional information on credit.

**Students purchase their own airfare and make their own travel arrangements to the Belize international airport.

More Information

For more information, please download the information packet for new students. See the list of frequently asked questions below. If you have any other questions, please email Dr. Brett A. Houk or stop by his office in Holden Hall, Room 277. You can also call him at 806-742-2400 x234.

How to Apply

There is a two-part application process for the field school. Email Dr. Houk to inquire about openings and request an application form. Students who are accepted to the program will then be sent a link to apply online through Texas Tech University's Study Abroad program.

The closing date for applications is March 2, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. All applications for the program go through a review process. Acceptance to a study abroad program is based on this review, fulfillment of GPA and academic requirements, and approval by the program sponsor. While the process is competitive, applying early will help your chances of being accepted. You will be notified if you have been accepted to the program by March 5, 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Will not being a student at Texas Tech hurt my chances of being accepted to the program?

Answer: Actually, it helps your chances! The official Texas Tech field school is being held in Texas in 2012, and, by mutual agreement between the archaeology faculty, only a few slots on the Chan Chich trip are available to Texas Tech students.

Question: Can the lodge accomodate vegeterian and/or Celiac diets.

Answer: Yes, although the fare may be simplier than the regular menu. It will likely include lots of rice, beans, corn, etc.

Question: Do I need a travel visa to go to Belize?

Answer: No. Students from the US and Canada only need a valid passport. When you arrive in Belize, tell the immigration agent that you will be staying for 30 days (if you plan on traveling before or after the field school), and he or she will stamp your passport with a 30-day visa.

Question: The electronic materials on the online application
state that the pre-departure orientation in Texas is mandatory. Is that applicable to non-TTU students? Should I make arrangements to attend the orientation in April?

Answer: No. Study Abroad will make arrangements for you to view the orientation on DVD or online.

Question: In order to make flight reservations... what time will the group be assembling on the 26th at the Goldson International Airport?

Answer: Make the best arrangements for your needs in terms of flights and arrival times with one exception (see below). I will arrive at the airport in time to meet the first students' flights. We will leave as a group in a chartered van about 3:30 or 4:00, after the last mid-afternoon flights have arrived. The best time to arrive is mid afternoon. If you arrive in the morning you may have to sit around the airport all day. The one exception is late afternoon flights. If you plan on arriving after 4:00 p.m., you should come in the day before. We cannot wait at the airport for flights coming in after about 4:00 because we will be driving through the jungle. It is not safe to do so after dark. If you come in the day before you will be responsible for your own lodging and transportation to and from the airport to meet the group on the 26th.

Question: What sort of immunizations are required/advisable?

Answer: Because I am not a medical doctor, I can't advise you on that. You should check with your physician. However, no specific immunizations are required by the program for you to participate.

Question: When are the full program, insurance, and study abroad fees due? Can they be paid in the same manner as the deposit? Is a personal check acceptable?

Answer: For Texas Tech students, all program costs, including insurance, will be billed to your student business account. For students from other universities, your full payment will be due 1 week before departure. You may pay with personal check or credit card over the phone. More details will be made available when the deposit is due.

Question: In regards to the "Texas Tech University Release and Hold Harmless Agreement"... this requires the signature of a notary from the state of Texas... what do I do if I am not from Texas?

Answer: We will send you a different form to sign if you do not live in Texas.

Question: If I am not a student at Texas Tech, do I have to pay the fee for tuition?

Answer: You only pay the tuition fee IF you enroll for credit at Texas Tech. All Texas Tech students must enroll for credit, but students from other schools are not required to enroll for credit at Texas Tech.

Question: If I am a non-Texas Tech student and I want to enroll at Texas Tech for course credit, what's the first step?

Answer: The first step is get admitted to Texas Tech for the summer. To do that, please email Elizabeth McDaniel in the Study Abroad office and let her know that you are participating in the Field School for Maya Archaeology and wish to be admitted to Texas Tech for Summer 1. She will need the following information from you: Full Name, Date of Birth, Street Address, City, State, ZIP Code, Telephone, Email, and Home institution.