History and Cultures of Central Asia - Summer 2025

June 22- July 6, 2025*

*All travel dates are tentative and subject to international travel restrictions.

Course Title:History and Cultures of Central Asia

Academic Director & Instructor: TatianaSaburova

Syllabus Description:

Kazakhstan is the largest country from the five former Soviet republics in Central Asia playing a very important role in regional geopolitics, claiming to be the “Eurasian land bridge”. Its old capital – Almaty represents the Russian empire which established its control over the region in the 19th century, the Soviet legacy, and the post-Soviet political and economic development, creating the sites of memory and signaling about new directions of the independent state. Almaty also represents a combination of national and global cultures, being one of the most dynamic and vibrant cities in the region. 

Kyrgyzstan is much smaller than Kazakhstan and most of its territory are mountains, but its rich history relates to the Silk Road, and tells stories about nomadism and empires, migration and resistance, the Soviet socialist projects, and the Tulip revolution of 2005. Kyrgyzstan since the collapse of the Soviet Union has had more elected presidents than any former Soviet republics in Central Asia, including only one former female president in the region. While its capital Bishkek has a significant Soviet presence in the architecture and monuments, Karakol keeps a legacy of the Russian empire’s outpost at the foothills of the Tian-Shan and a cultural intersection between Central Asia, Russia and China. 

The program will include visits to museums and historic sites, followed by group discussions and written assignments to reflect on the experience, to analyze sources and collect data. It will introduce the history of Central Asia by visiting museums and by experiencing guided activities centered on the cultural diversity of the region. It will also include collaboration with local university students by participating in visual Laboratory for Urban History organized in collaboration with the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University in Almaty (Kazakhstan). Work on collaborative projects to explore buildings and monuments of the city for a specific historical and cultural context is important for learning and developing new skills in historical research, visual analysis, and international cooperation. 

This program will provide the immersive experience of the Central Asian countries’ historical and cultural spaces to help to think critically about colonialism and imperialism, center-periphery relations, and historical continuity and changes. This program will help to navigate different cultural environments and to understand world cultures through direct international experience, also developing communication skills and creativity.

• Excursions in Almaty, Kazakhstan will include visits to Museum of Folk Music Instruments, the Kasteev Museum of Fine Arts, Green Bazaar market, and tours of public spaces.
• Excursions in Kyrgyzstan will include time in Bishkek, Lake Issyk-Kul and Karakol with visits to Burana Tower, Museum Center for Nomadic Civilizations, Altyn-Arashan, Jeti-Oguz and Seven Bulls Rock.
• Optional excursions include potential trips to the Almaty Botanical Garden and Medeu, the highest ice skating rink in the world.

Program participants will stay in hotels during the majority of their time in both countries. The accommodations are conveniently located near shops, public transit, and program excursion sites. Participants will also have the opportunity to stay overnight in traditional yurts during travel between program sites in Kyrgyzstan.

Summer 2025 Program Fee - $1600*

The program fee includes regional flight between host countries, airport transfers in country, accommodations in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, some meals, transportation to and from all excursion sites, entry fees to all museums and historical sites, student travel insurance, and administrative fees to cover program administrative costs.

*Program fee is subject to change due to unforeseeable circumstances.

IUB Tuition - 3 credit hours

The tuition cost for this program is based on IU Bloomington tuition. The amount of tuition will vary based on student resident status. See the Student Central website for more information on current tuition rates.

Additional Variable Costs

Variable costs are paid before and after you arrive in Asia as you pay for roundtrip international airfare, most meals, snacks, personal expenses, and independent travel outside the program. See the program fee sheet for more details.

Note: The program fee and tuition will appear on your bursar bill and are paid directly to IU. See the program fee sheet for more details.

Scholarships

All admitted program participants are awarded an automatic HIEP Hutton Honors Study Abroad Scholarship of $1000 applied directly to the program fee. No separate application is required.

Additionally, applicants to Hutton Honors Study Abroad programs may be considered for additional merit and need-based scholarships. If finances will be a barrier to participating in your study abroad experience, we invite you to apply for these awards. Please submit your application no later than your program's final application deadline.

Note: Program participants are not eligible to apply for the HIEP Grant.

Please see the IU Education Abroad Office website for more information on other available scholarships and financial aid opportunities.

IU OVST Getting Started Handbook