faqs
Semester in Detroit
Frequently Asked Questions
Academic content
What are the main elements of the curriculum?
Semester in Detroit has three curricular components: 1) a core urban studies/planning course, 2) a part-time internship with a weekly reflective seminar, and 3) an elective course. All classes are taught at the UM Detroit Center, 3663 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI.
Will the curriculum help me to complete the minor in Urban Community Studies?
Successful completion of the Semester in Detroit program will fulfill all but one course requirement for a minor in Urban Community Studies. The additional requirement (not a prerequisite) is a core course in urban studies offered on the Ann Arbor campus through the Residential College.
Who teaches the core urban studies/planning course for Semester in Detroit?
Dr. June Thomas, Centennial Professor of Urban and Regional Planning from the UM’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Among many scholarly achievements, Dr. Thomas is the author of Redevelopment and Race: Planning a Finer City in Postwar Detroit. She has been studying, researching and teaching about Detroit's planning history for over three decades.
Where will I be placed for my internship?
Detroit is home to hundreds of community-service and cultural arts organizations. We have invited any interested organization that operates within the City of Detroit and that serves its population to submit an application for a Semester in Detroit intern. In order to insure a successful internship placement for students, we select only those organizations who submit a concrete proposal (not merely a list of tasks), provide adequate work-space and professional supervision, and that are easily accessible by public transit. Organizations will be selected for the program in early fall, and students will be paired based on their interest and availability (as best as possible.) ALL internship placements will be excellent learning experiences for students.
What is the weekly reflective seminar and who will lead it?
All SiD students participate in a weekly reflective seminar experience in which they share, discuss and process their internship experience. It is lead by Semester in Detroit Associate Director, Craig Regester, a Detroit resident with over ten years experience working with and for Detroit-based community organizations.
What are the elective course options?
There are three UM-taught elective options for the current SID semester, winter 2009:
- “Detroit Connections”, taught by School of Art and Design Professor, Nick Tobier.
- “Writing in Detroit”, taught by RC Creative Writing Faculty, Lolita Hernandez
- “The 1966 Detroit High School Walkout”, taught by RC/CAAS Assistant Professor, Stephen Ward in collaboration with Mosaic Youth Theatre.
Wayne State University electives include:
- Several courses in the Department of Geography and Urban Planning and Honors College are offered to Semester in Detroit students.
- Geographic Information Systems
- Sustainable Food Systems
- Cities and Regions
- Introduction to Urban Geography
How will the Semester in Detroit curriculum contribute to what I need to do to graduate on time?
Every student’s academic situation is unique. You should review this with your academic advisor. The answer will depend on the requirements for your degree and how far along you are in meeting those requirements.
Prerequisites
What prerequisites are required for participation in Semester in Detroit?
There are two prerequisites: 1) A one-credit urban planning mini-course taught in mid-fall, 2009 and, 2) Participation in the Ginsberg Center’s annual workshop series for community service learning students, Learning from the Community.
What is the course number for the required prerequisite course on Detroit and when does it meet?
Stay tuned for more information on this course; all students accepted into Semester in Detroit will be reserved a spot in the class.
How do I find out about the required prerequisite, Learning from the Community?
Learning from the Community is a series of workshops that prepare you for working in a community organization. The series will occur on nine Tuesday evenings in fall semester. The workshop schedule will be available in early fall, 2009. The UM staff contact for Learning from the Community is Dave Waterhouse at Ginsberg (hoohouse@umich.edu).
Housing
What are the arrangements for housing?
All SID students will live together in the newly constructed Wayne State University dormitory, the Tower Residential Suites. The facilities are top notch. Students will have free access to internet, the library, exercise rooms and laundry in the building, and a shuttle bus to the UM Detroit Center area. You may use the recreation center for a fee.
Can I find a different place to live, not in the Wayne State dorm?
No, all students are required to live in the Wayne State dorm. Special attention will be paid to the fostering of intentional community among SID students, as well as developing ways for UM students to integrate into the student life at Wayne State University. This kind of community-building would not be possible with SID students living in scattered sites around the city. In addition, Wayne State University is conveniently located in the central city with easy access to major transportation routes and public transit.
Cost
How much will Semester in Detroit cost?
Tuition: You will pay UM tuition, just as you would on campus. However, if you choose an elective course taught by Wayne State University there MAY be a different arrangement for handling tuition payments. This information will be available soon.
Housing: SID students will live at WSU’s Tower Residential Suites, a new 11-story residential living facility with all the amenities you might need. For pricing and a closer look, go to: http://www.housing.wayne.edu/reshall_newresidence.php
Food: There are five Wayne State University meal plans available (including the 5-meal plan) for SID students. Click here for more detailed information: http://www.housing.wayne.edu/dealmeal.php
Do I need a car to participate?
No, you do not need a car. Semester in Detroit will have one UM van available for use in the city. We are arranging internships that you can reach by bus or on foot.
If you own a car, you are welcome to bring it. A car will be convenient to have for going places that are off direct bus lines. This can also open opportunities for more distant internship placements.
Will I be able to get a paying job in addition to the internship placement?
Maybe, but for most students, we expect you will not have time to work for pay in addition to taking classes and doing the internship.
Does Semester in Detroit have fellowship funds to help students with expenses?
No, we do not yet have that kind of resources. You may be able to find some funds for this activity from your department. Residential College students, for instance, may apply for support from the newly established Brown Endowment.
How will participating in Semester in Detroit affect financial aid that I have been awarded?
Circumstances regarding financial aid are unique to each UM student. If this is a concern, please contact SID Associate Director, Craig Regester, at 734-647-9960 or regester@umich.edu. He will assist you in navigating financial aid questions.
Internships
Do I need to find my own internship?
No, we are working with community-based service and arts organizations to develop a range of choices for internships. We work to match your interests with a project that a community partner has described.
What kinds of work will I do?
There is a broad range of possibilities for internship sites as well as projects. All will depend on which Detroit organizations successfully apply and are accepted into the program. More specific information about internship sites will be available in early fall, 2009. SID staff and faculty are committed to pairing students with the internship that best meets their academic and career interests.
May I have an internship at a law firm or at the Detroit Medical Center?
The internships will be in organizations addressing community-based agendas. Therefore, we do not expect to place students in law firms or medical clinics unless these are focused on addressing the needs of community-based organizations and underserved populations. Many such organizations exist within reach of the Detroit Center.
Will I get to choose my internship?
We will consult with you to assure that the internship fits with your interests. This will be a process where we work with community-based organizations to articulate projects they need and then discuss these with you. But we don’t expect to have an extensive list of internships from which participants choose. Ideally, SID students who submit applications should include a first, second and even third choice for an internship. With this kind of flexibility, we are confident that all SID students will find a suitable internship match.