Dates
Application Fee
$100
Program Fee
$5,990
The Program Fee includes tuition and program expenses. Click on Program Fee for details.
International airfare and personal expenses are not included in the Program Fee and are the responsibility of the participant.
Eligibility
This program is open to all undergraduate and graduate students with a cumulative GPA of 2.25, including students who do not attend George Mason University.
Credits
Undergraduate: Students enroll in a total of 9 undergraduate credits from among the following disciplines: Geography, Conflict Analysis, New Century Learning, or Global Affairs.
Graduate: Students enroll in a total of 6 graduate credits in Conflict Analysis.
Housing
Hotels and homestays
Excursions
Taal Volcano, Apo Island, dolphin watching, sandbar, river/ocean cruise, historical Intramuros, Panglao Island, and the Chocolate Hills!
CONTACT: Sarah Mournighan via email or by calling 703.993.2106 or toll free at 866.468.1243. The toll free number does not accept calls from the 703 or 571 area code.
Downloadable Documents
Faculty Info

Mabuhay! Known as the Pearl of the Orient, the Philippines has 7,107 islands and nearly 90 languages and dialects. This summer study abroad program will offer students direct contact with world issues like poverty and environmental change by granting them unique access to Filipino life and culture.

2010 Philippines Program Participants Upon Successful Completion of Their Service Learning Project at Smokey Mountain
Participants will attend the 2010 Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute, granting them the opportunity to actually DO some grassroots peacebuilding with local and international peace activists. Program participants will also visit local communities in different parts of the country and stay with local families. The richness of Filipino culture and the beauty and wonders of the Philippines's natural resources offer this program’s participants an abroad experience without comparison. Visits include the Taal Volcano, Apo Island, and the Chocolate Hills, known as one of the wonders of the world. The trip spans four major cities: Manila, Davao, Tagbilaran and Dumaguete.
2008 Philippines Program Participants at the
Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute
Tentative Itinerary:
Wednesday, May 22
Depart from the U.S. to Manila
Thursday, May 23
Arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila
Airport pick-up to UCCP Shalom Center
Friday, May 24
Visit the American Cemetery and Monument, orientation about WWII and the Philippine-American relations
Saturday, May 25
Orientation: National Situationer, Philippine politics, governance and Filipino culture
Visit Smokey Mountain, BASECO and Hapilan
Sunday, May 26
Departure for Davao City
Monday, May 27 - Friday, June 7
Two weeks at Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute in Davao City
Saturday, June 8
Transfer to Tower Inn Hotel, Davao City
Sunday, June 9
Visit to Bantay-Bata (Safeguarding the Children), a safe house for sexually abused women and children
Monday, June 10
Visit Interface Development Intervention, Inc. (IDIS) for orientation on environmental issues on aerial spraying
Tuesday, June 11
Visit to Tambayan
Peacebuilding and the Arts with Kublai, a Filipino peace artist
Visit People's Park
Wednesday, June 12
Visit organic farm and participate in rice planting
Thursday, June 13
Group reflection and processing
Friday, June 14
Early morning departure for Surigao City
Saturday, June 15
Discuss open pit mining and meet with local residents, community organizers and development workers
Sunday, June 16
Visit indigenous communities (lumad)
Monday, June 17
Sea trip to Basul Island
Tuesday, June 18
Visit Cebu City on the way to Panglao Island, Bohol via morning flight and ocean cruise
Wednesday, June 19
Exploring natural resources on Panglao Island
Thursday, June 20
Guided tour of Blood Compact Shrine, Baclayon Church and Museum, Loboc River Cruise, Tarsier Watching, drive thru Bilar man-made mahogany forest and Chocolate Hills
Friday, June 21
Departure for Dumaguete City via ocean cruise.
Formal welcome dinner with officials from Dumaguete City and Silliman University
Saturday, June 22
Orientation and lecture presentation by the Marine Conservation program of Silliman University
Sunday, June 23
Orientation on Community Service Learning
Students will be go to their host families and start their service learning experience
Monday, June 24 - Thursday, June 27
Students work on their community service project and stay with their host families
Friday, June 28
Return to Bethel Guest House
Cultural solidarity where students invite their host families and friends from the community
Saturday, June 29
Trip to Apo Island, marine sanctuary of Silliman University
Sunday, June 30
Departure for Manila
Visit the Mall of Asia
Monday, July 1
Final debriefing and processing
Tuesday, July 2
Depart Manila for the U.S.
2009 Philippines Program Participants
More Information:
The Philippines summer program Academic Director Al Fuertes was recently featured in the George Mason University News.
Jasper Hu, a student from the 2008 program, was published in the Washington Post Weekend Magazine and in the Manila Mail.
Click here for some quotes from the 2008 program participants.
Academic Director
Dr. Al Fuertes is a recipient of the 2008 GMU Teaching Excellence Award and the 2001 AT&T Asia-Pacific Leadership Award. Al specializes in community-based trauma healing as an integral component in peace building and conflict transformation. He travels extensively around the world, particularly in places affected by war, armed conflict, and natural disaster. Al works with government, religious, military, and community leaders, as well as NGO development workers, school administrators, teachers, youth, refugees, and internally displaced persons.
Dates: May 22-July 2, 2013
You should plan to leave the United States on the first day of the program. You can schedule your return to the United States from the Philippines for the last day of the program or choose to travel independently.
Do not purchase international airfare until you are advised by your Program Officer.
Program Fee
$5,990The Center for Global Education Program Fee includes:
- Tuition
- Welcome and Farewell meals
- Housing - homestays and hotels
- Most meals
- Transportation between sites in the Philippines
- Guided tours and field excursions
- Pre-departure orientation
- Post-trip meeting
- Emergency medical insurance, including medical evacuation and repatriation
Scholarships are available to George Mason students. George Mason students can click here to download the CGE Global Perspectives scholarship application. Mason students may also use financial aid to cover a program's cost. Discuss this with your financial aid counselor early in your study abroad planning process. If you are not a George Mason University student, check with your study abroad office or office of financial aid to learn more about how to cover the cost of your study abroad.
How to apply: Consult the How to Apply section for detailed instructions. Start by completing the online application. Pay the $100 application fee.
Note that all supplemental documents are required by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Contact the Program Officer for further application forms and instructions specific to your program.
*CGE reserves the right to make changes to a program in light of currency fluctuations, changing security and safety conditions, or any other unforeseen circumstances.

