Florida International University (FIU) is located in Miami-Dade County in South Florida. Miami, the heart of the Americas, is internationally known as a major global trading center. This same character allows for an increasingly diverse population, a population that now surpasses the 2.0 million figure. Miami also possesses physical beauty and tropical climate, perfect for the large tourist community.

The University
Florida International University is a relatively young university which has already achieved Research I standing. Since its opening in 1972, FIU has experienced a rapid and consistent growth. These successes have made it possible to be named among the top 100 public national universities and within the 10 best public commuter universities. Because of its location, FIU has truly become a diverse university, with students from every U.S. state and over 120 foreign nations.

FIU's priorities include maintaining a well-educated, technologically oriented, ethnically diverse student body. It is committed to enhance undergraduate teaching while broadening graduate and professional programs and promoting research and activities that contribute to the social, artistic, cultural, economic, environmental, scientific and technological foundations of our society.

The University has two campuses: University Park, in the southwest area of Miami and Biscayne Bay campus, in northeast Miami. University Park is the largest and oldest of FIU's campuses, located on 400 acres, minutes away from Miami International Airport. Biscayne Bay campus is located on 200 acres of natural mangrove preserve facing Biscayne Bay. In addition, FIU has two academic centers in nearby Broward County. The University Tower in downtown Fort Lauderdale offers primarily graduate programs and the FIU Broward Center in Davie, located on the campus of Broward Community College, focuses on undergraduate programs.

University Statistics

• The number of students enrolled in FIU during Fall of 1999 was 31,274
• FIU currently offers over 300 different majors from nine colleges or schools
• During the school year 1998-1999, FIU granted over $68,550,000 in financial awards to students
• FIU campuses have over 565 acres of land containing distinctive architecture, numerous lush tropical landscapes, and impressive outdoor sculptures
• The average class size is 28, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1
• More than three dozen centers and institutes exist that add to the learning environment
• In addition to approximately 30 honor societies that are active at FIU, there are also over 200 clubs and organizations

Academic Calendar
The fall semester's registration process begins in the first week of August up to the start of classes. This semester includes the following holidays during which the university is closed;
Labor Day: First Monday in September
Veterans' Day: November 11
Thanksgiving: November 

Registration for the Spring semester begins in the second week of November and runs through January. The official holidays during which the university is closed are:
Martin Luther King Day
Spring Break

Program of Study
The TIRES exchange program is tailored around a full academic year of study. TIRES students will take at least two of the core courses listed below, one in each semester. Then, in conjunction with their FIU academic advisor, students will devise an academic program suited to their research interests. We suggest that students focus on one of the three areas: the Caribbean, Latin America or U.S. immigration issues. Each course is worth three credits and full-time students take between 12 and 15 credits. TIRES students can also pursue an internship (3 credits) with one of the TIRES faculty members. The following list of courses is meant to help students in planning their course of study at FIU. Actual course offerings will vary from semester to semester. The catalog with course offerings is usually available online 2-3 weeks before the start of the semester.

TIRES Core Courses
POS 4314 American Ethnic Politics
SYP 4991 Sociology of International Migration
INR 4993 International Cooperation and Conflict on Migration issues

TIRES Supplemental Courses (provisional list)

Economics
ECS 4993 Economics of Caribbean Migration

History
AMH 4570 African-American History
LAH 3200 Latin America: The National Period
LAH 3718 History of U.S.- Latin American Relations
LAH 4482 Cuba 18th-20th Centuries

International Relations
INR 3043 Population and Society
INR 3045 The Global Challenge of Refugees and Migrants
INR 3243 International Relations of Latin America
INR 3246 International Relations of the Caribbean
INR 4404 International, Protection of Human Rights
INR 4084 Ethnicity in World Politics
INR 4204 Comparative Foreign Policy
INR 4244 Latin America in World Politics
INR 4350 International Environmental Politics
INR 4521 Politics of Regional Integration
INR 4702 Politics of World Economy
INR 5087 Ethnicity and the Politics of Development

Political Science
CPO 3010 Comparative Politics: Theory and Practice
CPO 3103 Politics of Western Europe
CPO 3104 Politics of the European Union
CPO 3204 African Politics
CPO 3304 Politics of Latin America
CPO 3403 Politics of the Middle East
CPO 3502 Politics of the Far East
CPO 3541 Politics of China
CPO 3553 Government and Politics of Japan
CPO 3643 Russian Politics
CPO 4034 The Politics of Development and Underdevelopment
CPO 4053 Political Repression and Human Rights
CPO 4165 Italian Politics
CPO 4303 Politics of South America
CPO 4333 Politics of Central America
CPO 4340 Politics of Mexico
CPO 4360 Cuban Politics
CPO 4401 The Arab-Israeli Conflict
CPO 4404 Politics of North Africa
CPO 4461 Politics of Eastern Europe
CPO 5325 Politics of the Caribbean
POS 4074 Latino Politics
POS 4188 Miami Politics

Sociology/Anthropology
ANT 4306 The Third World
ANT 4340 Cultures of the Caribbean
ANT 4343 Cuban Culture and Society
SYD 4237 Immigration and Refugees
SYD 46xx Cubans in the United States
SYD 4700 Sociology of Minorities/Race and Ethnic Relations
SYD 4704 Seminar in Ethnicity

Housing
Housing is available at both campuses for interested students. Three different facilities exist in University Park itself. These range from one-person studios to four-person apartment style layouts. Biscayne Bay campus housing also consists of apartment style facilities. The cost for housing ranges from $1,704.00 (if available) to $3,528.00 per semester during the fall or spring semester..

There are no deadlines set by Student Housing. However the applications for dorms and room assignment is performed on a first come, first serve basis. The process for Fall begins as early as April; applications received early are given priority while applications received at a later date are assigned to the housing units still available. It is advisable that students complete the application for housing and send it along with a $150.00 fee to our Office of International Studies or the TIRES Coordinator.. This fee includes a $100.00 deposit, which will be refunded in full less any damages and the end of the lease term, and a non-refundable $50.00 processing fee. Students are encouraged to submit early applications, as space is limited. Applications and information are available at http://www.fiu.edu/~housing/.

Health Insurance
By state law and university policy, all international students at FIU with an F-1 and J-1 visa status are required to have medical insurance prior to registration. Students will NOT be allowed to register for classes unless they comply with the medical insurance requirement. There are different ways to comply with this requirement. Please see the International Student and Scholar Services web page at http://www.fiu.edu/~isss/, where more information is available on this and other topics.

Living Expenses
An annual estimated cost of living for students includes a maintenance expense of $7,960.00. This expense includes room, board, clothing, transportation and incidentals at a cost of $884.00 a month for nine months. The student should also calculate $904.00 for books and other miscellaneous supplies estimated at $576.

Contact Information

Dr. Judith Rasoletti
TIRES Program Coordinator
Center for Transnational and Comparative Studies
Florida International University
University Park, DM-368
Miami, FL 33199, USA
Tel: (305) 348-6561
Fax: (305) 348-6562
Email: rasolett@fiu.edu
Web page: http://www.fiu.edu/~tcs/tires

Or

Dr. Sarah J. Mahler
TIRES Program Director
Associate Professor
Sociology & Anthropology
Florida International University
Email: mahlers@fiu.edu
Web page: http://www.fiu.edu/~tcs/tires