BIOS 368 in India

The monsters that inhabit our world are born not just of nature but of human conception. They wander forth out of evolution and of language, out of brain physiology and the pages of fiction, out of the human imagination and the studios of art. It is this variety that we endeavor to capture in this course as we ask how our notions of the monstrous help us to understand who we are, what we fear, and with what consequence we misperceive those human and non-human forms that haunt us both from within and without.

Students in Monster will engage with articles, short stories, novels, book excerpts, and films, many with an emphasis on Indian authors/directors and texts in which Indian culture plays a significant role. Students will write reading responses and papers that connect science and the humanities and, often, the personal. In discussion-based class sessions, we will not work toward agreement on who is the monster, but instead explore the liminal, often ambiguous spaces of perception of humans and humanity.

Course Objectives

• To become familiar with those ways in which the monstrous is, and has always been, both conceived and misconceived.

• To consider the complex cultural, medical, political, and scientific questions such different conceptions have raised and continue to raise.

• To become skilled in reading texts critically and closely.

• To become more effective writers, able to respond thoughtfully to the ideas of others and to articulate one's own ideas with clarity and good argument.

• To create art pieces, and to critique the creative works of fellow students.

   

SYLLABUS COMING SOON

🇺🇸 Houston, Texas • May 24 – May 28, 2027
The first week of the immersion will take place in Rice's home city of Houston, a multicultural city with a significant Indian diaspora.

🇮🇳 Bengaluru, India • May 29 – June 11, 2027
The second and third weeks of the immersion will take place in Bengaluru, India.

Activities and site visits are subject to confirmation and may change.

Students will enroll in BIOS 368 and receive 3 Rice credit hours upon completion of the immersion.
BIOS 368 fulfills both the D3 and Analyzing Diversity requirements. There are no prerequisites for the course.

Language of Instruction: English

Summer Tuition Rate
The Summer 2027 tuition rate has not yet been announced. The Summer 2026 rate for a 3-credit course was $5,700; this page will be updated once the new rate is announced.

What Does Tuition Cover?
The program tuition includes:

• Housing & meals for all three weeks
• All transportation costs, including roundtrip airfare from Houston to Bengaluru
• Course-related excursions and tickets

Rice Global Commitment Fee
$300 commitment fee + $9 processing fee to secure your spot in the program

• The $300 will be applied towards your tuition.
• You will not be able to register for the course (BIOS 368) until this fee has been received.
• If you withdraw from the program, the fees will not be refunded to you.

This immersion is open to Rice undergraduate students in good academic and disciplinary standing.

We encourage applications from students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, adaptability, maturity, and a willingness to engage respectfully with people and perspectives different from their own.

Prior international travel experience is not required.

Complete the online application, including written reflections on your motivation for participating, readiness for international travel, and cultural awareness.

Spots are limited, so apply early! Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, so students are encouraged to apply early to increase their chances of securing a spot in the immersion.

Apply Here Now

For questions about applications, program fees, financial assistance, or travel logistics, please contact Rice Global at globalowls@rice.edu.
For questions about academic content and course requirements, please contact the immersion faculty lead, Professor Mike Gustin.