Meredith Abroad in Italy/Switzerland and the United Kingdom is the oldest of the Meredith programs. Students can choose the 10-week program or they can select either of the continental or U.K. programs individually.

The program begins with four weeks in Sansepolcro, Italy, a small town located in the beautiful Tiber Valley about halfway between Florence and Rome.  As you depart Sansepolcro for a final 4 day independent travel break, you will make your way to Stechelberg, Switzerland where the Swiss Alps will dazzle you, before continuing on to Zurich, from which you will depart. 

At this point, half the students return home and half head for the U.K. where they are joined by a group from the U.S.A. In the U.K., the program begins in the heart of London, in beautiful Kensington Square at Heythrop College.

Both programs provide extended opportunities for independent travel, and faculty will be available to offer advice and help you plan your own adventures.

Dates
Whole Program: May 17 - July 29, 2012 (tentative)

Italy/Switzerland: May 17 - June 24, 2012 (tentative)
UK: June 26 - July 29, 2012 (tentative)

Final Dates are determined in February.

Accommodations
While in Sansepolcro, Italy, students will be housed in the newly renovated Palazzo Alberti, Meredith's home in Sansepolcro. In London, we are indeed lucky to be able to stay at Heythrop College in beautiful Kensington Square one of the most sought after and convenient locations in the city.

Costs*

Whole Program: $9,950

For detailed information on additional costs and expenses please click here.

Italy/Switzerland Half: Program Costs: $5,300 (includes tuition, room, most meals, and program excursions in Italy and Switzerland).

For detailed information on additional costs and expenses please click here.

U.K. Half: Program Costs: $5,950 (includes room, half-board [except for weekends in London], tuition, and excursions).

For detailed information on additional costs and expenses please click here.

*These estimates are based on a conservative exchange rate so that we, ideally, will not have to ask for more money.  Should the exchange rate shift significantly, we may adjust this price downward after final program arrangements are solidified. Our job is to monitor, yours to hope!

Additional Costs: Round trip airfare and miscellaneous spending.

Cultural and Travel Opportunities

Whole and Italy/Switzerland Participants
Typically students' classes will meet in the morning and early afternoon, leaving most of your evenings for study and for exploration of Sansepolcro and Tuscany. A group excursion will introduce you to the art and architectural delights of nearby Anghiari, Arezzo, and Florence. Two three-day travel breaks will enable you to travel wherever you choose--for example Rome or Venice, or perhaps even farther afield. On the way to Switzerland, a final travel break will allow further travel.

U.K. Participants
U.K. participants will begin in the heart of London in Kensington Square. Participants will find an almost overwhelming variety of opportunities in theatre, music, dance, art, museums, and historic sites to engage the mind and delight the spirit. Again, classes will typically meet in the morning and early afternoon. The rest of most days and weekends are free for sight-seeing and independent travel. Two long weekend breaks while in London will allow participants to travel independently to Paris or Ireland or ???!!!

Curriculum
NOTE: For each half, students are required to take a minimum of 6 credit hours, and three of those must include IDS 300 and/or IDS 301: Arts, Artifacts, and Culture. Independent study is available in many areas, but at an extra cost if taught by non-Meredith abroad faculty. Credit will be available in arts & aesthetics, psychology, cultural elective, behavioral & social science, literature elective, and natural science elective. Students who wish to use this study abroad experience to satisfy the Global Perspective requirement for General Education will be able to do so.

Course Offerings for the Italy/Switzerland Half:

The Science of Art: from Creation to Authentication to Preservation

How does pollution affect the preservation of the Sistine Chapel frescoes? What makes cathedral stained glass windows colored? How should Bernini’s “The Ecstasy of St. Teresa” be cleaned? Students will explore a wide variety of scientific concepts in order to develop an appreciation for the intimate connection between science and art. Scientific principles will be presented in order to explain processes such as making paint, identifying forgeries, pottery glazing and firing pottery, and preserving masterpieces. Credit, 3 hours. Natural Science Elective. Instructor: Dr. Kassy Mies.

  

PSY 310: Psychology of Children and Adolescents
This course offers a comprehensive review of development from conception through adolescence, with an emphasis in the interrelatedness of development in all domains: physical, cognitive, emotional and social. Course content gives emphasis to the connection between theory and applications, highlighting the sequential progression of development. Research ¬based topics include many contemporary and real issues affecting family (e.g. effects of divorce), peers (e.g. role of friendships in development), education (e.g. teaching philosophies), society (e.g. juvenile justice issues), and cultural contexts (e.g. how development is shaped by outside influences). Pre-requisite: PSY-100 or EDU-234. Credit, 3 hours. Social & Behavioral Science or Psychology credit. Instructor: Dr. Gwynn Morris

IDS 300: Arts, Artifacts, and Culture--the Continent
An introduction to the culture and the social life of the peoples of continental Europe based upon a study of the arts and artifacts produced by those peoples. We will place special emphasis on Italy and Switzerland. We will define our terms broadly, looking at literary, visual, and musical arts as well as dance; architecture of both private and public spaces; and artifacts of all sorts. We will be interested in folk culture as well as high culture, ancient times as well as modern, traditional modes as well as avant garde, secular expressions as well as religious, utilitarian expressions as well as purely ornamental, communal as well as personal.

Principal assignment -- in addition to readings -- is an in-depth travel journal. Required of all students. Level, 300-400. Credit, 3 hours. Arts and Aesthetics or Cultural Perspectives/Cultural Elective. Instructor, Greg Vitarbo.

Course Offerings from the U.K. half

IDS 301: Arts, Artifacts, & Culture--the U.K.
An introduction to the culture and the social mores of the peoples of the United Kingdom based on a study of their arts and artifacts. Principal assignment--in addition to readings--is an in-depth travel journal of what students see and learn in numerous galleries, museums, theaters, concert halls, and other venues in England. Required of all students. Level, 300-400. Credit, 3 hours. Arts and Aesthetics or Cultural Perspectives Elective. Instructor, Betty Webb.

POL 360: British Parliamentary Government

An introduction to British parliamentary government with an emphasis on the European Union and contemporary political issues confronting Europe.  Readings in texts and news as well as lectures will be supplemented by visits to Westminster where students will attend sessions and meet with MPs.  Level 300-400. 3, Credit hours. Social and Behavioral Science Elective. Instructor: John Rose.

 

ENG/THE 350: Modern Drama

A study of modern theatre from 1875 to the present, this course will look at the development of drama through playwrights and their works. Beginning with Isben, Strindberg, Chekhov, and Shaw, students will explore important 20th century plays and conclude with contemporary drama. Work will include substantial reading and writing, with viewing and reviewing of performances. Level, 300. Prerequisite: Eng 200. 3 Credit hours. Literature elective.

Instructor: Catherine Rodgers

 

Eligibility:

Students must be in good academic standing (2.0 minimum GPA)

Deadline for Applications: February 1, 2012

For More Information Contact:

The Office of International Programs

124 Joyner

919-760-2307

 

Meredith reserves the right to make changes to the program itinerary, schedule, cost, academic program, etc., as necessary.