| Description |
This program offers students a wide-ranging exploration of many facets of German culture. Through hands-on experience, group travel and personal interaction, students study German culture, language and history. Specific topics covered include consumer habits and lifestyle choices, Gothic cathedrals and art history, the continuing relevance of World War II and attitudes toward the environment and American foreign policy. While on-site, participants also have daily German language classes. Prior German language study is not required. |
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| Location |
This program takes place in Munich and Regensburg, Germany. Munich is the capital of Bavaria and the cultural capital of southern Germany. Regensburg is a small university town whose medieval buildings survived two world wars. |
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| Faculty leader |
The trip coordinator is Dr. Michael Kensak, a faculty member in Northwestern’s English and modern foreign language departments. Dr. Kensak is fluent in German and has extensive experience in Germany. He last led a NWC trip to Germany in 2004. Glenda DeVries, a Northwestern German tutor and past trip participant, will co-lead the program and teach the beginning language section on-site. Dr. Christine Ebel Braun, a former professor of German at Vanderbilt University and a resident of Regensburg, will serve as the program’s on-site coordinator. |
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| Course and credit |
Gen 350: Topics in German Cultural Studies, 4 credits. This course fulfills NWC cross-cultural general education requirements. Summer study abroad courses cannot be taken for audit. |
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| Program structure |
The pre-seminar will consist of four two-hour meetings during spring semester and one full day prior to departure. The pre-seminar will cover various academic and logistical aspects of the course and will include readings, lectures, discussions, movies and Q&A sessions. Once in Munich and Regensburg, participants will engage German culture through language study, excursions, activities, assignments, journaling and guest lecturers. Group discussions will also play a prominent role in the course. See Dr. Kensak for a complete syllabus. |
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| Transportation |
Participants will fly as a group into Munich. On-site transportation in Munich will be via the U-Bahn (subway). Trains will transport participants to Regensburg and day-trip destinations. |
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| Housing and meals |
For the majority of the program, participants will stay in a pension or youth hostel. In addition to sampling several of Munich’s restaurants, participants will shop for and prepare authentic German meals as a group. |
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| Excursions and day trips |
This course includes many excursions and day trips. Destinations include the Deutsches Museum, the world’s largest museum of science and industry; Regensburg Cathedral; Dachau; and the BMW factory. There will also be some free days for groups of participants to travel independently. |
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| Passport and visa |
For U.S. citizens, a passport is required for entry into Germany; a visa is not required for tourist stays of less than 90 days. Information on how to obtain a passport is available from the summer study abroad office or http://travel.state.gov/. |
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| Vaccinations and health information |
No vaccinations are required for U.S. persons traveling to Germany, although it is recommended that all immunizations be up-to-date. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B and DPT boosters are also recommended. Traveler’s diarrhea, tickborne encephalitis and Lyme’s disease are potential health threats for people traveling to Western Europe. See the Center for Disease Control website (www.cdc.gov) for more information and complete details. |
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| Eligibility |
All NWC students with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or with consent of the faculty leader are eligible to apply. Prior German language study is recommended but not required. This program is also available to non-NWC students on a space-available basis. |
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| Application |
The 2008 Germany application consists of the two-page application form, two recommendations (one from a faculty member, one from a resident director), and a student-copy transcript. Applications are available on the summer study abroad website. |
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| Application deadline |
Jan. 15, 2008. Early application is encouraged. Early application is encouraged. A minimum enrollment of 12 is needed in order for the program to run. After the deadline, call for space-availability information. |
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| Program fee |
Tentatively, the program fee will be $3,500 per student. The final fee will depend on the actual number of participants and confirmed prices for airfare, exchange rates, etc. A better estimate of cost will be given in February, and the final fee will be determined around April 1. Every effort is being made to keep the cost at a minimum. The program fee includes tuition for four credits (at a reduced rate of half off regular summer school tuition rates), airfare, in-country transportation, housing, meals, international insurance (medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, basic health), pre-trip seminar and orientation, excursions, and museum entry fees. Participants will need to cover expenses for passport and pictures, international phone cards, any individual travel, and spending money.
NWC summer study abroad programs are academic, credit-bearing experiences (not mission programs) that focus on broadening a student’s worldview through immersion in—and academic exploration of—a different culture. Therefore, the Northwestern College summer study abroad office does not sponsor or coordinate fundraising activities to help participants cover the cost of the program fees. Payment of the program fees remains the responsibility of the participant |
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| Tuition waiver |
The regular Northwestern College tuition waiver policy applies to summer study abroad courses. Eligible employees and their dependents may use the tuition waiver for the tuition amount only of the summer study abroad program fee. (See the staff and faculty handbook for more information.) Tuition waivers may not be used for the $250 deposit.
A full-tuition waiver for a 2008 four-credit course will equal $600 off the final program fee. (This figure equals the actual amount of tuition charged to participants as part of the final program fee, which is a special half-off discount of 2008 summer school tuition rates.)
Interested students should see Carrie Krohn in the summer study abroad office for more details. |
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| Deposit and financial aid |
Upon acceptance into the program, a $250 deposit will be required to hold a participant’s slot (participants will be notified of exact payment deadline in the acceptance letter). This deposit will be applied to the final program fee. Financial aid in the form of loans may be available. Contact the NWC financial aid office for more information. |
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| Payment deadline |
After determination of the final program fee, on or around April 1, the SSAO will send out billings. Deadline for payment is May 1. Participants will be provided with the payment, cancellation and refund policies upon acceptance into the program. |
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Summer study abroad
