| Description |
In his speech to the players, Hamlet, the creation of the great Londoner William Shakespeare, reminds us of the capacity of art to “hold a mirror up to nature” and, in doing so, show us “the very age and body of the time, its form and pressure.” Taking Hamlet’s words seriously, this program will explore British culture, past and present, through immersion in the theatre and visual art of London. |
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| Location |
The program will take place in London, England, with a short excursion planned to Stratford-upon-Avon and a home-stay in Worcester. London is one of the world’s truly cosmopolitan cities. Over 7 million people call London home, with one in four of those people being an ethnic minority. Over 200 languages are spoken in the city, and over 70 cuisines are represented in the many restaurants. There are also more than 200 museums and 1,500 drama groups in this bustling metropolitan area. Stratford-upon-Avon is perhaps best known as Shakespeare’s birthplace. It is a quaint village that offers a rich contrast to the bustle of London, as well as the world-renowned theatre ensemble, the Royal Shakespeare Company. Worcester, founded by the Romans in 50 A.D. and perhaps best known for Royal Worcester porcelain and Worcestershire Sauce, is a city of 100,000 located in the Midlands region of England. There students will live with British families and experience English life outside of London. |
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| Faculty leaders |
Dr. Bob Hubbard and Karen Barker, members of Northwestern’s theatre and speech department faculty, will lead the program. Both have experience leading off-campus study programs. Professor Hubbard took a group of Calvin College students to London in 2001 and was co-leader of the NWC 2004 and 2006 programs to Great Britain. Professor Barker was a co-leader of the NWC drama team’s trip to Japan in 2007 and has led groups of students on trips to Chicago and New York. |
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| Course and credit |
Gen 350: British Culture Through Art and Theatre, 4 credits. This course fulfills NWC’s cross-cultural general education requirements. Summer study abroad courses cannot be taken for audit. |
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| Program structure |
Participants will spend the first three days of the program on the NWC campus for the pre-departure seminar portion of the course. The pre-trip seminar will cover various academic and logistical aspects of the course via lectures, discussions, movies and Q&A sessions. While on-site, participants will attend eight to ten theatre productions and visit six to eight museums. There will also be opportunities to observe and engage the culture through various activities, assignments and guest lecturers. Group discussion/debriefing time will also play a prominent role in the course. See the faculty leaders for a complete syllabus. |
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| Transportation |
Current plans have students flying as a group into London. On-site transportation around London will be via “the tube.” Trains will transport participants from London to Worcester and Stratford. |
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| Housing and meals |
While in London, students will stay either in a residence hall or an apartment. Most meals will be provided. In Worcester, students will live and take meals with a family. |
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| Excursions and day trips |
As London’s theatres and world-famous museums are the focus of this program, each day will provide the opportunity to experience something new. In addition, there will be time to explore the city’s many cathedrals and churches, markets, restaurants, parks and squares. |
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| Passport and visa |
For U.S. citizens, a passport is required for entry into Great Britain; 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 Great Britain, 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. Mad Cow and Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease are also potential risks. 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 the consent of the faculty leader are eligible to apply. This program is also available to non-NWC students on a space-available basis. |
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| Application |
The 2008 London 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 between $4,100 and $4,600 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 by 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 or meal stipend, international insurance (medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, basic health), pre-trip seminar and orientation, excursions, theatre tickets and museum entry fees. Participants will need to cover books, passport and pictures, some meals, individual travel, and spending money, among other items. |
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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.) |
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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 the 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
