VCU short-term programs abroad
Memory and History in Istanbul
Turkey
3-9 credits in English and World Studies
June 21 – August 8, 2012
Prof. Ece Aykol
$2,200 + airfare + tuition
Registration deadline: April 23, 2012
Status: Program full
The Global Education Office and the Department of English at Virginia Commonwealth University in conjunction with Bosphorus University are pleased to announce an innovative 7-week summer study abroad opportunity in Turkey. Students will study the works of writers and filmmakers that are set in Istanbul and in different parts of the world while experiencing this particular city’s deep and rich cultural history.
Course and credit options
All students must enroll in ENGL/WRLD 391: Memory and History in the Contemporary Novel and Film for 3 credits and may choose to enroll in one or two other courses (up to 6 credits) offered through Bosphorus University’s summer catalog (http://www.summer.boun.edu.tr/CourseSch.aspx) with the approval of the program director. These courses represent a wide variety of specialties and disciplines. Students will receive VCU credit (not transfer credit) for the courses taken at Bosphorus University.
The Education Abroad office will enroll students in the courses upon receipt of the registration.
Course description
In ENGL/WRLD 391: Memory and History in the Contemporary Novel and Film, students will experience a cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary approach to various twentieth and twenty-first century visual and verbal narratives in order to gain an understanding of the role images and words play in the representation of history and memory. Students will experience novels that turn to painting, sculpture, photography, film, television, video and the computer screen to recollect the past. The selected films will expose students to the complicated task of resurrecting the past from personal memories.
Students may also take up to two additional courses (6 credis) from Bosphorus University during the summer term. These courses constitute a wide variety of specialties and can be found in the Bosphorus University summer course catalog (http://www.summer.boun.edu.tr/CourseSch.aspx). Courses are categorized into various groups including Literature, Fine Arts, Languages, Sports, Politics, Economics, Business, Applied Disciplines, Science, Technology, Engineering, Philosophy, History, Psychology, Culture and Education. Final course selection must be approved by the program director and must not conflict with the meeting times for ENGL/WRLD 391: Memory and History in the Contemporary Novel and Film (tentatively scheduled on MWF 11-12:50). Students will receive VCU credit (not transfer credit) for the courses taken at Bosphorus University.
Registration deadline: April 23, 2012
Program cost: $2,200 + airfare + tuition
The program fee is $2,200 and includes the following:
- Accommodations in Turkey
- Some meals
- Some ground transportation
- Study and museum visits
- On-site Program Director support
- Pre-departure orientation
- International Student Identity Card
- VCU administrative fees
- Application deposit
The following are not included in the program fee. Students are responsible for:
- Airfare
- VCU tuition and fees
- Public transportation
- Most meals
- Passport application fee
- Turkish tourist visa at the airport ($20)
- Textbooks (approximately $75)
- Cell phone in Turkey, if desired
- Personal expenses during the program estimated at $1,000 - $2,000
Airfare
Airfare is not included. Participants are responsible for making their own round-trip travel arrangements from the US to their destination city. Program directors will meet with accepted students to go over specific travel logistics and may help students in identifying low-cost travel options. For best fares, students are encouraged to purchase their tickets prior to April 15.
Eligibility
This program is open to all students, regardless of major, who have at least a 2.0 GPA. Participants will need to have completed 3 credits in a 200-level art history, film, history or literature course (or the equivalent). Applicants will need to participate in a personal interview with the program director upon submission of application materials. Class standing, GPA and previous coursework may be taken into account when selecting participants.
An academic letter of reference is required. Please submit this with your application materials after submitting the online form.
While in Turkey
Students will stay for the duration of the program in Bosphorus University’s “Superdorm,” which is located approximately one mile away from the main university campus where their classes will be held. A shuttle runs every 30 minutes between the Superdorm and the Bosphorus University campus.
There will be several day excursions that will be held over the course of the program within the Istanbul Metropolitan area, which will compliment components of student coursework and will allow students to engage with the residents of Istanbul.
This program will be directed by Dr. Ece Aykol, an instructor of English at VCU. Aykol has lived in Istanbul for most of her life and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Istanbul University. This is her first time leading this program.
Important facts
- Tuition
- Financial aid
- Passports
- Payment of fees
- Withdrawal & Financial policy
- Travel health
VCU tuition and fees are charged separately. Tuition is billed at standard VCU rates for in-state students and at a 40 percent discount for out-of-state students. This means that the current estimated cost, based on current tuition credit fees, are as follows for a standard 3 credit class:
- Undergraduate, In-State: $946 ($318 per credit)
- Undergraduate, Out-of-State: $1534 ($514 per credit)
- Graduate, In-State: $1525 ($511 per credit)
- Graduate, Out-of-State: $1882 ($630 per credit)
- Doctoral, In-State: $1261 ($423 per credit)
- Doctoral, Out-of-State: $1612 ($540 per credit)
Financial aid will apply to the program and tuition costs prior to student billing. Eligible students may apply for need-based financial aid in order to participate in this program. For more information about the financial aid application and process, please contact VCU Financial Aid by phone at 804-828-6669, by email at faidmail@vcu.edu or in person on the first floor of Grace E. Harris Hall (1015 Floyd Ave.).
A valid passport is required to leave the US. If a student does not already have a passport, they are advised to begin the application process as soon as they are accepted into the program. The processing time for new passport applicants can be as long as 8 weeks. For students who already have passports, they will need to verify that the passport’s validity dates extend 6 months past their return date. For more information about passports and the application/renewal process, please consult: http://travel.state.gov/.
In order to complete the application, students are required to submit a non-refundable $250 registration fee and deposit.
Students will receive two separate charges to their student accounts for this program: one charge will reflect the balance of the program fee (minus the $250 deposit and application fee) and the other charge is for VCU tuition costs (based on the number and type of credits being taken by the student). These bills will be charged through VCU Student Accounting and should appear by May 2012. (Please note: While these charges may post to the student’s account simultaneously or separately, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure the account balance is paid before the billing due date.)All withdrawals must be made formally in writing and submitted to the Director of Education Abroad.
Upon commitment to the program, students deciding to withdraw will be held accountable for the charges made on their behalf by the Education Abroad office. Depending upon when this occurs according to the refund schedule, the student may be held accountable for either a portion of or the entire program fee.
The refund schedule is as follows:
Prior to April 15: If a student withdraws from the program prior to April 15, he/she will be held responsible for the amount of the program fee that has already been expended in payment of costs outlined on the individual program sheet in support of his/her participation. As time progresses, the charges may reflect an increasing amount, depending on what payments have been made on the student’s behalf. The amount cannot be determined until the student formally submits written withdrawal from the program to the Director of Education Abroad.
After April 15: If student withdraws from the program after April 15, they will be responsible to pay the entire program fee when it is billed.
In the event of an unexpected emergency that occurs after April 15, students must provide a physician’s certification that his/her condition prohibits participation. In this case, refunds will be limited to recoverable expenses.
If an applicant is rejected from the program, the $250 application fee and deposit will be refunded.
Students should schedule an appointment with their physician or at a travel clinic (such as VCU Student Health) at least 4 to 8 weeks before the program to inquire about recommended and/or required vaccines/immunizations. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all routine and travel immunizations are up-to-date.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides information on recommended and required immunizations for travelers. To view the health risks and requirements for the country to which you will be traveling, please visit the website at: wwwn.cdc.gov/travel.
VCU Student Health offers in-depth pre-travel consultation with a health care provider as well as most of the vaccines recommended for safe travel. Prescriptions for recommended medicines are also available. Please visit their website at: www.students.vcu.edu/health/immunizations/travel_clinic.html.
Every effort is made to provide updated and accurate information at the time of publication. The sponsors reserve the right to make necessary changes to the programs and costs. The university reserves the right to revise or alter all fees, regulations pertaining to student fees, and fee collection procedures at any time.
