Summary
This course will explore cultural and historical landscapes centered on Rome, the Bay of Naples, and up to Florence and Venice, examining the diversity of human – environmental relationships through time based on historical, archaeological, literary and ecological evidence.
Travel Dates
January 6 - 27, 2021
Locations
Rome, Pompeii, Florence and Venice ITALY
Required In-Person Orientation
*each school can note date here, and note that it is on their own campus
Required Online Orientation
There will be a required online orientation for this course between late October and early to mid-November. The date/time of the orientation will be communicated by October 15. Every effort should be made to participate in the live orientation session, as it will be interactive, provide a chance to virtually meet the course professors and other participants, and should be considered the first class meeting. Students who do not participate will be required to view the recorded session once it is available.
Minimum Enrollment: 16
If the course does not meet the minimum enrollment, students will be given the option of switching to another course (as space is available) or withdrawing their application and receiving a refund of the program deposit.
Maximum Enrollment: 26
Accessibility Information and Requirements:
Our class activities are almost entirely at either outdoor sites or museums. We use public transportation or private buses to get to distant sites, but a good amount of walking, some on steps or uneven terrain, occurs daily. Long periods of standing may not be necessary if there are places appropriate for sitting outdoors or benches in museums. There will be no problem with high altitude. There will be access to single rooms and extra time for assignments. Students who receive any type of accommodation on their home campus are encouraged to contact their home study abroad office if interested in participating in this program.
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UMAIE (pronounced “U-may”) is the Upper Midwest Association for Intercultural Education, a consortium of six colleges and universities offering intercultural courses during the January Interim. UMAIE was founded in the fall of 1963 when several colleges adopted the 4-1-4 academic calendar. The UMAIE pioneers recognized that they could expand the international curricula, control costs, and increase participation in study abroad if several campuses cooperated in offering courses overseas. This vision has enabled hundreds of students to study abroad every January since 1964. Current UMAIE member schools are Augustana University (Sioux Falls, SD), Elmhurst College (Chicago, IL), Hamline University (St. Paul, MN), St. Ambrose University (Davenport, IA), St. Catherine University (St. Paul, MN), and St. Thomas University (St. Paul, MN) |
Academic Overview
Ancient youth learned about Mediterranean peoples and environments from the epic voyages of Odysseus and Aeneas, and from the arduous missions of Heracles. Our Mediterranean journey takes us to Rome, Pompeii and back north, to Florence and Venice. Our central themes are cultural and historical landscapes, which are defined by human relationship with the environment. Our perspectives on the nature and diversity of these relationships through time are drawn from historical, archaeological, ecological and literary evidence. In Rome, we explore a long history of sustainable urban development and state ideology. On day trips to Ostia and Tivoli, we engage with the issues of settlement patterns, harbors, water and land management, technology and ancient slavery. In Pompeii, a once living city, in a volcanic landscape, we will study how individuals and states respond to natural disasters. Florence and Venice will offer us glimpses into cultural and environmental changes in historical cities through time.
Prerequisites
None
Course Equivalency
*Each campus can list their own course equivalency here
About the Professors
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Dr. Schrunk is a History faculty member at the University of St. Thomas specializing in ancient history, archaeology, art and classical languages of the Mediterranean world. She has done research and field work in Europe, the Near East and North Africa. She conducts an archaeological and environmental project on an island in Croatia, with students and volunteers. Dr. Schrunk has led nine UMAIE courses in Italy. |
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Tom Schrunk holds an M.A. in Art History and has extensive research, study and work in India, Croatia, Italy, North Africa, Syria and Lebanon. He has been excavating with Dr. Schrunk in Croatia for the past eleven summers and has been assistant director for eight UMAIE courses in Italy.. |
Required Readings
Amanda Claridge,
Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press 2010.
Robert Kebric,
Roman People, 4th edition, Mayfield 2005. (historical narrative, ancient texts in translation)
The Odyssey by Homer and the Aeneid by Virgil, selected books in English translation, online at https://classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.html; https://classics.mit.edu/Vergil/aeneid.html
Additional Readings from the Course Packet
Evaluation
20% - Group Participation and Attendance
30% - Academic Journal
20% - Four short reflection essays
30% - Research Paper
Program Estimated Cost
$X,XXX - $X,XXX
Cost estimates will be available on or after April 1, 2020. Final costs will be available in late October.
There will be a $500 deposit, due at the time of application. Please see the Cancellation Policy tab for information on when this deposit is refundable.
Included in the Program Cost
International airfare
Hotel accommodations in twin/triple rooms
Ground transportation
All entrances and activities required for class
Breakfast daily
Application Procedures & Deadline
Applications will open on April 1, 2020·
To Apply:
1. Select the Apply Now button at the top to start your online application.
2. Login using your username and password
3. Complete all the application requirements. Your application will not be considered complete until ALL requirements have been completed.
All applications received by the Priority Application Deadline will be sent to the faculty in a batch at the end of the priority application period. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after the priority deadline for programs with space still remaining until the final application deadline of October 1, 2020.
Priority Application Deadline
May 1, 2020
Final Application Deadline
October 1, 2020
Passport Requirements: All course participants must have a current, valid Passport that expires no less than 6 months from the date the program returns. A legible scan of your passport must be submitted to your home school Study Abroad Office by October 20, 2020. STUDENTS WHO APPLY AND ARE ACCEPTED IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER AND DO NOT HAVE A CURRENT PASSPORT MUST EXPEDITE THEIR PASSPORT APPLICATION. Students who do NOT submit their passport by the deadline will be subject to a $100 Late Passport fee.
Visa Requirements: Please note that a visa IS NOT required for U.S. Citizens to travel to the country(ies) included in this course. Citizens of countries other than the United States or people who have Travel Documents (Issued by the United States or any other country) should contact their school's Study Abroad Office as soon as possible.
U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories: The U.S. Department of State uses levels to indicate risk in travel to particular locations. Please see the
U.S.Department of State website for more information on the particular locations of this course.
U.S. Department of State STEP Enrollment: The U.S. Department of State has a Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The UMAIE Consortium encourages all travelers to ensure that they are enrolled before travel. Some students' home campus Study Abroad Office may enroll student travelers automatically. Please check with your home campus Study Abroad Office for more information on your school's process, and see the
STEP website for more information and to enroll.
Health and Travel: The Center for Disease Control issues travel vaccine recommendations by country. Please see the
CDC Traveler's Health website for more information on the particular locations of this course.
CISI Insurance: All UMAIE participants will be enrolled in an international emergency and medical insurance policy with CISI through their home institution. Please see your home campus Study Abroad Office for more information.
Flight Deviations: Airline tickets are booked as Group Tickets. If a student wishes to deviate from the group (go early, stay after, etc.), the student will need to submit that request as part of the application. The final date to request a flight deviation is Oct. 1, 2020. Please note that there are additional costs to flight deviations. It will be the responsibility of the student to pay the additional costs at the time the booking is made.
UMAIE Withdrawals and Refunds
Once students have completed a UMAIE application and been notified of their acceptance, the following Withdrawal and Refund policy applies:
Refund Available Withdrawal Date
No cancellation fee and full refund of deposit September 15, 2020 (must be received by 4:00pm)
No refund of $500 deposit September 16 – October 1, 2020
No refund of $500 deposit & refund of RECOVERABLE COSTS ONLY* After October 1, 2020
No refund 30 days or less prior to departure
*NOTE: Students who cancel after October 1 will be charged the full amount for the course up front; recoverable costs will not be calculated until after the group returns in February, at which point students will receive a credit for any portion of the course that was able to be recovered. The ENTIRE COURSE COST, INCLUDING AIRLINE TICKET, may be forfeited.
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO YOUR SCHOOL'S STUDY ABROAD OFFICE. The date this is received is the official date of cancellation
Travel cancellation insurance is recommended for students with preexisting medical conditions. This insurance must be purchased at the time of application. Please discuss this with your Study Abroad Office.
If a course price increases by more than 6% over the highest price in the range (due to general inflation or lower enrollment) a student may cancel without penalty.
No refund is given to students who wish to omit portions of the course.
