Summer in Scotland: Culture, castles, kilts and classes
The University of St Andrews is one of two places where participants will study.
Scotland is home to medieval castles, kilts,
the Loch Ness Monster — and JMU’s first study-abroad program focused on earning
general education credits.
The Office of International Programs has
partnered with University Studies to offer JMU students a unique opportunity to
study in Scotland over the summer. Program participants will spend four weeks
in Edinburgh and four weeks in St. Andrews while receiving 12 credits in
general education courses.
“This program is meant to
benefit JMU students by increasing the study abroad opportunities for them,
especially those with a fairly rigid curriculum who often have trouble
incorporating a semester abroad into a four-year undergraduate program,” said
Dr. Linda Halpern, dean of University Studies at JMU.
During the eight-week program participants
will learn from traveling JMU professors, as well as faculty from the
University of Edinburgh and the University of St Andrews. “[We chose] Edinburgh
and St. Andrews because they are two of Europe’s best and most prestigious
universities,” said Dr. Bernd Kaussler, the program’s director, who received
his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of St Andrews. “Having a general
education program offered abroad really is the icing on the cake for our
students.”
This new program is open to all majors and
grade levels, but is geared toward rising sophomores. Dr. Raymond “Skip” Hyser,
professor of history, said that at the recent study abroad fair the Scotland
program drew interest from nursing, pre-med and music students “because it
would allow them to have a study abroad experience and fulfill general
education requirements, while not impeding on their progress in their major or
program.”
Program participants will visit Stirling,
Glamis Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scottish Parliament and Falkland Palace,
as well as attend a ghost tour of Greyfriars Graveyard, tube down Scottish
rivers, hike the Scottish Highlands, visit Loch Ness and more. In addition, students
will have their weekends free to explore other parts of Europe.
The general education courses being offered
during the summer 2013 program are Scottish literature, physical geology,
global politics and lifetime fitness and wellness. Admitted students will also
enroll in a one-credit, eight-week course during the spring semester. This
course will provide a time for students to meet, prepare academically and plan
travel arrangements. In future years, the Scotland program will always offer
students courses that satisfy requirements for Clusters 2, 3, 4 and 5, but the
courses being taught may change from year to year.
For more information about the summer in
Scotland study abroad program, click here
or contact Dr. Bernd Kaussler (kausslbx@jmu.edu). The deadline to apply for JMU semester and
short-term study abroad programs is Nov. 1.
For an interactive map of all
study abroad programs available through the JMU Office of International
Programs, click here.
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By Katie Casey (’13), JMU Public Affairs
