Summer Studies in Krakow, Poland
July 1 - July 31, 2008

“The busy streets of old town Krakow”

GENERAL INFORMATION 

Join us in Poland! The Summer Studies in Krakow Program is Georgia Southern University’s second program to be located in Central/Eastern Europe. Krakow was the site of a tremendously popular weekend excursion during Georgia Southern’s previous Central/Eastern Europe program in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.

This new program will be run in collaboration with the Department of International Polish Studies at Jagiellonian University. Jagiellonian University will provide facilities, logistics, and cultural activities for the four-week program.

The Summer Studies in Krakow, Poland Program will offer courses at both the core and major level that focus on the academic disciplines of Geography, International Studies/European Union Studies, and Political Science. Faculty members from Georgia Southern University and Jagiellonian University will teach the classes. The Department of International Polish Studies at Jagiellonian University will help arrange excursions in and around Krakow, to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Tarnow, Warsaw, and across the international border to Lvov, Ukraine.

A list of the program representatives is located at the end of this webpage. Contact these persons for more information.


“Beautiful St. Mary’s Church (Mariacki) at night”

PROGRAM DATES, STRUCTURE, AND COURSE OFFERINGS

Participants will depart for Krakow from Atlanta on July 1, 2008 and return on July 31, 2008. Students can enroll for up to seven hours of academic credit in Geography, International Studies/European Union Studies, and Political Science. Classes will begin on July 4 and will be taught on the Jagiellonian University campus.

Many program courses will focus on the Central and Eastern European members of the European Union, such as Poland, and the kinds of challenges faced by these nations. Other courses will study the history of Jewish life in Europe and the fate of Polish Jews during the Holocaust. All courses are designed to facilitate a new perspective on Poland and its historical place in Europe. Each course is described below.

Field excursions will be integrated into the curriculum to enhance classroom instruction and can be offered in the afternoons or on alternate days with classroom instruction. All classes will be designed so as to take advantage of the geographical location of Krakow and its historical, political, and socioeconomic significance.

PROGRAM LOCATION

The site for the four-week program is the Jagiellonian University campus in Krakow, a city of approximately 780,000 inhabitants and one of the most historic and beautiful cities in all of Europe.

Krakow lies in the southern part of Poland on the Vistula River in a valley at the foot of the Carpathian Plateau. Krakow is located approximately 300 km (190 miles) south of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, and 100 km (60 miles) north of the Tatra Mountains and Poland’s southern border with Slovakia. Krakow itself has successfully claimed its position as a Central European metropolis - a city of culture, art and science.

Jagiellonian University has been ranked by the Times Higher Education Supplement as the best Polish university. It was founded in 1364 by Casimir III the Great as Akademia Krakowska and thus is also among the oldest universities in Europe and the world. Famous Jagiellonian alumni include Nicolaus Copernicus and Karol Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II).


“Street life on the main market square (Rynek Głowny)”

ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS, AND FACILITIES

Students will be staying at a residence facility operated by Jagiellonian University. The accommodations are located in a residential neighborhood only a few short tram stops from the culture and nightlife of Old Town Krakow. Students will live in double rooms. Each suite (two double rooms and a small living area) will have its own bathroom.

Meals will be offered in the cafeteria on-site at the residence facility. Students will receive 16 lunches and 24 breakfasts during the program (see the calendar for specifics).

Classes will be held in Old Town Krakow in buildings owned and operated by Jagiellonian University. The Jagiellonian University buildings are among the most historic and beautiful in all of Krakow.


“Inside a courtyard at Jagiellonian University”
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APPLICATION AND ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM

Any full-time or part-time Georgia Southern University student is eligible to participate on the program. Students from other institutions, in good academic standing, will be admitted on a space-available basis and must enroll as transient students at Georgia Southern University. The Center for International Studies at Georgia Southern will be happy to assist any transient students.

You may print-out the online application form or pick-up a copy of the form from the program representatives listed at the end of the webpage. Completed applications should be submitted to the Center for International Studies at Georgia Southern University, along with a required application fee of $200 and two passport-size photographs. Students will be considered officially admitted into the program only when their academic status has been verified and their application fee has been paid.

Because of space limitations, acceptance is on a first come, first served basis, according to the date of receipt of the application and application fee. Students are encouraged to apply well in advance of the application deadline to assure a place in the program. The application deadline for the 2008 program is March 7, 2008.

PROGRAM COSTS

The package costs $3,200 for the four-week program. This cost includes the following items:

• Airfare to and from Poland (Atlanta-Krakow)
• Ground transportation between the Krakow airport and program accommodations
• Accommodations for the full four weeks
• Breakfast and lunch weekdays (40 meals total)
• Local public transportation pass for Krakow
• Guided tour of Old Town Krakow and Wawel Cathedral (July 3)
• Guided tour of Tarnow shetl (July 5)
• Guided tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau and Auschwitz Jewish Center (July 6)
• Two-day excursion to Zakopane and the Polish Highlands (July 26-27)
• Some Additional Field Excursions
• Study Abroad Insurance
• Miscellaneous costs

*Optional excursions not included in the program package will be offered to Warsaw, Poland (July 12-13) and Lviv, Ukraine (July 18-20). Students must sign-up for these excursions by April 1, 2008.


“Students and faculty visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, 2006”

The package cost does not include tuition, textbooks, excluded meals, passport and related expenses, spending money, ground transportation to and from the Atlanta airport, or any other costs beyond those listed above.

Students should plan to budget a minimum of $400 to $600 for extra meals, theater tickets, entrance fees, and evening entertainment. If students plan extended travel or major shopping, additional funds should be budgeted.

Some course excursions might involve additional fees; course instructors will inform students if such fees apply. Instructors will do their best to keep course excursion costs to a minimum. Students should plan on spending $5-$10 per field trip.

*Please note: All costs are subject to change because of unanticipated increases in airfares or other program elements or fluctuations in monetary exchange rates. We will make every effort to keep program costs as advertised and will inform prospective participants of any changes as they occur.

FINANCIAL AID

Courses on the 2008 Summer Studies in Krakow, Poland Program are part of the regular offerings of Georgia Southern University; therefore, students may apply for loans or grants for which they would normally be eligible. Georgia Southern University students should apply for financial aid as far in advance as possible. For more information, please contact:

Margaret Pigatt-Lanier, Financial Aid Counselor
Georgia Southern University
Office of Financial Aid, Rosenwald Building
P.O. Box 8065
Statesboro, GA 30460-8106
Phone: (912)478-0981
Fax: (912) 478-0573
Email: mplanier@georgiasouthern.edu

Students must meet all campus requirements in applying for financial aid.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

A $200 application fee is due at the time of application. The application fee is part of the total program cost of $3,200. The check should be made out to “Georgia Southern University”

Please note: all payments after the deposit must be made directly to the Office of Student Fees at Georgia Southern University (Rosenwald Building, 912-681-0727).

Payment deadlines are as follows:

Friday, March 7, 2008

First payment of $1,500 plus $200 application fee to cover airfare, travel passes, and facility deposits in Poland

Friday, April 18, 2008

Final payment of $1,500

REFUNDS

Students’ application fees and other payments are applied towards required advances, purchase of airline tickets, and other costs related to the program. Note that $100 of the $200 application fee is non-refundable and covers processing and reservation fees. Participants who withdraw from the program after the application deadline will receive a refund according to the following schedule:

• Withdrawal before March 7: All but $100 will be refunded.
• Withdrawal between March 7 and April 18: All but $300 will be refunded.
• Withdrawal between April 18 and May 1: All but $800 will be refunded.
• Withdrawal between May 1 and May 16: All but $1,500 will be refunded.
• Withdrawal after May 16: No money will be refunded.

Note: All withdrawals must be made in writing to the Center for International Studies at Georgia Southern University in order for refunds to be processed.


“Krakow from above”

REGISTRATION

The Center for International Studies at Georgia Southern University will register students in their courses. All credit earned will be Georgia Southern credit.

In most cases, institutions in the University System of Georgia identify courses and course numbers of their own that can be used as equivalents for the courses being offered on the Summer Studies in Krakow Program. This enables students to easily transfer credit back to their home institutions. Students from institutions that do not provide course transfer assistance should contact the Center for International Studies at Georgia Southern University.

Students can earn up to seven semester hours of credit in standard courses offering one to three hours of credit each. Students are expected to enroll for at least four hours of credit.

Note that the program package does NOT include tuition fees. Tuition is paid directly to Georgia Southern University.

HEALTH MATTERS AND INSURANCE

Participants are provided with international health care insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (http://www.culturalinsurance.com). Copies of the coverage plan will be provided at the pre-departure orientation (date and time t.b.a.).

Students with special medical problems may be required to provide a physician’s assurance of their ability to undertake foreign travel and study. Students with special needs should check with the program staff for more information.

Participants should bring medications they regularly depend upon and should have copies of prescriptions in generic form in case they need to acquire additional medications.

No special immunizations are needed to enter Poland and the International Immunization Certificate is not required.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

Everyone who travels to Poland must have a valid passport. Participants with expired passports should have them renewed. Participants who have never had a passport should begin the process of obtaining one immediately. It can often take more than ten weeks to get a passport. Georgia Southern University students should inquire at the Study Abroad Resource Room (Forest Drive Building Room 1316) for instructions on obtaining a passport and to have passport photos taken.

Holders of U.S. passports do not need visas to enter Poland for summer study. Participants traveling on passports of other countries should contact their campus representative for assistance in determining whether they need a visa.

More information about passports can be accessed online at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/

“Wawel Castle, Krakow”

COURSE OFFERINGS

Students will be able to enroll for up to seven hours of academic credit in Geography, International Studies/European Union Studies, and Political Science. Classes will begin on July 4 and will be taught (on the Jagiellonian University campus).

We will offer two AM (930-1200) courses, two PM1 (1500-1730) courses, and one PM2 (1800-1930) course. The PM2 course is mandatory. Each three hour course will include two required whole-day field trips.

Students should select one morning course and one afternoon course in order to avoid a conflict in class scheduling.

Note that all courses are designated as lower division (LD) or upper division (UD) courses. LD courses are normally 1000 or 2000 level courses; UD courses are 3000 or 4000 level courses. (Upper division courses may be taken for graduate credit through special arrangement with the faculty members teaching the courses.)

The exact numbers assigned to courses will differ slightly from institution to institution. If you plan to transfer credits from the Summer Studies in Krakow Program, please check at the college or university where you plan to transfer the credits to find out what course numbers will be assigned to the courses.

All courses are dependent upon sufficient enrollment; courses with inadequate enrollment will be canceled. Students will be kept informed of courses at risk of cancellation.

Field excursions will be integrated into the curriculum to enhance classroom instruction. All classes will be designed so as to take advantage of the geographical location of the Jagiellonian University and its historical, political, and socioeconomic significance to Europe.

Each course is described below:

Geography

GEOG 1130S World Regional Geography (LD) - Study of geographic regions of the world emphasizing physical landscapes, resources, economies, culture and politics. Selected problems or situations of contemporary interest will be incorporated. Taught by Dr. Mark Welford, Georgia Southern University. (AM)

Political Science/European Union Studies

POLS/INTS 3234S Introduction to the European Union (UD) – This course will introduce students to the history, institutions, policies, and cultures of the European Union and its member states. Taught by Dr. Emilia Powell, Georgia Southern University. (AM)

POLS/INTS 3235S International Relations (UD) – Introduces students to the basic concepts of international relations, including those of war and peace, power, foreign policy, international organizations, markets, demography, ecology, and the impact of information technology. Students will be provided with the necessary concepts, theories, and methods used the discipline including quantitative analysis in order to gain a better understanding of the nature and problems of international relations. Taught by Dr. Emilia Powell. (PM1)

International Studies/Holocaust Studies

INTS 3090S Jews in Poland. Their history, culture and religion (UD) - The course will present a survey of Jewish history in Poland from the beginning of the Jewish settlement on Polish lands till the present. The key events important for Jewish history and Polish-Jewish relations will be discussed: e.g. development of Jewish autonomy, Chmielnicki uprising, Jews in partitioned Poland, emancipation and assimilation of Jews, anti-Semitism and Holocaust. The course will focus also on Polish-Jewish relations through the centuries and image of Jews in Polish culture. All readings will be available in English. Taught by Dr. Michał Galas. (PM1)

In addition to the above three-hour classes, there will be a mandatory one-hour class on Polish culture. This will be an ongoing, experiential-based orientation program to Poland, its people, and its culture. Students will meet and interact with faculty, staff, and students from Jagiellonian University, participate in directed field excursions to sites of cultural and historical significance, and attend presentations by Jagiellonian University faculty about Polish society.

Polish Culture - Evening Class (Mandatory)

Introduction to Polish Language and Culture (1 credit hour) Learning about your new home is integral to any study abroad experience. This course introduces students to the culture of Poland, a culture unfamiliar to most Americans but full of fascinating art, architecture, film, food, history, literature, music, and philosophy. Students will also be taught basic communication skills in the Polish language, both written and spoken, to further aid their adjustment to life in Krakow. (PM2)

CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVES

The list that follows contains the representatives for this study abroad program. Any of them should be able to provide more information on the Summer Studies in Krakow Study Program. For more information you may also write or call the Center for International Studies at Georgia Southern University, the lead institution of this program, at the following address:

• Mr. Jeff Palis, Program Coordinator
  Georgia Southern University
  Center for International Studies
  P.O. Box 8106
  Statesboro , GA 30460-8106
  Phone: (912)478-1747
  Fax: (912)478-0824
  Email: jpalis@georgiasouthern.edu
  
  
• Dr. Mark Welford, Site Director
  Georgia Southern University
  Geology and Geography Department
  P.O. Box 8149
  Statesboro, GA 30460-8106
  Phone: (912)478-5361
  Fax: (912)478-0668
  Email: mwelford@georgiasouthern.edu

• Dr. Emilia Powell, Program Professor
  Georgia Southern University            
  Political Science Department                
  P.O. Box 8101                                
  Statesboro, GA 30460-8106                                  
  Phone: (912) 478-5698                          
  Fax: (912) 478-5348                                         
  Email: emiliapowell@georgiasouthern.edu