The CHID Venice program will consider the history and culture of Venice from multiple perspectives through an exploration of its original foundations as a site of refuge during the Gothic invasions of the 5th century, its subsequent development as a maritime empire that survived until 1797, and its continuing role as a world heritage site and unique tourist destination. Students will consider numerous aspects of Venice's cultural legacy through its particular artistic style, architecture, religious institutions such as the lay confraternities, and its representations in the literary imagination. In addition, the program will consider the problems of maintaining an urban community at a site now almost entirely devoted to tourism. This will include a focus on the Venice Biennale which alternates between a celebration of the arts and architecture with exhibits from around the world. And, the program will consider the ecological challenges involved in maintaining the site of Venice through scientific efforts to overcome the subsidence of the islands and to regulate the water level in the lagoons. This is intended to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the study of a singular urban site with a rich history but a fragile future in terms of its core community and its threatened ecostructure.

This course will explore the historical development of Venice from its origins as a refuge from foreign invasions in the 5th century, to its ascendancy as a maritime empire until the late 18th century, and its contemporary role as a site of tourism endangered by its fragile ecology.

The specific areas of focus to be considered for our readings and daily site visits will be:

• The 5th Century Origins of Venice as a Water Born Community

• The Medieval Roots of a Maritime Empire

• Renaissance Venice and the Jewish Ghetto

• Venice, Padova, and the Artistic Imagination

• Venice Endangered, the Science of Its Salvation

• Venice Endangered, the Tourist Encroachment

• The Biennale, Venice as an International Festival of the Arts

The Venice Independent Study Project allows students to pursue in greater depth one of the interdisciplinary perspectives involved in the Venice core course or a complementary combination of approaches to the history and culture of Venice. Students will develop a topic focus in consultation with the instructor that engages them directly in the cultural sites of Venice. This may include a focus on an exemplary artist, or architect, a literary perspective, aspects of the religious life, the original Jewish ghetto, the scientific efforts to save the ecology of Venice, the sociological impact on the notion of community of a tourist economy, and the history and role of the Venice Biennale as an international arts festival, Students will develop their perspectives on their selected topic through an analytical paper and will provide an oral presentation of their ideas.

The Venice General Orientation will include pre-departure planning and informational sessions as well as a variety of activities in Venice to acclimate students to the study site and to maximize their exploration of its potential.

The program fee is still being finalized and is expected to be around $5,000, including the $350 deposit. This fee will cover program costs, housing, credits, transportation and overnight accommodations for field trips. Upon acceptance, participants are required to submit a signed payment contract to the CHID office. At this time, the non-refundable $350 deposit, applied to the program fee, and a $250 fee for the Office of International Programs & Exchanges (IPE) will be assessed to the student’s tuition account.

The program fee does not cover: IPE fee, airfare, meals, insurance or personal travel and expenses. The CHID Program reserves the right to change the program fee based upon dollar devaluation or severe inflation. If such a change occurs, students will be notified of the increase and an adjustment will be made to the final program payment. All fees are charged to students’ accounts, and paid the same way as tuition.

Refund: Once we have received your contract, the $350 deposit and IPE fee are non-refundable. Any student withdrawing from the program is subject to the date dependent withdrawal policy outlined in their contract. Student withdrawing from the program after given deadlines will be liable for a percentage of the program fee depending upon the date of withdrawal, which could range from $600 to the entire program fee. Participants who wish to withdraw must submit a signed Withdrawal Form to both the CHID and IPE offices.

Scholarships: See the IPE website (www.ipe.washington.edu) for information about scholarships, including the quarterly IPE scholarship. Other sites include:

http://www.goglobal.washington.edu/

http://exp.washington.edu/

TBD

Most forms of financial aid can be used during participation in this program. Participants who are on financial aid should contact the Financial Aid office to verify that their awards will apply. Students interested in applying for increased financial aid during their study abroad should obtain a revision request from the Financial Aid office, and a budget of student expenses from the IPE office, and submit both to the Financial Aid office in Schmitz Hall.

Students from all areas of study are encouraged to apply. After applying, students will be contacted for an interview.
NOTE: In order to receive credit for this program, participants must submit a Concurrent Enrollment (CE) form to the IPE office.
There is a $25 late fee for forms that are turned in after the deadline.

Departure Quarter	Concurrent Enrollment Deadline
Autumn	September 1
Winter	December 1
Spring	March 1
Summer	May 1
Exploration Seminar	July 1