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Berlin-Istanbul: Mobility and Negotiations of Identity

August 1 - August 31, 2010
Summer 2010 | Honors Civilization | 13 credits
(2 credit preparatory Spring seminar) = 15 credits
Information Session: Tuesday Dec 8th, 4-5pm, Honors Seminar Room (MGH 211B)
Apply online through Catalyst
* All students are welcome to apply *

View the Berlin 2009 group blog »

Continuing with the theme of borders and border crossing (Honors in Berlin 2008, 2009), the Summer 2010 program looks at immigrant communities and the boundaries of racial, linguistic, and psychological "borders".

Germany has been a country of immigration since the early 1950s when the labor market called for more workers to advance the economic boom. Migrating workers stayed and formed communities that live on in the second or third Generation in Germany which has created a complex relationship between Berlin and Istanbul, between an EU country and a country outside of the EU. National identities have shifted and reformed as reflection and reaction to these immigration patterns. The migration continues across Europe and, consequently, continues to influence the reformation of national identity, cultural identity, and individual identity.

Students will also explore social aspects of migrant life in Berlin with a hands-on approach to community life. One of our partners in this exploration will be Türkiyemspor, a German football club that is recognized as being among the most successful clubs within Germany's immigrant communities. The club is actively involved in several community-oriented programs.

Our learning partners include Humboldt University, American Studies-Berlin, Bilgi University-Istanbul, and guest lecturers from interdisciplinary arts and humanities and various academic disciplines within migration studies.

Through the lenses of art and literature as employed by writers, filmmakers, performers and visual artists, the 2010 Berlin Program will continue exploring the themes of migration and immigration and how borders both define and divide us.

Students will work with learning partners from the University of Washington Undergraduate Honors Program, Humboldt University-Berlin, Bilgi University-Istanbul, and community art and theatre groups in both cities. Through these partnerships, students will incorporate the disciplines of arts, humanities and social sciences which will culminate in both a written web based portfolio and a final project.

Check out the following resources to find out more:

Students will receive 15 credits total (2 credits at UW during spring quarter and 13 in Berlin). Credits will fulfill Honors civilization requirements. Other credits may be applicable depending on individual research projects. (Alternative credit may be available to non-Honors students; this must be arranged in advance with your departmental advisers)

Spring Quarter - 2 credit seminar

The first stage of this study abroad program involves a mandatory 2-credit Honors seminar (dates to be determined) during spring quarter 2010. This preparatory seminar will provide students with an interdisciplinary introduction to German culture, crash-course in the German language, history and politics, arts, and urban development. Experts from various departments and the community will engage with students on topics relevant to the Berlin program. Students will also be introduced to humanities research methods, and performance art as related to border studies and, more specifically, cultural borderlands. Students will decide on project themes and develop proposals that will orientate them during their time in Berlin and Istanbul.

Summer - 13 credits

During the month long summer program, students will focus on researching topics, and explore the city as text - city as art - city as borderscape. The summer portion will include classroom instruction, guest lectures, art and literature events, theatre and music performances, city walks, museum tours, and weekend excursions that will inform the final projects. University of Washington program directors, Humboldt and Bilgi faculty will lead lectures and excursions.

No art, literary, or performance experience is necessary or required. We are seeking students from various backgrounds.

Students will be housed in shared apartments (2 students per apartment) near Humboldt University.

Classes will be held on the Humboldt University campus and Bilgi University and, more often, the city itself. Students will have guided instruction M-F, with weekends open for study, exploration, and relaxation.

Director

Dr. Julie Villegas, UW Honors Associate Director
Office: MGH 211
villegas@u.washington.edu

Julie did her graduate studies at UC Santa Barbara and at the University of Washington where she earned a PhD in English. Julie is currently the Associate Director of the University Honors Program. Julie's research interests include border identity, national and cultural identity and public policy relating to immigrants. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Mexico, and Guatemala. The UW's Global Citizenship award allowed her to travel to Kenya in the summer of 2007. For the past six years, she has been the Honors Program study abroad coordinator for programs in Europe, Africa, and South America.

Co-Directors

Professor Shawn Wong, Department of English/Creative Writing
homebase@u.washington.edu

Shawn Wong received his undergraduate degree in English at the University of California at Berkeley and a Master's Degree in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University. Wong has taught at several colleges and universities since 1972, including Mills College, University of California at Santa Cruz and San Francisco State University. He is currently Professor of English at the University of Washington where he served as Chair of the Department of English from 1997 to 2002, and Director of the Creative Writing Program from 1995 to 1997, and Director of the University Honors Program from 2003 to 2006. In addition, Wong has taught at the Universität Tübingen (Germany), Jean Moulin Université (Lyon), and at the Univers of Washington Rome Center (Italy).

Read more about Shawn Wong »

This program will cost approximately $4,000 per student. Course costs include accommodations, in-city transportation (month long metro passes), classroom and library use, field trips and most excursions, admission fees to all state museums and exhibits, and some group meals. Travel to Istanbul, including accommodations and some meals, are also covered.

Course fee does not include an IP&E concurrent enrollment fee ($250); airfare ($1,200-$1,600 roundtrip, depending on when and where you buy your ticket); food (about $40 per day), and personal spending money.

Payment Schedule

(under development)

IP&E will automatically charge student accounts for all program payments and fees.

Financial Aid

Students may use their regular financial aid and scholarship funds for study abroad. The exception is any scholarship in the form of a tuition waiver. Tuition waivers cannot be used to pay study abroad program fees. You may want to check with the Office of Student Financial Aid in Schmitz Hall for more information.

There are funding opportunities through the Global Opportunities Program, and the Office of International Programs and Exchanges also maintains a funding opportunities list at http://www.ipe.washington.edu/forms/FundingOpportunities.pdf

Refund Policy

A $350 deposit is required at the time of acceptance. This $350 deposit is non-refundable. Any student withdrawing from the program within 4 months of the program start date will be responsible for a minimum of 25% of the total program fee. In addition, there may be other unrecoverable fixed program costs. Any student withdrawing from the program within 2 months of the program start date will be responsible for 50% of the total program fee. Any student withdrawing from the program within 1 month of the program start date will be responsible for 75% of the total program fee. Withdrawal after a program begins involves the loss of the entire program fee.

Once accepted to the program in order to formally withdraw, you must do the following, in writing:

  1. Contact the program directors.
  2. Submit a signed withdrawal form to the UW Office of International Programs and Exchanges (see http://ipe.washington.edu/forms/WithdrawDefer.pdf).
  3. Provide notice in writing to the program director that you will no longer be participating in the program for which you have signed a contract and accepted a slot.
  4. Your withdrawal date is considered the date (business day) your withdrawal paperwork is received by the UW Office of International Programs and Exchanges.

To Berlin

Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Berlin. You may wish to explore budget fares offered on websites such as Travelocity and Expedia, as well as STA and Council Travel in the University district.

In Berlin

Students and instructors will be making several day-excursions. Students will also have opportunities to travel on their own for two or three day-jaunts.

All participants must have a passport valid for the duration of the program. It may take as long as six weeks (or longer!) to obtain or renew a passport.

Apply online through Catalyst
Application Deadline: February 11, 2010

Selection to the program is competitive and acceptance into the program will be decided based on application materials, interviews, and student's demonstrated motivation to challenge themselves intellectually across academic disciplines and cultures and to work both individually and in groups.

For more information, please contact: