Mar 29, 2024  
2010-2011 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2010-2011 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Study Abroad


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Introduction

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Study abroad is one of the most effective ways of learning about the world. Hofstra students have many opportunities to earn credits while studying in other countries. Undergraduate students can choose from a number of programs that have been developed over the years by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, Health and Human Services, and  the Zarb School of Business. 

A brief description of Hofstra programs is listed below. All Hofstra undergraduates who meet the specific prerequisites of any program are eligible and welcome to apply. Information on these programs is available from the individual dean’s offices indicated below. 

Students who want to pursue programs not listed below can be advised by the Office of Study Abroad Programs, 107 Roosevelt Hall, about available programs elsewhere. To be eligible to receive credit toward a bachelor’s degree, students must have courses approved in advance via the Permission to Study Abroad at Another Institution Form, available from the Study Abroad Office. 

The Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs awards three full-tuition scholarships for a year or semester of study in the University of Amsterdam’s program in European History and Culture. Students receive Hofstra credit for courses in European history, geography, economics, politics, business and Dutch language (All courses are taught in English). The program is recommended for students who have achieved junior status at Hofstra ( a minimum of 60 credits), and have obtained better than a 3.5 grade point average. For more information, contact Professor Maria Fixell, Assistant Dean for Study Abroad, 107 Roosevelt Hall or at (516) 463-4765.

Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Each summer, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers language and literature/culture programs in France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Japan, China and Peru. Summer Session 1 features programs in China and Peru. The China program takes place in Shanghai where students can study Chinese language and literature. The Peru Program offers students the opportunity to study all levels of Spanish language and literature, while enjoying the rich archaeological heritage and natural beauty of Lima, Cuzco and Macchu Picchu. Summer Session 2 features programs in France, Spain, Italy, Japan and Ireland. The program in France offers students four weeks in Paris and one week in Nice on the French Riviera, with the possibility of taking courses in French language, culture and literature, or courses in English (typically French literature in translation, but occasionally other disciplines as well). Students also visit significant sites of culture, for example the Louvre and Versailles, as part of the program. The trip to Spain is based in Santiago de Compostela. Courses offered typically include elementary, intermediate and advanced language, and literature, as well as courses in other disciplines. The Italy program takes place in Sorrento; courses include all levels of Italian language and literature and occasionally courses in other disciplines. The Japan program visits Tokyo, the Fuji-Hakone region, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara, as well as Hiroshima, where students visit the Peace Museum and other memorials to the 1945 atomic bombing. In addition, a side trip to Miyajima Island, the site of Itsukushima shrine, considered to be one of the most beautiful places in Japan, concludes the travel before the group returns to Tokyo for the final days. In Japan, students may elect to study political science, Asian literature, linguistics or Japanese language. The Ireland program takes place in Galway where students attend classes at the university there. Courses offerings include: philosophy, religion, sociology and Gaelic language.

Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences also offers three-week study abroad programs during the January session. The London program offers courses in contemporary British theater and literary London. Class work is supplemented by theater performances and on-site excursions for both courses. The Venice program gives students the opportunity to earn three credits in one of the following courses: Venetian art history and architecture, Italian language, comparative literature, international business, film and other disciplines. Side trips to Murano, Torcello and Burano and cultural tours within Venice supplement classroom work. The Athens program affords students the opportunity to study comparative literature or history and enjoy all the cultural richness of Greece. The Ghana program offers students the opportunity to explore the diverse landscapes and cultures of this modern nation and examine the complex interaction of the nation-state and indigenous peoples in the practices of conservation and the use of communal resources.

Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences invites faculty from all Schools to participate in any one of its summer or January programs.  For further information about summer or January programs, please contact Professor Maria Fixell, Assistant Dean for Study Abroad, 107 Roosevelt Hall, at (516) 463 4765 or Maria.L.Fixell@hofstra.edu.

Odyssey Programs

Odyssey programs provide unique and exciting opportunities for students to discover both the world and themselves through study and travel abroad with Hofstra faculty. Since 1990 Hofstra University has been developing this signature Odyssey model, which recognizes that university learning is not only a educational journey but also a journey of self transformation.

An emphasis on experiential learning is central to the Odyssey programs. This model embodies the view that people often learn most effectively within small-scale communities that are intellectually challenging and that provide first-hand experience of the subject matter. These programs are designed to create an academic community in which ideas are seen as interconnected and where people explore the relevance of these ideas to the world. Recognizing the ways in which people are interrelated helps students learn how to solve problems and cooperate as team members. In this model, learning is not solely a means of undertaking course work toward a degree but also a lifelong pursuit— an end in itself, a way of being, and a process of living.

Students who enroll in the Odyssey programs must be in good academic and financial standing. They must also have the maturity, adaptability, cultural curiosity and initiative to be able to travel, live and study in close quarters with others. With an attitude of respect and cooperation the group co-creates a mobile learning community that not only comes to know and appreciate other cultures, but also to foster the crucial skills and experiences that lie at the heart of a liberal arts education.

The European Odyssey

The European Odyssey is a semester-length interdisciplinary study abroad program open to all undergraduate students at Hofstra. Students travel for 10 weeks by minivan throughout western and eastern Europe. The focus and itinerary of the program vary each year in order to address events and issues of relevance in Europe. The courses examine both historical and contemporary topics in specific countries and regions as well as in Europe generally.

Students receive 16 credits for the program composed of 12 credits of course work and a four-credit independent project. The first aspect of the course work examines the ancient and medieval roots of European civilization, including the mythological, religious and sociopolitical foundations of Greece, Rome, and subsequent civilizations. Accordingly, participants visit archeological and historical sites of importance to complement the readings and other course material.

The second part of the program focuses on the contemporary political, economic, and sociological landscape of Europe. It explores current issues concerning European integration, including questions about the common currency, cultural identity and Europe’s relationship to the rest of the world. This component of the Odyssey includes visits to the European Union institutions such as the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France; the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg; and the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium.

The third aspect of the European Odyssey Program examines human values and human rights in the context of the history and culture of WW II and the post-war era in Europe. It focuses on thinkers such as Jean Paul Sartre, Elie Wiesel, Victor Frankl and Hannah Arendt and raises critical moral questions about human nature and history. It includes visits to sites such as Terezin and Dachau, concentration camps in the Czech Republic and Germany.

In addition to this course work students also do a supervised independent project focusing on topics of interest and relevance such as environmental policies, immigration issues, or current political or cultural developments in Europe. Students conduct interviews with scholars, politicians, and policy experts in order to deepen their research and analysis.
Course content is analyzed through a variety of formats including lectures, briefings, discussions, and presentations. In addition to regular exams, each student keeps a portfolio of reaction papers and a personal journal describing his/her experiences on the road.

The accommodations in youth hostels and inexpensive hotels are diverse, and program participants are expected to be flexible about housing arrangements.

The Mexican Odyssey

Each January during the intersession Hofstra offers the Mexican Odyssey, entitled “Beyond the Borders: A Journey to the Heart of Mexico.” Faculty lead a group of a dozen students on a three week learning adventure throughout south central Mexico including stops in Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, Palenque, San Cristobal del as Casas and Puerto Angel. Students study Mexico’s diverse past including the major indigenous civilizations of the Aztecs, Maya, Olmecs and Zapotecs. Explorations of many of Mexico’s archeological treasures including the spectacular pre-Hispanic ruins of Teotihuacan, Cholula, Palenque, Yaxchilan, and Monte Alban complement the course work.

The program also focuses on contemporary Mexican political, economic and social issues with particular emphasis on the effects on Mexico of NAFTA and globalization. The group interviews scholars, politicians, journalists and citizens in order to understand current events such as the Zapatista uprising in the state of Chiapas and the complex electoral politics of Mexico. Additionally, students visit some of Mexico’s great museums exhibiting the work of painters such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo.

The Italian Odyssey

The Italian Odyssey explores the cultural and intellectual history of Italy in an exciting interdisciplinary program, which is held during June in Summer Session I. The learning adventure begins with two weeks in the picturesque town of Sorrento, Italy, located on western Italy’s Amalfi Coast at the southern tip of the Bay of Naples. The stay in Sorrento includes excursions to the Greek ruins at Paestum, the buried cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum (Ercolano), and the wondrous island of Capri. Next, the Italian Odyssey moves on to the Eternal City of Rome, where it explores the crossroads of the ancient, medieval and Renaissance ages, visiting the Coliseum, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, as well as St. Peter’s and the Vatican Museums. The Program concludes in Florence with an exploration of Renaissance ideas, art, and architecture. The Italian Odyssey Program also takes time to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding Tuscan countryside during several scheduled day trips.

The six-credit Italian Odyssey Program is composed of two three-credit Hofstra University courses (both taught in English): “From Rome to Renaissance: An Intellectual Odyssey” and “From Classical Forms to Renaissance Ideals: Dramatic Imagination in Italy.” The Italian Odyssey group flies to and from Rome, and then travels by private vans throughout to other locations. In Sorrento students are housed in lovely apartments with full kitchen facilities and double rooms. In Rome and Florence participants are housed in youth hostels where they have an opportunity to meet other students from around the world.

For more information about the Odyssey programs, please contact Professor Linda Longmire at (516) 463 5828 or Linda.A.Longmire@hofstra.edu

Requirements

Students who wish to participate in these Odyssey programs must submit detailed proposals in the semester prior to the start of their study abroad program. Written in consultation with the appropriate adviser, the proposal must make clear the student’s objectives and suitability for off-campus education. The proposal must also indicate that there is a sound educational relationship between the suggested course of study or internship and the student’s degree plan.

Writing requirements for internships areestablished by the appropriate adviser.

For information about the unique requirements of the Odyssey programs, contact Professor Linda Longmire at Nuclal@hofstra.edu or (516) 463-5828.

Financial Aid

Financial aid received by eligible Hofstra students may be used to pay for tuition, and room and board. Some programs may provide financial aid to eligible students.

For more information about the International Off-Campus Education program, please visit this link and/or contact Maria Fixell. 


School of Communication

The School encourages its students to participate in the University’s study-abroad programs whenever possible. Communication faculty have participated in University programs in Montepulciano, Nice and Venice. Information about School involvement in this year’s international programs can be obtained in the Dean’s office.


School of Education, Health and Human Services

The School of Education, Health and Human Services offers two study abroad programs in Italy during Summer Session II. 

ITALY

Summer session II

Our two exciting seventeen day study abroad programs travel to several different areas in Italy. During the first eight days, our programs are based in the picturesque town of Sorrento, Italy, located on western Italy’s Amalfi Coast at the southern tip of the Bay of Naples. Students have the opportunity to visit Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Naples, Positano, Paestum and the island of Capri. The trips provide a wonderful sampling of Italian art, architecture, cuisine and culture. The Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius offer fascinating geological and ecological adventures. The remainder of the trip will be split between Florence and Rome with an optional day trip to Venice. All three cities have always inspired awe in its visitors, but its particular attraction is that they have managed to preserve impressive monuments and ruins from their varied past and incorporate them into the present. All are living museums and an archaeological archive of Western culture.

Undergraduate Courses:

ELED 186I and SED 186I ; Building Literacy Strategies by Exploring the Connection between Cultural Influences, Italian Folklore and Children’s Literature

SED 181I and ELED 18 I; Educational Implications: Artistic Traditions of Italy 

Program Fees for Italy:

The program fee includes: round-trip airfare; ground transportation to-and-from major cities; housing accommodations; field trips that are part of the program; an array of special events; and use of the facilities at the Sorrento Lingue, our host institution in Sorrento. In Sorrento, students are housed in local, traditional apartments, with full kitchen facilities and double rooms. In Rome and Florence students are housed in hotels, two students per room. Guest lecturers, field visits to schools and briefings with local educators are part of the program. 

Program Costs:

The program fee for all participants is subject to change due to international currency fluctuations. For further information, contact the Office of Professional Development Services, 119 Hagedorn Hall, (516) 463-5750.


Zarb School of Business

During the summer, the Zarb School of Business offers Hofstra students several opportunities to study abroad and learn about global business issues through its programs in China, Rome and Budapest.

Zarb School in China (Beijing)

The Zarb School’s program in China offers Hofstra business students the opportunity to integrate their knowledge about international business/marketing gained in classrooms by exposing them to the real-life business environment in China. Through field experiences, students gain valuable experiential insights and perspectives that enhance and supplement their learning at Hofstra University. Students take MKT 170 /IB 170 - International Marketing  in two stages: they attend three weeks of classes on campus where they learn about international marketing, and then they travel to China to experience the subject first hand and attend more lectures at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. Students visit businesses and learn about business practices in China. Local scholars and company personnel will give guest lectures to expose students to the local environment. For further information about Zarb School in China, please contact Dr. Yong Zhang, Department of Marketing and International Business, 127 Weller Hall, (516) 463-5713, or Yong.Zhang@hofstra.edu.

Hofstra Accounting in Rome

Hofstra Accounting in Rome allows business, especially accounting, students entering their junior year a chance to have a meaningful study abroad opportunity while keeping up with the normal sequence of courses in their major. Students take two courses during a five-week summer session which includes Financial Accounting Theory and Practice I  (ACCT 123 ) required for all accounting majors and sometimes taken by finance students. This course will be taught by a Hofstra accounting professor. For their second course, students may take any summer course offered by John Cabot University, a Middle-States accredited college located in Rome. All John Cabot University courses are taught in English. Students will live in apartments in Rome and will participate in trips and excursions that John Cabot University makes available to all visiting summer students. For further information regarding Hofstra Accounting in Rome, please contact Dr. Daniel Tinkelman, Department of Accounting, Taxation and Legal Studies in Business, 206A Weller Hall, (516) 463-6993, or Daniel.Tinkelman@hofstra.edu.

Hofstra in Budapest

Hofstra in Budapest offers students the opportunity to integrate their knowledge about international business and marketing gained in the classroom by exposing them to the real-life business environment in a rapidly-growing region of the world. Through such field experiences, students gain valuable insights and perspectives that enhance and supplement their learning at Hofstra University. Excursions take students to sites related to culture and methods for conducting business in Hungary. Undergraduate students will enroll in Introduction to International Business  (IB 150 ); graduate students, in International Marketing (MKT 220). For students who may have taken these courses, tutorials will also be offered. Accommodations will be at a 4-star hotel located on the Buda side of Budapest. For further information regarding Hofstra in Budapest, please contact Dr. Rick T. Wilson, Department of Marketing and International Business, 124 Weller Hall, (516) 463-5175, or Rick.T.Wilson@hofstra.edu

Hofstra University Exchange Program With the University of Amsterdam

The Zarb School of Business offers students the opportunity to travel to The Netherlands to take classes either on a full-time basis during a regular semester or on a part-time basis during the summer at the University of Amsterdam. Students from the University of Amsterdam also benefit from this exchange program and may take courses at Hofstra. For more information about the School of Business’ exchange program with the University of Amsterdam, please contact Ms. Gioia Bales, Acting Assistant Dean, Third Floor Weller Hall, (516) 463-5703.