HISTORIC TURKEY: BRIDGE OF THE AGES offers an unforgettable study abroad experience. The objective of the program is to introduce students to the cultural, institutional and historic diversity of the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea worlds through a 3 week tour of the Republic of Turkey. The course will bridge the disciplinary borders that otherwise separate students who study Ancient, Byzantine, Armenian, Georgian, Early Islamic, Ottoman and Modern Middle Eastern societies and their histories. This course should also be of interest to Fine Arts students as there will be several trips to observe performances by various regional and periodic dance groups, examples of different musical styles, as well as visits to various monuments that demonstrate a variety of decorative styles/motifs unique to the region. From attending a Sufi performance to the Arab and Kurdish societies in the Southeast, to the fusion of Rum and Ottoman music in the Rembetika form as still performed in Istanbul’s “meza” neighborhoods, those attending this Maymester course will appreciate the full scope of cultural expression found in historic Turkey. To help appreciate the often subtle differences in these regional/temporal styles, several discussions/lectures will be led by experts in their respective periodic fields.
Highlights of the program are provided below. The university reserves the right to alter travel and other arrangements if required by circumstances.
Students will:
• Tour Istanbul (Constantinople), including ancient Byzantine and Ottoman-era neighbor hoods.
• Tour Trabzon, Sivas, Mardin, Diyarbakir, Bursa, and Konya.
• Visit famous monasteries and pre-Ottoman mosques.
• Tour overland through some of the most stunning scenery in the world, passing through the Kackar Mountains, deep river valleys all with views of famous mountains that include Mt. Ararat.
• Visit some of the world’s greatest museum collections of antiquities and medieval and Ottoman-era Islamic art.
• Explore the culinary diversity of Turkey, tasting foods that are unique to the numerous regions through which this program will travel.
• Witness the performance of Sufi sects, including those known the world over as the “Whirling Dervishes”.
Students interested in applying should find this program’s listing at http://www.studyabroad.gsu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=20300
and begin an online application.
February 15, 2013.
Because program size is limited, early application is strongly advised. Individual interviews may be scheduled with students upon receipt of application.
The program is offered to all students at the undergraduate and graduate level. Program size is limited and participation is contingent upon approval by the Program Director. No knowledge of Turkish is required.
International students at Georgia State who hold F-1 visas must contact the Office of International Students and Scholar Services at 404/413-2070 to discuss possible implications of study abroad for their immigration status.
Students wishing to receive academic credit may register for MES 4590 (Special Studies Seminar) or HIST 4890 (Topics in World History). Course credit will be four semester hours. All participants will attend an orientation session at GSU (date to be determined). Students from other institutions should follow their institution’s regulations concerning transfer credits.
Participants will stay in comfortable double-occupancy hotels (3-4 stars) and on occasion, unique settings in old Caravanserais or inside mountain caves in Cappadocia. Disability Accommodations Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations during their study abroad experience should discuss these needs with the Program Director and the Office of Disabilities at the time of application.
Program cost may vary at any time according to currency fluctuations and changing travel arrangements.
The program cost is tentatively set at $2,700, PLUS regular Georgia State University tuition and fees. Non-resident/out-of-state students will pay in-state tuition plus a $250 fee in addition to the program cost.
Price includes:
Hotel accommodations
All ground transportation, excursions, and entrance fees
Educational lectures and cultural events
Some of the meals
Health/Evacuation/Repatriation Insurance
Reading packet
Price Does NOT Include
• Georgia State tuition and fees
• Round-trip airfare (Atlanta/US to Istanbul and return)
• Passport and Visa fees ($100 for US citizens)
• Personal expenses and excess baggage charges
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
(February 15, 2013) – $500 deposit with application
(March 1, 2013) – $1,100 payment
(March 29, 2013) – $ 1,100 remaining balance
(All payments are non-refundable upon receipt)
Please pay for your program deposit by finding the program listing www.gsu.edu/studyabroad and following the payment instructions listed there. See your Program Director for more information. Please refer to the Academic/Registration calendar for the tuition and fees deadline.
Georgia State University students are eligible to apply for the IEF Study Abroad Scholarship/Georgia State University Foundation Scholarship and may be eligible to apply for the Global Experience Scholarship. Visit www.gsu.edu/studyabroad or contact the Office of International Initiatives, Study Abroad Programs at 404/413-2529 for more information.
Contact the Office of Financial Aid at 404/413-2400 for information on how financial aid might apply toward the program.
Students have the option of purchasing an “International Student ID Card” from STA Travel for travel discounts in participating countries. For more information, visit the STA Travel website at www.sta-travel.com.
For more information about the program or to submit your application, contact
Program Director: Dr. Isa Blumi
E-mail: iblumi@gsu.edu
Program Assistant: Alta Schwartz
Phone: 404-413-6146
E-mail: aschwartz@gsu.edu