Summer Study Abroad in Germany

Bonn Courthouse

Live and study for five weeks in "Beethoven's City" and one of the most picturesque regions of Germany, as you experience the cultural, historic, and artistic treasures that enrich its vibrant society. Bonn, the former capital of Germany and Ludwig van Beethoven's birthplace, is located on the romantic Rhine, near the legendary Seven Mountains of the Grimm Brothers fairy tales. Over the centuries, many artists and writers have made Bonn their home, and today it offers its visitors a wide variety of historic sights, the highlights of European art on its "Museum Mile", and the international flair and nightlife worthy of a city with a 2000 year old history.

Ludwig van Beethoven

The leader in forging an integrated Europe, Germany offers a unique experience in an advanced, humane society built upon a long history of achievement. Understanding modern-day Europe is not possible without understanding Germany. Imagine yourself following in the footsteps of Goethe, Beethoven, Martin Luther, Albert Einstein, and other major figures who have helped shape Western Culture.

Students and Faculty of the 2007 Program

PROGRAM DATES AND COURSE STRUCTURE
PROGRAM LOCATION
ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS, AND FACILITIES
APPLICATION PROCESS AND ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM
SUMMER STUDY ABROAD ***APPLICATION FORM***
STUDENT ASSISTANT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
PROGRAM COSTS
FINANCIAL AID
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
REFUNDS
REGISTRATION
HEALTH MATTERS AND INSURANCE
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
INTERNATIONAL ID CARDS
COURSE OFFERINGS

Winners of the 2007 Photo Competition

Austrian Alps (by Emily Schmitt)

Parliament in Berlin (by James Abney)

Skydiving in Switzerland (by Marcus Haverhals)

PROGRAM DATES AND COURSE STRUCTURE

The group departs for Germany on June 25th and returns to the United States on July 30, 2008. Classes are held at the "Adam-Stegerwald Haus", with each academic course carrying three semester hours of credit. Students can take one or two three-hour courses, with class sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays, when half the courses meet in the morning and half in the afternoon. Tuesdays and Thursdays are reserved for required field trips. Morning classes have their field trips on Tuesdays, and afternoon classes have their field trips on Thursdays. On the first weekend, the program organizes group excursions and acquaints program participants with the "Adam-Stegerwald-Haus" and its environment, Bonn, Aachen, and Trier. After the first weekend, students have three-day weekends to explore other parts of Germany and Europe on their own.

PROGRAM LOCATION

ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS, AND FACILITIES

Students typically share double rooms at the "Adam-Stegerwald-Haus", each of which has a TV and a private bath. A limited number of single rooms with TVs and private baths are also available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Towels and bed linens are furnished. The front desk of the "Adam-Stegerwald-Haus" is staffed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Student Housing

Front Desk of the "Adam-Stegerwald-Haus"

The program package includes a minimum of nine meals per week offered in the cafeteria of the "Adam-Stegerwald-Haus". Breakfast will be offered Monday through Friday, lunch and supper on Mondays and Wednesdays. Breakfast may also be served on the weekends, but only if requested by program participants. The cafeteria offers a wide variety of menu items, and a vegetarian choice can be included if requested. 

Dining Hall

APPLICATION AND ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM

Any full-time or part-time student is eligible to participate in the program.  Students from institutions that are not part of the University System of Georgia are admitted on a space-available basis and must enroll as transient students at a participating institution.

An application form can be obtained from any campus representative of the European Council or simply by downloading the application form from the web. Completed applications should be submitted to the campus representatives, along with a required application fee of $200 and four passport-size photographs.  Campus representatives forward completed applications to the program office at Valdosta State University only when the 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 them of a place in the program.  The application deadline for the 2008 program is March 7, 2008.

Students must be in good standing in order to be admitted to the program.  Completion of an application form does not guarantee acceptance into the program.  Note also that individual campuses may require letters of reference or other information beyond that required by the European Council.
 

Köln	Düsseldorf

       
PROGRAM COSTS

The package cost of $4650 for the five-week program includes:

• Roundtrip airfare between Atlanta and Germany (Frankfurt)
• Accommodations at the "Adam-Stegerwald-Haus" for the full five weeks
• Meals as noted in the section on Accommodations and Meals
• Travel by bus from Frankfurt airport to the campus, and transportation back to the airport
• A Eurail Pass for travel by train through Germany and neighboring countries
• A travel pass for travel on the railway and bus system in the Köln - Bonn - Königswinter region
• A primary health insurance policy providing basic coverage for medical expenses 
• An International Student Identification Card (ISIC) providing reduced-fare admissions to tourist sites
• A guided tour of Bonn
• A day-long excursion to Aachen and Trier
• A cruise on the Rhine River

The package cost does not include tuition, textbooks, excluded meals, passport and related expenses, spending money, ground transport to and from the U.S. airport through which flights will be scheduled, or any other costs beyond those listed above.

Students should plan to budget a minimum of $1,000 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. 

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


                                                 The Immediate Neighborhood of Our Campus

Cafe and Beer Garden

The Rhine is One Block Away

Ferry Crossing the Rhine

FINANCIAL AID

Courses in the 2008 Germany Study Program are part of the regular offerings of member institutions; therefore, students may apply for loans or grants for which they would normally be eligible. Students should apply for financial aid at the campus where they are registering for courses. Campus representatives will assist students in obtaining information about financial aid.

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

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

A $200 application fee is due at the time of application. This fee is part of the total program cost, which varies slightly from program to program. (Turn to the separate sections of this brochure for detailed information on the costs of the different programs.) All payments apart from the $200 application fee must be made by credit card, money order, or cashier’s check. Personal checks can be used only to pay the application fee. Payment deadlines are as follows:

March 7, 2008:   First payment of $2,200 plus $200 application fee.

April 4, 2008:      Final payment of $2,250 

April 25, 2008:    Payment of $175 train pass surcharge for participants age 26 and older

REFUNDS

Application fees and other payments are applied toward 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 a program after the application deadline receive a refund according to the following schedule: 

Withdrawal before March 7: all but $100 will be refunded

Withdrawal between March 8 and March 28: all but $300 will be refunded

Withdrawal between March 29 and April 18: all but $750 will be refunded

Withdrawal between April 19 and May 9: all but $1,900 will be refunded

Withdrawal after May 10: No money will be refunded

REGISTRATION

In most cases, institutions in the University System of Georgia identify courses and course numbers of their own that for the courses being offered by faculty members from other institutions.  This enables most students to register for courses at their home institutions.  Students from institutions that do not permit registration for certain courses should contact the program office at Valdosta State University for assistance.  For students at institutions actively involved in the European Council, the first step in registration is meeting with their campus representative.

Students may earn three or six semester hours of credit in standard courses offering three hours of credit each.  Students may take one or two of these courses.

Students who need to maintain full-time status for financial aid eligibility may enroll prior to departure for Bonn in May or early summer sessions at their home campuses. Some professors may also offer directed study options during the five-week program in Germany.

Note that the program package cost does NOT include tuition fees. Tuition is paid directly to the college or university where you are registering.

Germany, a Country of Fairy Tale Castles 

Schloss Neuschwanstein

HEALTH MATTERS AND INSURANCE

Participants are provided with health-care insurance that covers them while they are abroad. The policy has a $50 deductible for doctors' visits and a $250 deductible for hospitalization. Supplementary insurance is provided with the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), included as one of the benefits of the Bonn Study Program.  The ISIC Card, which provides a variety of benefits besides insurance, is described in a later section of the brochure.

Students with special medical problems may be required to provide a physician's assurance of their ability to undertake foreign travel and study. It is not possible for the European Council to guarantee accessible facilities abroad for students with special needs.

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 Germany, and the International Immunization Certificate is not required.

More Photos Taken by Students of the 2007 Germany Program

Saint Peter's in Rome (by Melissa Granish)

Moulin Rouge in Paris (by Amy Turns)

Canal in Amsterdam (by Jack Owens)

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

Everyone who travels to Germany 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 sometimes takes more than 3 months to get a passport.  Inquire at your local post office for instructions on obtaining a passport.

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

INTERNATIONAL ID CARDS

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is available to students pursuing a diploma or degree.  In addition to serving as a common means of identification, the ISIC card provides many benefits, including insurance coverage for accidental death or dismemberment, accident-related medical expenses, and in-hospital sickness outside the U.S. It also provides a 24-hour traveler's assistance hotline and discounts on a wide range of admission fees and travel services.  All 2008 program participants receive an ISIC card as part of the program package. 

Zurich

Strasbourg

Salzburg

COURSE OFFERINGS

Students must take at least three semester hours of academic work, and many enroll for six hours of credit. All courses are three-hour courses. 

Half the courses are taught in the morning and half in the afternoon. Morning courses meet in class from 9:00-11:30 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Morning courses have required, whole-day field trips on Tuesdays. Afternoon courses meet from 1:00-3:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, with Thursdays reserved for required field trips. Students taking two courses must select one morning course and one afternoon course.

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 usually 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 differ from institution to institution. Check at the college or university where you plan to register to find out what course numbers will be assigned to the courses you want to take. To find out more about the courses offered in Germany, you can directly contact the faculty members teaching the courses via e-mail (see course descriptions and e-mail addresses below) or the Program Director Dr. Michael G. Noll at mgnoll@valdosta.edu.

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.

Aachen

Trier

Course Offerings Germany 2008

POLITICAL SCIENCE
Morning Class, Tuesday Field Trips
Introduction to Global Issues - LD

Introduction to Global Issues. A survey of contemporary political issues arising both internationally and in the United States. Discussion will focus upon a number of controversial political topics currently being debated in the United States such as electoral reform, social and welfare issues, and the role of the US in the world. The course will also examine issues of a more international nature such as global security, international trade and economics, human rights, and the moral responsibilities of nation states. On our field trips we will visit places like the United Nations and Amnesty International in Bonn, the Karl Marx House in Trier, and such cities as Aachen and Köln. (Professor Mouyyed Hassouna, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, mhassouna@abac.edu) LD

Afternoon Class, Thursday Field Trips
American Government – LD

American Government. An examination of the fundamental institutions and political processes of the American system of government. Students are also given an overview of Georgia's Constitution, state politics, and state government institutions, and will have the opportunity to compare them with German national and state government institutions. On our field trips we will visit places like the state parliaments in Düsseldorf and Mainz, and such cities as Aachen and Köln. (Professor Mouyyed Hassouna, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, mhassouna@abac.edu) LD

ECONOMICS
Morning Class, Tuesday Field Trips
Principles of Macroeconomics - LD

Principles of Macroeconomics. An introduction to macroeconomic principals, with a comparison of the E.U. and the U.S. economies and policies. As a study of entire national economies, the focus is on economy-wide variables. Content will cover long-run growth and short-run business cycles, as well as the political economy of macroeconomic policies. Concepts will be related to specific examples and episodes from the German and European Union experience, including the role of the Rhine in European economic history. The course will include guest speakers and field trips to government agencies and firms such as HP, Hoechst and Porsche. (Dr. J.J. Arias, Georgia College & State University, jj.arias@gcsu.edu) LD

Afternoon Class, Thursday Field Trips
Comparative Banking and Monetary Policy: the United States and Europe - UD

Comparative Banking and Monetary Policy: the United States and Europe. A study of the nature of money, the structure and regulation of the banking industry, monetary policy, the determination of interest rates and the determination of exchange rates. The course will include an analysis of the benefits and costs of adopting a common currency, such as the Euro. There will be special emphasis on the banking industry in Germany and the conduct of monetary policy in the Euro-zone, and how they differ from that of the U.S. The course will likely include field trips to a private bank, the Bundesbank, the European Central Bank, and other financial centers. (Dr. J.J. Arias, Georgia College & State University, jj.arias@gcsu.edu) UD

GERMAN
Morning Class, Tuesday Field Trips
Beginning German I - LD

Beginning German I.  This course will introduce students to the study of German, and what better way to do it than directly in Germany! All four components of language learning will be taught in this course (reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension), and these skills will be reinforced outside the classroom in everyday situations in restaurants, shopping centers, railway stations, and museums. Potential field trips include visits to the various attractions in Bonn and cities like Koblenz, Köln, Düsseldorf, and Aachen. (Professor Barbara Smith, North Georgia College & State University, bwsmith@ngcsu.edu) LD

Afternoon Class, Thursday Field Trips
Intermediate German I - LD

Intermediate German I. This course is for students who already have prior knowledge of German and want to reinforce and deepen their language skills. As the students have the advantage of being immersed in Germany’s cultural landscapes, they will be able to hone all four basic language skills in everyday situations in cafes, museums, and shopping centers. Potential field trips include visits to various castles along the Rhine and cities like Köln, Aachen, Düsseldorf and Koblenz. (Professor Barbara Smith, North Georgia College & State University, bwsmith@ngcsu.edu) LD

MUSIC
Morning Class, Tuesday Field Trips
Vocal Literature - UD

Vocal Literature. A study of the development of solo vocal literature, of major song composers, and of song and song cycle repertoire.  This course will focus on the works by German and Austrian composers from early Baroque period through the twentieth century.  The students will prepare a short (3-5) group of songs from the lieder repertoire to be studied in depth and presented in a concert at the end of the course.  The repertoire may be selected from previously studied pieces, but must be of German or Austrian origin and be sung in German.  Our field trip destinations will include places like the "Beethoven Haus" and the "Festspielhaus" in Bonn, the Köln Cathedral, the "Tonhalle" in Düsseldorf, and such cities as Aachen and Essen. (Professor Keith H. Walker, Darton College, keith.walker@darton.edu) UD

Afternoon Class, Thursday Field Trips
Music Appreciation - LD

Music Appreciation. The course is an introduction to music history and literature.  No music background is required.  The course examines the evolution of Western art music from the earliest days to the present.  The course is designed to arouse students’ interest in music as art and to develop their ability to understand it and respond to it.  The course offers opportunities to hear live music in concert as well as recorded music in class.  The course will also focus greater attention on German/Austrian composers and their music.  Our field trip destinations will include places like the "Beethoven Haus" and the "Festspielhaus" in Bonn, the Köln Cathedral, the "Tonhalle" in Düsseldorf, and such cities as Aachen and Essen. (Professor Keith H. Walker, Darton College, keith.walker@darton.edu) LD

HISTORY
Morning Class, Tuesday Field Trips
World History I: Development of World Civilization - LD

World History I: Development of World Civilization. A survey of world history from the Ancient Near East to the European Renaissance. Emphasis will be placed on the artistic and cultural achievements of different civilizations. Readings in primary and secondary sources will be supplemented with field trips to sites such as Trier, Aachen and Mainz as well as to museums in Köln, Koblenz and elsewhere in Germany, giving students the opportunity to view artifacts and art works from Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, as well as other world cultures. (Dr. Timothy Teeter, Georgia Southern University, tmteeter@georgiasouthern.edu) LD

Afternoon Class, Thursday Field Trips
Late Antiquity and the Rebirth of Christian Europe - UD

Late Antiquity and the Rebirth of Christian Europe. When did the classical world end and the middle ages begin?  The very concept of a ‘middle’ or ‘dark’ age is a Renaissance construct, and in recent years the period between the high days of the Roman empire in the second century and the creation of Charlemagne’s enterprise, or roughly 200 to 800 AD, has come to be seen as a period of transition worthy of study in its own right.  This era of Late Antiquity witnessed the rise and triumph of the new religion of Christianity and the end of the dream of a united Mediterranean, or even European, empire (at least until Napoleon).  Was it an era of ‘decline and fall’, Gibbon’s ‘triumph of religion and barbarism’?   Or was it an age of creative adaptation to new circumstances, with new forms of art and thought that laid the basis for a common European culture that would eventually spread around the globe? This course will examine this period through readings in both primary and secondary sources and field trips to such late Roman and early medieval sites as Trier, Mainz, Aachen, and Köln. (Dr. Timothy Teeter, Georgia Southern University, tmteeter@georgiasouthern.edu) LD