Study Abroad in London: December 26-January 8, 2012

Welcome back to Boris! As any follower of our blog knows, our department encourages students to study abroad for a short-term or longer stay. Studying abroad is a fantastic way to learn about another culture and experience art, museums, and so much more.

Travel to London and take in some other sites and sights with Earl Gray (aka Dr. Decker). I've written about this previously. Click here for full post. And, if you need a visual, here's a gentle nudge. . .

The spa at Bath is fantastic, year-round. Here I am sipping that Spa Water!

For more information, see the CCSA website. The name of the course I will teach is "The Making of the Modern Museum." Together, we'll investigate the history of museums, moving beyond the white walls of the art museum and making visits museums and collections daily, including the British Museum, Tate Museums, as well as site possible visits to Stonehenge, Bath, Oxford and Brighton (site visits will vary based upon what's on view and what I can arrange).

At some point during the first two weeks of classes, I'll hold a meeting about the trip for any interested students. Consider coming to the meeting. And, if you're really interested, know that you can save $100 by making a deposit early. Feel free to email me or comment below with any questions. Or, talk to GC students who took this trip in 2009-10. You'll hear from them, first-hand about the experience!

Countdown to London: 365 days

For those of you interested in a study abroad adventure, consider a CCSA course with Dr. Decker next Winter. CCSA is a consortium that offers opportunities for college students to participate in study abroad experiences in English-speaking countries. Yours truly, Dr. Decker, teaches a course through CCSA every two years. Our next opportunity for a study abroad with me is a year away. Start planning now!

Departure date is December 26, 2011, with a return in early January 2012 -- plenty of time to gear yourself up for Spring 2012 classes. The topic of the course that I teach is the history of museums. Students in the course will go beyond the white walls of the art museum to investigate other forms of repositories -- such as other museums, libraries, armouries, zoos, and more. We'll study how these have enriched the milieu of the museums conceptually and materially. We'll visit one or more institution(s) each day, with two (or more) site visits outside of London.

Enjoy England in the winter and come back enriched from your experiences. In your two-week excursion, you'll undertake new experiences, be immersed in opportunities to make friends from GC and other colleges and universities throughout the US, and, of course, learn about and visit a lot of museums and collections! Talk to your friends --- see who's up for joining you on this study abroad experience in London. Or, if you have a friend from another school and want him/her to join you, contact CCSA to see if that person's school is part of our consortium.

If you have any questions, contact Dr. Decker or consult the CCSA website and their photoblog.

Photo above, right, from the Natural History Museum in London. Taken by G. Decker.