London Semester
The Southwestern London Semester is a 15-week residential program offered each fall. SU faculty and about 30 students live and study together in the Kensington district of London’s West End. Any Southwestern undergraduate is eligible to apply for the London Semester Program provided he or she is in good academic and disciplinary standing and will have attained at least sophomore status at the start of the program. A 2.50 GPA is usually expected as a minimum.
Cost & Fees
Costs for the London Semester are equal to Southwestern’s on-campus tuition, room and board charges for Fall 2012, plus a $250 administrative fee. This program fee includes tuition, accommodations in the student residence, a weekly meal stipend of 60 British Pounds, organized field trips and admission fees that are required as part of the British Life and Culture Course, and transfers to and from the London airport for students arriving together on the arranged group flight. The fee does not include the international airfare, admission charges for the Theater course ($300), local and independent travel, textbooks, personal expenses, passport fees or baggage insurance. There is also an extra fee for students who participate in an internship. Information about this fee is available from the Office of Intercultural Learning.
Housing
Group housing for the London Semester is in a student residential center in the Kensington district of central London. Students live in flat style housing. Flats accommodate up to four people and are furnished with beds, linens, desks, chairs, basic kitchen equipment, and utensils. There are several grocery stores in the area where students may buy their own provisions. In addition, there are many restaurants in the area to accommodate a variety of tastes and budgets. Students are provided a weekly meal stipend to help with the purchase of food (see section on Costs). The student housing is within walking distance of stops for London buses and the Underground or “Tube.”
Excursions
Living in London provides students with a locus of study for understanding the historic, economic and social development of the British people. Participants on the London Semester take advantage of the attractions of historic London and Westminster, as well as excursions to selected sites in England and a long weekend trip outside of England.
Plan of Study/Classes
The curricular focus of the London Semester changes every fall. The curriculum of the 2012 London Semester Program will include courses in Chemistry and History. Several courses will also be cross-listed with other departments. Students majoring in these fields will find the course offerings especially appropriate, though students in all majors can fulfill general distribution requirements, gain elective credit, and benefit from the experience of living and studying abroad. Credit transfer is not required as students enroll through Southwestern. Courses taught by Southwestern faculty are developed to take advantage of “on-site” education in London. In addition to courses in the focus discipline, the following basic courses are offered every year:
British Life and Culture (UST39-224)
All students in the London Semester Program enroll in this core course to ensure a common educational experience and provide the background necessary for understanding British culture. This core course examines the traditions and institutions that have shaped British life in the 21st Century. Visiting lecturers from British academic, political, and social institutions as well as field trips to locations in London and throughout southern England are planned as part of the course. The course is designed to help participants develop an appreciation and understanding of the British culture in which they now find themselves.
Theatre Arts in London (THE73-114)
A theoretical and experiential survey of the theatre, its past and its present, with an emphasis on the role of theatre within society. Emphasis will be on attending performances in London. This course is taught by a British faculty member. An additional fee of approximately $300 is applicable to cover admission charges.
This course also satisfies the Fine Arts Lecture (FAL) general education requirement.
2012 Curricular Focus:
Chemistry:
British Scientists: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants (CHE51-004)
This course focuses on the lives and contributions of British scientists involved in several scientific revolutions: the application of the new experimental scientific method, the founding of the Royal Society, the foundation of classical mechanics by Isaac Newton, the discovery of oxygen by Joseph Priestley, the proposal of the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin, the foundation of artificial intelligence by Alan Turing, and the determination of the structure of DNA by Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, and Francis Crick.
Cross-listed with HIS16-004
If taken as HIS16-004, this course also satisfies the Humanities Division (HD) general education requirement.
Chemistry and Art (CHE51-004)
This course focuses on the materials used in paintings as well as the technology of art conservation. Basic chemical principles will be introduced within the context of art. Visits to art museums, including the National Gallery, The Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, the Courtauld Gallery, the Wallace Collection, and the British Museum will provide case studies. Students will also observe art conservators using modern instrumentation and restoration techniques.
Chemistry for Future Presidents (CHE51-004)
Science is everywhere. We are surrounded by computers, electronic devices, genetically-engineered food, and smart clothes. Labels on food inform us about snacks that are “all natural” or “gluten-free”. Politicians debate issues such as stem cells and global warming. Headlines warn us about new diseases. Yet, science-related information is fragmented and transmitted to us by politicians, lobbyists, retailers, or medical doctors who are interested in promoting their own agendas. How can one sort through the plethora of such information? In this course, you will learn how scientific knowledge develops. You will become familiar with the various stakeholders that filter the scientific information that reaches you. And, you will become less susceptible to manipulation. Using a series of case studies from health, the environment, and technology, you will become a better user of scientific information.
History:
Global Powers — The Rise and Fall of Empires: China, Great Britain, and the U.S. (HIS16304)
What accounts for the dominance of some peoples over others? Is there a clear explanation for the rise and fall of empires? Is America an empire? Will the future see an American decline and the rise of China? We will examine disagreements about the relative importance of economic power, cultural values, and the accidents of world history in explaining the rise of great powers, and we will see how this is viewed by others around the world.
Cross-listed with PSC32-304
If taken as HIS16-304, this course also satisfies the Humanities Division (HD) general education requirement.
A History of Commodities and International Conflicts (HIS16-304)
The European exploitation of and control over commodities previously unknown or little known (to them), such as sugar, opium, tea, and oil, led to changes in diet, to new social mores, to worldwide economic changes, and even to international conflicts. We will study the fascinating changes in the consumption of, and competition over, these commodities, especially their impact on, and global control by, the British Empire.
Cross-listed with ECO31-304
If taken as HIS16-304, this course also satisfies the Humanities Division (HD) general education requirement.
World Civilizations to 1500 (HIS16-014)
How did civilizations arise? What accounts for their similarities and their differences? To seek answers to these questions we will examine major developments, some quite unexpected, in the origins, evolution, and character of the major world civilizations and their interactions with each other to 1500.
This course also satisfies the Humanities Division (HD), Intercultural Perspectives (IP), and Writing Attentive (WA) general education requirements.
Academic Internship
Students are placed with organizations in London to gain practical experience in their field of study. Requires permission of instructor. Additional fee.
