Links:

www.highlands.edu/academics/extended/europeancounciltimes.htm

www.highlands.edu/academics/extended/russiaphoto.htm

St. Petersburg, Russia, city of the czars...Created by Peter the Great as his
"Window on Europe," St. Petersburg is a showcase of Russian heritage that reflects a distinctly European outlook. It is one of the world's architectural treasures combining gold-domed cathedrals and Baroque places, museums, and public buildings with an exciting night life, art, music, literature, entertainment, and white nights. Studying Abroad offers students a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a foreign country, earn college credits, and bring back a lifetime of memories. The European Council of the University System of Georgia offers students of all ages a unique program in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The program allows students to earn up to eight credit hours during the four weeks of class. Students can choose from classes in most disciplines including art, photography, economics, history, political science, literature, sociology, language, and Russian culture. If you are considering a study abroad experience during the summer of 2008, imagine being able to study and live in Russia from May 29th through July 1st.

Course Offerings 2008 Program Dates and Structure Program Location-St.Petersburg Accommodations and Meals Group Excursions Excursion to Moscow-Optional Application and Admission to the Program Program Costs Financial Aid Registration Health Matters and Insurance Passports and Visas                                                  Course Descriptions Application Form  Links CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION FORM>

Program Location-St. Petersburg
Considered the cultural heart of modern Russia, St. Petersburg, also known as the "Venice of the North" is one of the architectural treasures of Europe. The city is quickly gaining a reputation around the world as a city known for its culture and exciting night life. From classical ballet and opera to modern rock and traditional Russian folk music, and sports, the city offers something for everyone. Few cities can boast as many museums as St. Petersburg. From the Hermitage to the Russian Museum, the Natural Science Museum, and the state Museum of Ethnography, culture abounds in St. Petersburg. There's even a vodka Museum, Bread Museum, and Chocolate Museum. During the month of June the city's nightlife is enhanced by "White Nights," twenty-four hours of daylight where the people of the city seem to shop, eat, and party all night. The palaces and stately homes provide a glimpse into a time when tsars ruled the county. In the post-Soviet period, St. Petersburg has quickly regained its reputation as a city of sophisticated, urban people with a taste for the good things in life.

Program Dates and Structure
Students depart for St. Petersburg from Atlanta on May 29th, 2008 and return July 1st. The program allows students to earn from five to eight semesters hours during the four week program. Each course meets for lectures on Tuesdays and Thursdays in morning and afternoon sessions with Mondays and Wednesdays reserved for class fieldtrips. Students can choose a morning course or an afternoon course or both. Friday mornings offer a Russian Culture class that gives insight into the language and alphabet, and provides awareness into cultural differences. Weekends offer planned group excursions to important cultural and historical sites in the St. Petersburg area including palaces and the surrounding countryside. A special feature of the program is an optional, four-day excursion to Russia's capital city of Moscow. Guided tours of the city and of the Kremlin and its museums and churches, a visit to Red Square, a walking tour of old Moscow, and a visit to the world-famous Yuri Nikulin Circus are included in the excursion.

Accommodations and Meals
The site for the four-week program is on the campus of St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University, one of the city's oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning. Located in a safe residential area of the city, the campus is 25 minutes by subway from the center of St. Petersburg. The dormitories feature a nine-story complex with double rooms. Students stay two to a room and four to a suite which features a small kitchenette, microwave, refrigerator and bathroom. Internet and telephone access is also provided to the dorm rooms. The site offers easy access to St. Petersburg's theatres, museums, historical landmarks, and lively nightlife. Included in the building where the program is based are computer laboratories, a spacious cafeteria, entertainment and exercise facilities, and other amenities.

Included in the program are three meals a day which are served in the University's dining facilities. The cafeteria staff strives to provide a balance of traditional Russian meals with the occasional American standard. On field trip days and Saturdays, a bag lunch is provided.

 

Group Excursions The program includes several planned group excursions which allow you the opportunity to tour palaces, and museums and experience Russian culture. Excursions will include: A City Tour http://www.saint-petersburg.com/sightseeing/index.asp Canal Tour http://petersburgcity.com/excursions-st-petersburg/rivers/ Tour of Peter and Paul Fortress http://it.stlawu.edu/~rkreuzer/phayden/ppfort.htm Tour of the Baltica Brewery - Optional http:www.baltika.ru/ Tour of the Hermitage Museum http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/ Tour of Peterhoff-the Summer Palace http://www.peterhof.ru/ Tour of Pushkin and Catherine's Palace http://eng.tzar.ru/ A Picnic at Staraya Ladoga http://www.monomax.org/dmc/spb_env_ladoga.htm A Farewell Party

Excursion to Moscow-Optional A special feature of the program is an optional four-day excursion to the capital city of Moscow. The trip begins with an overnight train ride followed by a bus tour of the city. Students discover the treasures of Red Square with guided tours of the Kremlin including its museums and churches. Moscow gives students a different perspective on Russian history and culture. A visit to the world famous Russian circus and a walking our of the city are also included. The cost for the excursion is an additional $500.

Application and Admission to the Program
Any full-time or part 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. Out of state students may also enroll as transients through any of the participating University System of Georgia Locations. Most out of state fees will be waived.

A printable application form is available on this page. Just click the link to access it. Completed applications should be submitted to your European Council Representative, along with a required application fee of $200 and five passport-size photographs. For a complete list of European Council representatives contact the European Council at 229.259.2591.

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 at the program office. Students are encouraged to apply well in advance of the application deadline to assure a place in the program. The application deadline is Friday, 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.

<CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION FORM>

 

Program Costs The package cost of $4,100 for the four-week program includes: • Roundtrip airfare between Atlanta and St. Petersburg • Accommodations in St. Petersburg for the full four weeks • All meals in St. Petersburg • Roundtrip transportation between the St. Petersburg airport and the campus • Travel pass good for 50 trips on St. Petersburg subway system • Six tours of the city and suburbs that include the city’s most significant museums and other landmarks • A primary health insurance policy providing coverage for medical expenses • Visa application fees and registration • A farewell party The package cost does not include tuition, textbooks, passport and related expenses, spending money, travel to or from Atlanta, or any other costs beyond those listed above. The cost of the Moscow excursion is $500. This includes roundtrip train travel between St. Petersburg and Moscow, hotel accommodations in central Moscow for three nights, guided tours of the city and the Kremlin, admission to the Russian circus, and breakfasts while in Moscow. Students should plan to budget a minimum of $400 for souvenirs, theater tickets, entrance fees, and evening entertainment. 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 makes every effort to keep program costs as advertised and will inform prospective participants of any changes as they occur.

Financial Aid Courses in the 2008 summer program in St. Petersburg are part of the regular course offerings of member institution; 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. 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 $2,000 plus $200 application. April 10, 2008 - Final payment of $1,900. April 26, 2008: Payment of $500 for the optional Moscow Excursion. *All payments after the deposit can be paid by personal checks until April 26, 2008.

Refund

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 April 1: all but $300 will be refunded. Withdrawal between April 2 and April 28: all but $1,600 will be refunded. Withdrawal after April 28: NO MONEY WILL BE REFUNDED. *All payments after the deposit can be paid by personal checks until April 26th.

Registration Registering for the program is a two step process which requires completing the application, which is available through a link on this page, and enrolling in classes. In most cases, institutions in the University System of Georgia identify courses and course numbers of their own for the courses being offered in the program. 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. Out of state students who wish to participate in this program should also contact the European Council office at 229.259.2591. For students at institutions actively involved in the European Council, the first step in registration is meeting with your campus representative. Students may earn either three or six semester hours of credit in standard courses offering three hours of credit each.  Students may enroll in one or two of these courses.  In addition, there is a required two-hour culture course that all students must take. It is possible to earn eight credit hours through this program.

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. 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.  Current recommendations on any special immunizations for travel in Russia will be provided to prospective participants at the time of application to the program.

Passport and Visas In order participate in the program you must have a valid passport with at least six months remaining before the expiration date.  It should also have at least two blank pages. Holders of U.S. passports are required to have a visa for traveling to and within Russia. Participants traveling on passports of other countries should contact their campus representatives for assistance in determining whether they need a visa. In order to obtain a visa, you must send an electronic passport to the European Council office at Valdosta State University by March 7, 2008. There will be a $100 late fee if passports/copies are submitted late. Once students supply the European Council with their passports, the European Council will obtain visas for the group. The cost of obtaining a visa is included in the cost of the program. You can find more information about US passports at the following website:                        State Department - Passport Services and Information

Course offerings (Three credit hour courses): 

Photography I:  Discover the world of photography in St. Petersburg, Russia's architectural masterpiece. Enhance your photographic skills as you focus on a skyline filled with gold domes, palaces, cathedrals and monuments. From the magic of the White Nights to the beauty of its Baroque buildings, St. Petersburg is a photographic masterpiece waiting to be captured.  This course is an introduction to the use of the camera as a creative tool. Students receive instruction on the principles of the photographic process. The course covers the following topics: history of photography, the mechanics of the camera, exposure, film and digital storage, lenses, and composition. Field trips include a walking tour of monuments and bridges, a trip to Pavlovsk Park, and an all night outing to capture the magic of the White Nights and the lights of the drawbridges. The course also offers insight into photojournalism through assignment photography. A SLR camera, either 35mm or digital is required.  (Mr. Jeff Brown, Georgia Highlands College) LD http://www.highlands.edu/academics/extended/russiaphoto.htm

Western Civilization: Russian Perspective :  This course is a survey of the history of the world from 1500 to the present, with an emphasis on Russians' experience of world history. The lectures concentrate on understanding global connections between cultures, civilizations, and empires before European hegemony. Comparisons will be made discussing the impact of the Industrial Revolution and Western imperialism on different parts of the world. Other topics of discussion include the causes of total war in the twentieth century, historical factors behind genocide in the modern world, the contrast the impact of decolonization and the Cold War on different regions of the postwar world, and the reasons for the fall of Communism and the global impact of Communism's fall. (Dr. Bill Risch, Georgia College and State University) LD

International Economic Relations:  The course explores issues of international economic relations including trade, financial markets, lending and investment. Russia's economy will be looked at from the international perspective - adapting to new realities as an emerging economy. Russia's rich multiple resources will be discussed and how they relate to business from various areas (oil, gas, high tech, etc). Russia's attempt to more actively participate in international economic processes (WTO, EBRD) will be explored. The controversies of Russia's governmental measures in economic spheres affecting companies' policy are also an area of focus. (Elena Vdovina, PhD, St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University). UD

Politics of Modern Russia: from Gorbachov to Putin:  Although Russia’s capital became Moscow during the Soviet period, Leningrad (St. Petersburg) was always an important second city with strong links to the Party Center. This course surveys Soviet politics and institutions from 1917 to 1991 and their transition in Modern Russia. Students learn about Lenin’s role in the Revolution, the Civil War, Stalin’s Five Year Plan, Leningrad during WWII, the reforms of Khrushchev and Gorbachev, the collapse of the Soviet system, and Yeltsin’s and Putin’s rule. Field trips may include the Smolny Cathedral and the Aurora, a fully restored flag ship remembered for having fired the opening shot of the Soviet Revolution in 1917. (Dr. Igor Kuzmin, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University) UD

Women in Russia: This course provides an overview of the social role of women in Russian history from the 18th century to present day. Topics include the development of women’s education in the Tzar’s Russia, the influence of women during the revolutionary movement including both women-terrorists and women-ministers of first Soviet Russia governments, and the social problems faced by women in modern Russia. Women’s careers in the Soviet Union and the changes in gender roles that were faced following the collapse of the communist regime will be covered. Students will take part in discussions relating to issues and problems faced by women in modern Russia. Fieldtrips will include a visit to the former Smolny Institute for Noble girls, and other prominent locations including a local nunnery. (Dr. Maria Chumovitskaya, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University) UD 

Russian Literature:  Imagine reading Russian literature on the banks of the Neva River or visiting the former apartments of famous Russian Writers. This course surveys Russian works in English translation. Students study the works of Pushkin, Lemontov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Gogol, Zamiatin, and Buldakov. Field trips include visits to the Russian National Library, the Dostoevsky Museum, and other important landmarks of Russian literature. (Dr. Tatiana Shustrova, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University) UD

Russian Language: Three credit hours for one of the following Russian language courses: 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002, 3001, or 3002. Placement test are administered before classes begin. Field trips are designed to allow students to practice language skills and include visits to a supermarket, restaurants, walks around the University neighborhood, and other opportunities to apply the language skills acquired in class. (Ms. Svetlana Zaitseva, St. Petersburg State Polytechncial University) LD, UD

Afternoon Classes, Monday Field Trips

Art Appreciation:  The main purpose of the course is to give a general overview and an idea of the process of World Art from ancient Egyptian art to 20th century in a historical context, to acquaint students with the principal trends in art, the formation of the styles of different monuments as examples and the creations of the most remarkable artists.  The monuments of ancient Egyptian art, Greek art, medieval centuries, period of Renaissance, art of the XVII-XIX centuries and modern art of the XIX-XX centuries are given on the lectures which take place in the Hermitage Museum.  We discuss the following tendencies, traditions and different influence in artistic schools: the religious features of ancient epochs, the humanistic interest of medieval art, the development of styles in the latest periods.  The history of Russian art from ancient periods to modern time is taken in consideration as additional part.  The ancient Russian icons and the Avant-garde paintings are the most contribution of Russia to the World art.  The development of Russian art and its connection with Eastern and European traditions and the influence of Russian Avant-garde traditions into European art of the 20th century are overviewed.  (Dr. Maria Chumovitskaya, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University) LD

Architecture of Russia and St. Petersburg:  This course will provide a general overview of the progress of Russian art from the XI through the XX century. Students will be acquainted with the principal trends of Russian art and architecture and the formation of the styles of different monuments. Special emphasis will be placed on such architectural styles of St. Petersburg as Russian Baroque, Classicism, Neo-classicism, and Art Nouveau. Field trips will provide students with views of interior and exterior structures in the historical districts of the city. (Dr. Elena Boitsova, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University) UD

St. Petersburg in War and Revolution: This course will examine the cultural, social, and political history of St. Petersburg, a major center of both Russian and European history.  It will focus on how residents of this city experienced war and revolution in the early modern and modern ages.  It begins by considering St. Petersburg as the birthplace of Russia as a European empire and as a major center of Enlightenment thought.  It then examines how this city in an age of revolution led to intellectual and cultural trends that challenged the tsarist state and Russian society.  The course next turns to St. Petersburg as the epicenter of Russia’s revolutions of 1905 and 1917 that brought the end of the old order and the beginnings of the Soviet Union’s experiment in socialism.  It concludes by considering how this city, as Leningrad, served as a defender of Russia’s revolutionary heritage during the Russian Civil War, the upheavals of the 1920s and 1930s, and lastly during World War Two. Students will be expected to gain a greater appreciation for Russia’s role in world history and European history, as well as important skills in writing and historical analysis. (Dr. Bill Risch, Georgia College and State University) UD

St. Petersburg and the History Romanov Dynasty: This course covers the social, political, and cultural history of the city from 1703-1917. Students learn about the founding of the city, Peter the Great’s plan for its development, the reforms of Catherine II and Alexander II and their reception by Petersburg’s intelligentsia, as well as the revolutionary events of 1917. Museums and city sites are used as a classroom for some lectures. Field trips may include Pavlovsk, the Russian Historical and Political Museum, and Alexander Nevsky Monastery. (Dr. Igor Kuzmin, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University) UD

European Council
Center for International Programs
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, Georgia 31698
PH: 229-259-2591 or 229-333-7410
FX: 229-245-3849

For more information or a program booklet and application, please contact the European Council Representative from your home campus. If you are from a school that does not have a campus representative, please contact Megan Powell the Coordinator of the European Council of the University System of Georgia at mapowell@valdosta.edu. You can also contact Irina McClellan at ibmcclel@valdosta.edu.