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Religion, Secularism, & Civil Societies, UCEAP Faculty Led

Summer Study Abroad in

the Netherlands, Germany, & Washington, DC

Led by Professor Vivian-Lee Nyitray    

 
On both sides of the Atlantic, modern nation states struggle with issues of identity preservation and reconstruction, with dueling desires for accommodation of immigrant populations and isolationism, and, most critically, with questions of how to preserve core values of civil society in the face of differing and deeply embodied religious beliefs and practices.  Over the course of four weeks students will travel through the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, and The Hague), Germany (Köln, Berlin and environs), and then conclude with a week in Washington, DC.
 
This course has been designed for UCEAP’s 50th anniversary in explicit recognition of a principal goal of international education: the hope that students bring their expanded global awareness back home and form an enlightened public.  By including a final week in our nation’s capital, as well as by visiting European sites that impinge on American consciousness and history (Pilgrims in the Netherlands prior to sailing from England to America, armed forces in both world wars) and by introducing issues that mirror, even obliquely, current debates in the US (immigration, Islamophobia, the religious identity—or lack thereof—of the nation), the course will constantly encourage comparison and thoughtful contrastive critique of both home and host countries.
In general, one day a week is devoted to travel and/or free time.  Several optional excursions are planned as well.
​

Academic & Cultural Excursions

Locations You’ll Explore:

  • The Netherlands: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, The Hague
  • Germany: Berlin and surrounding areas
  • United States: Washington, DC
Excursions may include visits to Parliament and the International Criminal Court in the Hague, a walking tour of sites associated with the Pilgrim sojourn and presence in the Netherlands in Leiden, and visits to American memorials and museums in Washington, DC.​
 

Language of Instruction

English


Language Study

None
 

Duration

Summer :  
July 28-August 25, 2012​
 

Schedule

To view the program's detailed itinerary and schedule​, click here.
 

Lodging

Your lodging costs are included in the fees for this program. You will be housed in a variety of accommodations while traveling and studying abroad. These may include shared, budget-style accommodation, single- or double-dorm rooms, or shared hotel rooms. More detailed information on lodging will be available soon.​
 
Religion, Secularism, & Civil Societies: View this UCEAP Faculty-Led Program on Facebook

Course Work

In this program you will take the following required two courses, totaling 9 UC quarter units.  You may be able to petition these courses towards various departments, beyond the UCEAP subject area designations listed below, on your home campus.  See “Course Equivalents” note below.
 

Core Course

RELIGIOUS STUDIES 153 (4.5 UC quarter units, Letter Grade only)

Lectures, readings, and excursions will enable students to identify and analyze the following: historical associations of religious and ethnic or national identities; instances of religious tolerance, persecution, and moves toward pluralism; contemporary legal debates surrounding the public role and private practice of religion; and the understanding that being Dutch, German, or American is predicated in part on a particular religious sensibility, that is, a unique civil religious orientation.
 

Directed Group Study

RELIGIOUS STUDIES 189 (4.5 UC quarter units, Pass/No Pass only)

For this component of the program, students are required to attend all field trips and to contribute to a course multimedia portfolio, podcasts, and blog during the course of study. 
 
Course Equivalents: As with all UCEAP courses, subject area listings do not indicate that these courses will satisfy specific major or other degree requirements at any particular campus. Work with your home UC campus academic department before departure to identify potential requirements that could be fulfilled through this program's coursework.

Units

​You will take two courses totaling 9 UC quarter units on this program. ​


Internships, Research, and Independent Study

​The Directed Group Study allows you to focus on particular topics in small groups. Concurrent additional independent study, internships, or research are not an option on this program.
_Professor Vivian Lee Nyitray
​
Faculty leader Vivian-Lee Nyitray (Ph.D. Stanford, 1990) is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at UC Riverside. Although her research focuses on the religions of China, her association with the Netherlands dates back to 1975, when she was a study abroad student in Amsterdam. Professor Nyitray was the resident EAP Study Center Director in the Netherlands from 2002-04 and again from 2006-07; since 2009, she has served as the EAP Faculty Consultant for the Netherlands. As a consultant to California’s Boards of Education, Professor Nyitray offers workshops for K-12 teachers on the diversity of post-1965 religion in America and on American civil religion.
 

On-site Support

 
As a UCEAP participant, you will be supported by your UC faculty leader, the UCEAP Systemwide Office, and the University of California, which includes a network of study abroad offices at every UC campus. Drawing on UCEAP’s worldwide resources, your faculty leaders will guide you academically, culturally, and logistically, with strong support from UCEAP staff in California. 

Estimated Cost

Studying abroad with UCEAP, the official UC study abroad program, allows you to enjoy exceptional value and perks! Often, the expenses of participating in UCEAP programs are less than those of non-UC study abroad programs. The cost listed in the chart below include: 1) program fees that are paid directly to UCEAP in the current year, and 2) an estimate of the amount needed to cover your personal living expenses abroad. Recreational travel and entertainment are not included.
 
If you receive UC financial aid, it will be repackaged and customized to the cost of your UCEAP program. In other words, the amount of your financial aid package will take into account the estimated TOTAL COST of this experience, as it is estimated below.
 
These expenses are estimated for the current year. Amounts are subject to change due to potential changes to UC fees, exchange rate fluctuation, etc.
 
Here’s what is included in the estimate:
 
Your Program Fees: 
  • UC fees
  • All Program Costs, including tuition &  instructional expenses
  • Accident and medical insurance
  • Orientation and advising
  • Lodging and partial meals
  • All excursions and entrance fees for cultural activities
  • Automatic transfer of credits and grades to your UC transcript
Estimated Personal Expenses: 
  • Pre-departure expenses (health clearance, student visa, etc.)
  • Round-trip airfare and other travel-related expenses
  • Meals not covered by program fees
  • Books and other incidental expenses

Your Program Fees + Estimated Personal Expenses = 9,000

Estimated EAP Costs*

Options Cost
  • Summer
  • $9,000
*Based on estimated 2012-13 costs.

Scholarships

UCEAP scholarships for the 2012-13 academic year are available for the new 50th Anniversary UC Faculty-Led Summer Programs. Please visit our scholarships overview page for general information and details regarding eligibility requirements and application deadlines.

How to Apply

Application Process

​
 
To apply for this program, follow the steps below. You will apply directly to the UCEAP Systemwide Office.
 
  1. Create an account with MyEAP.
    2.  
    Note: Once you register with MyEAP you will receive an auto e-mail from UCEAP with instructions specific to your UC campus. Please disregard this e-mail.
     
  2. Select this program from the dropdown menu.
    3.  
  3. ​Complete the online MyEAP application.
    4.  
  4. Gather the required documents as listed in the MyEAP application Instructions.
    5.  
  5. Mail your application including all the required documents directly to the UCEAP Systemwide Office (must be received by April 13, 2012):
 

Mailing Address
Attn: Ann Logan
UCEAP Systemwide Office
6950 Hollister Avenue, Suite 200
Goleta, CA 93117-5823

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 13, 2012
 
​

Application Requirements

Class Level:

Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate

Language Prerequisites:

None

GPA:

2.50 cumulative GPA at the time of application and maintained through the end of the last term prior to departure.

Minimum Criteria:

 All applicants must also have:
  • Serious academic goals and a clear plan for integrating UCEAP studies into the student's UC degree program
  • Social and cross-cultural sensitivity; the ability to adapt successfully to a different environment and an new education program model; and the ability to exhibit appropriate standards of behavior in a variety of situations, show evidence of maturity, stability, and self-discipline, in a variety of situations
  • A willingness to abide by program regulations
  • An endorsement by the UCEAP Systemwide Office Selection Committee and completion of all application requirements

Selection Process

​
​The deadline to apply is April 13, 2012.
 
Don’t delay! Applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are selected for the program, you will be notified within one week of your application submission. At that time, a $400 non-refundable fee will be assessed to secure your participation in the program. The payment will be applied towards your UCEAP program fees.