London Summer Term 2023

Course meets on Tuesdays from 5:00-5:50 p.m.
Professor Tim Vercellotti

This course will introduce students to the politics, geography, and culture of London and surrounding southeastern England. Students will examine the local and national political institutions that function in London, the role that the River Thames has played in the development of London and surrounding areas, and the changing demographics of the region. The course also will describe the uniquely English norms that shape human behavior in shared spaces in London, including pubs, restaurants, mass transit, and religious institutions.

Professor Tim Vercellotti
 Meets the Elements of Culture (CA) requirement for Business, Engineering, and Pharmacy, or Global Cultures (CUL) for Arts & Sciences.

Thoughts of England conjure images of a village green, a cricket pitch, the village hall, a church spire, and the local pub. Here unfolds a yearly cycle of events: village fêtes, cricket matches, bonfire nights, Remembrance Day services, and the Christmas pantomime. We explore these traditions and their enduring significance in English culture, both in fact and fiction. The fictional aspect comes courtesy of The Archers, a daily BBC radio drama that has depicted village life in nearly 19,000 episodes since the program’s premiere in 1950. Field trips will include visits to the Victoria & Albert Museum, Lord’s Cricket Ground, the Museum of London, and the villages of Olney (home of the infamous Pancake Day races) and Greenfield (host of the Whit Friday brass band competition).

Professor Herb Eskot
May fulfill an economics requirement in some majors.

Soccer and rugby are two of the most popular team sports in the UK. This course focuses on the structural, cultural, and economic aspects of soccer and rugby and on the differences and similarities to professional team sports in the U.S. Topics include, league structure; labor markets, including the transfer market; relegation and promotion; and team objectives. No prior knowledge of the sports is necessary. Field trips include visits to Premier League stadiums, a tour of Twickenham Stadium and the Rugby Museum, and a visit to the Freemason Arms pub, site of the founding of the Football Association.

Professor Chidike Okeem
Designed to meet the Social/Behavioral Perspective requirement (pending approval).

This course will introduce students to criminal justice in the UK, with emphasis on the capital city of London. Students will explore historical landmarks related to criminal justice and also be introduced to some of the contemporary institutions of British criminal justice. Pressing issues of crime and justice in London will be addressed. Field trips will include visits to a Crown Court, the Tower of London, the Inns of Court, a Metropolitan Police station, and the Houses of Parliament.

Professor Jennifer Beineke
Meets the MATH requirement for selected majors, or counts toward 40-credit minimum for General University Requirements, or counts toward the Women’s and Gender Studies minor. Can also be adapted to meet the College of Engineering 300-level MATH requirement.  

The word cryptography comes from Greek words meaning “hidden writing.” We will explore hidden messages and their evolution over time in the UK. We will learn basic mathematical techniques to allow us to encrypt and decrypt messages, and we will study the impact of British women on cryptography—including Mary, Queen of Scots, the computer programmer Ada Lovelace, and the women code-breakers of Bletchley Park. Field trips will include the British Museum, the Science Museum, the Tower of London, and Bletchley Park.

The costs are subject to change pending final budget approval.

The cost for one session (3 weeks) is currently estimated to be $6,000.
The cost for two sessions (6 weeks) is currently estimated to be $10,800.

London and the surrounding areas will serve as our classroom during the summer term. Field trips will take us to:

• The Tower of London
• Westminster Abbey
• The Houses of Parliament
• The Old Bailey
• Royal Courts of Justice
• Inns of Court
• British Museum
• The Museum of London
• The Science Museum
• Bletchley Park
• Lord's Cricket Ground
• Victoria & Albert Museum
• Museum of English Rural Life
• Whit Friday brass band competition
• Premier League stadiums, including Stamford Bridge (Chelsea F.C.) and Emirates Stadium (Arsenal F.C.) 
• Twickenham Stadium and the World Rugby Museum

Applicants should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the close of the fall 2022 semester, and must have earned a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher for the fall 2022 semester. We will consider applicants with cumulative GPA’s below 2.5 if they provide a name and contact information for a faculty member who can provide a reference indicating that the student is prepared to succeed in a study abroad program.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Marcus Davis, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Director of the Study Abroad Program
Phone: 413-782-1444
Email: marcus.davis@wne.edu