Eligibility
You must be of sophomore status and have 2.5 GPA or higher to study in York.
Cost
The final program cost is based on many factors and is not known exactly until the number of students in the group has been identified. The financial information page covers the details that go into the cost of the program and rough estimates for each. The price for the Britain semester will include:
- Tuition (four courses)
- Round-trip airfare from Grand Rapids to the program site
- Room and partial board (10 meals/week)
- Meal subsidy for weekend meals
- Administrative fee
- Program excursions
Additional expenses not included in the program fee: books, insurance (required), passport, personal spending money and personal travel.
This price may change due to fluctuations in the rate of the dollar against the British pound.
Accommodations
You will stay in your own dorm room on the campus of York St. John University for the semester.
Courses
Each student will take four courses while in York. All students take two courses taught by the Calvin program director(s):
| STBR 312: Life and Sport in Britain, Past and Present | |
| This course will use the city of York and sport to explore the history of Britain, dating back to the Roman period through modern day. Through these lenses we will explore various aspects of British history (religion, education, class, architecture, politics, literature, etc.) Field trips will include historical sites in York and beyond as well as modern sport competitions including among others professional or amateur cricket, rugby, football (soccer), tennis, golf, and horse racing. We will learn how these games are played, as well as how they affect and are affected by modern British culture. | 4 semester hours, cross-cultural engagement credit |
| STBR 371: Faster, Higher, Stronger: The Business and Ethics of Sport | |
| The 2012 Summer Olympics will be in London, and the games provide an excellent backdrop for exploring sport and its impact on society. In this course we will explore the games of ancient Greece, the modern Olympic movement, and the London Olympics, focusing on ethical dilemmas and the business of sport. Sport as a phenomenon is worthy of study in and of itself because of its historical significance and prevalence in modern times. In America, sport is an institution. Americans are sport crazy, but they do not corner the market on fanaticism, and a study of the British sport culture will provide an interesting comparison. Students will study numerous connections between sport and other societal institutions including religion, education, and business. |
3 semester hours |
Two more courses may be chosen from York St. John University's course (or "module") list. Choose modules available during "SEM2". One credit will be awarded for every five credits earned in a York St. John module (e.g. a 20 credit course will earn you 4 Calvin credits).
Please note: The grades from the two courses taught by the Calvin instructor will factor into your GPA. The grades for the two courses taken at YSJ will be listed on your transcript, but will not be calculated into your GPA. Grades below "C" will not be accepted for credit for the YSJ courses.
You may also want to consider taking HIST 225: The History of England, which is offered every fall semester, in order to prepare for the semester.
Apply
Submit a preliminary application to the the Off-Campus Programs office. Once your eligibility for the program is determined (within 1–2 weeks), you will be sent an application. The final application deadline for this program is October 1, 2011.
Guest students may apply for this program.
Contact
Program Director, Spring 2012
Brian Bolt, HPERDS
brb8@calvin.edu
616.526.7526
Past and Future Program Directors
2010 - Dean Ward, English
2011 - Ken Bratt, Classics
2013 - Scott VanderLinde, Economics
2014 - Susan Felch, English
