Centre-in-Strasbourg

Centre-in-Strasbourg, 2013-2014

The Centre-in-Strasbourg program is located in Strasbourg, France, just across the Rhine River from Germany, two-and-a-half hours by the high speed TGV from Paris, and about an hour north of Switzerland. Strasbourg, with a metropolitan population of 400,000, has been called "the crossroads of Europe" because of its location at Europe's center. Its famed Gothic cathedral, begun in 1176 C.E., sits on this island-city's highest spot—the same spot on which sat a Roman fort when Julius Caesar was in the area during his Germanic campaigns of the first century B.C.E. Strasbourg's political importance grows each year with the increasing importance of the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and the Court of Human Rights which are located there.

Eligibility. Any rising sophomore, junior, or senior who has not yet participated in a residential, long-term study-abroad program may apply. Centre accepts 24 students each term who qualify on the basis of academic seriousness, social maturity, and faculty recommendation. The committee's list is vetted by the Dean of Student Life and the Associate Dean before students are notified.

While this is not a language immersion program, the selection committee typically gives preference to students who have studied French or German. Students selected for the fall term who have never studied French take beginning French while in Strasbourg. Students selected for the spring term who have never studied French must take French 110 for a grade during the preceding fall term; if they forget to sign up for French 110 or somehow never get the word, or take French 110 P/F, they will not be allowed to participate in the spring program. No exceptions will be granted, even for advanced German students who are doing a German homestay.

Centre Director for 2013-2014. Next year's Strasbourg program will be directed by Dr. Jeff Fieberg, associate professor of chemistry. Prof. Fieberg has co-directed the Centre-in-London program and led a trip to Paris and Provence during CentreTerm 2013.

Living Arrangements in Strasbourg. Homestays with French or German-speaking families are the norm for those with advanced language skills who want to improve their fluency rapidly. Students in homestays typically have dinner two or three times a week with their home-stay families. Centre also rents three apartments, all conveniently located in the downtown area within a fifteen-minute walk of the Centre office and classroom. These apartments are fully furnished and include linens, a TV, a kitchen with cooking utensils and dishes, a washing machine, and a telephone. Because these apartments are in regular apartment buildings among French families and not in a college dormitory, Strasbourg students must be very responsible about noise: no loud music or even loud talking in the evenings. The same commonsense fire-safety rules about no candles or smoking or Halogen lamps that apply on campus apply in these apartments. During the apartment orientation session with the coordinator and director, all students must sign a statement about keeping the apartment neat and clean and about maintaining appropriate apartment behavior. Any student breaking this signed agreement will be dismissed from the apartment and will be personally responsible for finding and paying for his/her housing.

Food Money. Students studying abroad are charged for the regular Centre board plan. They are then given food money at regular intervals while abroad and learn to shop in the markets and prepare their meals as a group, in their apartment kitchens. In the past, students have become experts at finding inexpensive, fresh ingredients and preparing simple, healthy, and delicious fare. To prepare for the program, you should practice making a few recipes before you leave. Centre will pay for occasional group meals, for a two-night/three-day excursion to Paris, and for an art and architecture trip in the region that all students take.

Classroom Facilities in Strasbourg. The Centre classroom area is located at the very center of town, just off the main square, Place Kleber. It includes a classroom that looks out on the Strasbourg cathedral, a study and lunch room, a computer room with a small library, the coordinator’s office, and a storeroom. The noiseless, eco-friendly electric tram stops directly in front of the building.

Courses Offered during 2013-2014

All students will take Getting Around Europe: Trails, Trains, Trams, and Tunnels (HUM 292), taught by Prof. Fieberg. Students will explore the "crossroads of Europe" and the modes of transportation used throughout French history, discussing the lasting effects of the Roman road, how the design and implementation of the train system affects the culture and economy of France, how the design of the French transportation system and its line of defenses affected the outcomes of France's military excursions, and what scientific discoveries fed into these technological advances in transportation. Additionally, the Chunnel and the Large Hadron Collider will be discussed.

All students will also take a French course at the appropriate level.

In addition to a French course and the required Humanities course, students will select two of the following three courses:
A. North European Art from the Early Christian Period to the Renaissance (ARH 370). A study of the paintings, mosaics, stained glass, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, early Christian basilicas, Romanesque churches, and Gothic cathedrals. Includes visits to churches and museums in Strasbourg, Alsace, and Germany. No prerequisites; taught by Prof. Kate Sowley.
B. The Construction of Europe (GOV 461). Capitalizing on Strasbourg's location at the geographical center of Europe and as the home of three of the most important European institutions, students study the Council of Europe, whose main assignment is to defend Human Rights in Europe. How does the Council work, and how does its European Court of Human Rights ensure the respect of fundamental rights in Europe? Students also study the ways in which some European States have deepened their interconnectedness through economic, political, and monetary cooperation. In conjunction with a trip to the European Parliament, students consider how the European Union was born, how it works, and what makes it unique. All of these issues are approached comparatively, with an eye toward the United States, and in their impact on students living on European soil. No prerequisites; taught by Prof. Pierre Nuss.
C. Molecular Modernism: Manet to Marc (ARH 264/CHE 264). This course will focus on the role of science and technology in the progression of painting from the 1860s to the 1950s, including Realism, Impressionism, Neo-Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, de Stijl, and Expressionism. Scientific topics include light and its interaction with matter, color mixing, chemical and physical causes of color, and the biology of vision; these topics are discussed to gain a deeper understanding of paintings. Analytical techniques used in conservation science and forgery investigations will be discussed. Includes visits to museums in Paris and Alscae. Taught by Prof. Fieberg.

Travel Dates

Fall 2013. Students fly out of the States on Monday, Sept. 9, and arrive in Strasbourg on Sept. 10. Classes begin on Sept. 13. The Paris trip will be Sept. 27-29. The last day of regular classes is Nov. 30, and the final exam period is Dec. 2-3. The final apartment inspection is Wednesday, Dec. 4, and students fly home on Thursday, Dec. 5.

Spring 2014. Students fly out of the States on Monday, Feb. 10, and arrive in Strasbourg on Feb. 11. Classes begin on Feb. 14. The Paris trip will be Feb. 28-March 2. The last day of regular classes is May 3, and the final exam period is May 5-6. The final apartment inspection is Wednesday, May 7, and students fly home on Thursday, May 8.

Special Notes about Program Dates and Travel.

Students now fly into and out of the Strasbourg airport. Make your plane reservations at least 6-8 months in advance to get the best rates. Some students have found www.studentuniverse.com, www.statravel.com, and www.hipmunk.com helpful in finding flights.

Because classes often end at 5:00 p.m. on Thursdays, students can sometimes leave for weekend travel on Thursday evenings.

Increasingly, Strasbourg students are opting to spend some of their travel periods in their Strasbourg apartments, taking day-trips to Germany and around Alsace.

When students are away from Strasbourg for the night, they must let the director know where they'll be and travel with at least one other Centre student, unless their parents e-mail the director permission for them to travel alone.

90-day maximum stay: The Strasbourg program purposely lasts fewer than 90 days so that students do not have to obtain a Schengen Visa for stays of longer than 90 days. If you plan to arrive in Europe early or stay later, you need to acquire a Schengen Visa from the French Consulate, a process that will take three months and requires an in-person visit to the consulate. (See Chicago French Consulate website.) You cannot obtain a Schengen Visa once you are in Europe.

Grades/Independent Studies. Mid-term warning grades of D or U are issued after the seventh week of the regular term, just as in Danville. All Strasbourg courses count in the GPA, just as in Danville. The Pass-Unsatisfactory option is not available in any Centre study-abroad program. Only students whose schedules require that they take a particular course not offered in Strasbourg in order to graduate on time have the possibility of arranging an independent study with a professor in Danville.

More Information

Internet, Laptops, and phone communication. Constant communication with everyone in the world is less available in Strasbourg than it is in Danville. Indeed, if you want to spend huge hunks of time Facebooking and Skyping and avoiding the environment and people around you, you should not apply for this program; you can do those things in Danville and save the slot for students more interested in being immersed in Strasbourg, France, and Europe. Wireless internet is available both in the classroom and in the student apartments. Although you may turn in all work hand-written, if you own a laptop, you should definitely take it.

Some students find it useful to get a Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail account in addition to their Centre account, which is accessible off campus through https://exchange.centre.edu/exchange. In addition to wireless internet, all phone calls to the U.S. from the student apartments can be made for free. This is especially helpful information to pass along to your parents.

Grades/Independent Studies. Mid-term warning grades of D or U are issued after the seventh week of the regular term, just as in Danville. All Strasbourg courses count in the GPA, just as in Danville. The Pass-Unsatisfactory option is not available in any Centre study-abroad program. Only students whose schedules require that they take a particular course not offered in Strasbourg in order to graduate on time have the possibility of arranging an independent study with a professor in Danville.

Apartment Contract and Upkeep. You are required to sign an apartment contract during the Coordinator’s and Director’s apartment orientation and to keep your apartment clean and in good order throughout the entire term. The Director and Coordinator have the right to inspect your apartment at any time, and the right to dismiss you from the apartment if you do not live up to the signed agreement. The day after the mid-term break, the Director will make a mid-course apartment inspection to determine things that need to be repaired or purchased. On the last evening of your stay, she will conduct a penultimate inspection and assess all apartment members equally the money needed to replace broken items and/or pay for professional cleaning. The last inspection occurs the day after you leave; this is to make certain you’ve stripped the linens from your beds, totally cleaned out your refrigerator, not left wet towels to mildew, taken out all of the trash, etc. Students will not be allowed to move into the apartments until the day the program officially begins; if you plan to arrive early, you must reserve a room in a hostel or hotel.

No Overnight Guests in Apartments. Because of liability issues, no overnight guests may stay in the Centre apartments, even for a single night. No exceptions can be granted to this rule. Infraction of this rule will result in your immediate dismissal from the program with none of your semester’s tuition returned. The director will be happy to provide you with a list of Strasbourg hostels and hotels of all price ranges for any guests who may visit.

Pre-Registration/Convocation Credits/Netlibrary. While in Strasbourg, you pre-register for future courses via email with your regular advisor. You will automatically receive six convocation credits for your time abroad. While abroad, you may access articles on any database at our library. However, if you wish to use an e-book abroad, you must register with Netlibrary before you leave campus.

Eurail Tickets. Information on Eurail tickets, which may only be purchased in the U.S. before you leave, is available at http://www.euro-rail.org. Participants in this program are not allowed to purchase and use an unlimited Eurail pass; our experience has shown that this is disruptive to the program's schedule and goals. If you wish, you may purchase a "EurailpassYouth Flexi," which allows you ten days of travel within any 60-day period. The cost for this 10-day Flexipass is roughly $600. Recent Strasbourg students have felt that a 10-day train pass is more than sufficient and gives them flexibility to travel to further-away destinations via inexpensive air travel. Some Strasbourg students choose not to purchase a Eurail ticket.

Study Abroad Medical Insurance. Students studying abroad through any Centre program receive travel and accident insurance at no additional cost. Centre’s Study Abroad Insurance, while provided through EIIA (Educational & Institutional Insurance Administrators), is administered through Chartis and WorldRiskTravel. Every student studying abroad with Centre College receives a contact and information card as well as a passport sticker. Each has the Centre insurance policy number, which is the only information needed to receive services. The categories of coverage provided are: accident and sickness ($100,000 limit with a $500 deductible); emergency medical evacuation and emergency family travel ($200,000 limit); accidental death and disability ($200,000 limit); and repatriation of remains ($100,000 limit). For specific questions, please contact the Center for Global Citizenship office at 859.238.5285 or leigh.cocanougher@centre.edu.

Counseling and Support Services. The kind of counseling and support services available on campus are not available abroad. Because any significant life transition can exacerbate and complicate already existing mental health issues, students who are currently on psychotropic medication and/or have been in mental health counseling should consider participating in the three-week Early Summer Strasbourg program or one of the CentreTerm programs abroad. In addition, those students are urged to meet with a Centre Student Assistance Program counselor prior to their leaving to develop a support plan for their time abroad.

Application Procedure. Application and faculty recommendation forms may be picked up at one of the campus-wide informational meetings on November 19, November 27, or January 3—or in the cabinet in the Davidson Room of Old Carnegie. Because competition for slots in Strasbourg is sometimes strong, students are encouraged to take the essays they write as part of their applications especially seriously. Turn in your completed application at the study abroad office no later than noon on February 5. Students who are selected must pay the non-refundable $350 deposit/surcharge to the Cashier's Office in Boles Hall by March 5 to hold their spot in the program.

Program Cost. The cost (tuition & fees, room, board) for the Strasbourg program is the same as for study in Danville, except for a $350 surcharge that helps to cover some of the additional costs of housing in France. A $100 book charge covers all books you will need in Strasbourg, where students sometimes share copies of books and articles. In addition, students pay for their own airfare. Recently, students have been able to find round-trip air tickets for between $700-$900. Some have found www.studentuniverse.com and www.statravel.com helpful in this quest. Most students say they spend about twice as much on personal expenses as they spend in Danville.

All financial aid arrangements (both merit and need-based) remain in effect. Students with remaining loan eligibility are eligible to borrow additional money for these additional educational expenses. Remember that you may be able to save some money by canceling your automobile insurance while abroad, since you may not drive a car or other motorized vehicle while on a Centre abroad program.

$450 Surcharge Due by NOON, March 5th. In order to hold your slot, you must pay the nonrefundable $350 surcharge/deposit plus the $100 book charge (or $450 total) at the Cashier’s Office in Boles Hall by noon on March 5th. Nota bene: If you later decide to withdraw from the Centre-in-Strasbourg program, the $350 non-refundable deposit is, as its name implies, not refundable. The $100 book-fee is refundable.

Obtaining a Passport. If you do not currently have a passport that will remain valid for at least six months after your return, you should begin the process of obtaining one as soon as you are selected. In the recent past, some students have waited three months to receive a passport, even though the passport agency has stated that it will take 6-8 weeks. Because the program lasts fewer than 90 days, you do not need to get a Schengen Visa. If, however, you plan to be in France or other Schengen countries for more than two days before or after the 88-day program, you will need to get a Schengen Visa from the French Consulate in Chicago (see above).

To see photos from past Centre-in-Strasbourg experiences, click here.