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UNCA Study Abroad
There is no summer program in Bulgaria available at this time. If it does become available, the information will be posted here.
Previous opportunities:
ANNOUNCING A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR UNC-ASHEVILLE STUDENTS TO DO SUMMER RESEARCH AND STUDY ABROAD IN BULGARIA! UNC-ASHEVILLE IS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE CONSORTIUM OF NORTH AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTER IN SOFIA. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS OPEN TO ADVANCED UNDERGRADUATES WHO WISH TO LEARN ABOUT ANCIENT THRACE AND ITS CONTACTS WITH THE GREEK AND ROMAN WORLDS, INCLUDING THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD, IN A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA TO WHICH WESTERN SCHOLARS HAVE HAD LIMITED ACCESS UNTIL RECENTLY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT DR. LORA HOLLAND, lholland@unca.edu, ph. 828-232-5043.
For the academic year 2007-2008, the American Research Center in Sofia will offer three programs with accompanying fellowships: a 9-month program for the period September-May; a fall semester program for the period September-November; and a spring semester program for the period February-April. ARCS will host the programs' lectures and seminars, organize related trips, and facilitate opportunities for taking Bulgarian-language classes, logistical support, and access to local libraries, museums, and other educational institutions.
Participants are encouraged to obtain a basic reading knowledge of Bulgarian prior to their arrival. In addition, they will have opportunities for taking language classes in the afternoons following the lectures and seminars and during the period designated for independent research.
1. ARCS 2007-2008 Academic Year (9-Month) Program
Those interested in the 9-month program (only for graduate students) will devote one semester of their choice to independent research and travel, and participate in the ARCS academic program during the other semester. The content of the semesterly programs is described below. (If they wish, participants can audit lectures and participate in group trips during the semester for independent research, as well, but will not need to prepare a presentation.)
Participants will need to obtain a D-visa from the closest Bulgarian consulate. ARCS will assist fellows with any necessary visa extensions.
2. ARCS Fall Semester 2007 Program
This program is intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, scholars and teachers interested in the history, material culture, and civilization of Bulgaria and the Balkan region. The term of the program is from the first Monday of September through the last Saturday of November. The program consists of lectures, seminars and trips relating to the period from antiquity to the present day. Although most scholars specialize in one historical period, we believe that for students of Bulgarian and Balkan history it will be very helpful to get a diachronic overview from local experts. The lectures and seminars will take place over the course of three weeks on Monday through Wednesday mornings at the Sofia quarters of ARCS, while the trips will occupy the rest of each week. The afternoons after the lectures and seminars will be free for research and optional language classes conducted by the Institute for Foreign Students of the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".
The participants are expected to attend the entire program. They will choose a topic on which they will prepare an oral presentation at the end of first half of the program. During the second half of their stay, participants are expected to engage in independent research dedicated to their special fields and/or dissertation topics. The goal of the program is to engage the participants with eminent local scholars in the study of Bulgarian (and to a certain extent, Balkan) history and civilization in their continuity and facilitate specialized research in local institutions.
In addition, undergraduate students have the option to be given an examination and write a term paper at the end of the program if they need to receive credits for the program from their home institutions. ARCS does not grant credit, but can issue certificates of participation, and the students' home institutions can then confer credits based on the students' examination and term papers.
Exemplary schedule:
Week 1
Orientation; visit Sofia's landmarks; visit Rila Monastery
Week 2
Monday-Wednesday: lectures and seminars on Bulgaria in antiquity;
Thursday-Saturday: trips to ancient sites (e.g., Thracian tombs at Starosel and Kazanlak, Roman town of Hissar, Plovdiv)
Week 3
Monday-Wednesday: lectures and seminars on Mediaeval Bulgaria;
Thursday-Saturday: trips to Mediaeval sites (e.g. Bulgaria's former capitals Pliska, Preslav, and Veliko Tarnovo)
Week 4
Monday-Wednesday: lectures and seminars on Bulgaria and the Balkans in recent history;
Thursday-Saturday: trips to sites of cultural and ethnographical interest (e.g.Koprivshtica, Etara)
Week 5
preparation of presentations and papers
Week 6
presentations
Weeks 7-12
independent research and/or trips
3. ARCS Spring Semester 2008 Program
This program is intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, teachers and scholars interested in the history of religion in Bulgaria from antiquity to the 20th century, including ancient religion, Christianity (Orthodoxy and other Christian faiths and movements), Judaism, and Islam. The term of the program is from the first Monday of February to the last Saturday of April. The first half of the program will consist of lectures and seminars given by local experts at the Sofia quarters of ARCS. The lectures and seminars will provide an overview of Orthodox Christianity, with a special emphasis on the study of Orthodox Christian art, architecture, and music. The lectures and seminars will take place every morning for three weeks. The afternoons after the lectures and seminars will be free for research and optional language classes conducted by the Institute for Foreign Students of the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".
The participants are expected to attend the entire program. They will choose a topic on which they will prepare an oral presentation at the end of first half of the program. The second half of the program will include independent research in local libraries and trips to famous Bulgarian monasteries and churches (many of which are part of the world's cultural heritage).
In addition, undergraduate students have the option to be given an examination and write a term paper at the end of the program if they need to receive credits for the program from their home institutions. ARCS does not grant credit, but can issue certificates of participation, and the students' home institutions can then confer credits based on the students' examination and term papers.
Exemplary schedule:
Week 1
Orientation; visit Sofia's landmarks
Week 2
Week 2 Monday-Tuesday: lectures and seminars on religions in Bulgaria, including ancient religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Wednesday-Friday: Orthodoxy in different countries; specifics of Bulgarian Orthodoxy
Week 3
Orthodox art, architecture, and music
Week 4
visit museums, churches and monasteries in and around Sofia (e.g. Rila Monastery, Cherepishki Monastery, Dragalevtsi Monastery, Knyazhevo Monastery, Boyana Church)
Week 5
preparation of presentations Week 6
presentations
Weeks 7-11
independent research
Week 12
trip to churches and monasteries in Bulgaria (e.g. Bachkovo Monastery, Troyan Monastery, Glozhene Monastery, Kapinovo Monastery, Kilifarevo Monastery)
List of Contributors:
FALL 2007 SESSION
Lectures/seminars/trips on Bulgaria in antiquity:
Prof. Peter A. Dimitrov, Department of Mediterranean Studies, Program of Classical Studies, New Bulgarian University; Institute of Thracology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Nicolay Sharankov, Lecturer, Department of Classical Studies, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Prof. Nikola Theodossiev, Department of Archaeology, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Prof. Lyudmil Vagalinski, Chair, Department of Classical Archaeology, Archaeological Institute and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Prof. Maya Vassileva, Institute of Thracology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Lectures/seminars on Bulgaria in the Middle Ages:
Prof. Alexander Nikolov, Department of Thracology, Ancient and Mediaeval History, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Prof. Liliana Simeonova, Deputy Director, Institute of Balkan Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Member, Department, The Balkan Nations During the Middle Ages, Institute of Balkan Studies
Lectures/seminars on Bulgaria in the Modern Age:
Prof. Ivan Ilchev, Dean, Faculty of History, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Prof. Evelina Kelbecheva, Department of History, American University in Bulgaria Prof. Ekaterina Nikova, Head, Department, The Balkans after Second World War, Institute of Balkan Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
SPRING 2008 SESSION
Lectures/seminars/trips on Ancient Religion in Bulgaria:
Prof. Malvina Rousseva, Center for Theory and History of Architecture, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Prof. Maya Vassileva, Institute of Thracology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Lectures/seminars/trips on Christianity in Bulgaria:
Prof. Elka Bakalova, Department of History of Culture, New Bulgarian University Prof. Serguey Ivanov, Department of Linguistics and Religion, American University in Bulgaria Prof. Elisaveta Musakova, Slavonic Manuscripts and Christian Art, National Library St. Cyril and St. Methodius Dr. Georgi Vassilev, Senior Researcher, Agency for Bulgarians Abroad at the Council of Ministers, Government, Republic of Bulgaria
Lecture/seminar on Judaism in Bulgaria
Prof. Emeritus Zvi Keren, Tel Aviv University (lecture on Judaism)
Lecture/seminar/trips on Islam in Bulgaria
Prof. Rositsa Gradeva, Department of History, American University in Bulgaria; Department of The Balkans During the 15th-19th Centuries, Institute of Balkan Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Prof. Svetlana Ivanova, Department of Bulgarian History, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Graduate and advanced undergraduate students at educational institutions registered in North America, regardless of their citizenship, are eligible. Faculty members at these institutions are welcome to participate in the programs of part thereof, but are not eligible for fellowships.
All applicants will complete an application form, available to download here.
Graduate Students:
Please submit a project proposal (up to three double-spaced pages) describing how participation in the ARCS Fall/Spring or 9-month program will serve your academic interests and/or dissertation research. The proposal, together with the application form, a CV, copies of official transcripts from each graduate institution you have attended, and two letters of reference in a signed sealed envelope from professors who are familiar with your academic work, should be mailed to the Chair of the Fellowship Committee, Professor Kevin Clinton, 120 Goldwin Smith Hall, Department of Classics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853.
Advanced Undergraduate Students:
Please submit a project proposal (up to three double-spaced pages) describing how participation in the ARCS Fall/Spring program will serve your academic interests. The proposal, together with the application form, a CV, copies of official transcripts from each undergraduate institution you have attended, and two letters of reference in a signed sealed envelope from professors who are familiar with your academic work, should be mailed to the Chair of the Fellowship Committee (address as above)..
Faculty Members:
Please submit an application form, a project proposal (up to three double-spaced pages) describing how participation in the ARCS Fall/Spring program will serve your academic interests, and a CV to Professor Kevin Clinton (address as above).
Application deadline: All application materials must be postmarked by February 15th, 2007. The candidates will receive notification by April 1st, 2007.
US and European citizens can stay in Bulgaria without a visa for up to three months. If one plans to stay beyond this 90-day period, visas can be obtained from the closest Bulgarian consulate, and ARCS can assist fellows in extending their stay in Bulgaria. We recommend that those choosing the three-month program stay in Bulgaria within the 90-day period.
FELLOWSHIPS
ARCS plans to offer two 9-month fellowships for the period September-May; five fall semester fellowships; and five spring semester fellowships. The stipends will amount to $500 a month. (It is estimated that $500 will be entirely sufficient to cover daily expenses given the current cost of living in Bulgaria). In addition, ARCS will pay for accommodation, on-site language instruction, and travel expenses within the academic program. Travel expenses between North America and Bulgaria and meals in Bulgaria are not included.
ESTIMATED COST
Applicants who have been accepted without a fellowship are welcome to look for alternative sources of funding: the total cost of the programs for participants from member institutions is estimated as $9,300 for the 9-month program and $3,600 for either the fall or the spring semester program. Participants from non-member institutions will be charged an additional fee of $100 per month.
Please visit the ARCS website (http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/arcs/) for more information about the American Research Center in Sofia, or contact Professor Kevin Clinton at the address given above, or via e-mail at kmc1@cornell.edu.
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Director Professor
American Research Center in Sofia Cornell University
42A Maria Luiza Blvd. Department of Classics
1202 Sofia, Bulgaria Goldwin Smith Hall
kmc1@cornell.edu Ithaca, NY 14853
www.einaudi.cornell.edu/arcs
THE CENTER OFFERED ITS FIRST PROGRAM IN THE SUMMER OF 2006. |
