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Off-Campus Programs

Off-Campus Humanities and Arts Projects

WPI offers the option to complete the Humanities and Arts Requirement during one term of study as part of WPIs Global Perspectives Program. Normally, students complete the Humanities and Arts Requirement through six courses or projects on campus. However, "off-campus" humanities and arts seminars allow students to combine at least three courses on campus with one term studying the humanities and arts at a Project Center.

Off-campus humanities seminars and projects are offered in London, Morocco, and Germany as part of WPI's global programs.  Study of the Spanish language is currently offered through exchange programs. These off-campus humanities and arts programs have a flexible format. Students devote themselves to one term studying the history, literature, language or culture at the project site with a WPI faculty advisor. The program might combine a thematic seminar in an area of the faculty advisor’s expertise with visits to museums, the theatre, musical performances, or cultural excursions. Although themes or areas of emphasis vary from year to year, each off-campus program includes a seminar/practicum which may complete the Humanities and Arts Requirement.  

To be eligible for this one-unit seminar/project, students must have already completed three courses in humanities and arts before they leave campus. Students may apply to the off-campus program before they have taken all three courses. However, students may not participate in the program unless they successfully complete one unit of work in humanities and arts before the term of the project. In addition, students going to any Project Center must complete all of the forms required by the Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division.

Requirements:

• Students must have completed at least three courses in the Humanities and Arts at WPI, or have earned equivalent course credit approved by the Humanities and Arts Department, before the term of the off-campus project. The Department may allow students to count transfer or advanced placement credits toward the three course minimum
• Students must be accepted into the off-campus program by the Humanities and Arts Department, and complete all forms required by the Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division, in order to register for these projects
• Students might be required by the faculty advisor to complete a PQP or attend required meetings before the off-campus project
• Students must submit a written report or paper at the end of the project. Students also may be required to submit written updates at various times in the course of the project. In all cases, the faculty advisor at the project site will determine the precise form of the written requirements
• Students may be required to give an oral presentation at the end of the project
• Under normal circumstances, students must complete the project within one term in order to receive the full unit of credit
• Only members of the Humanities and Arts faculty at WPI may advise off-campus Humanities and Arts projects

Recommendations

All off-campus humanities and arts programs benefit from advance planning. Discuss the possibility of an off-campus program with your academic advisor at the beginning of the first year. Consult with the WPI faculty who will advise these off-campus projects as early as possible, since they may be able to suggest useful courses or other background resources for the seminars. Also keep in mind that three courses are the minimum required, but many students find it advantageous to take additional courses before going away.

The interdisciplinary London and Morocco humanities programs are open to students with a background in all areas of the humanities and arts including art, art history, architecture, drama/theatre, history, literature, music, philosophy, religion, or writing/rhetoric. After taking at least three courses in any of these areas on campus, you could then go to London or Morocco to complete your seminar/project. Some students also earned credit beyond the Humanities and Arts Requirement for majors and minors in international studies, history, literature, music, theatre, writing or other areas.

Students who already know German or are planning to begin studying it have the opportunity to study in Germany for a semester at the Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Gestaltung (HTWG: University of Applied Sciences; http://www.htwg-konstanz.de/) in Konstanz, Germany. The city of Konstanz, located at the western end of Lake Constance (in German, der Bodensee) and right on the border with Switzerland, is one of Germany’s most beautiful cities, with a well-preserved medieval and Renaissance city center. The snow-covered Alps are visible across the lake and the HTWG campus is on the bank of the Rhine where it flows out of the lake and heads north. The city is pedestrian friendly, has great food, and there are unlimited opportunities for biking, boating, swimming, skiing, and hiking in the immediate vicinity. Weekend travel to Austria, Italy, and France is easy and Switzerland is literally right across the street. Students who begin their study of German in A, B and C Terms can complete the Humanities and Arts Requirement by attending the HTWG in D and E terms. WPI will not charge these students extra tuition for E term. Students whose German is already at an intermediate or advanced level may take either advanced language courses or technical courses at the HTWG. Admission to this exchange program is competitive.

WPI students have also gone to Spain with a variety of programs. Consult the faculty in the Spanish language for more information.  We welcome a creative approach to off-campus study.

More advanced students may participate these off-campus programs by doing work toward a minor or major. A student who had already completed their humanities and arts requirement on campus, for example, might be able to work in the humanities and arts on an Independent Study Project that could count toward minors. Students have also gone to London and other locations to complete a Major Qualifying Project for Humanities and Arts, International Studies, and Professional Writing.  See the the Morocco Blog kept by Virginia Ward during a recent term at Ifrane.

The Humanities and Arts Department advertises upcoming project locations and application deadlines at the Global Opportunities Fair each September. Future project opportunities might include other foreign locations or projects that provide the context for an intensive study of humanistic themes associated with other locales within the United States or abroad. Contact the Head of the Department of Humanities and Arts for general information. Or for specific programs, contact John Delorey for London, Bland Addison for Morocco, or David Dollenmayer for Germany.

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Last modified: October 03, 2008 11:25:20