The Program | Academics | Finances | Application and Registration Procedures
At the beginning of the 20th century, London was the seat of an empire encompassing the largest landmass of any in world history and a population of over 400 million subjects. One sees this history in the city's wealth, in the grandeur of its architecture, in the tremendous variety and richness of its cultural institutions, and in the beauty of its many parks and monuments. Yet the single greatest legacy of Great Britain's long imperial history is London's internationally recognized position as a cosmopolitan center of artistic, financial, and intellectual activity.
Having once extended its reach to the four corners of the globe, London now reflects the Commonwealth in microcosm, as it is home to one of the largest and most diverse immigrant populations of any city in the world. Over the course of the past 40 years, daily life in London has increasingly become an ongoing experiment in diversity, where the interaction of widely differing cultural, economic, and intellectual traditions — of "first world" and "third world" — encapsulates like few other places on the planet the complex possibilities and challenges presented by "globalization."
The Lawrence London Centre was established in 1970 to introduce Lawrence students to the rich social, cultural, and political history of the British people through a program of classroom study supplemented by field trips, museum visits, cultural opportunities, and travel. While endeavoring to continue playing this important role in a Lawrence liberal arts education, the London Centre now also seeks to utilize its setting in a cosmopolitan "world city" as a rich text wherein Lawrence students can engage the significant political, economic, cultural, and intellectual challenges of the 21st century.
Therefore, in addition to the traditional Centre offerings focusing on the history and culture of England, we have added new courses that explore the complex landscape of modern British life and culture, the Fringe Theatre movement, the impacts of Empire on 19th century British society, and the nature of "historical" inquiry in a city that dates to Roman times. There also is a limited opportunity for juniors or seniors to pursue a nine-week internship.
The Centre is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors approved by the Subcommittee on Off-Campus Study. Students may pursue study for either one or two terms. Given the Centre's focus on General Education Requirements, first year students are encouraged to consider the possibility of studying in London during the sophomore year.
Staff and Faculty
The Lawrence London Centre is directed by Christine Harris, a full-time Lawrence
staff member based in London. In addition to administering the Centre, Ms.
Harris teaches the internship seminar and one other course.
The Centre staff also includes a recently graduated student and London Centre alumnus living at the Centre and serving as the program intern. This position was created with the goal of helping to facilitate students' integration into London, as well as offering peer support for the personal, academic, and intercultural needs of the London Centre students. Working with the director, the intern is responsible for residence life at the Centre (including serving as the first-line emergency contact), for developing co-curricular activities, for serving as an informational resource for current and future participants, for helping to staff the Centre office, and for attending to various and sundry Centre administrative needs.
Marcia Bjørnerud, professor of geology, is the Fall 2004 visiting faculty member. She will teach two geology courses. The remaining course offerings are taught by members of the London Centre guest faculty: Rachel Barnes (art history), Terry Charleston (music history), Judy Dobbs (history), Michael Fosdal (government), Nicholas James (anthropology), Jinnie Schiele (theatre arts), and Donna Vinter (theatre arts).
Excursions and Cultural Activities
Students are provided with walking tours of different neighborhoods in London;
group visits to various sites of historical, cultural, or religious importance;
opportunities to attend four or five theatre productions; and in most terms
a one-day excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle. All of these
opportunities are included in the program fee. There also are opportunities
to participate in inexpensive day excursions or weekend home stays out of
London. Students may also request a social membership to the University
of London Imperial
College student union, which provides access to a restaurant, pub, library,
recreation rooms, and over 100 student clubs.
Facilities
The Lawrence London Centre is located in a rented building in South Kensington,
in the heart of central London (7 Brechin Place, London SW7, 4QB, England).
Nearby public transportation provides convenient access to all parts
of the city. The Centre accommodates 21 students and also houses two offices,
a
classroom, a computer room (with five Windows-based computers and two
open
Ethernet hook-ups
for laptops), a quiet study space, a small practice room for muted
playing, and a Clavinova.
Most lectures take place in the Centre classroom located on the first floor of the building, although classes also regularly meet at museums, concert halls, theatres, and other locations in London.
Housing and Meals
Students are housed in double, triple, or quad rooms with en suite cooking
facilities, including a small countertop, a two-burner hotplate,
a refrigerator, and a sink. Cookware, dishes, silverware, bedding, and linens
are provided.
Bathrooms and telephones are shared.
A major grocery store is located near to the Centre, and students cook the majority of their meals. They may also take some of their other meals at the many pubs and restaurants located in central London.
Calendar and Class Schedule
| Arrival | Orientation | Break | Exams | Departure | |
| Fall 2004 | Oct 1 | Oct 2-3 | Nov 5-14 | Dec 12-13 | Dec 14 |
| Wtr 2005 | Dec 31 | Jan 1-2 | Feb 4-13 | Mar 11-12 | Mar 14 |
The class schedule for a given term is normally not available until students
arrive in London. Classes are scheduled to avoid conflicts and typically meet
for two hours a day, on either a Monday/Wednesday or a Tuesday/Thursday schedule.
The compulsory British Life and Culture course meets on Friday mornings, leaving
students free to start travel on Friday afternoons during most weekends. Classes
missed because of the mid-term break are made up by class meetings on selected
Friday afternoons or Saturdays. The two-day exam period falls at the end of
the tenth week.
Orientation
There is a required pre-departure meeting in May for all Centre participants
for the following academic year. This meeting involves an overview of the Centre
staff and facilities, the room-selection process, making travel arrangements,
and other general travel and intercultural information.
The Centre cultural
orientation is held on the first Saturday morning after the Centre opens. Attendance
is mandatory, so students must make their travel
arrangements accordingly. Students will meet the staff and receive information
about life at the Centre, life in London, safety and security issues, and transportation
in and around London. In the past, other activities have included a walking
tour of the Centre's South Kensington neighborhood, a "pub meal" at
the neighborhood pub (The Hereford Arms), and a Central London scavenger hunt.Following
the orientation, students will have Sunday free to sleep off jet lag, settle
into their rooms, and/or to start exploring the city. The Centre academic orientation
is held Sunday evening, with discussions concerning the British Life and
Culture course, differences in academic culture, differences in academic
expectations, etc. Class meetings start on Monday morning.
Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage
Every student participating on a Lawrence-sponsored or -affiliated international
off-campus program is required to carry the Lawrence University medical and
evacuation insurance policy administered by Cultural Insurance Services International.
The fee for this coverage is charged to the student account along with the
program fees. It is presumed that this coverage is in addition to whatever
medical insurance coverage the student already holds and has thus been factored
into the cost estimate for Centre.
The insurance coverage starts three days before the program start date and extends seven days beyond the program end date, to allow time for travel to and from the program. As this coverage is valid only outside the United States, all students are strongly encouraged to maintain their health insurance coverage in the United States in the event of their unexpected return due to a medical emergency.
Internships
The London Centre has contracted with the Centres for Academic Programmes Abroad
(CAPA) to provide internship placements. CAPA will facilitate an internship
placement of 15 hours per week (two full work days per week), arrange a special
orientation program for interns, and manage on-site supervision during the
course of the term.
The London Internship is offered only during Fall and Winter Terms and is limited to a total of eight students with junior or senior standing. Internship placements are available for students in the humanities, social sciences, fine arts, and sciences. Examples of placement opportunities include political parties, government agencies, human rights organizations, museums, arts organizations, primary and secondary schools, publishing companies, small businesses, multi-national corporations, brokerage houses, and law firms.
Students participating in an internship must register for the London Internshipseminar. Due to the fact that students are required to devote two full days to their placement, students participating in the internship programs may only enroll for one other elective course (15 units total). Non-credit internships are not available.
The internship seminar meets once per week and builds upon the field study, lectures, and discussions in the British Life and Culture course. Students are expected to maintain a journal with at least two substantial entries per week critically reflecting on their experiences from intercultural, cross-cultural, social, ethical, organizational, and/or interpersonal perspectives. Students are also required to complete two short reflective essays and a final internship essay interrogating their experiences in terms of the course readings, class discussions in the seminar and the British Life and Culture course, and the broader issue of how a liberal arts-informed perspective frames one's experience in the workplace.
CAPA's internship placement process replicates the real-life experience of seeking employment. It is therefore incumbent upon students to present themselves in a professional and mature manner both on paper and in person, to indicate areas of potential placement for which they are academically and personally prepared, and to exhibit high levels of responsibility at all times during their participation in the internship program. Since internships involve a third party, final placements are based on the on-site interviews and, therefore, cannot be guaranteed in advance. However, students who listen well, are flexible in their expectations, and follow CAPA's advice will typically experience few difficulties in securing an appropriate placement.
The students who are selected to participate in the program will
be notified before the end of Winter Term. Each selected student is then required
to submit
a CAPA internship application form, a cover letter, and a résumé to
International House by the published deadline. These materials are reviewed and
then, if appropriate, forwarded to CAPA to organize potential placements. CAPA
arranges two or three potential placements for each student. Upon arrival in
London, students will interview with potential employers before final placements
are made.
Course Offerings
Starting in the 2003-04 academic year, a new academic model was introduced for
the London Centre. Under the new model, all students are required to take the
3-unit core course, British Life and Culture. Students may then opt
to take two or three elective courses. While adding two courses will provide
minimum full-time
standing (15 units total), the core course has been specifically designed so
that students may consider pursuing three courses (21 units total).
B.Mus. and B.A. Music students wishing to pursue music performance study may choose to arrange lessons in London. If successful in contracting for at least the five hours worth of lessons, students may register for a 3-unit, S/U-only course overseen by Associate Dean Jeffrey Stannard. Students are reimbursed up to a maximum of $500 for lesson fees, transportation, and, if necessary, rental of practice space. Please note that the reimbursement cannot take place until the formal request is submitted to Dean Stannard at the end of the term.
| Core course | ||
| UNIC 260 | British Life and Culture | 3 units |
| Elective courses | ||
| ANTH 372 | Urban Anthropology of London | 6 units |
| GEOL 110 | Introductory Geology | 6 units |
| GEOL 120 | The Discovery of Deep Time and . . . | 6 units |
| MUHI 135 | The British Musical Renaissance | 6 units |
| THAR 111 | Introduction to Theatre | 6 units |
| UNIC 264 | London Internship | 6 units |
| Core course | ||
| UNIC 260 | British Life and Culture | 3 units |
| Elective courses | ||
| ARHI 246 | 19th Century Art, Design, and Society in Britain | 6 units |
| GOVT 385 | Modern British Politics | 6 units |
| HIST 247 | The Impact of Empire on Great Britain, 1814-1914 | 6 units |
| THAR 279 | Fringe Theatre in London | 6 units |
| UNIC 262 | "The Fields Beneath": Discovering London's Histories | 6 units |
| UNIC 264 | London Internship | 6 units |
Course Descriptions
ANTH 372
Urban Anthropology of London
Mr. James
6 units, Fall Term
This seminar combines a variety of methods to explore contemporary British
culture. In addition to the readings and field trips, students conduct ethnographic
fieldwork in London on a topic of their own interest. This may be based in
a particular place or, more broadly, focus on a certain group of people. The
course provides an introduction to field research methods. Throughout the term,
students participate in shorter exercises designed to develop their confidence
in the skills of observation, interviewing, description, and analysis. Readings
on topics such as neighborhoods, social use of language, class, education,
and migration experience provide a framework for understanding the detail of
the individual projects. Students are expected to make presentations and participate
in discussions. This course fulfills a social sciences distribution requirement
and is pending approval as a dimensions of diversity course.
ARHI 246
19th-Century Art, Design, and Society in Britain
Ms. Barnes
6 units, Winter Term
In the 19th century, Britain was at the height of her imperial and industrial
powers, with a burgeoning middle class with increased spending power. Against
this background, this course examines the painting (including Turner, Constable,
the Pre-Raphaelites, the High Victorians), architecture, furniture, and interiors
of the period, utilizing the wealth of examples in London's museums, galleries,
and buildings. This course fulfills a fine arts distribution requirement.
GEOL 110
Introductory Geology
Ms. Bjørnerud
6 units, Fall Term
An introduction to the study of the Earth, examining the interdependent global
systems (atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, tectosphere) that set Earth apart
from its planetary neighbors. Emphasis is also placed on human participation
in and perturbation of these systems. Laboratory sessions will take advantage
of the world-class collections at the Natural History Museum and the Geological
Museum, both located within walking distance of the Centre. This course fulfills
a natural sciences lab distribution requirement.
GEOL 120
The Discovery of Deep Time and the Development of the Geologic Time Scale
Ms. Bjørnerud
6 units, Fall Term
The recognition of the antiquity of the Earth and the construction of the geologic
time scale are among the great scientific achievements of the past two centuries.
Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection grew out of his slowly-acquired
sense of the immensity of geologic time. This course traces the intellectual
history of the concept of Deep Time from the late 18th century work of Scotsman
James Hutton, gentleman farmer and geologic visionary, through the laborious
process of calibrating the geologic time scale, a task that continues today.
The class will visit museum collections and geologic sites that were central
in the development of modern geologic thinking. This course fulfills a natural
sciences non-lab distribution requirement and a writing intensive competency
requirement.
GOVT 385
Modern British Politics
Mr. Fosdal
6 units, Winter Term
This course analyzes the central structures and processes of British politics,
the important policy issues of recent years, British attitudes toward the
political system, and critiques of British politics and history. This course
fulfills a social sciences distribution requirement.
HIST 247
The Impact of Empire on Great Britain, 1814-1914
Ms. Dobbs
6 units, Winter Term
In 1914 the British Empire contained a population of over 400 million people
and was territorially the largest empire in world history. While the
British spread their ideas about government, language, religion, and culture
to
their colonies, Britain itself was also profoundly influenced by the colonies
it
ruled. This course will explore aspects of the impact of the Empire on
British politics, economics, society, and popular culture during the 19th
century.
Among the topics to be covered are the anti-slavery movement, imperialism
and new imperialism, jingoism and popular culture, economic responses,
and the
influence of imperialism on culture and the arts. The myriad resources
of London will be used to provide specific examples of how important the
Empire
was in
shaping British identity and institutions during the 19th century. This
course fulfills a humanities distribution requirement and is pending approval
as
a writing intensive course.
MUHI 135
The British Musical Renaissance: Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and Britten
Mr. Charleston
6 units, Fall Term
An introduction to British music in the first three-quarters of the 20th century.
In addition to studying major works by Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and Britten,
students will explore the social and political currents as they impinged on
musical life in Britain. A number of concerts and outside visits will be organized,
and students will be encouraged to attend relevant performances in London,
for which they will be
prepared in class. The course will be general in scope, and no prior musical
knowledge will be expected. This course fulfills a fine arts distribution requirement.
THAR 111
Introduction to the Theatre
Ms. Schiele
6 units, Fall Term
Drawing upon the rich resources of the London theatre scene, this course
studies the fundamentals of dramatic structure, form, style, and
criticism through
an examination of plays currently in performance. Students are required
to attend performances of the plays under study. This course fulfills
a fine arts distribution requirement and is pending approval as a speaking
intensive
course.
THAR 279
Fringe Theatre in London
Ms. Schiele
6 units, Winter Term
This course will attempt to define Fringe Theatre (a movement started in
1968) and to categorize its main elements. The class shall attend
a wide variety
of plays and venues and come to an understanding of how the fringe
has changed over the years. Discussions will address production techniques,
the plays
themselves, the audiences to whom they appeal, and to what extent
the fringe is still an
important theatrical force. Students are required to attend performances
of the plays under study. This course fulfills a fine arts distribution
requirement and is pending approval as a speaking intensive course.
UNIC 260
British Life and Culture
Mr. Fosdal
3 units, Fall and Winter Terms
This compulsory course utilizes visiting speakers, site visits, and small
group fieldwork and short research projects to introduce students
to contemporary life in London and the United Kingdom. Site visits
usually include Parliament,
the London Mosque, the British Museum, and the BBC. Speakers
have included
an ex-MI5 agent, a former terrorist, religious leaders representing
several different traditions, and a homeless person, among others.
The course is designed
so that the majority of work takes place during the single
three-hour class meeting, allowing students the possibility of pursuing up
to
three elective
courses.
UNIC 262
"The Fields Beneath:" Discovering London's Histories
Ms. Harris
6 units, Winter Term
This interdisciplinary course aims to give students a thorough grounding
in the chronology of London's development from Roman settlement on the periphery
of Empire to 21st-century "World City." The use of contemporary literary
and visual sources will serve both to develop students' historical imagination
and to enable them critically to examine the concepts involved in the discipline
of history itself. Alongside this historical approach, a theoretical examination
of specific themes and topics will be used to explore the nature of "the
town as palimpsest," a layered structure in which the past is never entirely
obliterated by what succeeds it. Examples of such themes and topics might include,
inter alia, religious observance, theatrical presentation, immigration, commerce,
domestic life, and government.
UNIC 264
London Internship
Ms. Harris
6 units, Fall and Winter Terms
The compulsory internship seminar meets once per week and builds upon the
field study, lectures, and discussions in the British Life and Culture course.
Students are expected to maintain a journal with at least two substantial
entries per
week critically reflecting on their experiences from intercultural, cross-cultural,
social, ethical, organizational, and interpersonal perspectives. Students
are also required to complete two short reflective essays and a final internship
essay interrogating their experiences in terms of the course readings,
class discussions in the seminar and the British Life and Culture course,
and the broader issue of how a liberal arts-informed perspective frames
one's experience
in the workplace.
Estimated Student Expenses
For planning and comparison purposes, the Financial Aid Office estimate for one
term in Appleton during the 2003-04 academic year was $10,946, while the estimate
for one term at the London Centre during 2003-04 was as follows:
| Fixed | |
| Tuition | $8,300 |
| Room | 2,580 |
| Theatre tickets | 125 |
| Out-of-pocket | |
| Airfare | 600 |
| Meals | 1,000 |
| Personal | 1,400 |
| TOTAL | $14,005 |
Please note that the out-of-pocket estimates are intended only as guidelines. They can vary greatly depending on individual spending habits, the amount of additional travel one chooses to pursue, and currency exchange rates.
Financial Aid
In an effort to promote off-campus study, Lawrence allows students to apply
most, if not all, of their financial aid to study at the London Centre.
Where appropriate, students' financial aid packages are adjusted to reflect
the
higher cost of studying in London. This is done principally through providing
opportunities for additional need-based and/or supplementary loans. Students
with specific questions regarding how the higher cost of spending a term
in London will affect their financial aid packages should set up an appointment
to speak with a counselor in the Financial Aid Office in Brokaw Hall.
Paul Family Scholarships
Alexander F. Paul and Mia T. Paul established this endowed scholarship
in 1997 to supplement the need-based assistance for students studying
at the London
Centre. The scholarships are designed specifically to encourage and support
students who might not otherwise be able to attend the London Centre.
Alex, '97, and Mia, '95, along with their sisters, Alyssa, '93, and Bliss,
'91,
studied at the London Centre during their tenure as students at Lawrence.
In establishing
this fund, Alex and Mia affirm the value of their experiences studying
in London as an important element of their liberal arts education.
Eligibility requirements include confirmed participation in the program, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and demonstrated financial need in excess of gift aid. Six grants of $600 each were awarded for the 2002-03 academic year. In accordance with the donors' wishes for an objective selection process, recipients are chosen in a random lottery. Questions concerning the scholarship should be directed to the Financial Aid Office.
To seek admission to the program, a student must submit the London Centre Proposal by the published deadline, usually early February. The Proposal is available from the Off-Campus Programs Office in International House. Late applications are not considered unless the program is under-subscribed after the initial review process.
If there are more suitable applicants than there are available spaces for a given term (21 students), students will be shifted to their second-choice term based on a combination of seniority and other relevant academic and scheduling factors. In situations where such accommodations cannot be made, a waiting list ranked according to the same criteria will be maintained for each over-subscribed term.
If accepted, a student must make a $500 non-refundable deposit by the first day of classes in the Spring Term. The $500 is credited to the Lawrence bill during the term the student is in London. The course choices listed on the application serve as pre-registration for the term(s) in London.