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  Scotland

Term: Summer 
Dates: Summer 2008

Description: This exciting five-week study opportunity takes you back in time as you explore Scotland's archaeological treasures against a backdrop of breathtaking scenery and spellbinding history. Based at the University of Aberdeen on Scotland's northern coast, the program combines intensive classroom instruction with extensive field-study excursions so that you develop a comprehensive understanding of this ancient and legendary region.

In addition to that, you will earn four semester hours of credit for the five-week summer program.

The summer school's historical scope commences at the conclusion of the last ice age and continues through the founding of the nation of Scotland. Various epochs of human habitation, and their associated objects, societal customs, and Scotland Aberdeen Archaeology 3architectural forms will be studied. Lectures on the first inhabitants of the region, the first farmers, the Beaker People, Celts, Picts, Romans and Vikings will be elucidated by visits to sites in the field. Site visits may include areas such as Sutherland, Caithness and the Orkney Islands. Bronze age cists, stone circles, megalithic tombs, Pictish symbol stones, chambered cairns, and brochs are among the many unique cultural legacies that prehistoric builders left behind for archaeological exploration. All of these treasures are located amidst exquisitely picturesque landscapes in the north of Scotland.

After a brief orientation to the area, the program is structured with lectures three days per week. Thursdays are devoted to museum and regional site visits for the first four weeks. The fifth week is spent in the field in the isles of Orkney. Assignments, including a diary, mid-course essay, and end-of-course written assessment will help you to reflect upon what you are learning inside the classroom and beyond. Background reading emphasizes a full understanding of the subject matter.

Highlights: About Aberdeen
Known variously as "the Granite City," "the Flower of Scotland," and "the Silver City by the Golden Sands," Aberdeen's striking facades of granite gleam brightly when washed by rain. A city with origins in the 12th century, with both a well-preserved old town section and a thriving cosmopolitan vibe, Aberdeen derives much of its character from its position on the edge of the Grampian Highlands between the Rivers Don and Dee, and its proximity to the North Sea. In the 20 hours of daylight in summertime, gulls soar over its many gardens, overflowing with prize-winning blooms, and its Winter Garden provides natural beauty under an acre of glasshouse through all four seasons. Aberdeen retains much of its historical Scots charm as a shipping town for the tea trade while it maintains a contemporary, international edge as a gateway to the North Sea oil industry. This symbiosis of old and new influences provides a fertile landscape for a busy cultural scene, and nightlife, theater, restaurants and sites of interest abound.

Scotland Aberdeen Archaeology Housing
Summer program participants will be housed in flats in university halls of residence, where they may prepare their own meals. The housing is located a few minutes' walk from the Old Aberdeen campus (where classes take place) and a short bus ride from the center of town. You will have a single bedroom and share cooking facilities with three other students in your flat. There is a laundry, TV room and a lounge in the hall. While on excursions, bed and breakfast accommodations will be provided.

Subject Area: Archaeology

Cost in US$: Please inquire for specific costs

Cost Includes: Tuition, Guaranteed housing, Overseas orientation program, Medical insurance, Arcadia University transcript, Predeparture advising and support, Cultural excursions, Safety and security management plans

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. .

Typical Living Arrangements: Apartment/Flat and Group living

Scholarships Are Available. - Scholarships and Financial Aid are a major part of our commitment to access for all students. Arcadia offers more than 1.5 million dollars in scholarships annually in amounts from $500 to $2,000. A financial aid coordinator is also on-staff to provide help to students who require individual consortium agreements or need Arcadia to process federal financial aid for them.

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Transcript