INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION OFFICE

Study in Turkey, Graphic Design

Program Information | Location Information | Courses Available | Eligibility | Costs | Deadlines & Dates | Orientation | Housing | What's Next? | Photos | Helpful Links

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Program Information
An archeological site will be documented by research teams using graphic and web design techniques. The site is a kiln in the Tekfur Sarayı (“Palace of the Emperor”), part of the ruin of a 13th century Byzantine palace that is located in the north-western part of the old city of Constantinople, known today as Istanbul. The kiln produced tiles in the style of Iznik and other ceramic items for a period of 30 years. Participants will use and study design research theories and methods as they work with historical structures at the archeological research site, read selected readings, make presentations, and visit related cultural heritage areas. In particular, they will learn the processes of archeology by observing an excavation – discovering what can be removed and what has to be left undisturbed at the location. This will give them information for digital rendering, which they will execute simultaneously, while in the field, yielding a website prototype for further development.

Two UMD faculty members, Beth Koch and Mariana Waisman  will lead this study group and have assembled a team of experts to join them.

• Dr. Filiz Yenişehirlioğlu, Dean and Chair of Visual Arts and Design; Art History at Başkent University in Ankara, has completed a survey of the site and has recommended it for the internationally educational experience.

• Dr. Donald H. Sanders, president of Learning Sites, MA (http://www.learningsites.com), who designs and develops interactive three-dimensional digital models that are based on actual archaeological evidence and that are reconstructed with an accuracy and sensitivity to known details that reflect the highest standards of scholarship…” (Retrieved from http://www.learningsites.com/ on September 22, 2008).

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Location Information
Known officially as the Republic of Turkey,  Turkey is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in western Asia and Thrace in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe. Turkey is bordered by eight countries: Bulgaria to the northwest; Greece to the west; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the southeast. The Mediterranean Sea and Cyprus are to the south; the Aegean Sea and Archipelago are to the west; and the Black Sea is to the north. Separating Anatolia and Thrace are the Sea of Marmara and the Turkish Straits (the Bosporus and the Dardanelles), which are commonly reckoned to delineate the border between Asia and Europe, thereby making Turkey transcontinental.

Due to its strategic location astride two continents, Turkey's culture has a unique blend of Eastern and Western tradition. A powerful regional presence in the Eurasian landmass with strong historic, cultural and economic influence in the area between Europe in the west and Central Asia in the east, Russia in the north and the Middle East in the south, Turkey has come to acquire increasing strategic significance.

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Courses Available
Students will complete ART 4893 International Collaborations: Design in Education and Cultural Preservation (3 credits).

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Eligibility
Participants MUST have a passport, valid for at least 6 months after their return to the U.S. Students also should be in good academic standing with a GPA of at least 2.5.

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Costs
The program package is approximately $6,500. A non-refundable application fee of $100 is due with the application and a deposit of $500 is due two weeks after final acceptance. The remainder of the program fee will be billed through Student Accounts Receivable.

The program package includes:

• Tuition for 3-credit course
• Roundtrip airfare from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN to Istanbul, Turkey
• Most meals
• Field trips to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, and an excavation site such as Troy
• Lodging during program in hotels
• Cultural Insurance Services International health insurance

Items not included are the cost of obtaining a passport, some meals and personal spending money. It is recommended that all participants bring additional money for personal and miscellaneous expenses.

Fluctuating currency exchange rates may increase or decrease the cost of your international experience. Financial aid may be applied toward the cost of the program if you are enrolled as a full-time student (6 credits is full-time for May/Summer). There are several study abroad scholarships for University of Minnesota students.

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Deadlines & Dates
The registration deadline is Friday, February 20, 2009. Early registration is strongly encouraged, as space is limited and the class will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tentative rogram dates are June 23 to July 9, 2009.

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Orientation
At least two pre-departure orientations will be held. Pre-departure orientations will include information about financial aid information, international insurance, classwork, travel tips and a general study abroad handbook.

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Housing
Housing facilities for students at the various locations are arranged by the program.

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What's Next?
Before applying, it is a good idea to follow the steps under steps to studying abroad. The IEO website also provides information on financing, health & safety and other important information to consider when choosing to study abroad. When ready to apply, the UMD study abroad application may be downloaded from the IEO website. Please complete the application with required accompanying materials and return it to IEO.

Contact Mariana Waisman for program questions. For application/registration and location questions, contact Leigh Neys at (218) 726-7053 or email: lneys@d.umn.edu

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Photos
[UNDER DEVELOPMENT]

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Helpful Links for Turkey

• Tourism Turkey
• CIA World Fact Book: Turkey

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