Changes in Ireland faculty-lead study abroad program
Amanda Dzurek
Issue date: 1/27/10 Section: News
|
Kristin Rea, an RMU senior, participated in the two-week study abroad trip to Ireland during the summer of last year.
"It was one of the best experiences of her life," Rea described.
The cost of the trip equals the cost of room and board on campus for a semester on campus at RMU.
"Last year, it was approximately $3,000 including airfare, meals, the places we went, and the classes," explained Rea.
The price and what it includes remains the same this year. Dianne Jackson, an RMU faculty member working in the International Student Services explained more about the expenses.
" The cost of the trip of $2,975. It includes airfare, housing, most meals and excursions," said Jackson.
Aside from the initial cost, Rea stated that not much additional spending money is actually needed during the trip.
"I only spent about 500 extra dollars during the two weeks we were there," she said.
Jackson agrees that students, depending on their wants while on the trip, will not spend much additional money.
"It all depends on how much the student wants to spend on their own. Some students spend as little as $500 or less," explained Jackson.
For last year's Ireland study abroad trip, there were two classes offered.
" [There was] a class on Irish writers James Joyce and William Butler Yeats and another on Irish myths," said Rea.
There is one major change from last year's program, according to Jackson.
"There is one class available to take while on the trip, and that is Reading Literature, or ELIT1060," she said.
A major perk of studying Irish material in its actual surroundings is the experience it offers. During the trip to Ireland, various places are visited that add relevance and interest to the content of the classes.
During the few days of the trip spent in Northern Ireland, Rea explained that they stayed in a bed and breakfast-type place called Ti Chulainn.
"It was a place filled with legends-both literary and reality based," Rea expressed.
Be the first to comment on this story