Description

Dickinson College operates the largest study abroad program based at the University of East Anglia (UEA), located just a short bus ride from the center of Norwich. Typically, 10-15 Dickinson and other U.S. college and university students participate in the Norwich Science Program each year.

Classes are held at UEA's campus on "The Broads," 270 acres of open parkland on the outskirts of Norwich with views of rivers, woods and meadows from all angles. University buildings are connected by elevated pedestrian walkways.

UEA is well known for the quality of its academic programs, and the structure of the Dickinson programs allows students to select courses from a variety of "schools" (departments) at UEA while enrolled in two to three core courses. Many UEA faculty members are leading scholars in their fields, and the university library contains 500,000 volumes and more than 2,500 periodicals. The campus offers many social opportunities through various clubs and organizations, and a new state-of-the-art sports facility provides for recreational pursuits.

Participants in the Norwich Science Program have full access to the course offerings and research opportunities of a major research university, while at the same time participating in the program-specific curriculum offered by the Dickinson resident director. UEA has highly regarded programs in the sciences, particularly in the areas of environmental science, biology and chemistry.

In addition to the three UEA science courses taken each semester, a required Dickinson course is taught by the science program director. Prior to the start of the fall semester in Norwich, a four-week experiential History of Science course is held in London and various locations throughout England. In London, museums, libraries and historical sites are used as natural laboratories for investigating the development of science from the mid-1600s to the present. Other sites throughout England of historical significance to the Industrial Revolution also are visited. Using an active learning approach, students conduct walking tours, research the lives of individual scientists and present their findings to the group.

The spring semester Dickinson course, chosen at the discretion of the resident director, is either The Science of Sustainability or Science and Society. Both are general science courses, and both incorporate a field experience while engaging students in science-oriented topics. At the outset of the semester, The Science of Sustainability integrates experiential learning in Iceland so students can explore the strides this country has made in sustainable living and development. Science and Society begins in England, where students discover and discuss the interactions and ramifications of science and its impact on society in Great Britain and the European Union.

The excellent opportunities for research at UEA include project-based courses taken in the respective science schools and opportunities at the Norwich Research Park and the new Norfolk and Norwich Hospital/Medical School. Student research topics have included cancer cell genetics, cataract development, environmental politics in Europe and plant gene expression.

* Housing:

Students are housed in furnished flats at the University of East Anglia in an area known as "the Village." Each student is housed in a single-occupancy dormitory room with a private bathroom and shares a common kitchen in the flat with five to seven other students. An effort is made to place students in an international setting, where they will meet representatives of many other countries. Students receive a weekly stipend, enabling them to purchase food and cook for themselves in their flats.

Highlights

Dickinson College's Science program in England is located in Norwich, a 1,000-year-old city with 200,000 residents, combining the best of new and old England, from a trendy underground shopping mall to a Norman castle on a hill overlooking the community. Norwich also features pedestrian walkways (ancient streets too narrow for vehicles) where shops and cafes hang over the passageways. Norwich also boasts the oldest continually operating open-air market in England.

Just a short train ride northeast of London, Norwich is the ideal university town for students looking to gain an understanding of English culture by learning alongside British students.

* Excursions
Academic excursions and student field research are integral to the programs. In addition to the London- and/or Iceland-based field experiences at the beginning of each semester or academic year, past students have visited Blickling Hall (a 17th-century country house), Cromer (a Victorian-age railway resort on the North Norfolk coast), Wicken Fen (a nature preserve), and other locations.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

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Program Fees Include:

Program Fee Includes:
* tuition and fees
* room and board
* pre-departure and on-site orientations
* academic excursions

The program fee does not include primary health insurance, airfare, passport, visa, immunizations, optional travel, personal expenses, meals and housing during vacations, books or supplies.

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

American Participants.

Scholarships are Available

Scholarships available for Dickinson students only