The Geography and Culture of Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic

Location: Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic (Cities include Frankfurt, Cologne, Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Nurnberg, Munich, Salzburg)

Group in the Austrian Alps
 

Department: Geology/Geography

Leaders: Dr. Jim Davis (jadavis2@eiu.edu) and Dr. Dave Viertel (dviertel@eiu.edu)

Subjects
: Geology / Geography 

   
  Terms/Timeframe: Summer - 5/11/11 - 5/29/11 with one weekend seminar 4/22 and 4/23
   
 

Language: English

  Credits: 3
 


Budget: Cost Breakdown

 
Eligibility
:
 

Good Academic Standing
Good Judicial Standing

   
  Application Deadlines:
 
Feburary 4, 2012 (before noon)
   
  Application Materials:
 

EIU Program Application (Faculty-led Programs)

Basics for Faculty-led Programs (step by step from application to realization)

 

Academic Program

The Geography and Culture of Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic will be a 3 credit hour course that includes a brief history of the regions visited as well as comparisons between typically Western, Eastern, and transitional European cultures.  One of the central themes during this program will be a comparison and analysis of the “westernization” and change that Europe has undergone.  Visiting some of the most important cultural, historic, and religious centers in Europe allows participants an opportunity to see how different regions influenced one another, as well as maintained their own identities.  While a major part of European history was prior to World War II, the war and its aftermath are key to the change that Europe is currently undergoing.  Students on this trip will be able to study the political, cultural, and economic changes that have occurred in Europe over the last 1/2 century.  The course is open to any current undergraduate  at Eastern Illinois University and has no pre-requisites.  Since students will be able to receive credit for other courses, students are subject to the pre-requisites for those courses.  For example, if a student wants to receive Senior Seminar credit, they must have at least 75 semester-hours completed (Biology and Geology Majors are not eligible for senior seminar credit).  There are no language requirements for program since English-speaking guides will be available during all portions.

Activities / Itinerary

Tentative itinerary

Day One:  Wednesday, May 11th

  • Overnight Flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany

Day Two: Thursday, May 12th      Dinner Included

  • Arrive in Frankfurt, Germany
  • City Tour of Frankfurt
    • Romerberg Square, Cathedral, European Central Bank

    Romerberg Square
    Romerberg Square

Day Three: Friday, May 13th       Breakfast Included

  • Depart for  Cologne
  • Rhine River Cruise
  • Bridge at Remagan
  • Tour of Cologne Cathedral
  • Free Time to Explore Cologne

Rhine River Cruise
Rhine River Cruise

Day Four: Saturday, May 14th      Breakfast Included

  • Depart for Berlin

Day Five: Sunday, May 15th          Breakfast and Dinner Included

  • City Tour of Berlin
  • Reichstag, Brandenberg Gate, Kaiser Wilhem Church, Checkpoint Charlie

Day Six: Monday, May 16th          Breakfast Included

  • Morning Tour in Berlin – Hidden City Tour
  • Afternoon and Evening Free in Berlin

Day Seven: Tuesday, May 17th      Breakfast Included

  • Depart for Dresden
  • Tour of Church in Wittenburg
  • City Tour of Dresden

Day Eight: Wednesday, May 18th       Breakfast and Dinner Included

  • Morning Hike in Dresden (Bastai)
  • Depart for Prague

bastai hike
Bastai Hike

Day Nine: Thursday, May 19th          Breakfast Included

  • City Tour of Prague
    • Hradcany Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Town, Astronomical Clock
  • Afternoon Free
  • Night River Cruise

Prague
Rooftops in Prague

Day Ten: Friday, May 20th                  Breakfast Included

  • Depart for Nurnberg
  • City Tour of Nurnberg
    • Mueseum on Parade Grounds
    • Gingerbread Market

Day Eleven: Saturday, May 21st     Breakfast Included

  • Depart for Munich
  • En Route visit
    • City of Ulm
      • Albert Einstein Memorial
      • Tallest Church Steeple in the world

Day Twelve: Sunday, May 22nd      Breakfast and Dinner (Hofbrauhaus) Included

  • Dachau Concentration Camp
  • City Tour of Munich in the Morning
    • Olympic Stadium
    • Marienplatz – Old and New Town Halls

Day Thirteen:  Monday, May 23rd     Breakfast Included

  • Free Day in Munich

Day Fourteen:  Tuesday, May 24th     Breakfast Included

  • Depart for  Salzburg
  • Berchtesgarden and Eagles Nest Tour
  • City Tour of Salzburg
    • Mirabelli Gardens
    • St. Peter’s Church
    • Mozart’s Birthplace

Day Fifteen:  Wednesday, May 25th    Breakfast and Dinner Included

  • Sound of Music Tour
  • Free Time in Salzburg

Day Sixteen:  Thursday, May 26th       Breakfast Included

  • Depart to Innsbruck
  • City Tour of Innsbruck

Innsbruck
Innsbruck

Day Seventeen:  Friday, May 27th      Breakfast Included

  • Depart for Lake Constance
  • Neuschwanstein Castle
  • Lake Constance – Lindau

Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle

Day Eighteen:  Saturday, May 28th     Breakfast and Dinner Included

  • Depart for Black Forest
  • Black Forest Tour
  • Heidelberg
    • University, Castle
  • Woodcarving and Clocks
  • Furtwagen
    • German Clock Museum
  • Arrive in Frankfurt for Farewell Dinner

Day Nineteen: Sunday, May 29th

  • Morning Flight back to Chicago

Enrollment/Credit

Make course/substitution selections on your EIU Program Application. The credit hours associated with your selections may not exceed the credit hours allocated for this program: 3

Below are the choices available for this program:

Course Number: STA 3970 (CourseID 4824)

Approved Substitute: EIU 4101G Senior Seminar
Approved Substitute: ESC/GEG 3200
Approved Substitute: GEG 1100G
Approved Substitute: GEG 3060

Housing

Students will be living in standard hotels in the various cities visited during the program. The hotels will be the equivalent of a Holiday Inn. All hotels will be ensuite, typically with two, and only if required, three participants of the same gender.

Orientations

At least two pre-departure orientations will be provided and are required for all participants.

Your faculty leader will hold one of these orientations, where he/she will cover information on safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in the host country(ies), as well as planning logistics.

The Office of Study Abroad (OSA) will hold the other orientation. They will cover general information about traveling abroad to different areas of the world and facilitate a panel discussion composed of students who have already participated in faculty-led study abroad programs.

Necessary Documents

Passport
To enter a foreign country, you must have a valid passport. If you are a U.S. citizen and do not currently have a valid passport, or if your passport will expire during the time you will be overseas, please go to the U.S. State Department web site for information on how to apply for/renew your passport.

You are strongly encouraged to read the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet on your host countries. It will provide you with a great deal of information to help you prepare for your trip.

**Please be aware that you are responsible for obtaining the most up-to-date information on entry requirements. The Office of Study Abroad only provides general information, as visa regulations and procedures are constantly changing. Please consult the Consulate for more information. **