Istanbul Summer Program
Academic Specialties
Religion, History, and Contemporary Turkey.Course Type
Northwestern University courses taught abroad at Bigli University.
Students should enroll in both courses for two Northwestern credits:
HISTORY 391 City and Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean World
Istanbul was the capital of major world empires for the good part of two thousand years, from the 4th to the early 20th centuries. A center of attraction and consumption of the material products and a focal point of the intellectual and cultural heritages of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, Istanbul was also an important node of international trade and a cultural hotbed of the Eastern Mediterranean region. Throughout its history, Istanbul no doubt reflected its times; as an important urban center, it also shaped them. The extraordinary cultural and architectural heritage of the metropolis is witness to the important role it has played in the history of the eastern Mediterranean world. After the First World War, Istanbul lost the political base that had enhanced its significance for such a long time when Republican Turkey chose Ankara as its capital. In recent decades, however, the city’s inner dynamism along with the cultural and economic developments known as globalization have worked in combination to transform Istanbul into a multicultural metropolis, a problematic megacity that defies easy definition. The course gives an overview of the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and contemporary history of the city in the context of the civilizations of which it was and is a part. It identifies the main social, economic and cultural forces that shaped (and continue to shape) its development, provides insights into major research findings about the city and its civilizations, and demonstrates the connection between the built-up city and urban history. The course also focuses on the problems of contemporary Istanbul. It consists of three integrated components: lectures, class discussions, and excursions to important places and monuments in Istanbul. Two overnight excursions—to Edirne and the northwestern Anatolian town of Safranbolu—highlight Ottoman and Turkish urban structures that enable the student to put the Istanbul experience into context.
RELIGION 359 Islam and the West
Focusing on Islam and the West, this course maps out the framework of issues relating to Islam and the Western world. The course examines—among other things—the relationship between Islam and multiculturalism, colonialism, orientalism, occidentalism, imperialism, modernization, post-colonialism, post-communism, globalization, mysticism, the Ottoman Empire, the Balkans and the Middle East. The course also aims to give students a comparative perspective on the issues, ranging from Andalusia to the Ottoman Empire to Indonesia. A historical account of early encounters between Islam and the Judeo-Christian West will be provided by examining fields of interaction in philosophy, science, and education. This will be followed by an analysis of Western perceptions of Islam during the Renaissance and Enlightenment, paving the way for modern conceptions of Islam and the Islamic world in the Western hemisphere. Special attention will be paid to the rise of the West as the supreme power in the modern world and its impact on the relationship of the two civilizations in negotiating various forms and patterns of encounter, challenge, rejection, reaction, and adaptation. The course consists of three integrated components: lectures, class-discussions, and an excursion focusing on Islamic versus western lifestyles in Istanbul.
Optional Independent study course
An Independent Study should be focused on a clearly defined subject matter of genuine intellectual and academic substance. The student has responsibility for asking an appropriate faculty member to sponsor the independent study. If a faculty member agrees to sponsor an independent study, s/he is expected to meet with the student several, provide guidance for the student's independent work, evaluate the student's work, and assign a grade.
Additional Information
Policies:- Read about the refund, cancellation and withdrawal policies for Northwestern's summer study abroad programs
- All students who participate in Northwestern Study Abroad programs are required to purchase HTH health insurance. Read about HTH costs and enrollment.
Travel Grant: The Roberta Buffett Center for International and Comparative Studies (BCICS) is pleased to announce the availability of summer travel grant of $1,000 to support students enrolled in the Summer Study Abroad Program in Istanbul. The grant is made possible by the Turkish Cultural Foundation. For more information, please contact BCICS.
Excursions:
- Imperial Center: Byzantine and Ottoman monuments in the historical peninsula, including the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmet-Blue-Mosque, Ibrahim Pasha Palace - The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern - Yerebatan Sarnici
- The social life of Ottoman Istanbul: Religious, social and commercial sites from the 16th to the 19th centuries, including Galata bridge, the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar, the old Ottoman post office, the historic railway station of Sirkeci, where the Orient Express ended its trip from Paris, Rustem Pasa Mosque, the Grand Bazaar area with the Valide Han
- Pera (Beyoglu): The “European” quarter of Istanbul in the 19th century, which housed old European embassies, banks, and the places of worship for the non-Muslim population of the Ottoman Empire. Places to see include customs houses and bank buildings of Karakoy, the 14th century Galata Tower, Arab Mosque, synagogues and churches of Pera, European consulates, Narmanli Han, Galatasaray Lycee and Hotel Pera Palas.
- Out of town day trip to Edirne: Selimiye Mosque, other mosque complexes and old bazaars of the former capital of the Ottoman Empire
- Out of town excursion to Safranbolu: Overnight stay at a traditional Ottoman house converted into a B&B
- Bosphorus Cruise: Cruise through the waterways separating two continents: Asia and Europe
About Istanbul:
Studying in Istanbul puts over 2,000 years of history at your doorstep. The city, located at the crossroads between Asia and Europe, has always been a meeting point between East and West. It hosted ancient Anatolian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations, and it is the cultural center of the modern, secular Turkish Republic. The streets and buildings of this glorious city reflect European, Turkish, Balkan and Middle Eastern ways of life, all coming together in an exotic and beautiful harmony. True to its cosmopolitan roots, Istanbul today is a veritable global city, and a center of constant interaction. Its fast-paced everyday life and vibrant atmosphere create a dazzling urban experience.
Housing
University Housing- Students live in private housing in the center of Istanbul. Within easy access of many Istanbul attractions, our building is 2 minute walk from Taksim (center of Istanbul) to the lively atmosphere of Istiklal Avenue where students can also find various cultural activities. The classes take place in Sabanci University's Karakoy Center, a landmark historical building, built as a bank at the beginning of 20th century, at the heart of old Istanbul.
Program Costs
Summer 2010 fee = $7,500 which includes tuition for two courses, housing in double rooms, access to all university facilities, airport pickup, on-site transportation, excursions and orientations.
Transportation to Course Site:
Students must make their own travel arrangements for arrival in Istanbul on July 3, 2010. Following the program's completion, students must make their own travel arrangements to return to the U.S.
Financial Aid:
Northwestern students receiving financial aid during the academic year may be eligible for summer aid for this program. If funding is available, it may count as one of their 12 quarters of aid. For more information, please contact the Assistant Director of Financial Services, Sue Kwan, 847-491-7400. Non-Northwestern students should contact the Financial Aid office at their home institution.
Approximate Program Size
15-20 Northwestern students attend this program each summer.Application Requirements
Students applying to the Turkey summer program DO NOT need to take the 101 session on Blackboard, as is required of other study abroad students.
Students applying to the Istanbul summer program must complete:
1. Northwestern BCICS Summer Study Abroad Application, along with the required non-refundable deposit of $1000 by March 3, 2010, to Rita Koryan in the BCICS Office (1902 Sheridan Road).2. An interview with Rita Koryan prior to the application deadline as part of the application process.
