UK and Women, Multicultural Europe, and the African Diaspora
London is a city made famous by its royal residents in Buckingham Palace, and the world rejoiced when Prince Harry, brother to a future king, married Meghan Markle, a mixed-race American woman, in the spring of 2018. While news media has highlighted the prince’s “unconventional” choice in a bride, Ms. Markle fits right into England’s multiracial community. This racial and ethnic diversity is not just a sign of the country’s future but also its colonial past. London is also reflective of its neighboring city of Paris in France. Both these urban centers are renowned for their rich history and world class art and architecture. Lesser known is their impact on black women’s transatlantic histories. This 9-day study abroad in London and Paris with a follow-up online course explores the multiracial histories of unique women who have reshaped their race and gender identities in these rich cities and influenced transatlantic cultures pertaining to slavery, colonialism, arts, and social movements. Tour highlights may include the city of London and Windsor, Kenwood House – home to Dido Elizabeth Belle – thriving black neighborhoods in London, a tour of Paris and sites relating to famous women of color, from Sally Hemings to Josephine Baker, a visit to the Louvre, and a dinner cruise on the Seine River.
Application Deadline
Program Start
Program End
Program Details
Academic Program
Earn three credits as you spend two weeks this summer in the U.K. and France in a faculty-led program, with combined online course. The Women, Multicultural Europe, and the African Diaspora course fulfills the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major/minor elective requirement, as well as the International Perspectives general education requirement.
This course combines experiential and online classroom learning in which students engage in site visits and culturally relevant excursions to experience first-hand the subject as it manifests abroad. Tours of “Black London” and “Black Paris,” along with excursions to the the English and Scottish homes of Dido Elizabeth Belle (the subject of the recent movie Belle) are scheduled.
*Program is subject to minimum enrollment.
Learning Objectives
- During this course, you will learn to:Analyze the ways that gender connects to race, class, and other social factors
- Locate and identify black women in historical, cultural, and geographical contexts
- Compare diverse women, histories, and locations
- Produce multimedia narratives and analyses
Course Syllabus
Please refer to the Course Syllabus Summer 2020 for additional course information.
Course Format
This program is accompanied by learning activities and reflections via an online course.
Course Credit
This program counts as a 3-credit, AWSS 399/599 course (Topics in Women’s Studies).
General Education Information for UAlbany Students
Credits earned on this program will automatically satisfy the International Perspectives requirement. No additional approval is required for you to earn these general elective credits.
Major/Minor Information for UAlbany Students
Courses may also satisfy major and minor requirements, upon approval by the department.
Transcript
All courses taken abroad count towards UAlbany General Elective credits. Credits and grades will appear on your UAlbany transcript. You may file a request to have additional courses approved for equivalency as necessary.
Your Instructor
This course is taught by Professor Janell Hobson. Professor Hobson is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University at Albany. She received her Ph.D. in Women’s Studies at Emory University. Professor Hobson has since devoted her research, teaching, and service to multiracial and transnational feminist issues in the discipline. Overall, Professor Hobson uses a transnational lens to highlight women’s iconography and experiences in the African Diaspora.
Housing
You will be housed in shared hotels and a hostel in several of the cities we will be visiting. All accommodations will have wifi internet access. The hotel in London will have access to a washing machine and luggage storage. In addition, you will be provided a bed with linens and desk areas.
Meals
Breakfast daily is included in your hotel. You are responsible for your other meals.
Estimate of Costs
For reference, review the Summer 2020 Estimate of Costs.
More Information
Click for more information on Program Costs and Financial Aid.
Remember to speak with the Office of Financial Aid at your home campus to determine how your aid package could apply towards your program abroad.
Academic Requirements
Juniors, seniors, graduate students, and exceptional freshmen and sophomores in all majors are eligible to apply.
Experiential Learning
Experiential learning plays a critical role in your program experience. Both the overall program and individual courses include a number of cultural and historical excursions* to important and influential sites, so you will have the opportunity to experience the cultures of England and France to their fullest.
Excursions and Activities
- Walking tour of Brixton
- Visits to Scone Palace, Kenwood Palace, and Rivington Place
- Excursions to the Eiffel Tower, Seine River, Musee D’Orsay, and the Louvre Museum
- And more!
*Excursions are a mandatory part of the program and specific destinations vary by program and availability.
**Schedule is tentative and subject to change
External scholarships, listed on our website, are a good way to partially fund your study abroad experience. In addition, the Center for International Education and Global Strategy offers two scholarship programs for UAlbany students studying abroad on UAlbany or 4-year SUNY programs.
More information on applying to these scholarships is located on the Scholarships web page.
In Their Own Words
Visiting a country that is not my own gave me a new profound love for life. It was amazing to study abroad in London and Paris and was an experience I will never forget! I have learned so much from this. Never have I ever been so excited to get up early in the morning and learn. Everyone should have opportunities like this to learn in a fun and engaging way. I would definitely recommend studying abroad to other students and I will be looking for other study abroad opportunities. Not only did this program help me learn a lot about Women’s History, but it helped me personally.
Damilola A., Sociology
To have had the opportunity to trace the African American experience through Europe, and then juxtapose that with the American culture that I have been raised within, was an eyeopening journey. Whether walking the streets of Brixton in London or the streets of Montmartre in Paris, this course allowed me to study an intimately familiar subject, set in unfamiliar lands, and within a brand new context. I am immensely grateful to have experienced the Musee D’Orsay exhibit, Le Modele Noir, as well as the Paris Noir tour as they were transformative to my sense of self. For me, the ability to study this content, abroad, both illuminated my history and expanded my vision for my future.
Esme T., Women’s Studies
About the Cities
Travel Documents
A valid passport is required to participate in this program. If you are a permanent resident or international student, a visa may be required. More information regarding the visa application process is available upon acceptance to the program.
Application Availability
Applications become available online one semester before the program start date, based on the following timeline:
- Summer programs: December
Program Dates
05/30/2020 to 06/08/2020
Program Schedule
For reference, please review the Summer 2020 Itinerary.
*Schedule is tentative and subject to change
Flight Information
More information regarding flights is available upon acceptance.
Program Overview
For additional details about the program, please view the Program Info Session Powerpoint.
Program Orientations
Upon acceptance to the program, you will be required to attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation. During this time, you will have the opportunity to meet other program participants, discuss in-depth the details of your program, and prepare of the overall education abroad experience. The summer pre-departure orientation is typically conducted the Saturday before the end of Spring UAlbany classes.
You will also have an on-site orientation upon arrival to your host country.
Support Services
Your Faculty Leader is responsible for guiding all aspects of the program and will be available throughout the on-site portion of the course to manage any concerns or questions you may have while abroad. The faculty accompany you on all program activities and outings.
UAlbany’s Office of Education Abroad staff assists you during the application process, in your preparation to travel abroad, and on-site if necessary.