Course Details

The four credit-hour Humanities II course is a required course for Geneseo students, but also satisfies the Western Civilization general education requirement of SUNY.  This course is held in Oxford, England, one of the world's greatest centers of learning, a place steeped in history and surrounded by the living evidence of human creativity.  The program runs in the month of July - dates vary from year to year.  Students study western literature, history, culture, and institutions primarily through great works of Western European thought from 1600 to the present.  At Oxford a greater emphasis is laid on the British contributions to western civilization, complemented by trips to selected sites of particular interest and by guest lectures from leading British academics.  Students will also have an opportunity to explore London on their own.

The Setting

Oxford is one of the great centers of learning in Europe.  Situated conveniently close to London, it is also on the edge of one of England's most picturesque areas - the Cotswolds.  Also within easy travel is Stratford-upon-Avon.  The city itself became, briefly, the nation's capital during England's own Civil War.  Today, it is a bustling city and center of European heritage.

Students live and study at New College founded by William of Wykenham, Bishop of Winchester, in 1379.  The Black Death in 1348 claimed the lives of many of the church's parish priests, and New College was originally intended for the education of scholars to replace those who had died of the plague.  Today the Cloisters and Chapel can still be seen.  New College is one of 42 colleges that make up the University of Oxford.

Housing

Students live in New College.  Both single bed/sitting rooms or a single bedroom and separate sitting rooms are available (some shared with another bedroom).  No rooms have private bathrooms or showers, though most have washbasins.  Bed linens and towels are provided.