City FACTS

The city of Bath is located very near Bristol and the Western coast of England, about 100 miles west of London.  Rich in Roman history and classical Georgian architecture, set beside the river Avon as it winds through rolling green hills and fields, Bath is distinctive even for the British, who have made it a top tour stop.  Home to 80,000 people, Bath is a lively small city with theatre, music, museums, art galleries, gardens, courtyards and parks. As a World Heritage city, Bath attracts visitors from all over the world to its festivals and its unique ambience.  As a regional transit hub Bath affords multiple opportunities for exploring the towns and villages in the surrounding West Country.  Bath is easily walkable and all major points are connected via the local bus lines that crisscross the city.  Two universities and a technical college make this a lively college town as well.

Campus FACTS

For this special summer program, Bath and its surrounding area will be our campus and classroom.  Students will take their “tuition” British style, in the professor’s lodgings.  But we’ll spend much of our time out and about, interacting with local people and exploring daily life, as well as cultural attractions that abound in the region.  The university has a student travel office, and the city has a library with computers for public (fee) use.  There are also internet (wireless) cafes and pubs.

Eligibility Requirements

All SJSU students who are prepared for upper division classes are eligible and welcome to participate in this program.   Anyone who wishes to improve her/his personal abilities as an interculturally competent communicator will find this course of value.  This course is available through Open University and so to all members of the SJSU community.  Participants will be expected to walk a fair bit and ride local buses both from home to school and on our day trips.  Rain will not stop us.  Participants must bring adequate rain gear and be prepared to be out and about in whatever summer weather England gives us.

Academic Program & Course Enrollment

This program is sponsored by the Communication Studies Department and all students will enroll for the 3.0 unit course: Communication Studies 173: Intercultural Communication and Global Understanding.  Some may choose to enroll for an equivalent, but individualized academic experience as Communication Studies 180 (Independent Study). Catalog listing for this course will be found at:
http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/catalog/courses/COMM173.html

Program Overview

The program will begin when the group meets at London’s Heathrow Airport for the coach ride to Bath (provided).  Students will meet their host families and settle in.  Following a walking tour and orientation to the city, we’ll begin our lessons with an overview of the concepts and issues that will frame our learning.  Then, it’s off to explore!  Much of our practical learning will be through experiencing and interacting with local people in daily activities.  We’ll take local and regional buses and trains, shop at local groceries and on the high street, and visit charity shops, pubs, chippies, antique dealers, car boot sales, and longboat dwellers in the Kennet-Avon canal.  We’ll compare Sainsbury’s with Safeway and Home Base with Home Depot.  And of course we’ll visit the classical sites (e.g., Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Wells and Salisbury Cathedrals, Stonehenge, and Glastonbury and Laycock Abbeys).  We’ll take day trips to most of these attractions, including the city of Bristol.  We’ll catch our breath on some mornings as we discuss what we’re learning and make comparisons with life as we know it in the U.S.  Along the way, students will keep reflective journals that will form the basis of their course grades.  We will also collaborate on a web-based record of our experience together.  At the end of our three-week stay, we’ll take students back to Heathrow in a coach and the program will officially end.  Some will return home; others will stay on to continue their travels and learning in the UK, and in Europe.

Accommodation, Safety and Visas

Students will have room and board (breakfast and dinner) with British host families, all of whom live within a short bus ride of the city center.  Students will have their own bedroom and will typically share bathroom facilities with the family.  England in general, and Bath in particular, are quite safe and students will not likely encounter language barrier situations typical of non-English speaking countries.  The Royal United Hospital is nearby and emergencies are covered by the student insurance required of all participants and provided in the program fees; dentistry and community clinics are also available.  There is no particular State Department safety or security alert for Britain at this time.  For the most current situation, check at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

Program Leaders

Dr. Dennis Jaehne, Professor and Chair of Communication Studies, has led (or co-led) three SJSU Semester in Bath programs (1997, 2001, 2007) and one summer program (2008), and has the required local knowledge, as well as the ability to help students integrate their experiences and local cultural engagements with their studies.

Program Dates

Program participants agree to meet at the designated mid-day time/place at London’s Heathrow Airport on Tuesday, June 9, 2009.  The program will end with the return of the participants to Heathrow Airport on Tuesday, June 30, 2009.

Application Form

Estimated Costs

We estimate program costs to be about $2975, assuming a minimum of 15 participants and with the US Dollar to British Pound Sterling calculated at $2.00.  Changes in either (or both) of these budget factors may result in slight cost adjustments prior to program departure.
Program costs include airport transfers from Heathrow to Bath and return, as well as room and board (breakfast and dinner) with local home stay families, all class excursions, local and regional bus passes, facilities and equipment rentals rentals, 3.0 units of academic credit, and all program administration fees.  (NOTE: An optional London weekend field trip is NOT included in the program price.)

Note: Airfare is NOT included in the program price because we have found that many program participants have access to frequent flyer miles (or other airline arrangements) and that many also wish to arrive in England and/or depart from England (or return to the U.S.) on different days to accommodate their wider travel plans for the summer.  Group air travel for such a small group does not offer meaningful savings over the lowest internet fares and is more difficult to arrange, requiring long lead times and advance deposits.  Therefore, each participant must make independent flight arrangements such that s/he can meet up with the group at London’s Heathrow Airport at the specified date and time (approx. June 9, 2009, 2:30 p.m.).

Information Meetings

Please contact Dr. Dennis Jaehne if you plan to attend one of the meetings below so enough materials are on hand for all who attend.

Contact us at the Study Abroad Office, Clark Hall, Room 543 Tel  (408) 924-5931 Fax (408) 924-5976
or send us an email