Sussex in September program :: University of Sussex Study Abroad Guide 2008-2009

Sussex in September program

Many North American and other international students spend all or part of their junior year at a European university, and the University of Sussex attracts one of the largest of these groups in Britain. A pioneer of study abroad and exchange programs with the Americas, Europe and other parts of the world, Sussex enrols students from a wide range of selective colleges and universities.

The University’s Sussex in September program is specifically designed for semester study-abroad students. It offers a selection of intensive, three-week courses (of which, you choose one) that end a week before the official start of the University autumn term (fall quarter).

Like many British universities, the University of Sussex teaches three, 10-week terms or quarters (called autumn, spring, and summer terms). This means that the British autumn term seldom provides the full credit equivalent of an American semester. The Sussex in September program, combined with the autumn term’s courses, provides the equivalent of a semester’s credits: half a year’s work.

At the end of the Sussex in September program, you can opt to either stay with us for the autumn term or transfer to another British university (assuming you have been accepted there). Alternatively you can of course just come for the three-week session – but we feel sure you’ll want to stay for longer if you do!

The program offers

a range of academic courses in a region of cultural and historical significance
an advance introduction to the Sussex style of small-group teaching
student guides to help introduce you to life in and around Brighton, a major university city and seaside resort

Accommodation

You will have a single room on campus in a cluster of 5-12 student rooms, sharing bathroom and kitchen facilities. The basic system is self-catering (the campus has a grocery and other shops) but there is a range of cafés and coffee shops on campus, and in Brighton & Hove.

Social program

The program includes a welcome reception and optional day trips (for a small fee) to one of the many tourist attractions in the area. Student guides will be on hand to help introduce you to life in and around Brighton & Hove where you find countless bars, cafés, clubs and a thriving arts scene.

Fees

In 2008, the tuition fees for the Sussex in September program will be £885 per student. The fees for the course combined with tuition fees for the autumn term will be about £4,600. Other costs you will incur include housing (approximately £70-£80 per week), and personal expenses.

Applications

The deadline for applications is 1 April 2008, but we will accept late applications subject to availability. The application form is available online or can be obtained from us at the address at the bottom of the page. Your application should be accompanied by:

a transcript of grades from your home institution. A current grade point average of 3.0 (B) or higher is normally required
a reference from an academic advisor.

We expect to offer the following courses in 2008 (all options are subject to minimum enrolments).

You select ONE of the following:

Level 1 courses

British Popular Culture

This course focuses mainly on film, television and popular music. We explore the way in which relationships between national identity, history, class, race, gender and sexuality play out in the making and consuming of popular cultural forms. Topics may include the constructions of ‘Englishness’ in popular film and television, Americanisation and escapism, and the relationship between class and comedy. The course gives some historical background to what is happening today.

From Critical Reading to Stylish Writing

The aims of this course are to refine your creative writing skills, develop essay strategies and provide you with tools for the critical reading of academic and popular texts. The course invites students to analyse the strategies involved in creative, journalistic and philosophical writing, and also covers techniques of composition within history and popular science. Class sessions will involve group discussion, writing workshops and individual sessions with the instructor.

From Critical Reading to Stylish Writing course description [pdf 40k]

Introduction to Archaeology

On this course you will be taken on a highly visual tour of the archaeology of Sussex and beyond. Combining lectures, practicals, field and site visits we will explore a diversity of material remains ranging from early human evidence at Boxgrove gravel pit to romantic Medieval castles and abbeys. We will discuss how we might interpret this evidence in order to appreciate the prehistory and history of this glorious corner of England.

Introduction to Archaeology course description [pdf 241k]

Shakespeare’s Plays and the Elizabethan Theatre

This course has three main aims: to examine the conditions of playwriting, acting and theatre-going in the Elizabethan period; to situate Shakespeare’s plays in their sociopolitical context, analysing aspects of race, religion, monarchy and gender; and to show how Shakespeare’s plays are crafted for reading and performance. The course includes a visit to see a play at London’s Globe Theatre on the River Thames, a meticulous reconstruction of the venue where Shakespeare’s plays were originally performed.

Shakespeare’s Plays and the Elizabethan Theatre course description [pdf 30k]

Level 2 courses

English Folklore

This course examines the origins and nature of folklore, ‘the oral tradition and culture of a people,’ and highlights its present relevance. We discuss stories such as the exploits of Robin Hood and legends of devils, witches, phantoms, and dragons; we look at customs and festivals, like the annual Midsummer’s Day celebrations; and we examine material evidence such as a traditional lucky stone imp. We will visit local sites including Devil?s Dyke, near Brighton, King Arthur’s Round Table at Winchester and the awe-inspiring megalith of Stonehenge.

English Folklore [pdf 35k]

Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry

The course looks at classification and development of drugs, drug transport and metabolism, and the treatments for a range of infectious, malignant, degenerative and psychiatric conditions.

Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry course description [pdf 26k]

The Politics of the European Union

This course introduces the European Union as a political system in its own right, providing historical, institutional and theoretical perspectives on the way in which the current EU operates. It includes a review of European integration and an overview of different ways of explaining the workings of the EU. It analyses the workings of the different institutions and the role of national governments and examines current challenges facing the Union.

The Idea of the European Union course description [pdf 22k]

Popular Literature in English: Children’s Literature

The course examines the influence of shifting cultural constructions of childhood on the development of British children’s literature. From Peter Pan to Harry Potter, we trace the Romantic view of childhood innocence and the ways in which the idea of the child as autonomous individual – and hero – have come to the fore. The course takes account of societal concerns – children at work, orphanhood and education, for example – whilst also considering the child’s position in the family, questions of age, gender and class and the centrality of the relationship between adult author and child reader.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods will vary with the course, and involve lectures, seminars and field trips. Assessment may include writing essays (papers), contribution to seminars, or tests and quizzes, which will produce your transcript grade.

Following the credit system used by Sussex and many other British universities, each Sussex in September course carries 12 credits. Coupled with an autumn term (usually 48 credits), this makes 60 credits in all. A normal full-year load is 120 credits.

About the University of Sussex

The University of Sussex was founded in 1961, on the twin principles of small-group teaching and interdisciplinary study. The University is organised around five schools of study, each of which brings together a number of related major subjects and provides academic and social facilities for the students attached to it. Sussex is a leading research university with all of its subjects judged to be of national or international excellence in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise. In 2007, there were over 2,500 international students from 120 countries, out of a total of 10,500 students, on degree programs.

Location

Entirely self-contained in a parkland setting, the University campus has an excellent range of academic and social facilities. The campus is on the edge of Brighton & Hove, a friendly city by the sea that could have been designed for students. The city provides a wide choice of restaurants, bars, cafés, theatres, cinemas and nightclubs and sporting facilities to suit all tastes.

The University is also just an hour away from the heart of London, and excellent travel links make it an ideal base for exploring Britain, continental Europe and beyond.

Study Abroad Guide 2008

Courses at Sussex

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