Salem State University professors Judi Cook and Rebecca Hains are leading a trip to Europe at the end of spring semester to show students the workings of media in international contexts of Germany and Italy.
The trip, which takes place from May 29 to June 8, will allow students to choose from two focuses for study: children and mass media or media industries.
The brochure for the trip states that "The communications industries are at the center of our increasingly globalized world. By traveling abroad and studying media in varied contexts, students will develop an enriched understanding of mass media and culture."
The trip will include three nights in Munich, Germany, with an option to attend an international children's television festival, the Prix Jeunesse; a visit to Castle Neushwanstein, which inspired the design of Disney's Cinderella Castle; and a stop in Salzburg, Austria, a major cultural capital (home of W.A. Mozart, the von Trapp family, and site of the Sound of Music filming).
Other stops will include St. Moritz, Switzerland, a renowned tourist resort that has more than 300 days of sunshine a year; an overnight stay in Lake Como, Italy, and a boat cruise of Lake Como; a full day in Bergamo, Italy (home to the Piazza Vecchia, The Battistero, and San Michele al Pozzo Bianco); and an overnight stay in Milan, Italy, international fashion and design capital, and home of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous painting "The Last Supper."
Much of the trip will be independent in nature, with time for students to explore the facets of the destinations that interest them and resonate with their chosen areas of exploration.
In addition to considering media during the trip, students and the professors will have ample time to explore the architecture, music, food, and culture in both larger cities and smaller towns, offering students the opportunity to study media within the contexts of their reception.
The trip is taking place through the Summer 2012 Communications Study and Travel Institute. The trip is a required component of the institute and must be taken in order to receive credit for the institute. Students must complete one day of seminar style institute class before departure. The seminar session will use multimedia presentations, readings and discussion to explore the topics of children and mass media and media industries. In addition, the session will review the academic requirements and due dates for institute portfolio and the travel aspects of the seminar.
Travelers joining the trip, but not taking the institute for credit are welcome to attend the seminar.
The travel seminar may be taken for either 3 or 6 undergraduate credits. Students enrolled for 3 credits may select one of the institutes' emphases, children and mass media and media industries, as their primary area of exploration. Students enrolled for 6 credits will work on both areas during their travel.
All students must attend all days of the travel and the study institute class in order to to receive credit.
The trips costs $2,878 per person, and the course cost for three credits is $865. Students interested in more information can contact Dr. Cook at jcook@salemstate. edu or Dr. Hains at rhains@salemstate. edu.
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