Faculty-led programs
Sicilian cities study tour in urban planning
Italy
3 or 6 undergraduate and graduate credits in Urban Planning
May 24-June 7, 2010
John Accordino, Ph.D.
$1,295 plus airfare and applicable VCU tuition
Registration deadline: March 1, 2010
Status: Program open
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and the Office of International Education at VCU are pleased to sponsor a three week tour of Sicily studying the influence of environment and history on urban life. The purpose of this study tour is to learn how the natural environment and human history shape the form and function of cities, using Sicily as a case in point. Both forces shape and limit a community’s possibilities, but they also present opportunities for communities to forge unique identities and play distinctive roles in the world. The formal part of the tour will focus on cities along the Ionic Coast of Sicily — Catania, Siracusa, Messina and Taormina, as well as Reggio Calabria. All have been, and continue to be, shaped by their proximity to the sea. Catania has a special relationship to the active volcano that sits above it, and Messina and Reggio have a long history of dealing with earthquakes, the most devastating of which was the earthquake (and tsunami) of December 1908. All of these cities also have rich human histories, evidence of which is still quite visible in most places. Taken together, they provide both positive and negative lessons for cities everywhere.
As the pace of socio-economic change throughout the world quickens, these cities, like all others, must continually adjust and find ways to thrive. Our study tour will seek to understand how these cities are meeting this challenge, striving to develop viable economic activities and maintain a high quality of life. We will focus, in particular, on how they take their environment and history into account as they seek to chart their course for the future. Asking the same questions of the same types of experts — professional urban planners and architects, university professors, and historians — in different cities of the same region, will allow us to understand better why communities make the life choices they do. And this, in turn, will help us to better understand how history and the environment shape the choices that American communities make to guide the development of their functions and form.
The primary partners will be the University of Messina and the City of Messina. Both partners have extensive networks of practitioners, elected officials and academics in all of the cities that students will visit.
The formal study tour will begin on Monday, May 24, in Catania and conclude on Monday, June 7, in Messina.
Course and credit options
3 or 6 credits in urban planning (graduate or undergraduate)
The course will be scheduled as a three-credit course during the three-week first session of Summer Studies, and final papers and journals will be due by June 11. Students may also opt to take the course for six credits. This option will require a scholarly research paper, which will be due in early August.
Course description
The class will meet four times between March and May prior to departure. Two meetings will be for the purpose of discussing background readings and two will be for the purpose of discussing travel and tour logistics (although we will handle some logistics at all of the meetings). The meeting schedule is roughly as follows:
- March 15: Tour and travel logistics, airplane reservations, etc. (one to two hours)
- April 30: Geography and Natural History of Sicily (two hours)
- May 7: Human History of Sicily (two hours) — students choose city for special focus
- May 14: Tour and travel logistics (one hour)
As preparation for the program, students will read and write short papers on the following:
- Geography and natural history of Sicily: texts to be announced
- Human history of Sicily: Sandra Benjamin: “Sicily: Three Thousand Years of Human History” Hanover, New Hampshire: Steerforth Press, 2006. (Note: the students will also meet this author during the study tour. She lives in Giarre, a small town on the sea near Catania.)
Other coursework will consist of the following:
- Each student will write a short paper on one of the cities that we visit, chosen by May 7. This paper will focus on a specific aspect of development in that city today, in light of the themes of environment and human history. This paper will be due by June 11.
- Each student will keep a daily journal that reflects upon the themes of the course as experienced during each day of the program. This journal will be due by June 11.
- Each student will be expected to attend all formal sessions and participate as actively as possible. All sessions will be held in English or translated into English from Italian.
The program is directed by John Accordino, Ph.D., AICP, associate professor in the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. Accordino designed and led three very successful German Cities Study Tours from 2002-05. Through his active involvement in the Center for Integrative Mediterranean Studies (CIMS) since 2005, Accordino has had numerous opportunities to become very familiar with Sicily.
Program itinerary
The method of instruction will consist primarily of visiting important sites and receiving guided tours and/or lectures from experts on the history and development of these cities. Travel between and within cities will be by bus.
Monday, May 24
Arrive in Catania
Tuesday, May 25
Catania, geographical setting, historical development and cultural heritage
Wednesday, May 26
Catania, contemporary urban planning and economic development strategy
Thursday, May 27
Arrive in Siracusa, geographical setting, historical development and cultural heritage
Friday, May 28
Siracusa, contemporary planning and development, revitalization of mature commercial districts
Saturday, May 29
Excursion to Mount Etna, then travel to Messina
Sunday, May 30
Messina, trip to beach, free time
Monday, May 31
Messina and surrounding region, physical geography and natural history
Tuesday, June 1
Messina, historical development of the city, the earthquake of 1908 and its physical, social and economic legacy
Wednesday, June 2
Messina, contemporary planning and development strategy issues
Thursday, June 3
Excursion to Taormina, tourism and sustainability planning
Friday, June 4
Excursion to Reggio Calabria, waterfront development and economic challenges
Saturday, June 5
Summing up of The Influence of Environment and History on Urban Life and Development
Sunday, June 6
Optional excursion in the region
Monday, June 7
End of official study tour, depart Messina for other cities in Sicily, Italy or elsewhere
Registration deadline: March 1, 2010
Registrations will be accepted until the deadline, or until participant space is full.
Program cost
$1,295 plus airfare and applicable VCU tuition
The program fee of $1,295 includes the following:
- Accommodations
- Meals
- Study visits and tours
- Excursions
- On-site program director support
- Application fee and deposit
- Pre-departure orientation
- VCU administrative fees
- International Student Identification Card
The following are not included in the program fee. Students are responsible for:
- Airfare
- VCU tuition and fees
- Passport application fee
- Personal expenses during the program
- Anything not specifically mentioned above
Please budget for these additional expenses.
Airfare
Airfare is not included. Participants are responsible for their own round-trip travel arrangements from the U.S. to Sicily. Accordino will assist participants in identifying a low-cost option for the group. For best fares you should purchase your ticket prior to April 15.
Eligibility
Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA to register. Registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis. The course will be open to graduate and undergraduate students. Students with some background in urban development or experience with Italian language and culture will be given priority in the application process, but all students regardless of major or background will be welcome on the trip.
While in Italy
We will lodge in three different locations during the course of the two-week study tour: Catania (three nights) in modest hotel; Siracusa (two nights) in modest hotel; Messina (nine nights) in University of Messina student housing.
Important facts
- Tuition
- Financial aid
- Passports
- Payment of fees
- Refund policy
Tuition and fees is charged separately and additionally at standard VCU rates for in-state students and at a 40 percent discount for out-of-state students. Estimated costs, based on current tuition per credit and fees, are as follows: undergraduate in-state, $221 (per 3 credit class: $655); undergraduate out-of-state, $439 (per 3 credit class: $1,309); graduate in-state, $455 (per 3 credit class: $1,357); graduate out-of-state, $567 ($1,693 per 3 credit class).
Eligible VCU students may apply for need-based financial aid to participate in this program. Contact VCU Financial Aid, Ginter House, Room 110B at (804) 828-6669 or e-mail faidmail@vcu.edu. VCU offers its students a limited number of scholarships for study abroad participation. Contact VCU Education Abroad or see our Web site for further details.
If you have a passport, make sure it is valid for at least six months after your return date. If you do not have a passport, apply early because the processing time can take up to eight weeks. For more information on how to apply for a passport, visit http://travel.state.gov.
The non-refundable registration fee of $250 is due upon registration. The balance of the program fee and the tuition costs (based on the number of credits taken) will be billed separately through VCU Student Accounting after May 2010 (both amounts may be billed at the same time).
All withdrawals must be made in writing and submitted to the Director of Education Abroad.
The refund schedule is as follows:
- Prior to April 15: I am eligible for a refund of the portionof the program fee that has not already been expended in payment of costs outlined on the individual program sheet in support of my participation. I understand that, as the spring progresses, the charges may reflect an increasing amount, depending on what payments have been made on my behalf. After April 15, I understand that the entire program fee may be due. I understand that the refund amount cannot be determined until I formally submit written withdrawal from the program.
- After April 15: I will be responsible to pay the entire program fee. In the event of an unexpected emergency that occurs after April 15, I understand that I must provide a physician’s certification that my condition prohibits participation. In this case, refunds will be limited to recoverable expenses.
Every effort is made to provide updated and accurate information at the time of publication. The sponsors reserve the right to make necessary changes to the programs and costs. The university reserves the right to revise or alter all fees, regulations pertaining to student fees, and fee collection procedures at any time.
