Turkey: Exploring Istanbul: Past and Present (A History of Modern Turkey)
January 1 – 18, 2016
(Winter Intersession 2016)
This class will take place on site in Istanbul, a city that spans two continents, Europe and Asia. It aims to teach the history of the late Ottoman period and modern Turkey . The class will be divided into two components: the first part will focus on Turkey's Ottoman past and will rethink issues related to Ottoman history, politics and society, and other aspects such as art and architecture.
During this part, we will visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Museum, the Ashkenazi and Sephardic synagogues, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. We will take a boat trip up the Bosphorus straights and will end the day at one of Mehmet the Conqueror's Fortress. In addition to the Brooklyn College faculty member's lessons, students will hear form local experts, who will provide important information not available in the classroom.
The second part will cover the history of modern Turkey, taught together with some of Turkey's top professors, which will include meetings with journalists, women's and LGBT groups, Armenian and Jewish groups, Kurdish, Alevi, and other social groups to learn about issues relevant to modern Turkey. It will also include meetings with government officials and opposition parties. This component will allow the students to understand how histories are contested and how a multitude of competing narratives are shaped.
The class will be held on site in the heart of Istanbul in which the students will explore different neighborhoods on a daily basis. Program participants will stay in a hotel (with breakfast included) located near the main center of the European side. While activities will be planned throughout the daytime and evenings, students will have free time to eat their dinners at numerous cafés and restaurants near the hotel. Class meetings will take place in a conference room at one of the local universities (to be announced).
While we will be primarily located on the European part of the city, we will also explore the Asian side as part of our class. Lastly, there will be a weekend excursion to an historic Ottoman city, Edirne, where we will have the chance to see first hand one of the first Ottoman capitals. Here we will also visit Europe's third largest synagogue, which was recently renovated by the Turkish government, and Turkey's largest mosque, the Selimiye.
This program is open to undergraduate and graduate students, all majors.
Program Dates
January 1 – 18, 2016
Program Fee
$1,478 (includes CISI health/travel insurance, program-related transportation in Turkey, excursions, housing and some meals)
Program Fee Payment Schedule:
- Nonrefundable Deposit Due With Application — $300
- First Payment Due: Friday, November 6, 2015 — $589
- Final Payment Due: Friday, December 4, 2015 — $589
Additional Costs
- Brooklyn College tuition and fees for three credits.
- Out-of-pocket costs ($700 estimated minimum) for personal expenses, visa, laundry and out-of-pocket meals.
- $1,000 for international round-trip airfare to Turkey.
Courses and Credits
Participants will register for one 3-credit course, selecting from among the courses listed below. Final course offerings will be dependent on course enrollment.
- HIST 3554: From Empire to Nation-State: The Emergence of Modern Turkey 1800–Present
- HIST 7530X: Modern Ottoman History, 1700–1923 (graduate students only)
Financial Aid / Scholarships
Financial aid may apply, and alternative loans are available. Scholarships that apply to this program are: Furman, SASA and others (see Scholarship Opportunities).
How to Apply
- Complete the IEGE Notification of Study Abroad/Brooklyn College Study Abroad Application (pdf) and submit via e-mail to the International Education & Global Engagement office, or in person at the IEGE office, 1108 Boylan Hall.
- A $300 nonrefundable deposit is due with your application. Students will pay directly at the Brooklyn College Bursar's Office and must attach their paid receipt to their application when submitting to IEGE. Applications will not be accepted or considered complete without a receipt. Please note this deposit of $300 will only be returned if you are not accepted to the program.
- Contact the program director to express your interest in joining the program.
Application Deadline
Thursday, October 15, 2015 Deadline extended to Wednesday, October 28, 2015
More Information
Louis Fishman (Program Director)
Department of History
1105 Boylan Hall
P: 718.951.5303
Study Abroad in Turkey Facebook Page
International Education & Global Engagement
1108 Boylan Hall
P: 718.951.5189
Cancellation and Refund Policies
Please read and understand the IEGE Cancellation and Refund Policies Information and note that a participant wishing to cancel their program participation must send written notification to IEGE to officially withdraw. Program withdrawal will be official from the time and date that the written communication was received by IEGE.
Please note that all information listed above is subject to change.
