Welcome to the Istanbul Global Seminar Website! 

I encourage you to participate in this exciting academic and personal adventure in Summer 2012 in Istanbul, the city that connects East and West, Europe and Asia.  This unforgettable destination has been called the "heart of the world's desire" and served as an imperial capital for over 1,600 years, first for the Byzantine Empire (4th to the 15th century) and then for the Ottoman Empire (15th to the 20th century).   Today it is a thriving metropolis of over 15 million people!  Istanbul is a fascinating city which reveals layer upon layer of history and tradition in evidence, interaction, & competition:  

Greek, Roman/Byzantine, Ottoman, Turkish;

Pagan, Christian, Jewish, Muslim; 

Ancient, Medieval, Modern, Post-Modern; 

Religious and Secular;        

Cosmopolitan and Provincial; 

Imperial and National; 

Eastern and Western.                    

The Global Seminar program is open to all college and university students.  The program consists of a package of two UCSD courses (for a total of 8 credits and students must enroll in both classes) taught by a UCSD faculty member (in this case, Matthew T. Herbst).   All instruction is in English.   Lodging, site-visits, transportation within the city, and daily meals are provided (though transportation to Istanbul is not).  The program is five weeks long, running from the end of June through July. 

Class meets on three days each week (9am-12noon) and is followed by excursions throughout the city, as we explore mosques, churches, synagogues, museums, neighborhoods, monuments, markets, and more.  We may, for example, discuss Hagia Sophia or the Walls of Constantinople in class and a few hours later we will find ourselves underneath the monument's majestic dome or walking along the historic fortifications.  The class format interweaves lecture, discussion, student presentations, and site visits.   A fourth day each week is dedicated to a longer site visit with no lecture on that day.  This leaves three "free" days each week when there is no required activity.  You may use this time for rest, course work, and for exploring and enjoying the city and surrounding area.  

For information on the courses click on the "courses" tab at left , for information about the application process, program cost, and other important logistical and administrative matters, see:                                 < http://pao.ucsd.edu/pao/gs/ > .

Sincerely,

Matthew T. Herbst, Ph.D.

Director, Making of the Modern World Program

University of California San Diego, E. Roosevelt College

9500 Gilman Dr. MC 0546, La Jolla, CA 92093

Email:  matthewherbst[at]ucsd.edu

Phone:    858 822 4859