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Language and Culture in L'viv, Ukraine

Language and Culture in L'viv, Ukraine

The proud and beautiful medieval city of L’viv has been the “Western Ukrainian capital of culture” for three centuries. Founded in 1256 by Danylo Halytskiy, this city of 850,000 is only 50 kilometers from the Polish border. Under the long reign of Danylo’s son, Lev (1264-1301), L’viv came to be the capital city of the Galician-Volhynian Kingdom. More recently, L’viv has been in the vanguard of the new Ukrainian National Democratic Movement. The University of L’viv is the oldest university in Ukraine, established in 1661. The University, one of the two principal centers of learning in Ukraine, was later renamed for the great national Ukrainian writer, poet, and statesman, Ivan Franko (1856-1916).

The Program

This six-week program offers a unique opportunity for graduate students to study intensive Ukrainian language and area studies (political transition, society, economics, culture, etc.) in L’viv. Instruction is provided by regular faculty of L’viv University who have experience teaching American students. The program offers 150 class contact hours of language instruction. In addition to taking language and area courses, students will work with individual L’viv faculty on a research topic associated with their stateside field of concentration. The program includes a round-table discussion with representatives of several Ukrainian political parties. An on-site Program Director from the KU faculty accompanies the students.

Faculty Director

Dr. Alex Tsiovkh has been teaching in the REES Ukrainian program since 1993. He teaches various courses in the program, including Nations and Cultures of Eastern Europe; History of Ukraine; and Introduction to East European Culture and Society: Ukraine. Dr. Tsiovkh’s special interest is in the semiotics of language and culture.

Excursions

The Program includes numerous teacher-accompanied excursions in and around L’viv, including the historic city center, various churches, and museums of history, ethnography, and architecture. The Program also includes three excursions outside L’viv: a three-day trip to the capital city of Kyiv; a two-day trip to the Carpathian mountains, with visits to Mukacheve and Uzhorod; and a one-day trip to the medieval castle of Olesko.

Courses Offered

All students enroll in:
UKRA 675 (6 credits) and REES 895 (3 credits)
These courses cover practical Intensive Ukrainian Readings in language and culture and Ukrainian Area Studies.

Accommodations

Participants stay with pre-screened Ukrainian families in L’viv, thus allowing the students to master their Ukrainian language skills and to have a first-hand experience of daily life in Ukraine.

Dates

Arrive in L’viv: June 8-9, 2009
Classes begin: June 10, 2009
Classes end: July 22, 2009
Depart L'viv: July 23-24, 2008

Participants are free to travel in Europe before or after the program.

Eligibility

Open to students from any accredited U.S. college or university who have completed three years of college-level Russian (or equivalent) and/or intermediate Ukrainian language, and who have demonstrated interest in current social science and humanistic topics. The program is targeted at graduate students in area studies, but undergraduates who have the appropriate academic profile may also be eligible.

Credit

Nine hours of graduate or upper-level credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program.

Cost

Program Fee: Approximately $4,260 ($4,460 for non-KU students). The fee includes tuition, fees, full room and board, group excursions, field trips, and emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services.

Additional costs: Airfare, passport and student visa, and personal expenses.

Note

All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change as necessary due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.

Useful Websites

L'viv University
CREES

Financial Aid

Since this program meets all Department of Education requirements for intensive summer language programs, eligible graduate students may use FLAS Summer Fellowships. KU students see the CREES website for more FLAS funding details. Non-KU students should check with their home institutions.

KU students who qualify for summer financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program.

Limited supplemental scholarships are available to KU undergraduates. Applications are available at the Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the scholarship application. The scholarship application deadline is March 1.

Non-KU students should check into the financial resources available to them at their home institutions.

Application Procedures

Final Application Deadline: March 1, 2009

Application forms are available from the KU Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the application. All application materials are to be returned to the Office of Study Abroad no later than March 1.

(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to download an application. If your computer does not have Acrobat Reader you can download it for FREE.)

For more information contact:

Dr. Alex Tsiovkh
Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies
University of Kansas
1440 Jayhawk Blvd, Rm 320
Lawrence, KS 66045
phone: (785) 864-4118
e-mail: crees@ku.edu

The University of Kansas
Office of Study Abroad
Lippincott Hall
1410 Jayhawk Blvd. Room 108
Lawrence, KS 66045-7515
phone: 785-864-3742
fax: 785-864-5040
e-mail: osa@ku.edu