Honors First Study Abroad Experience: Spain and England

Contact Information:

Program and academic information: Dr. Stefano Bloch (blochs@arizona.edu) - Faculty-Lead

Application and application process: Sam Cox (SamCox21@arizona.edu)

Honors credit: contact your Honors academic advisor

Faculty Lead: Dr. Stefano Bloch (blochs@arizona.edu)

Bio:

Stefano Bloch is an associate professor in the School of Geography, Development and Environment who researches urban-based subcultures from a social theory and neighborhood planning perspective. He is the author of Going All City: Struggle and Survival in LA’s Graffiti Subculture.

Spring 2024 1-Unit Seminar on Main-Campus

Each trip begins with a 1-unit Spring course to prepare you for your study abroad experience. The 1-unit course will count as your W.A. Franke Honors seminar requirement. All committed students will be automatically placed in the 1-unit course when enrollment opens. This course is a requirement of the experience. Students must receive a passing grade to advance to the summer 6-units.

1-Unit Seminar Day/Time: HNRS 195J-012, 7 weeks (2nd session), Wednesdays 12:00-12:50pm

1-Unit Seminar Topic:

Students will read and discuss critical texts on urban history and form by geographers and planners, as well as contemporary articles on the cultural politics and practice of graffiti and street art.

Summer 2024 (tentative dates July 8 - July 26) 6 units abroad:

We will explore a total of six cities across two European countries whose colonial influence on urban form and culture in the United States has been unmatched. From city layout resulting from the industrial revolution in Manchester in the north, to contemporary street-art making in Madrid to the south, we will examine how English and Spanish cities act as models for historical as well as contemporary American place-making. Our exploration of each city will be from a cultural, geographical, and urban planning perspective.

Assignments and activities include the sketching of each city’s layout and most prominent features from their respective highest points, written personal reflections on individual dérives (unguided urban wandering), photo-essays depicting informal place-making, and ethnographic notetaking practices based on the observation of everyday life.

All students will earn 6 units of Honors general education credit by participating in this program in the following:

Courses:

HNRS 208H - Exploring Urban Change

Building Connections

Students will read and discuss social, economic, architectural, and cultural issues related to historical and contemporary urban change. Course materials include social-scientific texts and fictional accounts of how place-making and place-taking occur in Western cities, from the Industrial Revolution to the Street Art Movement.

GEOG 150B2 - Honors Section - Crime and the City

Exploring Perspectives, Social Scientist

This course covers social, cultural, political, and geographical issues related to contemporary crime, criminality and criminalization in the Unites States, with a focus on myths and misunderstandings about crime, national crime statistics, as well as social theories about urban crime and policing.

Spain: Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona

You will begin your coursework in Madrid where we will explore the Museo Naval to view the Juan de la Cosa map that depicts the earliest known representation of the “New World.” Beyond Madrid, expect to spend a day in the ancient walled city of Toledo. In route to Barcelona, we will have a multi-day stop in the coastal city of Valencia, the “City of Arts and Sciences” and birthplace of paella, to visit a broad Spanish beach and gateway to the Mediterranean. We will end our time in Spain with an extended visit to the many neighborhoods in Barcelona where graffiti art and Gaudí architecture compete for attention.

England: Manchester, Bristol, London

Beginning in Manchester, we will observe the remnants of the industrial revolution along the River Irk. In Bristol, the birthplace of famed street artist Banksy, we will have an in-depth exploration of the impact of art and culture. Along the way, we will enjoy day trips to Bath and Oxford. We will also visit an ancient UNESCO World Heritage site of Stonehenge. The course will end in the major metropolis of London by exploring iconic locations including the Tower Bridge and Big Ben. Throughout our travel together, expect to be introduced to neighborhood haunts such as local curry houses, skateparks, and cafes.

Good to Know:

View each country's LGBTQ+ rating here: Equaldex’s LGBTQ+ Equality Index.

View each country's Peace rating here: Global Peace Index rating

View Languages spoken in each country.

Students will either stay in fully equipped multi-bedroom apartments or in twin occupancy hotel rooms.

Application Instructions

The deadline to apply for this program is February 15th. Scroll down and select the "Apply Now" red button. To continue working on your application, click on "Continue Existing Application" red button or click on the UAbroad Login button on the top right hand corner of the page.

Financial Information & Scholarships

Please visit this LINK for more information on billing/withdrawal policies, Study Abroad scholarships through our office, other Scholarship Opportunities, and Financial Aid. Students are also encouraged to check their specific college and department websites for funding opportunities.

Honors Trip Scholarship

The W.A. Franke Honors College offers scholarships especially for the Honors First Study Abroad Experience programs. The application through Scholarship Universe NOW OPEN. The deadline is February 15th. Students will be notified by February 23rd.