History of Venice
HIST 217K/317K, 3 credits

Excursion Highlights

  • St. Mark's Basilica
  • Ducal Palace
  • Rialto Bridge and Marketplace
  • Jewish Ghetto
  • Venice's neighborhoods
  • Frari Church
  • Scuola Grande of S. Rocco

Course Itinerary

20-26 May 2012
Venice, Italy
Register by 29 April

"White swan of cities slumbering in thy nest . . .
White phantom city, whose untrodden streets
Are rivers, and whose pavements are the shifting
Shadows of the palaces and strips of sky."
- - - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Venice"


Walk the streets, ride the boats, and taste the dishes that have made Venice world renowned as a center of culture, visited by travelers from around the globe. The Venetian Republic lasted over a thousand years and was an international city of commerce, diplomacy, and art during the Renaissance period. On daily field trips, you'll explore the nature of Venice's historical legacy of culture, economy, and society. Leave the crowded tourist zones to visit local neighborhoods, and use the fabric of the city itself (paving stones, street names, cisterns) to understand how Venetians have lived throughout the city's glorious history.

Topics include:

  • Venice's origins
  • Venetian art and architecture
  • Venice and the Middle East
  • Venice and trade
  • Venetian immigration and industry
  • Venetian society, past and present

Faculty member: Monica Chojnacka, e-mail mchojnacka1@faculty.ed.umuc.edu

May apply toward upper- or lower-level credit for the arts and humanities general education requirement, an associate's degree or certificate in Italian area studies, a major or minor in history, or electives.

Accommodation and transportation

For your convenience, UMUC coordinates the hotel and excursion arrangements for a flat fee of $550 per student, in addition to the course tuition cost. This fee will be charged to your student account and covers seven nights of lodging (double occupancy room), as well as local transportation costs and entry to all excursions. Single rooms are available upon request for an additional fee of $200.

The $550 flat fee does not include travel to and from Venice. Students must make their own travel arrangements to the course.

Textbooks and course materials

Textbooks can be ordered through webText Europe - a secure, online textbook service designed to make your textbook ordering quick and simple. You can also receive on-site assistance from your local field representative. For a detailed listing of required textbooks and early reading assignments, please see the current course syllabus found in the schedule.

Registration details

You may register for the 3-credit field study course with your local field representative or online at MyUMUC. Tuition assistance or financial aid can be applied toward tuition costs. For more information, contact the UMUC Field Study Office at DSN 314-370-6762, CIV +49-(0)6221-3780, or e-mail fieldstudies@europe.umuc.edu.

Important!

Before completing your travel plans, please verify with your local field representative or the Field Study Office in Heidelberg that the course will be held as scheduled. Students who drop/withdraw from a field study course after the registration deadline will be charged a fee of $100.

Last updated: 20 March 2012