| HUMANITIES | SCIENCES & SOCIAL SCIENCES | PRODUCTION & WORKSHOP |
Art History. Within a broad survey course, students are introduced to the masterpieces that chronicle and define Western art, many of which are to be found in the extraordinary Fitzwilliam collection immediately next door to Peterhouse, in the various galleries that the class visits in Cambridge, or indeed in and about the city. Over the course of the month students will be introduced to key examples of Medieval, Renaissance, Classical, and even Modernist art. They will discover how to read these works while situating them in the wider context of the canon. Back to top
British History. Exploring major figures and events in British History from Roman times to the Second World War, this dynamic course prioritizes imaginative approaches to learning. Exciting projects bring Britain’s bloody past to life while field trips around Cambridge expose students to many of the people and places that have played key roles in British history. Students enrich their knowledge of the subject by studying art and literature from the relevant periods, adding a crucial dimension to their experience and understanding. The course is concluded with a historical quest around Cambridge. Back to top
English Literature. This course introduces students to the masterpieces of English literature. Covering a range of styles, periods, and contexts, students engage with the poetry and prose of giants such as Milton, Wordsworth, Tennyson, Coleridge, Woolf, Hardy, T.S. Eliot, and of course Shakespeare, through a series of stimulating discussions, readings, and workshops. With a special focus on authors who worked and studied in Cambridge and featuring visits to the relevant sites in and around the city, this course makes Cambridge come alive to all lovers of English literature. Back to top
History of Comedy. The members of Monty Python met and learned their trade in Cambridge before redefining comedy. More recently the University welcomed Stephen Fry and Sacha Baron Cohen, producing a new generation of ground-breaking comedians in the process. Students are introduced to the history of comedy, its cultural manifestations, and its place in the human psyche. Subjects covered include Ancient Greek comedy, Renaissance and Restoration comedy, silent film, satire, and farce. From Shakespeare to The Simpsons, students learn how humor can convey serious political argument, reflect pressing social issues and betray profound cultural and psychological assumptions. The class examines what different cultures celebrate as ‘funny’ and students create their own genre-specific comic pieces which are performed at the end of the program. Back to top
Philosophy. Oxford and Cambridge have welcomed renowned philosophers since the Middle Ages, and students enjoy a lively and engaging introduction to this oldest and most challenging of disciplines. By discussing classic philosophical puzzles and paradoxes that have stimulated minds from Ancient Greece to the present day, students improve their analytical skills and engage with such topics as ethics, knowledge, and the nature of being. Back to top
Criminology. In this course, students are introduced to the exciting disciplines of criminology and criminal justice. Through workshops, debates, and visits to police stations and criminal courts, students explore individual and social theories of crime, philosophies of punishment, restorative justice and conflict resolution, criminal profiling, incident analysis, and some basic forensic science. They also consider the causes of crime, the influence of the media upon crime, and the sociology of race and gender within the context of the British and American criminal justice systems. Back to top
Disease and Disaster: Crises in Human History. Combining medicine, history, and environmental science, this course looks at how epidemics and natural disasters impact civilizations and transform the course of history. Examining such memorable crises as the Black Plague, the Great Fire of London, and the annihilation of indigenous peoples in North and South America at the time of colonization, as well as more recent ones like tuberculosis and HIV, the 2004 Asian Tsunami, and global warming, students consider the different ways of preparing for andresponding to the epidemic and natural challenges facing humanity today, and the new types of challenges it is likely to face in the future. Back to top
Global Business. Students explore the tools and structures of international commerce, focussing on free enterprise, economic development, and how businesses manage the global marketplace. Through workshops and exercises, students cover 21st-century finance for budding entrepreneurs and major corporations alike. By visiting the renowned Judge Business School – just opposite Peterhouse – students obtain first-hand experience of cutting-edge business education. Major course projects include real-life case studies (on topics ranging from brand positioning to crisis management), consulting projects, a real-time investment game, and the design of a theoretical start-up venture. Back to top
International Espionage. As the world enters an era in which violent groups, not nationstates, assume the mantle of enemies, intelligence agencies face unprecedented challenges. This course examines the leading figures, techniques, and practices, both past and present, of the world’s great intelligence services – Mossad, the KGB, CIA, MI5 and MI6. Working in the university from which the Cambridge Five were recruited, and in which the world’s most famous fictional spy, James Bond, studied, our students address the future of intelligence work in a supranational world and the ethics of espionage within international cooperation, competition, and conflict. Back to top
International Law. Students are introduced to the basic institutions and principles of international law through a series of interactive classes, discussions, and group activities. They explore topics such as sovereign independence, the dynamics of international alliance, commerce, war, the law of the sea, international dispute settlement and arbitration, and human rights. They examine the justification for regime change and nation-building in a world in which the enforcement of international law is also the exertion of international power. Students look at institutions such as the United Nations, the WTO, the International Criminal Court, and NGOs. The course concludes with mock trial exercises covering a variety of political and legal scenarios. Back to top
Math and Nature. In this course, students explore the often wondrous parallels between mathematics and naturally occurring patterns, like the falling apple in Cambridge that supposedly inspired Isaac Newton. Students look at algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus, and then examine the presence of math in the world around them by exploring such phenomena as Fibonacci numbers and Phi, also called the ‘Golden Section’ in Ancient Greece and the ‘Divine Proportion’ in the Renaissance. Students are also introduced to topics such as Newtonian physics and chaos, quantum, and string theory – in which Cambridge remains at the forefront of mathematical thinking. Back to top
Medical Science. This hands-on course introduces students to key aspects of medical science and modern medical practice. Combining specialist lectures with experiments and class discussions, students learn the main principles of human anatomy and physiology, the pathology and significance of certain diseases, and the main challenges that face medical science today. There are also discussions on ethical issues in medicine and, throughout the course, students are introduced to the wide and growing range of possible careers in medicine. Back to top
Molecular Biology. Taught in the city that witnessed the discovery of the double helix and that houses the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, perhaps the world’s foremost genomics center, this course focuses on molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics. After reviewing molecular structure, cell biology, and the function and operation of genes and proteins, students analyze the factors underlying diseases and explore the significance and consequences of such issues as genetic engineering, cloning, and gene therapy. Students undertake simple experiments, such as DNA extraction, meet local scientists, and visit sites of particular interest including the colleges of notable molecular biologists such as Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Frederick Sanger. Back to top
Science of the Future. This course addresses cutting-edge advances in areas as diverse as atomic and molecular physics, genetic engineering, stem-cell research, nanotechnology, particle physics, astrophysics, space travel, and artificial intelligence. Gathering together all the material they have worked on in class, during seminars, lectures, and visits to university laboratories, students go on to identify the possible futures that science and technology are creating for humankind, and to debate how these will affect our existences and at what moral and physical cost they will do so. Back to top
Social Psychology. This course focuses on the science of human behavior and individual development within a social context. Students are introduced to the principal themes of social psychology, including stereotyping and prejudice, cross-cultural differences, the dynamics of cooperation and conflict, conformity and persuasion, attraction, and the role of the individual within the crowd. Through case studies and interactive experiments, participants gain an introduction to psychology and learn to analyze their own peer group reality. Back to top
Weapons, Strategy, and War. From bow and arrow to the virtual battlefield, this course examines the relationship between technology, history, and military strategy. Covering technological advances in weaponry and warfare over the centuries, it also examines the changing nature of conflict and how people, machines, and ideologies engage in battle. Students explore the challenges that policy-makers face today with the threat of non-conventional weapons getting into the hands of non-state actors. Mankind’s violent history and the current geopolitical climate are used as fertile ground for lively discussion and debate. Back to top
Zoology. Using remarkable local resources such as the University’s Museum of Zoology, the wildlife park, and of course the countryside that lies within easy reach of Peterhouse, participants study evolutionary biology, natural selection, animal behavior, and ecology, before going on to study animal communication, theories of instinct and innate behavior, imprinting, predation and protection, and behavioral development. As a final project, students are invited to speculate on future forms of life on Earth. Back to top
Creative Writing. Working with a professional writer, students in this class practice writing techniques and develop their abilities in several different genres including fiction, poetry, and journal writing. Students write every day, whether in class workshops or on visits to inspirational sites around Cambridge such as Grantchester Meadows or King’s College Chapel. Additional emphasis is placed on individual tutorials and workshops with professional writers. Each student compiles a portfolio of written pieces, the best of which are published in the program’s literary magazine at the end of the month. Back to top
Drama. In a setting renowned for
theatrical excellence, students work
with professional actors and directors
in a series of creative workshops to
develop their skills in movement,
improvisation, voice, and acting
techniques. With a specific focus on
Shakespeare, participants deepen their
understanding of how to interpret
and stage the Bard’s work while
attending performances of his plays at
the Cambridge Summer Shakespeare
Festival. Regardless of prior acting
experience, all students participate
in a production that is staged before
the student body at the end of the
program. Back to top
Photojournalism. Using digital
technology to record their exploration
of country and character, students
build up a pictorial portfolio of their
time in Cambridge, and produce a
comprehensive photojournal of their
experiences in England and on the
program. With an emphasis on creative
and narrative photojournalism,
students receive guidance in portraiture,
landscape, and art photography,
putting their skills to use in a variety
of projects. The program culminates
in a formal photography exhibition
in the final week. No darkroom work
is involved. Students require their own
digital camera, with USB cable, charger,
manual, and at least one 128 MB
memory card. Materials fee of $100 US
for Majors; $50 US for Minors. Back to top
Speech and Debate. From the shy beginner to the aspiring debater, students gain skill and confidence as speakers in every situation. The class learns techniques in extemporaneous and improvisational speaking, as well as secrets of success in the classroom: making oral presentations, engaging in seminar discussions, and posing effective questions in public arenas. Students speak in class every day, keep journals of useful quotations, and stage a formal debate in the historic Cambridge Union debating chamber before the whole student body. Back to top
Studio Art. Using Cambridge and the surrounding countryside as their visual inspiration and classroom, students receive formal instruction from a professional artist in composition with pencil, charcoal, watercolor, and pastel. From the idyllic vistas of Cambridge’s ‘Backs’ to scenes of town life and the University’s quieter corners, students explore their environment, sketching and painting – with experienced guidance – at every opportunity. Workshops in landscape, portraiture, and still life enable students to mount an exhibition at the end of the program and take home an individual portfolio of their best work. Materials fee of $150 US for Majors; $75 US for Minors. Back to top
Writing Now: From Books to Blogs. Writing in today’s world is radically different than it was only a short time ago. This practical course exposes students to the fundamentals of writing for new media – from on-line magazine articles to blog entries – and at the same time helps them perfect the timeless forms which are still necessary to master, such as essays, résumés and cover letters. At the same time, classroom debates revolve around the pros and cons of multimedia, the future of print journalism, and the differences between keeping a journal and writing a blog. Students put their newly honed skills to work on a class blog documenting their summer adventures. Back to top
NOTE: There is no final application deadline.
We accept applications on a rolling basis until the program is full. Students who apply on or before February 6, 2009 and are accepted, have their first choice of courses guaranteed, subject to enrollment levels. This is absolutely not a final application deadline but we do begin receiving applications in November so we recommend that students apply as early as possible for subjects that are in very high demand.
Our Philosophy
All of our courses, regardless of subject area, are designed to introduce students not only to new subjects and skills, but also to the teaching and traditions of Cambridge University. As much as possible, academic subjects provide students with the opportunity to enjoy a Cambridge-style seminar conducted by a teacher who has experienced the Cambridge teaching system. Above all, our philosophy is to put students in small classes to study exciting and engaging courses conducted by lively and imaginative teachers.
Course Selection
Our students choose any two courses on the list, one as a MAJOR course and one as a MINOR. Major courses meet six mornings a week and depending on the nature of the course include in-class time for fieldwork, labs, workshops, guest speakers, group discussions, and one-on-one instruction. They also include homework and require project and preparation time outside of class. Minor courses meet three afternoons a week, with all work contained within the class session. A Minor course presents highlights of the Major and most students find their Minor a welcome opportunity to sample a new subject for the first time.
Evaluation
Each student receives grades and comments for their coursework at the end of the summer. Our participants often find these comments to be a valuable addition to their college applications, where they stand as testimony to their academic achievements during the program. We keep copies in our New York office and are happy to send them to colleges when alumni apply for admission.
601 Cathedral Parkway, Suite 7R, New York, New York 10025-2186
Telephone: (800) 828-8349 / (212) 932-3049 Fax: (212) 663-8169
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