Archeology and Anthropology. Students are cast in the role of historical
detectives whose task it is to reconstruct the society, culture, and life of people
throughout history. From the pre-Columbian artifacts in Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum and the Museum of Natural History to the inhabitants of contemporary Oxford, students examine primary evidence, undertake fieldwork, and design their own research projects. They examine the relationship between human settlements and landscape, from ancient roads to funerary monuments, and debate how an archeologist in the future might view Oxford today. Back to top
Art History. Students spend much of their class time in the field taking advantage of Oxford’s wonderful artistic resources. Concentrating predominantly on European art from the Byzantine and Renaissance periods to the late 19th century, participants receive a broad introduction to the major schools of theory and thought in the subject with special emphasis placed upon exploring a variety of critical and analytical methods. With frequent museum visits and field trips, students learn to analyze masterpieces according to diverse sociological,
historical, cultural, and visual criteria. Back to top
British History. With historical resources almost unmatched elsewhere in the country, Oxford provides the perfect backdrop for an intensive exploration of this subject. After a broad introduction to various schools of historical thought, this course covers the most significant moments in British history from Roman times to the 21st century. Students use primary literary, archeological, and artistic evidence found in Oxford to analyze the socioeconomic and cultural contexts that inspired so many epoch-altering events in Britain overthe centuries. Back to top
Classical Civilization. This course examines the literature, philosophy, history, art, and scientific thought of Ancient Greece and Rome. From readings of select classical authors to tours of the Ashmolean Museum and visits to Roman sites
near Oxford, students receive an imaginative introduction to the ideas and aesthetics of Greco-Roman civilization. By focusing upon a variety of topics, students come to understand why the classical world has been so admired for thousands of years and how it continues to influence modern society. Back to top
Critical Theory. Taking a literary approach to critical theory, this course explores a number of poems, plays, and short stories from a variety of analytical perspectives. Students examine what language means, how it accomplishes that meaning, and explore the relationships between the ‘writer,’ the ‘reader,’ language itself, and literature. Students discuss literary theorists and linguists, significant schools of thought - including structuralism, post-structuralism, deconstruction, feminism, and psychoanalysis - and produce a journal to develop their own critical thinking. Back to top
English Literature. This course covers major works of English literature from Anglo-Saxon times to the late 20th century with special emphasis placed on poetry, short story, and drama. Amid the evocative surroundings of Oxford, formative home to numerous figures in Britain’s literary pantheon, students put well-known writings into historical and cultural context by visiting their authors’ places of study, work, and inspiration. Major students also analyze a Shakespeare play in its entirety before seeing it performed. Back to top
Fiction into Film. Students are introduced to film adaptations of English literary masterpieces, including several set in Oxford. By studying examples from a wide range of fiction and watching the corresponding movies, students examine how film adaptations interpret, innovate, and reinvent the meaning of an original work. Students also look at how adaptations can shape the perceptions of an audience, examine parodies of original texts, ideas, or genres, and debate the meaning of a ‘good’ adaptation. Students conclude the course by scripting and storyboarding their own adaptations of a famous work. Back to top
Literature and Psychology. This course explores human experience through poetry, prose, and drama. Readings, discussions, and workshops examine different treatments of psychological themes that recur throughout the Western literary tradition, including narcissism, madness, suffering, and humor. The seminal theories of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung provide a psychoanalytical foundation with which students go on to explore poems, plays, short stories and excerpts from select novels by famous authors, including Shakespeare, Milton, Shelley, Blake, and Wilde. Back to top
Literature and the Fantastic. This course explores literary fantasy by examining masterpieces by four Oxford authors: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, and Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. Students examine the worlds, symbolism, and mythology of these books through workshops, field trips, debates, and group readings. To bring these great fantasies to life, students consult other works in the genre and explore the authors’ favorite Oxford haunts. Back to top
Music. This course asks questions, both philosophical and practical, about the relationship between sound and music, between music-makers and listeners, and what music tells us about humanity’s past and present, and human experience itself. Students explore music from a variety of times, locations, and traditions, and the course features specialist concerts, an interactive presentation on the acoustics of sound, a study of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and a class on the history of hip hop. Previous musical training is helpful but not required. Back to top
Philosophy: Of Mind and Morals. In this ancient center of philosophical speculation, students explore a host of topics from major texts of philosophy, mythology, literature, and religion. Students consider religious texts like the Bible and the Koran; ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle; Oxford philosophers like Hobbes and Locke; idealists like Kant; iconoclasts like Nietzsche; and the work
of today’s leading philosophical minds. Students are encouraged to formulate their own views and arguments while wrestling with the fundamental questions of philosophy. Back to top
War in World History. War has been one of the greatest forces for change in human history and continues to shape today’s world. In addition to exploring military history and strategy, students learn to analyze conflicts through moral philosophy, economics, gender studies, psychology, and international relations theory. They also explore the portrayal of war in the media, in poetry, in comics,
and in art to understand how wars have been fought, represented, and commemorated from Ancient Greece to the War in Iraq. Back to top
Asia and the 21st Century. Students examine concepts such as ‘Chindia’ and ‘Pax Sinica’ to ask whether the 21st century will be dominated by Asian politics and culture – just as the 20th century was dominated by the United States and the 19th century by Britain. By focusing upon such countries as China, India, Pakistan, Japan, and North and South Korea, students examine various topics, including globalization, technology, communications, regional insecurities, and environmental crisis to consider what the ‘Asian Century’ means for not only Asia, but the world today. Back to top
Bioethics. As scientific progress changes the way we live and life itself is altered and extended, philosophical understanding, moral integrity, and responsibility in the realm of scientific knowledge have become vitally important. Students discuss and debate such issues as genetic engineering, cloning, cosmetic surgery, drugs in sports, animal testing, and stem cell research to explore the impact of scientific progress on popular opinion, religious belief, and the collective
human experience. Back to top
Community, Self, and Public Policy. Students explore ideas of civic responsibility, social community, and the role of the individual to understand the political and cultural environment of the modern age. Issues such as globalization, environmentalism, the role of government, political protest, poverty, and disease all feature in this examination of how societies, communities, families, and individuals function in an increasingly complex and integrated world. Through informed analysis of the media, current controversies in the field, and class debates, students re-imagine the ideals of their own community in Oxford. Back to top
International Business. This course introduces participants to the world of international business and its primary economic and financial institutions. With a focus on free market enterprise, globalization, and how businesses operate transnationally, students explore the tools and structures of international markets and explore 21st-century financial realities for major corporations, governments, and international organizations. Students visit such locations as Oxford’s Saïd Business School and Major course projects include real-life case studies, a real-time investment game, and the design of a theoretical start-up venture. Back to top
International Relations. Examining the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, tensions in South-East Asia, the precarious state of Africa, and the political, economic and social responsibilities of major players in world politics, this course introduces students to key issues in modern international relations. In order to understand the complexities of international rivalry, hostility, and alliance, students are introduced to a variety of theoretical perspectives and schools of thought. Participants take part in workshops with foreign policy experts, scholars, and government officials, and examine the role of the media in world affairs. Back to top
Law and Society. In the very college in which William Blackstone wrote his famous legal Commentaries, our students examine the basic tenets of the British and American legal systems and how they reflect the values and institutions of their respective societies. Emphasis is placed on legal history and modes of thought, current controversies, and the kind of first-hand courtroom observation that brings them to life. The course includes visits to a Magistrates Court, as well as sessions with eminent lawyers and scholars. The Major course culminates in a formal Moot Court competition. Back to top
Mathematics and Engineering. Students learn the principles and mathematics of engineering science to understand human achievements that soar, stretch, and stand before us. World-renowned, historically significant, and local examples are all examined as students apply principles of engineering science to a variety of case studies and imaginative scenarios. Participants solve mathematical, mechanical, structural and architectural problems, and conclude the course with their own design and construction of one such engineering challenge. Back to top
Medical Science. Combining visits to medical and research facilities with readings, lab projects, and classroom discussions, our students explore the development of modern medicine and research. They debate the ethical and legal ramifications of modern-day issues such as euthanasia, experimental AIDS treatments, and advances in genetics. In addition to dissections and other handson experiences, special emphasis is given to ways students can prepare for the premed major and for medical school itself. Back to top
Molecular Medicine. This course looks at recent developments in molecular medicine. Specific focus is placed on the Human Genome Project, the genetic basis of oncology, current trends in cancer and AIDS research, DNA structure and replication, and gene function. Students learn how sub-cellular discoveries made in laboratories translate into bedside health care and debate the legal and ethical dimensions of genetic manipulation in humans and animals. Prerequisites: completion of at least one year each of Biology and Chemistry. Back to top
Neuropsychology. Using cognitive, experimental, and clinical approaches, students explore the structure and function of the brain as it relates to psychological process and behavior. Students learn the main principles of neuroscience, philosophy of mind, neurology and psychiatry, look at the technology behind diagnostic tools, such as CT and MRI scans, and study brain injuries and mental disorders. Classroom experiments and group projects are complemented by visits to local laboratories. Back to top
Politics and Economics. Oxford University’s famous undergraduate major of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) is adapted for our students. Students examine the institutions and policies of modern Britain and contrast the British, American, European, and East Asian approaches to global economic problems. Students engage in practical exercises such as a fantasy stock portfolio competition and, as the culmination of the course, participate in a mock Parliament. Back to top
Physics and the Future. Physics is considered the fundamental science with which to understand the world around us. Students are exposed to the subject’s awe-inspiring breadth, including Newtonian mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics, as well as Einstein’s theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, and string theory. Touching on such diverse areas of knowledge, students look at theoretical advances in science as a means of imagining the future. Prerequisite: at least one year of Physics. Back to top
Pop Culture as Knowledge. In this cultural studies course, students examine the social behaviors, popular tastes, and technologies that have influenced the entertainment industry, commercial enterprise, and cultural trends over the ages – what we call pop culture today. Such topics as fame and celebrity, fashion, music, dance, and popular protest are all examined as a means of analyzing ideological and commercial consumption through history. Students explore their own notion of ‘culture’ to learn just how popular their own understanding of pop culture is. Back to top
Social Psychology. With a stimulating grounding in the major theories of psychology, behavior, and social development, students investigate a wide range of topics that include body language, gender, dreams, memory, and sexuality. As well as examining case histories, students are introduced to research methodologies and diverse analytical frameworks as they conduct experiments and examine their findings under the guidance of research specialists and practicing clinicians. Back to top
Architecture. From the early Norman and Medieval periods through to the Neoclassical and Modern eras, this course treats Oxford as an openair textbook on architectural history to inspire students in their own creative efforts. Students receive an introduction to architectural design and modelmaking and explore the relationship between structure, style, form and function. Students showcase their best work at the Arts Exhibition at the end of the program. Materials fee of $250 US for Majors; $100 US for Minors. Back to top
Creative Writing. Professional writers teach techniques for composing prose and poetry as students work to improve and refine their writing skills. Each student develops his or her own portfolio of work while also contributing pieces to The Paper Punt, our literary magazine. Frequent workshops with established poets and writers expose students to a variety of works in progress while readings of various works written by legendary Oxford authors complement students’ practical training. Back to top
Drama. Workshops and master classes in areas as diverse as theory, technique, improvisation, voice, mime, movement, and script analysis develop and enhance the skills of any young actor. Taught by classically-trained professional actors and directors, students master the nuances of Shakespearean verse and interpretation to prepare for a full performance of a Shakespeare play at the end of the program. From auditions and casting to rehearsals and the final curtain call, Major class students participate in a fullscale Shakespeare production - in the same fashion as a professional repetory company. Production fee of $75 US for Majors only. Back to top
Film Studies. Working in small groups, students in this introductory filmmaking course produce short films, taking part in all aspects of pre-production, technical production using digital video cameras, and editing. Classes include sessions on film language, structure, criticism, and history, and workshops in production technique, shooting, and editing. The Minor class is a non-production course, in which participants study the history and theory of film. Major students screen their films at the end of the program. Lab fee of $300 US for Majors. This class has limited enrollment and is exempt from the course guarantee deadline. Back to top
Journalism. In this course, students become full-time journalists as they practice news and feature writing. The focal point for Major students is the composition, editing, page-setting, and publication of the class magazine, The Visitor. This features the best pieces written by each member of the class covering political, cultural, and social issues that are of interest to the students. Field trips to newspaper headquarters and outstanding guest speakers supplement this fascinating introduction to the world of professional journalism. Production fee of $200 US for Majors; $100 US for Minors. Back to top
Photography. Students in this course are immersed in the visual riches of Oxford. Both beginners and more advanced photographers spend much of their time in the field, pursuing assignments designed to improve photo-essay, landscape, portraiture, art, and fashion photography skills. Students exhibit their best work in the formal Arts Exhibition at the end of the program. No darkroom work is involved. Students require their own digital camera with USB cable, charger, manual, and at least one 128 MB memory card. Lab fee of $100 US for Majors; $50 US for Minors. Back to top
Speech and Debate. For the novice or the experienced high school debater, this course develops and enhances a range of public speaking skills. Students explore major debating styles and strategies drawing upon the British parliamentary traditions of wit, persuasion, and oratory. Students are engaged in speaking exercises, orations, and dialogues on a daily basis, and in the preparation and presentation of regular debates. The culmination of the course is a formal debate in the historic debating chamber of the Oxford Union Society. Back to top
Studio Art. Beginners and more advanced students receive formal instruction in sketching and painting using a variety of media. They spend much of their time outside the studio, immersed in the visual splendor of Oxford, sketching medieval towers, capturing pastoral landscapes, practicing their portrait skills or discovering
masterpieces in the such locations as the Ashmolean Museum and the Christ Church Picture Gallery. Students exhibit their best pieces at the end of the program in our Arts Exhibition. Materials fee of $200 US for Majors; $100 US for Minors. 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 January 8, 2010 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 Oxford University. As much as possible, academic subjects provide students with the opportunity to enjoy an Oxford-style seminar conducted by a teacher who has experienced the Oxford 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
© 2009 Oxbridge Academic Programs. All Rights Reserved.