Summer Program in Tunisia, North Africa

• Program Description‌
• Trip Highlights 
• Syllabus
• Faculty
• Academics
• Dates
• Program Costs
• Application Process
• Biography of Trip Leader

Program Description

Tunisia’s “Jasmine” revolution of January 14, 2011 ushered in the Arab world’s first democracy by overthrowing the twenty-four year dictatorship (1987-2011) of Ben Ali.  Nine months later on October 23, more than 80 percent of Tunisians voted in their country’s first free and fair elections to establish a democratic Constituent Assembly that is responsible for crafting a new Constitution and overseeing future elections.  Tunisia’s Jasmine revolution also sparked the imagination of the Arab world, creating a domino effect as pro-democracy demonstrators continue to confront dictatorships across the Middle East and North Africa, including toppling the thirty year Egyptian dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak and the forty-two year Libyan dictatorship of Muammar el-Qaddafi. 

This exciting 20-day summer travel course throughout Tunisia offers a unique experiential understanding of the relationship between the Arab spring, democratic transition, Islam, and U.S. foreign policy. Students will be introduced to the culture, history, religion, and politics of Tunisia, an Arab country that serves as the present-day embodiment of the Carthaginian Empire--one of the greatest empires in the history of the Mediterranean. A special combination of site visits and lectures by award-winning group leader Professor Peter J. Shraeder, and guest presentations by renowed Tunisian scholars will focus on Tunisia's Jasmine revolution and the politics of democratization in the Arab world, the role of women in Muslim societies, Arab preceptions of U.S. foreign policy, U.S. perceptions of Tunisia's role in the global war on terrorism, the evolving role of Islam in the Arab world, and the history of the Carthaginian, Roman, and French empires in North Africa. 

The first five days of our summer study trip will be spent in the capital, Tunis, and will include visits to the winding passageways of teh Arab medina (the old quarter of Tunis), the bustle of modern Habib Bourguiba Avenue (often referred to as the Champs Elysee of Tunis), the seafront suburbs of Sidi Bou Said and Carthage, the U.S. military cemetary (the final resting place of U.S. soldiers killed in North Africa during World War II), the Bardo Museum (a converted palace that now houses mosaics from the Roman era), and the U.S. Embassy. While in Tunis, you will also meet and be able to spend time with English-speaking Tunisian university students who are as curious about America as you are about Tunisia. During this initial period we will undertake two day trips: one to the northern town of Bizerte, and a second to the Roman ruins in Dougga and Bulla Regia.

The vast majority of our 20-day trip, however, will be spent visitng sites of political, religious, historical, and social significance throughout all regions of Tunisia with highlights including meeting with Tunisian students in the souther nown of Sidi Bouzid where the Tunisian revolution begcan, visiting the kasbahs (Arab citadels) of Sousse and Monastir, exploring the troglodyte dwellings of Matmata and Tatouine that served as the film locales of the Star Wars movies, camping overnight in 8-person tents in the Sahara Desert (including a camel trek and excursions in 4x4 jeeps), visiting the Muslim holy town of Kairouan (including entry into the Great Mosque), exploring the mounrtains of southwest Tunisia in 4x4 land rovers, and climbing the virtually intact Roman colosseum in El Jem (one of the finest Roman monuments in Africa that is only rivalled by its counterpart in Rome). 

To view the program flyer, click here.

Trip Highlights

• Learn about Tunisia’s Jasmine revolution and democratic transition within the context of the “Arab spring.”
• Visit sites of political, religious, and historical significance in more than 20 Tunisian towns & cities.
•  Experience a camel trek in Southern Tunisia.
• Attend presentations at the U.S. Embassy and meet the U.S. Ambassador.
• Take part in joint social events with English-speaking Tunisian students your own age.
• Learn about the culture and politics of the Arab/Islamic world.
• Visit Roman and Carthaginian ruins.
• Receive lectures from world-renowned Tunisian scholars.
• Camp overnight in the Sahara desert. 

Syllabus with Daily Itinerary & Site Visits

Click here to view the full syllabus with daily itinerary and site visits for this 20-day summer study travel course.‌

Faculty

The trip will be led by award-winning Professor Peter J. Schraeder, a specialist of African and Middle Eastern politics and U.S. foreign policy in the Department of Political Science at Loyola University Chicago, who each January and June teaches and carries out research in Tunisia, including having spent the 2002-03 academic year with his family as a Fulbright lecturer in Tunisia with the University of Tunis (see Professor Schraeder's complete biography below). 

In 2011, Professor Schraeder was the recipient of three of the highest honors a faculty member can recieve at Loyola: the Sujack Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School's Graduate Faculty Member of the Year Award, and the university-wide Faculty Member of the Year Award.

Professor Schraeder is fluent in English and French. Our trip assistant will be a student who participated in the 2011 sumer study course. In addition, Professor Schraeder's lectures and discussions throughout the trip, this summer travel course will benefit from lectures by renowned Tunisian scholars.

The 2013 course constitutes the 10th time Professor Schraeder will be leading a group of students to Tunisia. He created and led in 2004 and 2005 the 10-day spring break trip to Tunisia for Loyola's John Felice Rome Center in Italy, and since summer 2006 has led the 20-day summer study course to Tunisia from Loyola’s Chicago campus, including during May-June 2011, four months after the January 2011 Tunisian revolution.

Academics

Students participating in this program will receive three credit hours for the class they take. 

Course Offering: Political Science (PLSC 300): The Arab Spring, Democratic Transition, Islam, and U.S. Foreign Policy: Summer Study Course to Tunisia” 

• Cross-listed with Black World Studies (BWS), International Studies (INTS), Islamic World Studies (IWS), and Peace Studies (PAX).
• This special summer study trip offers a unique experiential understanding of the Arab spring, democratic transition, Islam, and U.S. foreign policy through the case study of Tunisia, an Arab country in North Africa that serves as the present-day embodiment of the Carthaginian Empire.
• A unique combination of site visits, lectures by award-winning group leader Professor Peter J. Schraeder and guest presentations by renowned Tunisian scholars will focus on the Tunisia’s Jasmine revolution and the politics of democratization in the Arab world, the role of women in Muslim societies, Arab perceptions of U.S. foreign policy, U.S. perceptions of Tunisia’s role in the global war on terrorism, and the history of the Carthaginian, Roman, and French empires in North Africa.

The target audience for this trip is extremely diverse, including undergraduate students (graduate students can also take for graduate credit) who are interested in the Middle East and Islamic World Studies, African Studies, International Studies, United States Foreign Policy, Islamic Law, Arabic and French Languages, Cultural Anthropology, Classical Studies (Roman and Carthaginian Empires), the History, Politics and Theology of the Arab World and Islam, and International Business.

Students may also receive Honors credit for this course. Students will write a research paper under the guidance of Professor Schraeder, in addition to completing the course requirements. Depending on the paper topic, students will receive credit for one of two Honors area studies courses: "Encountering Africa" or "Encountering the Middle East.

Maximum enrollment is 50 students.

Dates

May 12-May 31, 2013

Program Costs

Program fee of $2,196 includes:

• Shared occupancy in 4-5 star hotels
• 3 meals a day, including coffee/juice at breakfast and bottled mineral water at all meals and for all excursions
• All in-country travel expenses (travel by a new Mercedes bus and 4x4 land rovers)
• English-speaking Tunisian tour guide and local lecturers
• Entrance fees to all sites included in the program, such as Roman and Carthaginian ruins, religious sites (Islamic Mosques, Catholic Churches and Jewish Temples), and museums
• On-site program support

Tuition: $1,965 (3 credit hours) - Note, graduate students pay the graduate tuition rate.

Total cost (program fee and tuition): $4,161

New! Loyola Faculty Summer Study Abroad Program Scholarship

Click here to learn more about the new $2,500 scholarship!

Not included: airfare (about $1,500 round-trip), $100 OIP non-refundable application fee, optional travel and baggage insurance, and minor personal expenses. (Entry visas are not required for U.S. citizens.)  All students will be required to purchase international health insurance separately (approximately $30).  No vaccinations are required for this trip.

Application Process

Application deadline is March 18, 2013.  The deadline for this program has been extended until the program is filled.

As part of the online application you must upload a copy of your valid passport or passport application receipt and pay by credit card a $100 non-refundable Office for International Programs (OIP) study abroad fee.

Visit Apply Now for full application instructions.

For more information, contact Lauren Miranda in the Office for International Programs at lmiranda@luc.edu or 773-508-2551; or contact Dr. Peter Schraeder in the Department of Political Science at pschrae@luc.edu.

Biography of Trip Leader, Peter J. Schraeder

Click here to view the full biography of trip leader Professor Peter J. Schraeder.

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