About Waterford Summer

This is a four-week, six-credit upper division credit hour program. The coursework for this program revolves around Irish society and culture, the Irish constitution, and criminal justice system and the Irish social care system. In addition to the formal coursework, program participants will explore Ireland through a series of organized field trips and have free time to travel throughout Ireland of their own accord. Field trips include trips to educational and social institutions such as an historic jail, a working prison, museums, national monuments and other places of significance, we well as a variety of villages, cities and towns throughout the south of Ireland.

The program will take place at the College Street campus of the Waterford Institute of Technology, which is located in the heart of the historic and attractive Waterford, Ireland on Ireland's southern coast. The city of Waterford has a unique character that is enhanced by its maze of ancient streets and lanes lined with buildings of many ages. Waterford was founded by the Vikings some 1,100 years ago and each period during that time has left a mark of its unique character on the city, its streets and architecture. In the late 18th century Waterford emerged as a manufacturing center with a glass industry that was considered to be the best in Europe. This industry was destroyed in the early 19th century by the imposition of heavy tariffs, but was successfully revived in 1947 and is once again thriving and famous. It is a busy manufacturing center, an important seaport, and a sister city of Rochester, NY. This makes it an ideal place to study Irish Culture and history.

To learn more about the Waterford Institute of Technology, visit: www2.wit.ie

For more information on the city of Waterford, visit: www.waterfordcorp.ie/tourism.htm or www.southeastireland.com

The Waterford, Ireland Program offers you the opportunity to:

• Live and study in Ireland,
• Receive instruction and hands-on experience with a small, personalized group of students,
• Improve your writing and research skills,
• Help prepare you for a semester/year abroad.

Your experience on the Waterford, Ireland Program will:

• Integrate you into Irish society and the Irish educational system,
• Make you a better student,
• Expand your outlook on the world,
• Build your self-esteem and self-confidence,
• Greatly enhance your career prospects.

On the Waterford, Ireland Program you will:

• Receive a comprehensive on-site orientation to the Waterford Criminal Justice program,
• Benefit from a program of field trips and social events, organized specifically for Brockport program participants by the Program Director.
• Enjoy the security of a complete package of academic and non-academic support services provided by the International Office at SUNY Brockport.

Housing & Orientation

Participants will be housed at WIT's Manor Street dormitory (subject to change). Manor Village is located five minutes down the street from the College Street campus. Students are usually placed in 2-4 person suites, with each student having his/her own bedroom and bathroom and sharing a common room/kitchen.

As you arrive in Dublin, a WIT bus will be waiting to drive you to the campus. There are two campuses; we attend classes in the smaller historic buildings.  They have an interesting past that Professor O’Leary will explain. Your apartment complex is about a 5-8 minute walk from classes. You will be set up in suites which include four separate bedrooms and four separate, private bathrooms. You do not have to bring bed linens or towels. Beds and towels are changed weekly. You may want to pack one beach towel, as the beach is only 10 minutes away by bus.

Laundry: There is a facility right in your apartment complex but you have to use the laundry service. It costs 12 Euros for a very heavy amount of clothes (done by weight). You will probably have to do laundry  two times while there.

There is a living room with a TV in all of the suites. Kitchens have complete sets of dishes, pots and pans, ovens, microwaves, dishtowels, etc. They will take your garbage out of the kitchen two times a week. They also supply toilet paper. There is a large common room on the ground level of the apartment building.  This has a large, flat screen tv with a DVD player.  I made friends with one of the ladies in the laundry service who knew of an extra DVD player that students can borrow. We borrowed it on two evenings to watch movies that we rented at the SPAR deli. One was Michael Collins and the other was The Wind that Shakes the Barley. I highly recommend you watch both before you leave for Ireland. They both are about Irish independence. 

SPAR is a small deli/grocery store (kind of like a 7-11) that is located directly in front of your apartment building. They sell Tim Horton’s coffee, donuts, etc. Also, all of the “immediate” things you might need, like soda, coffee, bread, lunchmeats, etc. There are two big food stores that are walking distance – Lidle and Supervalue. I believe the Lidle is right next to the Movie theatre. Again, all of this is about a half of a mile away. No big deal to walk though be sure to keep your plastic shopping bags. They charge you every time they have to give you new bags. 
 

Cost

The 2013 Summer Program Fee: $4,600.00 (est.)
Waterford Sum 13 EST.pdf
 

What is Included in the Program Fee:

• Tuition: All fees and tuition associated with registration in two courses
• Program Acceptance Fee
• Pre-departure orientation materials
• Accommodation
• All program related travel within Ireland
• Sightseeing
• Academic-related activities
• Topical lectures
• Welcome Party and  End-of-Program Banquet
• Campus meal card (100 euros)
• Brockport's Study Abroad Office Services

• Airfare
• Passport
• Meals other than those specified above (i.e., dinners on weekdays, all meals on weekends).
• Course Materials.
• Health Insurance*
• Various campus-specific fees** (college fee, technology fee, etc.)
• Personal expenses (laundry, postage, telephone calls, souvenirs, non-program related travel, etc.).

Financial aid applies toward fees.

*SUNY regulations require that participants in Overseas Academic Programs have "adequate" insurance coverage.  Students whose current health insurance is not "adequate" may purchase appropriate coverage for $95.50 per month (this is the current cost and is subject to change).
**Varies depending on the SUNY campus at which the participant pays tuition. 

The cost (and items included in the cost) as listed on the website are subject to change and should be considered estimates. Final budget sheets will be mailed to the student prior to departure and usually upon acceptance.

Courses

Credits:
Participants who successfully complete the study abroad program in Waterford, Ireland will receive six credits of upper-division level undergraduate credit. These credits will be awarded by The College at Brockport.

Curriculum:
The academic portion of the Waterford Summer Program consists of two courses taught by members of the faculty of Waterford Institute of Technology. Each student who attends the summer program will be required to take both courses. These courses will meet for approximately four hours each day, three days each week for the entirety of the program .

• Irish Culture and Institution
• Irish Constitutionalism and Social Care

1. Irish Constitutionalism and Social Care
   This course includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
   • Emergence of constitutional history and development
   • Right to life
   • Right to silence
   • Right of access to a Lawyer
   • Expansion of the constitution
   • Constitutional change
   • Comparative analysis of politics and law from the Irish perspective.
   • The family
   • Social welfare
   • Social services for Irish citizens
   • Working women
   • Caring for the aged
2. Irish Culture
   This course includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
   
   The non-academic portion of the program will consist of day, evening and weekend field/sightseeing trips to a variety of places located through the southern half of Ireland. At a minimum, field trips are held regularly two days each week, Monday-Thursday. Although these trips vary from summer to summer (depending on student interest and availability), in the past, these field trips have included visits to:
   • Emergence of Irish culture and "identity"
   • Role of religion in Irish Society
   • Irish literature
   • Irish music and dancing
   • Irish sport
   • Education
   • Language
   • Nationalism and Northern Ireland
   • The European Union
   • Kilmainham Jail in Dublin
   • The State Museum
   • The fishing village of Dunmore East
   • Cork Prison
   • The town of Cobh to see the Titanic's last land stop
   • Mahon falls
   • Tramore
   • Dublin
   • Killnenny Castle

Additional Information

What should you pack? 
Jeans; sweaters and sweatshirts, one or two nice outfits. Bring a raincoat of some kind and an umbrella. It will be cool on many days (in the 60’s) and rainy. This does not mean it won’t be sunny. Everyday has both rain and sun so bring a bag or jacket that you can easily tuck away a small umbrella. 
In the city of Waterford, there are many nice shops, including a good bookstore and according to my daughter and several of the young ladies last year, one of the best stores for shopping called “Pennies.” It is the Irish equivalent to Forever 21 but much cheaper. There is also River Island  and a few good sports stores. Restaurants, pubs, cafes abound so don’t worry about having opportunities to go out and eat!
Most days, we typically got up and had cereal, brown bread toast and coffee.  If we were traveling on a day trip, I would pack a lunch for myself and my children.  Most of the students did the same. First of all, it is cheaper to do this. Bringing your own sandwiches, fruit , water, etc. really saves money as these things are quite “dear” in Ireland.  Regularly, the bus stops at a picnic ground and we have a lovely outside lunch.  It all works out well.  Be ready to pay about 5-6 euros each time you stop for a cup of tea and a scone (Believe me, you will do this….it is quite damp and tea will warm you).

Budget
Routinely, students did not bring enough money with them.  You will easily go through euros just buying simple things that you don’t think about here.  I would say bring about $500 US dollars worth of euros and have additional money in your bank accounts that you can access via debit card. Warning:     ******Every time you use your debit card there is a fee, depending upon the amount you withdraw and/or the purchase you make.  It can often be anywhere between $3-8 dollars. If you’d prefer to bring more money with you, do so, so that you don’t have to go to a money machine as often.

The program provides many trips for you that are included in the program fee. However, Dublin is done in the following way: You are taken up to Dublin on  a WIT bus and you first go to the prison where the members of the Easter Uprising were held and later killed. You must watch Michael Collins because whole segments are filmed in this actual prison and your visit there will make much more sense. Then, you will go on to the Guinness factory which is really quite interesting.  At this point, the bus goes back to WIT, late on Friday. Students may choose to stay in Dublin and return to WIT via the JJ Cavanaugh bus line (You can find this online)  I took this bus on 3 occasions, getting back and forth to Dublin. I believe that a one way ticket costs 12 euros and roundtrip 20 euros (but don’t quote me on this)  It is quite affordable and it can either take you into the city directly or to the airport. It is a great bus line that picks you up right in Waterford.  As for staying in Dublin, I like the Central Hotel. It is not expensive, by Irish standards, but it is also not cheap. This April, a room ran 69 euros a night.  This summer, in July, the same room is 129 euros. It is just the nature of tourist season. It is the second oldest hotel in Dublin and while the rooms are quite simple, it has the very, very best kept secret on the second floor called The Victorian Library Room. What is it? It is a pub/tea room that is actually a library, filled floor to ceiling with books and blazing fireplaces. It is my absolute favorite place to go to in Dublin. You can go and have a cup of tea  or a pint at 4:00 pm. But be warned, very, very difficult to get in at about 9:00 pm.  It will be packed. Be sure to check this out online. In Dublin, be sure to see Trinity College, the Castle (where the British occupied Dublin) and St. Patrick’s. Also, see the Yeats exhibit in the Library. 

Communicating
You can easily buy a cheap phone in Ireland for about 39 euros ($50 dollars) and then buy “top – up” cards to put money on the phone line. This is an easy way to call back home, etc.  You can also set up a skype account with your friends and/or parents. This costs nothing and I assume that many of you will be bringing your laptops, so this becomes a cheap and easy way to communicate. Of course, there is always facebook and emails.
 

Dates of the Summer 2013 Program: June 17th  - July 14th