Location

London, England

Program Description

This 3 1/2 week-long program in London, UK offers students a unique opportunity to explore and experience one of the world’s greatest cities while completing two General Education classes. These classes share a common objective: exploring the way that the Age of Enlightenment (ca. 1660-1818) radically changed the way people think about their world—specifically, how a new, profound adherence to science and reason shaped how people thought about politics, religion, law and justice, economics, race and gender, the arts, and medicine.

We will explore this change through trips to some of London’s most revered and popular sites, such as Greenwich Royal Observatory and the British Museum—and through trips to some of London’s other great (but less-traveled) historic sites, such as the Sir John Soane Museum, Kenwood House, the Wallace Collection, and Charles Darwin’s home in Kent. Students are also given plenty of unscheduled time, during which they can explore London for themselves and even consider day trips to Brighton, Cambridge, Windsor, and more.

There will also be a three-day "free" weekend during which students can travel further afield, should they wish to. In the past our students have used this weekend to visit Paris, Dublin, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and more. Students can choose to remain in London during this weekend, too--there is always something else to see and do in London, and we always have a few students who decide to remain in London, taking in musicals, plays, live music, and more.

We will meet as a class several times during the spring 2025 term, prior to departure for London. We use these meetings to get to know one another, to answer questions about the program and London, etc. Students are also required to complete some of their coursework (for both program courses) during the spring term (typically, starting around Spring Break). Other work (including worksheets to be completed during our various site visits in London) will be completed whilst in London.

Our hotel provides a hot (or cold, your choice) breakfast every morning, and students are provided a weekly stipend for other meals. Collectively we will enjoy at least three meals together—an opening dinner, a closing dinner, and afternoon tea.

Location Description

We will spend 3 1/2 weeks in the world’s greatest city—London, UK! We’ll lodge in a family-owned and run hotel on Gower St., in Bloomsbury, just a few minutes' walk from the British Museum and within easy walking distance of Covent Garden and Soho—popular shopping and nightlife areas. The hotel is also close to two different Tube lines (the Northern and Piccadilly lines) on the London Underground, so getting around the city is easy. The hotel is near a plethora of restaurants and coffee shops, so dining options are virtually unlimited. A month-long Underground card will be provided to all program participants, so students will be able to take the Tube as often as they like.

During our program, we’ll visit various sites around the city, such as Westminster Abbey, Sir John Soane’s Museum, the British Museum, The Foundling Museum, Greenwich Royal Observatory (by boat along the River Thames), Kenwood House in Hampstead, The Wallace Collection, and much more. We’ll also take three trips out of London: one to Kent, where we’ll visit the home of Charles Darwin; one to Oxford; and one to Salisbury, where we’ll visit the famed Salisbury Cathedral, spend a day in that lovely city, and then visit Stonehenge. Students will have plenty of opportunities to sample British cuisine, including afternoon tea. Students will also have plenty of free time, including a three-day weekend to explore the city, other destinations in the UK, or even to travel abroad to Ireland or Europe.

Director

Howard Lubert | luberthl@jmu.edu | Political Science

Caroline Lubert | lubertcp@jmu.edu | Mathematics and Statistics

Accommodations

Students are housed at the Ridgemount Hotel in London and typically share double rooms. The hotel has updated all of its rooms as of 2024 and thus all rooms should be en suite. It still offers shared toilets and showers as well (so students can opt to use those, too).

Students are allocated a weekly meal stipend that covers approximately 14 meals per week. The hotel provides breakfast.

Additional Items to Consider

We do a great deal of walking in London! That said, students are also provided with a one-month "Oyster cards" (rider cards for the London underground), the cost of which will be covered in the Program Fee. Students will come to love the Tube!

Students who have already completed clusters 2 and 3 for Gen Ed. can still participate in the program and take the courses (HUM 250 and ISCI 101) to count towards the 120 credit hours needed for graduation. This is provided they have not already been taken.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.5

Open to first years, sophomores, and juniors of all majors 

Open to JMU students only