LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION

English

COURSE LOAD 

1 course, 3 credits

COURSE OFFERINGS

You will take the following course:

• ARTH 0803 The Art of Sacred Space (3 credits)
  • Fulfills GenEd Arts.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

From curse tablets to animal sacrifice to places where the divinity was approached, human beings in every period and culture have communicated with the divine. In this course, you will explore how art is used to communicate with a deity, interrogate the meaning of a sacred space itself, and look closely at the literary and material evidence for rituals and belief. You will also analyze and critique human practices and behaviors through topics such as festivals, burial practices, religious ceremonies, and rites of passage, with a view to understanding the place of sacred space in our own lives. 

Throughout the course, you will create an ArcGIS Story Map, which will foster digital literacy and develop skills in historical and spatial analysis through interactive spatial and rich multimedia storytelling. By the end of the course, you will have created a StoryMap about a notable monument of sacred architecture in Istanbul. The creation and design of your StoryMap will be informed by independent research and data collection. Full technical support will be provided by the Program Director and the Duckworth Scholars Studio at Charles Library, who will host multiple workshops for students in the course. 

Located straddling the Bosphorus strait in northwestern Turkey, Istanbul is the largest city in the country, with a population of approximately 16 million people.

Explore Istanbul!

Istanbul is one of the world's great historic cities, and the possibilities are endless for you to make the most of your experience. Whether you are interested in visiting the historic peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the over 100 museums in the city, renowned culinary districts, waterfront promenades, or traditional bazaars, Istanbul has it all. There are, of course, the well-known sights, some of which you will be seeing on class excursions, but others left to you to explore. Its multicultural identity is a blend of Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Mediterranean influences, reflected in local festivals, food, architecture, music, and traditions.

Istanbul offers an ideal setting for studying the art and architecture of sacred space. As the imperial capital of several empires (Rome, Byzantium, and Ottoman) and a city that has witnessed the rise of both secularism and religious resurgence in modern Turkey, Istanbul can be read as a layered site with multiple, even contradictory, meanings.

View the map of Istanbul.

Course Duration: January – March (with required Spring Break travel to Istanbul) 

Tentative International Travel Dates

Do not use the above dates to book your flight, as they are tentative and subject to change. Accepted students will receive confirmed program dates and flight booking guidelines from Education Abroad before making travel plans.  

Program participants are required to be present for the entire length of the program, from the official arrival date through the program end date.

Housing type: Hotel or Hostel

Basic hotel or hostel (shared, single-sex bedrooms) in Istanbul for the duration of the program. If you have documented accommodation with Disability Resources & Services for a single room, please contact Education Abroad when you apply for the program. 

PROGRAM DEPOSIT

Students will pay a non-refundable program deposit of $400 within 2 weeks of acceptance to the program. This non-refundable deposit is credited to your spring tuition bill as a prepayment. 

TUITION AND FEES

Temple students pay their usual spring semester tuition and fees by school/college and residency.

All students pay:

• Global Seminars Program Fee: TBD (Includes airfare, housing, required program activities, and some meals abroad.)
  • The program fee is heavily supported by departmental funds to keep student costs low.
• Additional Expenses Not Included:
  • Additional Meals
  • Personal Expenses
  • Passport
  • Smart Phone

FINANCIAL AID

Learn more about financial aid.

Staying healthy and safe abroad requires good planning and strong support. Review our health and safety page for important steps to prepare to study abroad, and details about international travel medical insurance and assistance provided by Temple.