Harry Potter inspired study abroad course offered in U.K. for the summer
With a Gryffindor scarf around his neck and wand in hand, English professor Joseph Michael Sommers manned his booth at the Central Michigan University study abroad fair last Wednesday, promoting the new program based around the "Harry Potter" book and movie series.
This summer, Sommers will take a group of graduate and undergraduate students around the British Isles on a two-week study abroad adventure to explore the areas that inspired the series.
"Last I counted, there were 40-ish stops discreetly spread across the U.K. in various locations," Sommers said. "Each location we hit will have unique opportunities for us to explore cultural touchstones from Harry Potter in first-hand ways."
The trip will take students to different areas where the book was written, places that inspired author J.K. Rowling, as well as areas where the films were shot.
A few of these places include Edinburgh, Scotland, Glenfinnan, Oxford and London, England.
"When we are in Edinburgh, we'll take a look at Fettes College, which some believe is the inspiration for Hogwarts. We'll also take a gander at St. Giles Cathedral, which others believe inspired Rowling's construction of the castle," Sommers said.
According to Faculty-led Programs Coordinator Megan Doerr, the course was approved by Provost Michael Gealt yesterday.
Director of Study Abroad Dianne De Salvo said at the moment there is no definitive date planned for the trip and the number of students allowed has yet to be decided.
"We're looking for a minimum of 10 people to go on the trip," De Salvo said. "(Sommers) is very confident that there will be students interested, so we've agreed that we're just going to see how we do, watch the applications come in and go from there."
The course, under its temporary ENG 513 designation, can run up to three times.
In this period, students who participate can give feedback about the course and data can be collected about its positives and negatives. The program will be adjusted from there to be considered as a permanent study abroad course.
The students who attend the trip will be looking not only at the "Harry Potter" novels, but at critical theory that surrounds the books, as well.
For the final assignment, students will compile different aspects from their trip to form a travelogue.
"Students will journal their adventures with me, and at the course's end, we'll assemble the entire thing: The narratives, the artifacts, the pictures, etc., into a beautiful travelogue that I hope to publish online and in print for (students) and the university to document our experiences," Sommers said.
Fenwick junior Zachary Parkin encourages students to consider this study abroad opportunity and praises the leadership of the group.
"Studying abroad with Dr. Sommers is a great opportunity (and) I would love to study abroad with him," Parkin said. "I think there are tons of Harry Potter lovers at CMU that would kill to go on the trip."
Sommers said his reasoning for creating this course was to please all the die-hard Harry Potter fans that have begged to delve deeper into the series in his past classes.
"This course is my gift to every student who has asked me to revisit Harry Potter in my children's literature courses over the years," Sommers said.
It's important this gift comes in the form of a study abroad course because, according to Sommers, this is the kind of learning that cannot be done in a classroom.
"Why study Harry Potter in a classroom, when you can study it in the United Kingdom," he said.
