CIT 205 Taking the Journey: The Camino (3 credits)

Students will take eight-week coursework on our Fairfield campus during the regular spring semester and travel to Spain during May 21-31, 2020. The topics to be studied on the main campus include the concept of pilgrimage, the role it plays in a number of faith traditions, as well as the historical and cultural contexts of "the way of Saint James."

Dates & Deadlines

Term Year Application Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Program Description 

Course Credit

The course is open to any undergraduate student in SHU regardless of his or her major.

Instructors

Dr. Jill Plummer, who hails from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, earned her doctorate in history from the University of Notre Dame in 2020. She completed a master’s degree in Modern European and British history from the University of Oxford and her bachelor’s degree from College of the Holy Cross. Her teaching and research interests are situated at the intersection of the history of religion, the global sixties, and women/gender/ sexuality. Annie Johnson is the Director of Community Engagement and has co-led global service learning programs to South and Central America for the past three years. She received an M.Ed. in Community Engagement from Merrimack College and BA in Public and Community Service from Providence College, both of which reinforced her desire to promote and support effective community partnerships. Additionally, her international experiences in Australia, Solomon Islands, South Africa and Nepal have led her to pursue research and programming in global service-learning.

The Camino

El Camino de Santiago, or “The Way of Saint James,” is the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in north western Spain. According to legend, Santiago is the place containing the remains of the apostle, Saint James the Elder. The Camino has been in use as a Christian pilgrimage for over 1,000 years, utilizing existing Roman roads and ancient trade routes. It was one of three important Christian pilgrimages routes during the medieval period.

Accommodations

When traveling in Spain, students will stay in small pensions/inns, monasteries, and hostels/albergues located on the Camino. All breakfasts and 1 dinner are included (faculty and students will make arrangements for lunch and dinner at various locations while on the Camino). A bilingual guide will meet the group on the first evening before starting the Camino for an orientation and a guided tour will be provided by a local expert in Santiago at the completion of the Camino. Train tickets from Madrid to Sarria and Santiago to Madrid are included.

Costs

You are required to submit a non-refundable $635 deposit payable to “Sacred Heart University” directly through this link by January 25, 2020. This deposit secures your enrollment, airfare deposit and deposit with tour company. Final payment will be due prior to departure (exact date to be confirmed). In addition to the balance of the program fee and flight, you'll be responsible for the following costs: $45 application fee to Global Engagement and $26 basic international health insurance fee. The total program cost due to Sacred Heart University is TBD, depending on final number of confirmed students (approximately $1000, plus airfare).

Overview

Upon registration for the course, you will be required to complete an application with Global Engagement. Participation on the program is dependent upon acceptance by Global Engagement and instructors. Following acceptance to the program, you will be required to attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation. During this orientation, further details about the in-country course and program details will be discussed. The pre-departure orientation will be conducted at the beginning of May.

Contact

Contact Jill Plummer or Annie Johnson for more information.