This summer programme is an excellent opportunity for university undergraduates to earn credits to transfer to their home degree. What better way to improve your grades and advance in your studies than to take courses in the city of Oxford. Students can choose to take either one or two courses, earning 3 or 6 credits.
St. Clare's has offered the Liberal Arts programme for university undergraduates and gap year students for over 40 years, And has long-standing links to a number of US universities. Our academic staff cover a wide range of subjects and teach at many of the University of Oxford colleges.
Contact us for more detailed information about the course or any questions you may have about enrolment. Email manuela.williams@stclares.ac.uk or call +44 1865 517706.
The subjects we offer during this programme are listed below. Take a look at the course summaries and make your choice.
Oxford Art and Architecture (Art History, 3 credits)
This course is designed to give students an opportunity to explore the direction and nature of change in the built environment of Oxford, a city famed for its architectural beauty and history. There is a continuous tradition of civic, ecclesiastical and collegiate architecture spanning almost a thousand years. This is the background to any proposed conservation or change in the city. The topics to be explored include the range of period styles and diversity of building types to be found in the city. From these students will focus in on a particular architect, building, collection, or individual work of art for further independent study in greater depth.
The Pre-Raphaelites: Romantics and Dreamers (Art History, 3 credits)
This course will focus primarily on the Pre-Raphaelite Movement, founded by a group of English artists in 1848, which at every point is closely connected with Oxford. The course focuses on the many connections between development of the Pre-Raphaelite movement and Oxford and explores works in a variety of media from paintings and murals to stained glass and tapestry. The course will make full use of the resources of the Ashmolean Museum and field trips to Oxford University buildings and colleges which include Pre-Raphaelite work. The course will also seek to make connections with the literature, architecture and history of Victorian England and the resurgence of interest in the Middle Ages and the ‘Gothic’ which the Pre-Raphaelites painted in such vivid colors.
Shakespeare (English Literature, 3 credits)
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the plays of Shakespeare, giving a survey of his development as a playwright in terms of both the written text and stagecraft. Students will be encouraged to assess Shakespeare’s continuing cultural relevance from within a supportive critical environment. As part of this course, students will have the opportunity to attend a number of Shakespearean plays.
Eastern Religions (Religion, 3 credits)
This course aims to give students a stimulating introduction to the major religions of Asia, focusing on Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism, and also exploring Shinto and Confucian traditions. The Indian and East Asian views of the cosmos have shaped the lives of half the globe, and continue to have an increasing influence on Western culture. We will look at the philosophy of reincarnation and liberation; the arts and rituals of Hinduism and Buddhism; how the movement of Buddhism in South and East Asia blended Indian influences with Taoist, Confucian and Shinto traditions to create profound new approaches to life. Our approach will show how key philosophical ideas give rise to the beliefs and practices that shape people's lives today.
The Literature of Oxford (English Literature, 3 credits)
Some of England’s greatest writers have lived and studied in Oxford, and many have set their works of literature in the city and the university. This seminar will examine several Oxford novels with special reference to the influence of setting on character and plot. Among the works to be considered are: Jude the Obscure, by Thomas Hardy; Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh; Jill, by Philip Larkin; and The Dead of Jericho, by Colin Dexter as well as a selection of Oxford poems. Field trips to the actual settings of the works will be a regular feature of the course, and day trips to London and other sites are planned.
Code Breakers: The History and Science of Secrecy (Mathematics, 3 credits)
Since the advent of the Internet, it has become imperative to keep transactions and messages secure. This course will explore the methods of this security and present the mathematics involved in the field of cryptography, which is the science of sending secret messages. A comprehensive look at the field from ancient times to the inventive security algorithms in use today will be presented and students will explore the mathematical properties of many different ciphers. Students will also be able to visit important sites in the history of cryptography, such as Bletchley Park where the great codebreakers of World War II worked, and see examples of cryptographic tools used throughout history. No previous mathematics course is required.
Please note:
St. Clare's will complete all paper work associated with credit transfer. Please note that if your school does not accept St. Clare's credit, your credits will be transferred through our University of Record in the USA. This option carries an additional fee of $250 non-refundable processing fee.