Location: San Gimignano, Italy
Dates
Trip Dates: June 4 – June 30, 2012
*Tentative, see itinerary, below.
Program
Italy will serve as the backdrop for design and devotion. Two new courses have been developed specifically for this program by David Dinehart, PhD and Fr. Joseph Farrell, OSA, in order to fully explore Tuscany within the context of architecturally significant structures and the life of St. Augustine.
San Gimignano is a small, walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany that will serve as our home town on this four-week adventure. It is famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, and is home to Sant’Agostino, a 13th century structure, that houses a seventeen panel fresco cycle on the life of St. Augustine around the high altar.
Coursework
Students enroll in both courses for a total of six credits:
CEE4607: Special Topics in Civiil Engineering: Italian Architecture and Engineering
Qualitative and quantitative study of architectural structural systems, including buildings, domes, arches, and towers; historical review of architecturally significant structures, many related to St. Augustine’ insights of sturcutral analysis’ comparative structural types and force flow’ structural and architectural use of building materials. This course is intended for civil engineering students entering their junior or senior year.
This is a three credit course that can be counted as a technical or free elective. Pre-requisite: CEE2106 or equivalent.
THL2790: Themes in Patristic Studies - Augustine and the Tuscan Hermits’ of the Order of St. Augustine
An investigation into fundamental themes in the thought of the 4th century North African Bishop, Augustine of Hippo, and how those themes developed through the centuries. Emphasis will be given to the 13th century Mendicant Movement and the establishment of the Order of the Brothers of the Hermits of St. Augustine. Particular attention will be paid to Augustine’s Monastic Ideal, The Rule of St. Augustine, The Mendicant Movement, The Tuscan Hermits, and Augustine’s influence in contemporary issues of Spirituality.
This is a three credit course that can be counted as an upper level Theology or free elective. Pre-requisites: THL1000 and ACS1000, or their equivalent.
Coursework will begin at VU on Monday, May 14 and will proceed through the week. Students will complete the last two weeks of coursework in Italy.
