f r a n k l i n p i e rc e u n i v e r s i t y cumulative grade point average beyond the freshman year. For further information regarding the Honors Program, contact Dr. Donna Decker at (603) 899-4296 or deckerd@franklinpierce.edu.
Study Abroad
As reflected in its mission of preparing students for active roles in a democratic society, Franklin Pierce University supports learning in settings outside of the classroom and in international programs of study. By pursuing studies in a foreign country for a year, semester or summer, students gain enriching cultural experience and a broader perspective on the world. The University recognizes the value of such study as a part of a liberal arts education. Recent years at Franklin Pierce University have seen a growing interest in opportunities for academic programs abroad and international studies on campus. The creation of the Global Citizenship Certificate program (p. 141), and development of Franklin Pierce’s own programs in Lyon, France, Vienna, Austria and Athens, Greece are three significant additions to Franklin Pierce’s curriculum that give students the chance to engage in studies with a global focus. In addition to its own programs abroad, students may choose to study abroad through other providers. In recent years, students have participated in such programs in Australia, Costa Rica, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland and Spain. Most study abroad programs are open to students in good standing who have completed two semesters of study at Franklin Pierce University, and who meet the GPA and other requirements of each program. Students should discuss planning for a study abroad program with their academic advisor and contact the International Studies Abroad Programs Office to get information on programs that are approved by the University.
Pierce in Vienna, Pierce in Athens and Pierce in Lyon
Semester abroad programs are available to students. Students live and study in Vienna, Austria, Athens, Greece and Lyon, France. The programs offer a full semester of Franklin Pierce University credits and are designed to take advantage of the historic and artistic heritage of these cities. There are numerous excursions and students are encouraged to pursue independent projects that further connect them with the people, art and business organizations of Vienna, Athens and Lyon. Excursions may include trips to Budapest, Paris, Berlin, Prague, Florence, Venice, and Rome, and are designed to complement and enrich the curriculum. Courses may include Political Science, Art History, Philosophy, Criminal Justice, Mass Communication, German, Greek or French language, International Business, Anthropology, and History. Students are encouraged to submit applications for the fall program by March 1 and for spring by November 1. For information on specific prerequisites and deadlines, contact Stella Walling (603) 899-4147 or stella@franklinpierce.edu.
Pierce on the Camino
The Franklin Pierce study abroad program on the Camino de Santiago immerses students in the same journey that eight centuries of pilgrims have experienced. Approximately 15 students participate in a one semester, long-distance walk through southern France and across northern Spain along the old pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Walking as a pilgrim, carrying a backpack, staying in pilgrim hostels, country inns, and monasteries, walking with other Franklin Pierce students and a professor, students travel on foot between 10-15 miles a day. Slowing down to “human speed,” leaving behind the ordinary concerns of daily life, and unplugging from the internet, iPods and cell phones brings rich rewards that are rare in today’s world—the intimacy of prolonged solitude, the beauty of the natural world you feel with all your senses, the gratitude from many acts of kindness extended, and the joy of sustained conversation with others in the group and with fellow pilgrims from all over the world. For information on specific prerequisites and deadlines, contact Stella Walling (603) 899-4147 or stella@franklinpierce.edu.
39