Field School in Romani Studies
iCal / Google Calendar (.ics)Thompson Rivers University’s new program combines academic study with field trips to selected Romani communities in eastern Slovakia. The course carries 6 upper-level credits and is open to students from TRU and other universities. It has no prerequisites, but registration requires permission of the course professor.
The Field School in Romani Studies builds upon Thompson Rivers University’s long involvement with the Roma of eastern Slovakia. Back in 1993, a group of our students was instrumental in the implementation of one of the first and most comprehensive community development projects focused on East European Roma. This early initiative led to the production of pioneering works documenting the lives of Slovak Roma, such as the National Film Board’s The Gypsies of Svinia and the ethnography Svinia in Black and White.
The Field School has been designed jointly with the Institute of Romani Studies at the University of Prešov, and one of its faculty members, Dr. Alexander Mušinka, will participate in the delivery of the program. Barring unforeseen obstacles, the 2015 itinerary shall follow this structure:
Week 1 (early May 2015)
- Arrival and orientation in Prague, Czech Republic
- Travel by train to Prešov, Slovakia
- Roma in the city: socialist era urbanization vs. post-communist ethnic cleansing (Prešov’s Stará Tehelna and Luník IX in Košice)
Week 2
- Roma in rural settlements: participant observation in a settlement near Prešov (students select type of community and degree of immersion with assigned host families)
- Meetings with teachers, local politicians, artists and community representatives of Romani and ethnic Slovak backgrounds
Week 3
- The transformation of multi-ethnic into exclusively Romani communities in the Spiš region; ethnic cleansing in high-exposure tourist areas; the Gypsy camp in Auschwitz; return by train to Prague
Program and Academic Fees
As a six-credit course, the Field School requires prospective students to register and pay appropriate academic fees and a program fee which covers all travel in Europe, local field trips and excursions, accommodation with breakfast and some other meals, remuneration for Romani host families, and other program-related expenses. The fee is $ 2,575. TRU students qualify for a $500 CUEF travel bursary, which reduces the net amount to $ 2,075. International airfare, travel insurance and immunization are not included in the program fee and must be paid for separately by each participant.
Application and Further Information
Interested students are encouraged to contact the course professor, Dr. David Scheffel at dscheffel@tru.ca
For more information, click here