William Paterson University's
Eighth Annual Summer Program at
St. Edmund's College, Cambridge University

July 5 - July 23, 2007

William Paterson's Summer Program at St. Edmund's College -- part of Cambridge University in England -- is designed to provide University students with one of the most intellectually and personally rewarding experiences of their college careers. The Department of Political Science, which runs the program, believes the experience of studying internationally is an important component of a liberal arts education. The program welcomes mature, open-minded GRADUATE & UNDERGRADUATE students who are academically committed to broaden their horizons and begin their exploration of the world. By exposing them to different ways of thinking, by developing their awareness of critical issues and foreign ideas, and by providing them with a better understanding not only of the world but of themselves, the Summer Program offers participants the skills needed to succeed in their careers.
The University's Program Offers Important Advantages The University's Program Offers Important Advantages William Paterson University's Summer Program at St. Edmund's offers several important advantages compared to other summer study programs overseas. First, Dr. Michael Luis Principe, a William Paterson political science professor and Director of the Summer Program, was initially named a Visiting Scholar in Comparative Constitutional Law at St. Edmund's College in 1993. In June, 2003, Dr. Principe was elected a Visiting Fellow of St. Edmund's by the Governing Board of the College. Because he has access to many college- and university-sponsored activities that are closed to the public, participants are introduced to social, educational, and research opportunities not available in similar study programs.		St. Edmund's College Founded in 1896 by the 15th Duke of Norfolk, the College is dedicated to St. Edmund of Abingdon, the first Oxbridge don to be canonized. St. Edmund's is one of six graduate colleges within the University of Cambridge.
Secondly, whereas most American university programs simply rent space in one of the large, mainly empty undergraduate colleges at Cambridge or Oxford Universities during the summer, participants in the William Paterson program have the opportunity to live among and interact with approximately 250 graduate students representing over 60 nations who study year-round at St. Edmund's. Thirdly, the Summer Program's academic curriculum also enhances this once-in-a-lifetime experience: Two undergraduate/graduate courses, one on comparative rights and the other an Independent Research Project of the student's design, feature guest lectures by a number of Cambridge University scholars, are offered.
Reactions from Program Participants "Several factors enhanced this learning experience, including the close interaction among students and faculty as well as the out-of-class discussions the group had. I feel very positive about this program, and I highly recommend it to any student, regardless of major."		And, lastly, in studying historical and political issues in a foreign setting --visiting London where Parliament and other centers of government reside, for example -- student experiences further come alive and cap this unique course of study.
Courses to Be Offered, Summer 2007
Comparative Rights with Professor Michael Luis Principe Students compare and contrast the evolution of rights protections in a number of nations, including the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Canada, and New Zealand. Discussion topics include the evolution of democracy and rights in the international community; the development of civil liberties protections within nations; the balancing of powers between various branches of government; and the influence political philosophy has upon judicial decision-making. Assessment in the course will be based on class participation, 2 short discussion papers, and a final examination. In addition, a variety of Cambridge scholars will be featured guest lecturers. [Professor Principe came to WPU in 1998, after teaching constitutional law, international law, and criminal procedure in a number of law schools. Besides being named a Fulbright Scholar for dissertation research in 1990 and Professor of the Year by the 1996 graduating class of the Salmon P. Chase College of Law, he has published a number of books and articles on comparative civil liberties protections. His most recent publications are Bills of Rights: A Comparative Constitutional Analysis (2000), Les Libertes Civiles Oubliees (March, 2004, PROJET, Paris), and American Government, Policy, and Law, Second Edition (Editor, 2006).]		Independent Research Project Students will have the opportunity to design an independent research project, focusing on an area of interest to them that will take advantage of the research facilities at Cambridge University. Although the specific fields of study are open, "some" aspect of comparative politics should be included in the project. Students will commence preliminary work on the project before the trip, but the majority of the research will be done in Cambridge. Upon conclusion of the program, July 23, students will then have until the end of the Summer Session to turn in their research papers to Professor Principe. "The environment at Cambridge University vitally impacted this tremendous learning experience. Being able to temporarily reside in the U.K. gave me a wider education than I could have achieved in a classroom; I gained an extraordinary degree of social, political, and economic awareness. At the completion of the program, I knew that it was extremely beneficial! I would do it all over again!"
Who May Apply and Program Costs
To participate, students must have earned the equivalent number of credits required for sophomore standing. They also must have at least a 2.75 GPA and be at least 20 years old. Although the program is run by the WPU Political Science Department, students from any major and university are encouraged to enroll. Participants in previous summers have included majors in Biology, Music, Psychology, Sociology, History, Philosophy, Criminal Justice, and African, African-American, and Caribbean Studies.		Deposits should be made out to William Paterson University and presented to Professor Michael Luis Principe, Department of Political Science, Science Hall, William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Road, Wayne N.J. 07470 by April 20, 2007. If the pool of applicants is large, priority will be given to those deposits first received. A mandatory orientation meeting for successful applicants will be held in June where the faculty will go over program expectations and rules and students will receive preparatory materials. Costs for the Program are as follows: Room & Board - $800, Airfare - $950 (approx.), and WPU Tuition for 6 credits (graduate or undergraduate).
Dr. Principe, left, director of the Summer program; Professor Brian Heap, second from left, master of St. Edmund's College; Dr. Sheila Collins, far right, a William Paterson professor of political science, and summer 2000 student participants gather at St. Edmund's.		"The courses and experience, in general, were intellectually stimulating. To say that I have learned a tremendous amount is an understatement. The program's structure was conducive to a comprehensive cooperative learning atmosphere in which the contributions of each member were invaluable throughout. Class participation -- a high percentage of our grades -- stimulated discussions, which are integral to the group learning process. I enjoyed the Cambridge environment as its academic universality motivated me to not just complete assignments, but learn more than was required along the way."
For More Information Please contact Professor Michael Luis Principe for additional information on the Summer Program at St. Edmund's College. His office is located in Raubinger Hall 408, his phone number is 973-720-3619, and his email address is principem@wpunj.edu.