Wake Forest University Vienna Program at Flow House

 

Resident Professor
Fall 2012: Wayne Silver, Biology, silver@wfu.edu
Spring 2013: Jarrod Whitaker, Religion, whitakjl@wfu.edu
Fall 2013: Grant McAllister, German and Russian, mcalligp@wfu.edu
Spring 2014: Thomas Phillips, Humanities, phillito@wfu.edu
Fall 2014: Michael Hughes, History, hughes@wfu.edu
Spring 2015: Timo Thonhauser, Physics, http://www.wfu.edu/~thonhat 

Location

Vienna is the city that gave waltz to the world. Mozart, Haydn, Strauss, Schubert, Brahms, and Beethoven are just a few of the many composers who lived and worked in Vienna. In addition to its rich musical history, Vienna is a culturally diverse and vibrant city. It is home to the Vienna Boys' Choir, the famous Lipizzaner stallions, and countless coffee houses (an integral part of Viennese life). Located in the heart of Europe, students may easily travel east to the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary and west to France, Italy, Spain, England, and Switzerland.

 

In 1998, Wake Forest purchased a three-story villa in Vienna. The acquisition was made possible through the generous donation of Vic and Roddy Flow of Winston-Salem and the House was named in their honor. Built in 1898, the house was formerly the office of the U.S. Consulate.

 

Flow House is situated in a northwest section of Vienna, one block from the Turkenschanz Park. Located in the prestigious 19th district, the area is well-known for its embassies, diplomatic residences, and distinguished private homes.

 

Duration

Fall and spring semesters

Students generally attend only one semester. The program is set up so students have most Fridays off for exploring Vienna and surrounding cities. The program includes a 10 day break generally halfway through the semester. It is important to note that students cannot travel for the first three weeks of the program due to orientation.

Program Highlights

Upon arrival the students have intensive German language lessons and a welcome reception with the staff. During the first few days they have orientation that includes three walking tours through Vienna highlighting places for the students to go and giving them a historical overview of the city and their upcoming semester, as well as orienting them to the Flow House neighborhood. There is also one bus tour and a visit to a coffee house near the Flow House. On the tours the students are exposed to the different transportation methods they can use throughout their semester and they are taught how to get around the city. For the last orientation activity the students are taken to a Heuriger to try the local wine, eat, and meet with their local professors. The program purchases some wine for the students to try, but the students are responsible for the cost of their meal.

The students have opportunities to go on excursions with the Resident Professors and the local professors. Generally students are taken on at least one weekend excursion outside of Austria. Some past excursions have been to Prague, Krakow, and Budapest. These excursions offer students the opportunity to see new locations and learn about their connections to Austria. The trip includes guided tours through the city and free time for the students to explore. The cost of the trip is included in the program cost and the trip is usually mandatory.

In addition excursions have also been arranged so students can attend local festivals. A past excursion included attending Almabtrieb, an annual September festival in Austria. It takes place at the Marienseerschwaig near the Alpine village of Moenichkirchen. The locals have a party marked by the driving of the cows and horses from the higher elevation meadows down to the valley before winter sets in. Everyone dresses up, including the cows, and celebrates together.

 

Academic Program

Each fall and spring semester, a group of Wake Forest students and a Resident Professor live and study together at Flow House.

Field trips around the city, attendance at musical performances, museum visits, and cultural events are an integral part of the academic program and are highlights for many students. Longer excursions to other cities are also part of each semester's schedule of events. Past groups have visited Salzburg, Prague, Budapest, Dresden, Leipzig, and Weimar. All students take at least three courses taught in English plus a German language course. Classes are held at Flow House. Two courses are taught by Austrian professors. Students enroll in an appropriate level German language course (beginning-advanced) and elective courses from the following subjects: Art History, Music, and History. In addition, the Wake Forest Resident Professor teaches two courses from his/her discipline. Classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday, leaving a three-day weekend to explore Vienna or travel to other destinations.

The following German levels are taught at the Flow House:

GER 113 (4h)

GER 153 (4h)

GER 214 (3h)

Fall 2012 Program Information
Dr. Wayne Sliver will teach the following courses:

BIO 302 Topics in Biology: Neuroethology (3h)

BIO 345 Neurobiology (3h)
Introduces the structure and function of the nervous system including the neural basis of behavior.  Anatomical, physiological, and neurochemical approaches are integrated in the study of the peripheral and central nervous system.

Both of these courses count towards the Biology major, the Psychology major and the Neuroscience minor.

Other courses offered may include:

HST 120. (3h) Formation of Europe: Hapsburg Empire and Its Successor States
The development of Central and East-Central Europe as a multiethnic unity under the Hapsburgs, 1526-1918, and its dissolution into successor states and subsequent interactions, 1918-1989. (D)

MUS 219 (3h) Music in Vienna
Study of music and musical institutions of Vienna and Central Europe (D)

Spring 2013 Program Information
Dr. Jarrod Whitaker will teach the following courses:

REL 101 Introduction to Religion (3h)
Study of meaning and value as expressed in religious thought, experience, and practice.  (D)  Religion majors will have the opportunity to take a variation of this course for directed reading credit within the Religion major.  

REL 390 Special Topics in Religion: Ritual, Symbolism, and Power in Europe (3h)

Other courses offered will include:

ART 276 Austrian Art and Architecture (3h)
Study of the development of Austrian art and architecture and its relationship to European periods and styles.  Includes visits to sites and museums.  (D)
 

HST 120. (3h) Formation of Europe: Hapsburg Empire and Its Successor States
The development of Central and East-Central Europe as a multiethnic unity under the Hapsburgs, 1526-1918, and its dissolution into successor states and subsequent interactions, 1918-1989. (D)

Fall 2013 Program Information
Dr. Grant McAllister will teach the following courses: 

GES 340 Masterworks in Translation (3h)
Examines selected works of German, Austrian, and Swiss fiction in English translation and such writers as Goethe, Schiller, Kafka, Mann, and Schnitzler. (D)

GES 395 Early German History: The Volkerwanderung through Metternich (3h)
This course offers a broad overview of early German culture and civilization from the early Germanci tribes and the Volkerwanderung to the period of restoration under Austria's conservative minister Metternich.  The main focus of the class will be the philosophy, art, religion, architecture, and the historical-political development of the German-speaking regions of this period.  For example we will explore the cultural exchange between the Romans and the early German tribes, the development of the Holy Roman Empire (Heiliges Romisches Reich Deutscher Nation), medieval art and architecture, Bach and Handel, Martin Luther and the Protestant reformation, the art and architecture of the renaissance, the Enlightenment, Napoleon and the philosophical, political, and aesthetic changes the Napoleonic conflict engendered.  

Other courses offered include:

ART 276 Austrian Art and Architecture (3h)
Study of the development of Austrian art and architecture and its relationship to European periods and styles.  Includes visits to sites and museums.  (D)

BEM 315. (3h) Seminar in Comparative Management.
Focuses on the global issues in management. Emphasis is on different management philosophies and styles practiced in an international context. Conducted in seminar format.

This program will include an excursion in early October to Jena, Germany and in November to Prague, Czech Republic.  In addition students will participate on a bicycle tour and a trip to Monichkirchen.

Spring 2014 Program Information
Dr. Thomas Phillips will teach the following courses: 

HMN 215 German and Slavic Literature (3h)
The Humanities 215 course sets up a study of the novel as genre through the lens of four different writers from widely different backgrounds yet whose work presents a continuum of cultural and fictional (d)evolution.  The class members would also read and contribute reports on non-fiction and film cultural icons in context.  (D)

HMN 396 Independent Research in European Topics (3h)
Students will work to develop semester long independent research topics related to some aspect of historical or contemporary Austrian and European culture (political, art, literature, medicine, other).  Thus an economics major might look at hose countries seeking EU membership to study the opportunities and impediments; a history major could study historiography in the context of wars and national ideologies.  Music and art and theatre majors- or those interested in such subjects would have endless sources of historical resources and musical performance to drawn upon.  Students would present to their peers at the conclusion to the semester.  Students also would resent at succeeding Undergraduate Research Symposia and could make sure of this material as inspiration and preparation for department honors and further work in the subject.  

Other courses offered will include:

HST 120. (3h) Formation of Europe: Hapsburg Empire and Its Successor States
The development of Central and East-Central Europe as a multiethnic unity under the Hapsburgs, 1526-1918, and its dissolution into successor states and subsequent interactions, 1918-1989. (D)

MUS 219 (3h) Music in Vienna
Study of music and musical institutions of Vienna and Central Europe (D)

Students will enroll in a German language course, HMN 190, HMN 396, and MUS 219.  Students could choose one course or both courses of HST 102 and HMN 215

Fall 2014 Program Information
Dr. Michael Hughes will teach the following courses:

HST 120 Formation of Europe: Habsburg Empire and its Successor States (3h)
The development of Central and East-Central Europe as a multiethnic unity under the Habsburgs, 1526-1918, and its dissolution into successor states and subsequent interactions, 1918-1989. (D or HST major/minor credit)

HST 300 The History of Fin-de-Siecle Vienna (3h)
Examination of major developments in Viennese culture, politics and society from the 1880s to 1918.  Important figures to be discussed may include Mahler, Schoenberg, Klimt, Schiele, Kokoshchka, Schnitzler, Musil, Kafka, Frued, and Herzl.

Other courses offered include:

ART 276 Austrian Art and Architecture (3h)
Study of the development of Austrian art and architecture and its relationship to European periods and styles.  Includes visits to sites and museums.  (D)

BEM 315. (3h) Seminar in Comparative Management.
Focuses on the global issues in management. Emphasis is on different management philosophies and styles practiced in an international context. Conducted in seminar format.

Spring 2015 Program Information
Dr. Timo Thonhauser will teach the following courses:

PHY 113 General Physics I (4h)
Essentials of mechanics, wave motion, heat, and sound treated with some use of calculus.  Recommended for science, mathematics, and premedical students.  Credit allowed for either 111 or 113, but not both.  (D, QR)

PHY 114 General Physics II (4h) 
Essentials of electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics treated with some calculus.  Recommended for science, mathematics, and premedical students. (D, QR)

In order to complete PHY 113 and PHY 114, students are required to complete the corresponding labs PHY 113L and PHY 114L either prior to going abroad or upon return. Labs are held every semester and during summer sessions so students will have plenty of time to work it into their schedule.

Other courses offered will include:

HST 120. (3h) Formation of Europe: Hapsburg Empire and Its Successor States
The development of Central and East-Central Europe as a multiethnic unity under the Hapsburgs, 1526-1918, and its dissolution into successor states and subsequent interactions, 1918-1989. (D)

MUS 219 (3h) Music in Vienna
Study of music and musical institutions of Vienna and Central Europe (D)

Accommodations
Flow House can accommodate sixteen students. There are five student bedrooms on the top floor. A classroom, spacious kitchen, library with state-of-the-art technology, dining room, and living room are located on the middle floor. The house is wired for Internet access and students may bring their laptop computers. A three-bedroom faculty apartment is on the first floor. The house contains separate laundry facilities for faculty and students.

Costs

Students pay current Wake Forest tuition and a program fee (includes housing). Students are responsible for all meals, round-trip airfare, additional travel, books, visa fees, and other personal expenses.

Selection Criteria

The faculty director is responsible for the selection of each group based on the following criteria:

*Academic suitability
*Social and emotional maturity
*Classification
*Seriousness of the student in pursuing the academic and cultural aims of the program
*Applicability of the program to the student's interests and studies

Students who have completed one year of college German (111 and 112 or 113) are given preference for admission, but students without German are also encouraged to apply and have participated successfully in past semester programs.  Majors in all disciplines are eligible.

Scholarships
Contact the German Department for information on their scholarship opportunities. Students may apply for additional scholarships through the Center for International Studies.

Contact Information
Dr. David Levy, Director of Flow House and Professor of Music
Phone: (336) 758 5107
E-mail: levy@wfu.edu

 

House Address
Flow House
Gustaf Tschermakgasse 20
1190 Vienna, Austria
Phone: 011-431-367-0740
Fax: 011-431-367-1442