Leonardo da Vinci: Artist & Engineer - program full
Study the works of Leonardo da Vinci, the world’s most famous artist/engineer, in Syracuse during the semester and in Europe over spring break. Come experience the Renaissance for yourself. See the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper, and Leonardo’s famous drawings and machines in the very places he lived and worked. Enjoy learning with and from students with different academic backgrounds. Become a Renaissance person yourself. For information, please contact
Ginny Pellam-Montalbano at 443-9417 or gapellam@syr.edu Applications are available online. New students should apply online under the "To Apply" section of our website. For program please select “SU world partners” and state that you are interested in the Leonardo program in the essay section along with answering the essay questions. Students who have participated on an SU Abroad program may complete a returning SU Abroad applicant application.
FIA 441/ECS 441 Leonardo da Vinci: Artist and Engineer (4 credits)
This unique, interdisciplinary course brings together Leonardo da Vinci’s two most profound interests - art and engineering. Throughout his career Leonardo spent considerable time devising plans for diverting rivers, creating machines, and studying nature, as well as time making works of art. To understand his genius, we must look at him as both artist and engineer.
Team taught by a professor of fine arts and a professor of civil and environmental engineering, this course enrolls students from both the humanities and engineering. It provides an ideal laboratory for exploring and experiencing the numerous ways in which Leonardo’s talents and interests intertwined. The course assumes no prior knowledge of engineering by humanities students and no prior art historical experience on the part of engineering students. Rather, we create an environment where students can learn from one another and come closer to becoming well-rounded, inquisitive “Renaissance” people ourselves.
The course consists of three major components, including a unique study abroad experience during spring break.
During the first portion of the semester, lectures and class discussions will focus on building a basic knowledge of Leonardo and the world in which he lived. Armed with this knowledge, we will travel together during spring break to Milan, Florence, Vinci, Paris, and Amboise to see his works and the places where he worked.
During the remaining portion of the semester, interdisciplinary groups of students will put their experiences into action. Each group will study a broad topic that was of interest to Leonardo: for example, human anatomy, mechanical devices, hydraulics, flight, and many others. They will make group presentations and create projects and papers that demonstrate what they have learned from one another and from studying Leonardo’s notebooks and paintings.
For ECS students only: this course will fulfill a Social Sciences or Humanities requirement.
Enrollment is limited to 20 students. Merit- and need-based financial aid is available to offset some of the costs of traveling abroad.
Faculty
Samuel P. Clemence is a Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is a former Associate Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and has extensive experience in research and consulting in civil engineering projects. He has developed and taught an honors course entitled “Technology: Past and Present “ which focuses on the history and heritage of technology and its impact on society. His publications have covered engineering research topics as well as studies on the historical aspects of technology, including the impact of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions on society.
Gary M. Radke is professor of fine arts and former director of the Honors Program at Syracuse University. He also coordinates Syracuse University’s Florence Graduate Program in Renaissance Art, which offers master’s level work in Syracuse and Florence. A fellow of the American Academy in Rome, Professor Radke has spent extensive time lecturing and living in Italy. Professor Radke serves as guest curator for exhibitions of Italian Renaissance Art at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia. His publications have focused on a broad range of topics concerning Italian architecture and Renaissance sculpture. He is also co-author of a major college textbook, Art in Renaissance Italy, which has been translated into Spanish and Chinese.
Tentative Itinerary
Friday, March 12 -Depart Syracuse
Saturday, March 13 - Arrive Florence. Early evening walking tour of the city. Group dinner
Sunday, March 14 - Morning: Uffizi. Afternoon: Excursion to Vinci.
Monday, March 15 - Palazzo Vecchio. Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. Climb the dome.
Tuesday, March 16 - Day trip to Milan.
Wednesday, March 17 - Free day in Florence.
Thursday, March 18 -Morning flight to Paris. Early evening boat tour of Paris.
Friday, March 19 -Morning: Louvre. Afternoon free.
Saturday, March 20 -Day trip to Amboise. Group lunch.
Sunday, March 21 -Return to Syracuse.
Costs
Tuition for the course will be covered as part of regular spring semester tuition as long as you do not exceed 19 credits. The cost for the spring break component of the course is approximately $3,890, which includes round trip transportation from Syracuse to Europe, housing in Milan, Florence and Paris, daily breakfast, some group dinners, transportation from city to city, and museum entrance fees. It also includes all activities and services for which a separate fee is not charged. The final fee will be set once airfare and other expenses have been confirmed.
Application, Selection, & Payment Procedures
Students will be expected to submit the special application and a $60 non-refundable application fee to SU Abroad by October 12, 2009. All applications will be reviewed by an admissions committee made up of Professor Fowler and a SU Abroad representative. Students will be notified of their acceptance by October 26. Upon acceptance, a $450 non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your participation in the program. This is due within 10 days. Final payment will be due December 11, 2009.