USA Field School: Landscape and Art/Design Influences in Los Angeles & Las Vegas
This Field School will immerse students in the visual and built environments of both Los Angeles and Las Vegas, as well as sites in the surrounding region including Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, and the Spiral Jetty - all locations whose distinct geographical circumstances and histories have shaped their development and, in turn, fundamentally informed the landscape architecture and artistic representation of each. Students will be involved in daily site visits, tours, as well as face-to-face encounters with researchers, artists, and cultural figures. Addressing the significance of art and architecture in relation to particular eras and places, we will consider issues of environmental sustainability, urbanism, community engagement, modernity, Indigenous sovereignty and rights, and spatial and social justice. Experiential learning will tie interdisciplinary concepts and theories drawn from history, art, art history, geography, design, urban planning and rural development, and environmental studies to real world settings.
Activities will explore now iconic sites such as the Las Vegas Strip and vintage Las Vegas, the Neon Museum, downtown LA, MOCA, Palm Springs, and the architectures of Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as art and design initiatives including Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty and Michael Heizer's Double Negative, Joshua Tree-based projects including High' Desert Test Sites, the Center for Land Use Interpretation, and more.
This international Field School is open to students from all disciplines at the University of Guelph.
Information Session
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
5:30 - 6:30 pm
UC 390 (take the South elevators)
Come in person, or follow the presentation virtually on Teams
Click here to join the meeting
Field School Details
Instructor: Dr. Shauna McCabe, Adjunct Professor and Director of the Art Gallery of Guelph
Offered: Summer 2024 (Previously: S19)
Prerequisite: 7.5 credits or permission of the instructor, 70% cumulative average,
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Dr. McCabe or Allison Broadbent, Study Abroad Manager.
Program Dates
- April 29 - May 3: three 2-hour virtual classes prior to departure
- May 5 - 20, 2024: travel in USA
Course
Students will be registered in 1.0 credits at the third year level. See the attached tentative course outline at the bottom of this page.
Costs
Students should budget for the following:
- Airfare to Las Vegas, return flight from Los Angeles (estimated $1000)
- Tuition and fees at the University of Guelph for 1.0 credits
- The USA Field School fee: approximately $2800 which covers the following: - 13 nights accommodation, transportation for site visits in the cities, entrance fees to museums and sites. Amount is subject to change based on fluctuating exchange rate.
- Meals - estimated $700
- Mandatory travel health and emergency insurance through the company Guard Me ($1.65 / day)
Travel Grants
Students participating in this Field School, who identify as an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) student, a student registered with Student Accessibility Services, and/or have demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply for the GSO Travel Grant. There are also other University of Guelph travel grants available.
Students applying for the program must have completed a total of 7.5 undergraduate credits by the time the program begins in May 2024 (or permission from the instructor), and must have a 68% cumulative average.
The program is open to students from all disciplines at the University of Guelph, with a maximum of 15 students being accepted to the program.
Apply to the USA Field School
To apply for Field School programs you must complete CIP's online application. Step-by-step application instructions are outlined in the link below.
File attachments
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 USA Field School_Tentative-Course Outline.pdf | 1.05 MB |