History in the Virgin Islands

Summer 2010: June 13 to June 30 (tentative dates)

Program Location

The group will enroll in this course during the 2nd 4-week summer session at JMU. During the term, the group will spend a week exploring plantation sites in Virginia and South Carolina.  Considerable attention will be paid to the way Charleston grew as a representation of the Rice Culture.  In the second week, we will explore the Virgin Islands with particular emphasis on St. John as well as St. Thomas. 

Academic Program

This course is a comparison of slavery and race relations in the United States and the West Indies.  The rise of plantations and staple crop agriculture, the development of a rich Creole (slave) culture, and efforts toward emancipation will shape the course. 

Instructional methods include lectures, guided tours, field work, journal assignment and papers.

Tentative course offerings:
HIST 489 or HIST 590: Topics in World History- Comparative Slavery (3)

Accommodations

In Charleston and St. John, students will reside in hotels arranged by JMU. Some group meals will be provided. (Housing and meals in Harrisonburg are not provided.)

Program Costs

For the current projected costs for this program, please click on the following link to the Fees for JMU Study Abroad Programs page.

Application

For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs. In addition to the Short-term Application, interested students should submit a one-page statement detailing their interest in the course topics. 

For More Information

For additional information about the program, please contact the program director:

Dr. P. David Dillard
Professor
History Department
Tel: 540-568-2979
E-mail: dillarpd@jmu.edu