ARCS Academic Programs
ARCS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Each academic year, the American Research Center in Sofia, Bulgaria offers three programs with accompanying fellowships: a 9-month program for the period September-May; a Fall term program for the period September-November; and a Spring term program for the period February-April. ARCS hosts the programs' lectures and seminars, organizes related trips, and facilitates opportunities for taking Bulgarian and other Balkan language classes, logistical support, and access to local libraries, museums, and other educational institutions. Details about previous programs can be found in our Newsletters, available on the ARCS website.
Those interested in the 9-month program (only for graduate students) are expected to participate in the ARCS academic program during both the Fall and the Spring term and devote the rest of the time to independent research and travel. The content of the Fall and Spring Programs is described below.
The Fall Term Program is intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, scholars and teachers, who are interested in the history, material culture, and civilization (including ethnography and music) of Bulgaria and the Balkan region. The term of the program is from the first Monday of September through the last Saturday of November. The first part of the program consists of lectures, seminars and trips relating to the period from antiquity to the present day. Although most scholars specialize in one historical period, we believe that for students of Bulgarian and Balkan history it is very helpful to get a diachronic overview from local experts. The second part of the program includes independent research in local libraries and optional trips. The participants are expected to attend the entire program. They will choose a topic on which they will prepare an oral presentation at the end of first half of the program. During the second half of their stay, participants are expected to carry out independent research dedicated to their special fields and/or dissertation topics. The program engages the participants with eminent local scholars in the study of Bulgarian (and to a certain extent, Balkan) history and civilization in their continuity and facilitates specialized research in local institutions.
The Spring Term Program is intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, teachers and scholars, who are interested in the history of religion in Bulgaria from antiquity to the 20th century, including ancient religion, Christianity (Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and other Christian faiths and movements), Judaism, and Islam. The term of the program is from the first Monday of February to the last Saturday of April. The first part of the program consists of lectures and seminars by local experts, and the second part of the program includes independent research in local libraries and trips to famous Bulgarian religious sites. The participants are expected to attend the entire program. They will choose a topic on which they will prepare an oral presentation at the end of first half of the program. The second half of the program includes independent research in local libraries and trips to famous Bulgarian monasteries and churches (many of which are part of the world's cultural heritage).
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION
All applicants need to submit a completed application form (available below). Graduate and advanced undergraduate students at educational institutions registered in North America, regardless of their citizenship, are eligible for fellowships. Students with partial support or without support from ARCS can apply for alternative sources of funding. Faculty members at these institutions are welcome to participate in the programs or part thereof, but are not eligible for fellowships.
Graduate Students:
Please submit a project proposal (up to three double-spaced pages) describing how participation in the ARCS Fall/Spring or 9-month program will serve your academic interests and/or dissertation research. The proposal, together with the application form, a CV, copies of official transcripts from each graduate institution you have attended, and two letters of reference (sent separately) from professors who are familiar with your academic work, should be sent electronically to Dr. Emil Nankov, ehn2@cornell.edu.
Advanced Undergraduate Students:
Please submit a project proposal (up to three double-spaced pages) describing how participation in the ARCS Fall/Spring program will serve your academic interests. The proposal, together with the application form, a CV, copies of official transcripts from each undergraduate institution you have attended, and two letters of reference (sent separately) from professors who are familiar with your academic work, should be sent electronically to Dr. Emil Nankov, ehn2@cornell.edu.
Undergraduate students have the option to be given an examination and write a term paper at the end of the program if they need to receive credits for the program from their home institutions. ARCS does not grant credit, but can issue certificates of participation, and the students' home institutions can then confer credits based on the students' examinations and term papers.
Faculty Members:
Please submit an application form, a project proposal (up to three double-spaced pages) describing how participation in the ARCS Fall/Spring program will serve your academic interests, and a CV to Dr. Emil Nankov, ehn2@cornell.edu.
Application deadline:
All application materials must be sent by February 15th. The candidates will receive notification by April 1st.
FELLOWSHIPS
ARCS plans to offer at least one 9-month fellowship for the period September-May; at least three Fall and Spring term fellowships. The fellowships will include a monthly stipend; in addition, ARCS will pay for accommodation, on-site language instruction, and travel expenses within the academic program.
ESTIMATED COST
Applicants who have been accepted without a fellowship are welcome to look for alternative sources of funding: the total cost of the programs for participants from member institutions is estimated as $10,000 for the 9-month program and $5,000 for either the fall or the spring semester program. This estimate is based on the assumption that the participants will reside at ARCS. Participants from non-member institutions will be charged an additional fee of $100 per month.
