ENG 397 or THE 351 (3 credits)*
*An additional three credits can be with the Instructors’ approval under THE 290. This would take the form of an in depth research project and paper.
SUMMER TRAVEL COURSE
Course Dates: Summer Session I: May 18 to July 2, 2026
Estimated Travel Dates: June 5 – June 20, 2026
As a class, we will read the entirety of James Joyce’s Ulysses alongside a selection of contemporaneous Irish plays produced by the newly formed Abbey Theatre. The class will situate Joyce’s work within Modernism and Irish history to explore its relationship to empire, rebellion, and both literary and semiotic experimentation. Following an intensive reading and lecture series, students will travel to Dublin, where they will receive two weeks of instruction at the Gaiety Acting School and create an original ensemble piece based on Ulysses. That will culminate in a public performance as part of the Bloomsday Festival.
Course Materials:
- Ulysses (Gabler edition only)
- Seven Short Plays by Lady Gregory. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. 1915.*
- The Works of John M. Synge. Dublin, Mausel and Co. 1910 .*
- On Baile’s Strand. Dublin: Dun Emer Press, 1903.*
- Cathleen ni Houlihan. Samhain. Irish Literary Journal, 1902.*
- Dubliners (any addition)
Course Format:
Our class has three distinct stages:
(1) Three weeks of intensive reading of Irish texts including Ulysses via Zoom, twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30 – 3:15 pm
(2) a ~10-day trip to Dublin for Bloomsday events and structured programming through the Gaiety School of Acting where students will develop an original piece of theater inspired by our course readings
(3) a performance of the developed theater piece at the Crewe Center in late June/early July 2026
Faculty
Rachel Price Cooper
Rachel Price Cooper is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at the University of Southern Maine. She holds a PhD in Theatre from the University of Illinois and an MA in Directing from University College Dublin. She works as an actor, dramaturg, and director. Her areas of interest include contemporary adaptations of ancient Greek sources and the theatricalization of motherhood. Her work appears in Unmasking New Maternal Realities (Palgrave 2025) and the forthcoming collection Dramaturgies of the Real World (Routledge).
Carrie Kancilia
Dr. Carrie Kancilia is a Senior Lecturer in the English and Women & Gender Studies Departments and serves as the Writing Center Director for the University of Southern Maine. She teaches James Joyce at USM, and her work on Joyce can be found in Joyce Studies Annual and The James Joyce Literary Supplement.
Tuition and Fees
The approximate program fee is still pending but is estimated to range between $3200 & $3800. This program fee does NOT include tuition. Tuition and fees will be charged at the in-state rate ($1215.00) and are in addition to the program fee. All participants on USM travel programs receive the in-state tuition rate regardless of residency.
The program fee includes: airfare, accommodations, instruction abroad, some events and activities and some meals.
Not included in the program fee: cost of tuition, fees, books, academic supplies, meals, and other personal expenses.
Application
The application deadline is Friday, February 13, 2026. Pre-requisites for the course are: at least 15 college credits hours at USM, a minimum GPA of 2.0 and sophomore standing. Students should have a valid passport.
A complete application includes all of the following:
- Submit the program application form
- We recommend looking over the application before completing it so you have all parts ready, as unfortunately you cannot save as you go.
- A letter of recommendation from a faculty member or academic advisor
- Here is the link you can share with faculty/staff to complete a recommendation on your behalf: Online Recommendation for Travel Program
- Copy of academic transcript
- Information regarding requesting a transcript can be found here (It’s probably easiest to either follow the steps for “Electronic Delivery” or “Unofficial Transcript via Classic MaineStreet” and either way, send to Kimberly Sinclair (ksinc@maine.edu)
Once the application committee has reviewed applications, you will be notified of acceptance via email. At that time, all students accepted to the program will be asked to submit a $500 nonrefundable deposit and will be enrolled in the course in MaineStreet by a staff member in the Office of International Programs.
Scholarships
Students are encouraged to apply for scholarship funding to help support the cost of participating in this faculty-led summer short-term travel program. Financial support is available through the A. Carolla Haglund Scholarship Fund. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. More information and a link to the application can be found here.