You are here: American University College of Arts & Sciences Carmel Institute

Carmel Institute of Russian Culture & History; Susan Carmel Lerhman, Founder.

Our Mission

The Carmel Institute builds lasting connections between Russian and American students through musical and theater performances, Russian and Soviet film screenings, conferences, academic travel, and art exhibits. The Institute also offers grants to AU students to study Russian language and history.

Summer 2024 Call for Applications Carmel Institute/AU Summer Course-Trip in Istanbul, Türkiye June 22-29, 2024

Byzantine-era monuments and art in Istanbul and Moscow

The Carmel Institute is sponsoring an AU Course/Trip to Istanbul over summer break from June 22-29, 2024. The Culture of Eastern Orthodoxy: From Constantinople to Eurasia will combine pre-assigned readings with visits to museums, galleries, and concerts in Istanbul, Türkiye, to explore the role of Byzantine Orthodoxy in forming the cultural and historical space of Western Eurasia from Anatolia and the Balkans to Russia and Eastern Europe. 

Applications are due by 5 pm on Friday, March 22.

Students in the Washington Consortium of Universities are invited to submit applications to take part in the course. The Carmel Institute covers the cost of students' travel, lodging, and meals. If you would like to receive academic credit for this course trip, please contact your academic advisor or study abroad office. Any applicant who wishes to take the course for university credit will have to pay any applicable tuition and/or fees to do so.

ALL three parts of the application must be submitted by 5pm on March 22, 2024:

  • the completed form (see below for the AU and non-AU form links),
  • your transcript(s) from ALL postsecondary education (unofficial are fine in a .pdf or image format with the logo of the university visible in the file), and
  • the 150-word statement). 

American University students: Please complete this application form. You will need your passport, your transcripts in an acceptable format (see above), and your 150-word statement ready to paste into the proper field to submit the form.

Students of other universities: Please complete this application form, then send your transcripts in an acceptable format (see above) in a single email to carmelinstitute@american.edu with  your last name and "Summer 2024 Trip" in the subject line. You may include the required 150-word statement in the application form or submit it in Word or .pdf format in the email with your transcripts. 

The selection committee will only receive complete applications. You will receive a confirmation email once we verify that your application is complete so that you'll know it has been forwarded to the selection committee, along with an approximate date you can expect to hear back about your application.

Please contact us at carmelinstitute@american.edu if you have any questions or issues with the application form.

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