Cityscape of Oxford. Oxfordshire, England, UK
Oxford Scholars Program: One-Week Seminars
Students select one seminar to dive into for the weeklong program. Mornings at Oxford are spent in small-group seminars taught by British university scholars—tutors, as they are known in Oxford—who are experts in their field. These gifted and experienced instructors are passionate about sharing their knowledge.
2025 Seminars
Roman Britain | Dr. Steve Kershaw
Course Description: The influence of the ancient Romans on modern British society is enormous and unique. This course will explore the fascinating events and the extraordinary cultural and artistic achievements of the Romans in Britain, and the Britons under Roman control.
‘Roman Britain’ will study the Romans in Britain, and the Britons under Roman control, across a range of topics pertinent to history, archaeology, and material culture. The fascinating events and the extraordinary cultural and artistic achievements under scrutiny will include: the nature of our archaeological evidence; Roman knowledge of Britain; Julius Caesar’s expeditions; the Claudian invasion; Boudicca’s revolt; Tacitus’ Agricola; Hadrian’s Wall; and the end of Roman involvement in Britannia. Numerous intriguing human issues will be confronted as we follow the process of the creation of a Roman province, explore the challenges faced by both the Romans and the natives, examine the physical and mental environment in which they spent their lives, assess their triumphs and mistakes, and evaluate the solutions they attempted. Who were these people? Why (or) did they succeed? Why (or) did they fail? Students will be invited to analyse and reflect on the controversies and dilemmas posed by the written and material evidence, and to supplement our studies we will make a field trip to Chedworth Roman villa, nestling in beautiful Cotswold countryside.
About the Tutor: Dr. Kershaw is a tutor for the University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education, a lecturer for the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a Guest Speaker for various cultural travel companies. Steve has spent over 35 years travelling extensively in the world of the Ancient Romans both physically and intellectually. He was an expert contributor to the History Channel’s Barbarians Rising series, and his publications on Roman history include A Brief Guide to Classical Civilization, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, Barbarians: Rebellion and Resistance to the Roman Empire, plus Mythologica—an award-winning children’s book on Greek Mythology.
Reading List:
S.P. Kershaw, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, Constable & Robinson
D. Mattingly, An Imperial Possession: Britain in the Roman Empire, 54 BC - AD 409, Penguin
P. Salway, Roman Britain, A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press
Field Trips and Associated Cost:The field trip may include a visit to the Chedworth Roman Villa in Gloucestershire. Seminar and field trip fee will show on the final invoice, ranging from $100–$200.
‘Roman Britain’ will study the Romans in Britain, and the Britons under Roman control, across a range of topics pertinent to history, archaeology, and material culture. The fascinating events and the extraordinary cultural and artistic achievements under scrutiny will include: the nature of our archaeological evidence; Roman knowledge of Britain; Julius Caesar’s expeditions; the Claudian invasion; Boudicca’s revolt; Tacitus’ Agricola; Hadrian’s Wall; and the end of Roman involvement in Britannia. Numerous intriguing human issues will be confronted as we follow the process of the creation of a Roman province, explore the challenges faced by both the Romans and the natives, examine the physical and mental environment in which they spent their lives, assess their triumphs and mistakes, and evaluate the solutions they attempted. Who were these people? Why (or) did they succeed? Why (or) did they fail? Students will be invited to analyse and reflect on the controversies and dilemmas posed by the written and material evidence, and to supplement our studies we will make a field trip to Chedworth Roman villa, nestling in beautiful Cotswold countryside.
About the Tutor: Dr. Kershaw is a tutor for the University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education, a lecturer for the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a Guest Speaker for various cultural travel companies. Steve has spent over 35 years travelling extensively in the world of the Ancient Romans both physically and intellectually. He was an expert contributor to the History Channel’s Barbarians Rising series, and his publications on Roman history include A Brief Guide to Classical Civilization, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, Barbarians: Rebellion and Resistance to the Roman Empire, plus Mythologica—an award-winning children’s book on Greek Mythology.
Reading List:
Field Trips and Associated Cost:The field trip may include a visit to the Chedworth Roman Villa in Gloucestershire. Seminar and field trip fee will show on the final invoice, ranging from $100–$200.
Jane Austen: Courtship, Context, and Commentary | Dr. Sara Zadrozny
Course Description: While Jane Austen is usually remembered for her production of the romantic marriage plot, Austen’s novels provide more than just a happy ending. On the contrary, Austen’s distinctive voice constructs a narrative that is perfectly aware of the restraints that marriage imposes on her female characters. From her earliest years, Austen was astute enough to observe the transactional nature of marriage. In Austen’s novels, we see the possibility of greater agency for women and even the notion of marriage based on mutual love and esteem.
This course will examine closely Austen concise and formal writing style, with its emphasis on wit and the art of conversation, her use of irony, direct and indirect speech. Through this, there will be an opportunity to examine Austen’s commentaries on the social rituals and expectations of late- eighteenth and early nineteenth-century England, and to examine why we cannot help but relate to her unconventional female protagonists.
The week of study will focus on Jane Austen’s two earliest published novels, Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Pride and Prejudice (1813), plus Austen’s Gothic parody, Northanger Abbey (1817).
About the Tutor: Dr. Sara Zadrozny has worked for the Oxford University Department of Continuing Education for ten years. Sara is interested in female authorship and often focuses on representations of women in the courses she teaches on nineteenth-century fiction for the Oxford Experience and Oxford University Summer School for Adults. A Fellow of the Higher Education academy, Sara has lectured in English at the University of Reading and has worked as a guest tutor at the Cardiff University School of Continuing Education. Sara’s research and publications are in Victorian Literature, gender, medicine and the Gothicised female body. She is currently writing a monograph on Victorian gerontology and fiction.
Reading List:
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility
Claire Tomalin, Jane Austen: A Life, Penguin, 2012
The tutor requests that participants bring the Jane Austen books to Oxford for further discussion and analysis.
Field Trips and Associated Cost: The field trip may include a visit to Chawton House (‘The Great House’) and Jane Austen’s home. Seminar and field trip fee will appear on the final invoice, ranging from $100–$200.
This course will examine closely Austen concise and formal writing style, with its emphasis on wit and the art of conversation, her use of irony, direct and indirect speech. Through this, there will be an opportunity to examine Austen’s commentaries on the social rituals and expectations of late- eighteenth and early nineteenth-century England, and to examine why we cannot help but relate to her unconventional female protagonists.
The week of study will focus on Jane Austen’s two earliest published novels, Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Pride and Prejudice (1813), plus Austen’s Gothic parody, Northanger Abbey (1817).
About the Tutor: Dr. Sara Zadrozny has worked for the Oxford University Department of Continuing Education for ten years. Sara is interested in female authorship and often focuses on representations of women in the courses she teaches on nineteenth-century fiction for the Oxford Experience and Oxford University Summer School for Adults. A Fellow of the Higher Education academy, Sara has lectured in English at the University of Reading and has worked as a guest tutor at the Cardiff University School of Continuing Education. Sara’s research and publications are in Victorian Literature, gender, medicine and the Gothicised female body. She is currently writing a monograph on Victorian gerontology and fiction.
Reading List:
The tutor requests that participants bring the Jane Austen books to Oxford for further discussion and analysis.
Field Trips and Associated Cost: The field trip may include a visit to Chawton House (‘The Great House’) and Jane Austen’s home. Seminar and field trip fee will appear on the final invoice, ranging from $100–$200.
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