Course at a Glance
Course: ARTH 489M (3 Credits)
Class and Credits: ARTH 489M Van Gogh: Life and Work (3 Credits)
Location: Amsterdam
When: 3 -30 June 2026
On-site in Amsterdam: 19-22 June 2026
Register By: 20 May 2026
Status: OPEN
Highlights:
Rijksmuseum
Van Gogh Museum
Stedelijk Museum
Works by Seurat, Gauguin, and Cezanne
Tuition and Fee
$750.00 Undergraduate 3-credit hour tuition cost
$400.00 Field Study Additional Fee includes: (museum/ticket fees, private tours, excursions or other events organized by the faculty). Not included: meals, transportation to and from the location, and hotel accommodation. Please note that the fee is subject to change based on potential increases in ticket prices.
Explore one of the most influential figures in the history of Western art during this field study program at UMGC Europe.
Rich resources in Amsterdam allow students to follow Van Gogh's development through a study of his paintings. At the Rijksmuseum, masterpieces of the Dutch Golden Age highlight influences in his early years. A visit to the Rembrandt House Museum underscores the spiritual and artistic impact of Rembrandt throughout Van Gogh’s life. In the Van Gogh Museum, students can observe the changes produced by the artist’s contact with Seurat, Gauguin, and Cezanne. The Stedelijk Museum provides the class with an opportunity to see how Van Gogh has influenced painting in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Topics include:
Background and early years
Rembrandt’s importance
Theo Van Gogh: Brother, advisor, confidant
Impressionism: A new way of seeing
Post-Impressionism: Color and feeling
Descriptive vs. expressive color
Descriptive vs. subjective content
Van Gogh’s radical spirituality
Van Gogh’s writing: A life in letters
Summary: Changing the direction of art
Faculty member: Dr. Eva Heisler, email eva.heisler@umgc.edu
Students should consult an academic advisor to determine how the course fits into their program.
Course Details
Pre-Course and Week 1
You will gain access to the online LEO classroom approximately one week before the start of the course. The official course start date is 3 June 2026. Once you access the classroom, take a virtual course walk-through and begin reading assignments and review the on-site itinerary.
On-Site in Amsterdam
- 19-22 June 2026
Sample Itinerary Final confirmed itinerary will be available in the course syllabus)
Site visit to Amsterdam city center and religious buildings
Visit to Rijksmuseum
Visit Van Gogh Museum
Visit Rembrandt House Museum (Rembrandthuis)
Visit Rembrandt House Museum (Rembrandthuis)
Textbooks and Course Materials
Please refer to the current course syllabus found on the schedule for details about course materials.
Registration Details
You may register for the 1-3-credit field study course with your local program coordinator or online at MyUMGC. Tuition assistance or financial aid can be applied toward tuition costs. For more information, contact the UMGC Field Study Office at CIV +49-(0)631-534-800, or e-mail fieldstudies-europe@umgc.edu.
Before completing your travel plans, please verify with your local program coordinator or the Field Study Office at fieldstudies-europe@umgc.edu. that the course will be held as scheduled. If you drop/withdraw from a field study course after the registration deadline, you will be charged a fee of $100. A one-credit hour field study will be charged the amount equal to the pre-purchased tickets. Please see the additional field study fee.
How is a field study course different from a regular course?
A field study course packs all of the 48 contact-hours of other courses into adventure-filled days on location, so you can earn one to three credits at an accelerated pace. In addition, rather than taking place in an education center, a field study course takes place in a historical European city where the subject being studied has its roots. You will visit historical sites and museums as well as participate in lectures that bring it all together for a one-of-a-kind learning experience.
For more information, please visit the Field Study Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
Helpful Hints
Before you leave:
- Contact your travel agency concerning insurance coverage for cancellations.
- Contact your health insurance company for information concerning coverage at your destination.
- Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of your destination country.
- Check the weather forecast for your destination.
- Obtain city maps for your destination.
- Leave contact information with people at home who may need to reach you during the course.
- Make sure your legal affairs are in order and leave a short-term power of attorney with someone you trust.
- Make two photocopies of your passport and the contents of your wallet--leave one copy at home and bring the other with you.
For more information, please visit the Field Study Resources page.