May Term 2013 International Travel Courses

For Cornerstone students, all courses listed fulfill CS 7.  For ECC students, the ECC designations for each course, if any, are listed following the course instructor name(s).

The following courses are still receiving applications….

Courses traveling to Asia and the Middle East:

INTST 197  Cambodia on the Brink of Change (Pat Singer & Ron Warnet)

ECC:  Global Perspective

Preliminary cost estimate: $3,953 plus $25 Cambodian Visa, $60 for meals not covered by course fee, and $135 passport fee, if needed, and a $300 fundraising requirement to support the mission of the NGO with which the course will be working

This course is a cultural immersion course that explores how developing countries transform themselves through economic and human development. Students learn about everyday life in Cambodia by living with villagers in the rural parts of Cambodia, listening to their stories, working with community-based organizations, and asking lots of questions. Students also learn about ancient and modern history that shapes who Cambodians are today.   Students are expected to reflect on their experiences and observations among the Cambodians, analyze the variety of voices they hear, and record their thoughts in a journal.

SW 297  Global Citizenship: Rights & Responsibilities as portrayed by social & economic development in India, focusing on Bangalore and Mysore (Rosemary Link & Judy Walden)

ECC:  Global Perspective

Preliminary cost estimate: $4,233 plus $115 for books, and $135 passport fee, if needed

During pre-travel orientation and a 17 day (2 are travel days) visit to India, the course defines the reality, complexity and implications of the concept of “citizenship.” Nation states are the most recognized form of worldwide community organization even as national frontiers become more permeable, especially in relation to social activity including migration and economic activity especially of transnational companies. India has been an independent democracy since 1947 and has a complex history of economic and social development. Most recently India has become a world leader in terms of technology and irrigation. Students will have dialog with Indian professors, community leaders and researchers as well as visiting large urban areas and small tropical villages. India is all about contrast of economic progress and poverty, of the beauty of its forests and coastline and the sprawl of urban development. Citizens experience India very differently according to their location and status and as such this fascinating country is an excellent location to study global citizenship.

Courses traveling to the Caribbean region or Central or South America:

ECON 197  Make an Impact: Social and Economic Development in Belize (Jim Palmieri)

ECC:  Global Perspective and Intercultural Communication

Preliminary cost estimate: $3,992 plus $135 passport fee, if needed

This exciting opportunity is designed for students to engage in social and economic development work in Belize. Development projects, geared toward student interests when possible, will be in diverse areas such as community development, education, environment and conservation, health, working with children, small construction and women’s empowerment.   To learn more about the history of the area, we will also travel to cultural and historical sites in Belize and Guatemala to learn more about the diverse blend of Maya, Garifuna, Creole, Mestizo, and Mennonite cultures of the region.

Courses traveling to Europe:

MUS 297  Experiencing Music, Art and Culture in Spain with the Madrigal Singers
(Kim Roberts & Tim McMillin)

ECC:  Global Perspective

Preliminary cost estimate: $4,800 plus $100 for meals not covered by course fee, $100 personal expenses, and $135 passport fee, if needed

This course is an immersion in Spanish music, art and culture with an emphasis on performing in the Madrigal Singers. Students will travel to Madrid, Seville, Granada and Malaga where they will discover through research and performance how music developed along with art, architecture, poetry and philosophy, as neighboring and invading cultures permeated their society. There will also be the opportunity to engage with other students studying in those cities. Each student will develop a relevant research project which they will present to the class upon return. A daily reflective journal is required.

The following courses are full, but they are accepting applications for a place on the waitlist, should a place in the respective courses become available…

HUM 197  Discover Ireland and Great Britain: Historic Locations in Ireland and Great Britain (John Epperson & Owen Duncan)

No ECC designations

Preliminary cost estimate: $4,300 plus $30 for books, $140 for meals not covered by course fee, and $135 passport fee, if needed

The course will include visits to prehistoric and Roman sites, medieval castles and cathedrals, early modern palaces, the homes of important Britons and Irishmen, and the places where crucial decisions were made that shaped Irish, British, and world history in Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England. Among the places to be visited are Dublin, Edinburgh Castle, Stonehenge, the Roman Baths at Bath, Oxford University, Shakespeare’s Stratford, Wordsworth’s Lake District, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, the British Museum and more.

WLCS 297  Paris: Castles, Colorful Characters, and Crucial Moments in French History (Sharon Wilkinson)

ECC:  Historical Perspective

Preliminary cost estimate: $2,900 plus $175 for meals not covered by course fee, and $135 passport fee, if needed

Paris. There is no other city quite like it anywhere in the world—cutting-edge, yet steeped in tradition and history. In this course, we will follow in the footsteps of several colorful characters from the time of kings, queens, castles, and palaces, taking us to places like the Louvre, Versailles, Fontainebleau, and some castles of the Loire Valley. Love affairs, bloody massacres, royal court gossip, assassinations, and some pretty eccentric people will all come alive as we study three key events in the period of French history from the Renaissance to the Revolution. The May Term portion of the course will include 10 days in Paris and the surrounding area, as well as class sessions on campus before and after traveling. Besides your active participation in the course, graded work will include a photo journal project, a book presentation, and a final learning assessment.

HUM 197  The Renaissance and Reformation in Italy: Rome and Florence (Rebecca Livingstone)

Anticipated ECC designation:  Global Perspective (pending EPCC and faculty approval)

Preliminary cost estimate: $3,800 plus $350 for meals not covered by course fee, $50 for books, and $135 passport fee, if needed

The Renaissance-Reformation marks the beginning of Europe’s modern era.  The Renaissance represents the reawaking of the classical world and its transformation into innovative ideas while the Reformation saw a revitalization of Catholicism in its own much overlooked reform movement.  The heart of both movements lay in Italy, particularly Rome, Florence and Venice.  These three cities represent many of the facets of the Renaissance-Reformation period – culture, education, politics, religion and trade.  Through their exploration students will gain greater insight into how western civilization transformed itself from the medieval ‘dark’ ages into the modern.  Student activities will include a reflective journal as well as some research and oral presentations.

Completed travel course application materials should be submitted to the Office of International Education via the new online application system.  For more information, contact the course instructor(s) or International Education Coordinator Jay Wilkinson. 

The following courses are no longer accepting applications:

BIOL 197  Environmental Issues and Sustainability in Cuba (Ryan Rehmeier)

This course is full 

ECC:  Global Perspective

Preliminary cost estimate: $3,559 plus $25 for food not covered by course fee, and $135 passport fee, if needed

Cuba is the only country in the world with sustainable development, an assertion supported by the United Nations Human Development Index. The United States stands in stark contrast to Cuba in many ways, but clearly the U.S. has not been developing in a sustainable way, as evidenced by our growing reliance on imported goods and fossil fuel, rapid loss of valuable topsoil from agricultural lands, swift development of natural lands for urban or agricultural uses, and mounting state and federal budget deficits. This course will use experiential learning and immersive activities to teach students about sustainability and environmental issues in this unique location, taking into account the modern Cuban economy, political system, and recent history. Students will give presentations on topics of interest to them during the prep course; maintain a journal of their activities, participate in reflection sessions, and interact with local citizens while in Cuba; and write a paper comparing environmental, economic, political, or social realities in the U.S. and Cuba upon their return.

ART 297  A Photographic Tour of Ireland (Dave Richmond)

This course is full

ECC:  The Arts

Preliminary cost estimate: $2,950 plus $300 for meals not covered by course fee, $75 personal expenses, $135 passport fee, if needed, and cost of a digital camera if student doesn’t already have one to use

The purpose of this course is to allow students to reflect on their interests and artistic expression as they discover themselves through practicing the art of photography in Ireland. The creative act of photography and the experience of recording images in an unfamiliar and exotic location will stimulate self-awareness. Hands on practice of photography will be a key component to this course by the student’s active engagement with understanding proper: composition, contrast, technical quality and an artistic message. Students will also learn how to edit their electronic images through Adobe Photoshop software. Other key components to the course include class presentations about the history, physical environment and culture of Ireland. We will also gain some understand and insight into some of the unique qualities of the Irish culture through talking with Irish artists and visiting Irish educational institutions.

REL 297  The Politics of Sacred Spaces: Israel and Jordan (Mark Gammon)

This course has been cancelled for 2013.

ECC:  Global Perspective

Preliminary cost estimate: $4,700 plus $100 for books, $200 for meals not covered by course fee, and $135 passport fee, if needed

Students will explore the intersections between religious tradition and contemporary politics in the Holy Land by visiting traditional religious sites in Jordan and Israel. We will examine the process by which certain places come to be recognized as holy and the historical and political implications of such designations.   Students will show competence in the basic history of the region through an exam. Each student will also become an “expert” on a site to be visited, both the factual importance and its significance as theo-political space, and all students will engage in ongoing reflection through journaling.

INTST 197  Exploring Art Using Science and History: Florence, Barcelona, and Paris (Emily Skow & Rebecca Livingstone)

This course has been cancelled for 2013.

No ECC designations

Preliminary cost estimate: $3,925 plus $50 for books, $350 for meals not covered by course fee, and $135 passport fee, if needed

Through the centuries we have been enamored with Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile. Why? Is it simply because the painting is a Renaissance masterpiece? Or is it perhaps in part due to how our brains process what we see in Da Vinci’s work? It’s both! This course will use history and science to examine how we experience art both emotionally, as well as physiologically, as we explore the art of Florence, Barcelona and Paris. Throughout the course, students will examine how our perceptions about art are influenced by how the visual system processes such elements as perspective, luminance, color mixing, shading and chiaroscuro while exploring the place that these artistic techniques have in the historical development of art. Student activities will include a reflective journal as well as some research and oral presentations.