IDIS W43: Economic and Environmental Planning in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta
Instructors: J. Curry
This course explores the economy, environment, and culture of the region of the Pearl River Delta in Southern China, including Hong Kong, the adjacent industrial regions of Shenzhen and Guangzhou, as well as the city of Macao. The course focuses on the themes of cross-cultural understanding, globlization, social justice, and social and environmental sustainability. Through this course students will be able to see issues from the prespective of people from another culture and region, to articulate the issues related to understanding the Christian faith within another cultural context, to consider the interplay of economics, environmental stewardship and social equity in building a sustainable future and to be able to understand the conceptual and theoretical concept of sustainability at various scales of application. Student evaluation will be based on class participation and active engagement; completion of a reflective journal which will form the basis for a final essay; preparation for being assigned and carrying out being the lead person for a particular site and a final essay. This course may fulfill an elective in the Geography and Environmental Studies majors and minors. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Course dates: January 1-24. Fee: $3275. Off campus.
GEOL W40: Volcanoes in the Sea
Instructors: G. Van Kooten, R. Stearley
This course explores the natural and cultural history of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and briefly Oahu, the four major islands of the Hawaiian archipelago. Hawaii contains the world's most active volcano at Kilauea caldera and Hawaii supports a fragile, tropical ecosystem. The course focuses on the active and extinct volcanoes and other geologic features of the islands, but students also investigate Hawaii's marine (reef) environment, the diverse land ecology, and the human history of settlement and development of the islands. Students hopefully view ongoing eruptions and hike over and study fresh lava flows and associated volcanic features. Instruction will take place on daily field trips to sites of geological, oceanographic, ecological, and cultural significance. Daily activities include light to occasionally moderate to optional strenuous hiking, and occasional snorkeling. Each student is responsible for reading the assigned text, each student discusses an aspect of the Hawaiian Islands or culture in an on-site class presentation, and each student maintains a daily journal. This course may fulfill an elective in the Geology, Geography, Environmental Geology and Environmental Studies majors and minors. Course dates: January 6-27. Fee: $3200. Off campus. Not offered January 2012.
GEOL 151: "Big Sky Geology" Montana Field Experience
Instructors: G. Van Kooten, R. Stearley
Field version of on-campus Geol 151 (4 credit hours). This course fulfills the Physical World core and emphasizes outdoor, field-based investigation and learning. Students will be introduced to the breadth of geological study leading to responsible Christian appreciation and stewardship of Earth. Topics include rocks and minerals, volcanoes, weathering, rivers and streams, geologic time, plate tectonics, natural resources and geologic hazards. As a graded course, quizzes and exams will cover lecture, lab and text. This course may fulfill an elective in the Geology major or minor, the Environmental Geology major, the Earth/Space Science for Secondary Education major or minor. NOTE: This 2-week Interim course begins immediately after spring semester exams in May. Fee $1200. Off campus.
See more information about the Big Sky Geology interim course.
