Study in North America
ENGL W40 -- The New England Saints
Two instructors from the English Department TBD
In the mid-nineteenth century, a group of New England writers created a body of literature dealing with significant religious, philosophical, and artistic questions that challenged conventional understandings of the world. This course deals with these authors and their
questions, grappling with the way their writing and their lives challenge contemporary Christians. It studies Hawthorne and his reaction to the Puritan tradition, the transcendentalists and their uneasy union of philosophy and literature, and the Romantics and their departure from Emerson. After three days of on-campus classes, and after reading Emerson, Thoreau, Dickinson, Alcott, Longfellow, Whittier, Hawthorne, and Bradford, the group travels to a living history museum in Maine to enter the period, and then to Concord, for on-site discovery, examination, and discussion with local academics and historians. The class remains in New England for 2 ½ weeks, visiting Salem, Cape Cod and Plymouth, Lowell, Boston, Amherst, and Springfield. The objective in each case is to unite the students’ reading, their experience on site, and their own wrestling with what it means to be a Christian writer, artist, and thinker. This course may fulfill an elective in the writing major, the literature major, the English secondary and elementary education majors and the language arts major. Course dates: January 4-24.
IDIS W41 -- Jazz in New York
Prof. Garth Pauley
An introductory course in jazz history, theory, and criticism for both seasoned and novice jazz listeners. Students develop an understanding of the basic rhythmic, harmonic, melodic, and formal conventions of jazz. Students also come to understand the history ofJazz – especially its stylistic evolution, its key figures and their music, and its cultural influence. Student learning is evaluated by an exam, a group project, a listening journal, and a cultural learning journal. Experiencing live performances is essential to understanding how an improvisational art like jazz works: As such, a week-long trip to New York City (January 16-23) to attend jazz concerts is a vital part of the course. This course may fulfill an elective in the Music major and minor. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Course dates: January 4-23.
IDIS W44 -- "Just" Leisure: Living Our Virtues
Prof. Don DeGraaf and Prof. Drew Bailey
(3 semester hours + PER 143). Through this course, students will explore a number of issues related to living justly in our work and play. South Florida, one of the United States fastest growing and diverse areas, provides the context for students as they explore issues related to stewardship, where they live, what they eat, and how they play. Special emphasis will be placed on developing both a leisure and outdoor ethic within a Christian worldview. In addition, students will learn and practice a variety of outdoor skills (such as outdoor cooking, canoeing, kayaking, and snorkeling) as they paddle parts of the wilderness canoe trail in Everglades National Park; snorkel in parts of the Florida Keys, and explore issues of justice as they relate to leisure in and around Miami. Student evaluation will be based on daily journal entries, individual presentations, and a final summary paper/report. This course may fulfill an elective in the Recreation majors. Course dates: January 4-24.
REL W40 -- Theology of Beauty in an American Context
Prof. Laura Smit
How does the great Christian tradition of understanding beauty theologically (a tradition that is largely European) translate into an American context? This class considers that question by exploring America, focusing especially on art and landscape that is distinctively American. Participants travel exclusively by Amtrak, visiting Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New Orleans, Tucson, Los Angeles, and Yosemite National Park. Students visit museums, listen to music, read literature and theology, look at architecture, meet with local experts on various aspects of an American aesthetic, and experience the grandeur of the American landscape, all while encountering some of the cultural diversity of the United States. Student evaluation will be based on reading and listening assignments, to keep a response journal, and to be active, respectful, thoughtful participants in all activities. This course may fulfill an elective in the Religion major. Course dates: January 4-24.
SOC W40 -- Hollywood: Dream Factory
Prof. Martin Hughes and Prof. Elisha Marr
Southern California is the capital of the global entertainment industry. Its status as a center of cultural power rivals that of New York and Washington as the center of financial and political power, respectively. But what distinguishes Hollywood from these two other cities is that it is more than merely a geographic locus of activity; it is also a larger-than-life symbol in an elaborate mythology rooted in western modernity. In numerous ways Hollywood shapes hearts and minds, teaching people how to think about themselves and the world in which they live. This course will examine three distinct stages of production and consumption identified by the sociology of culture: its highly stratified, profit-driven organization; its networked, project-based execution; and its mass-marketed, niche-oriented reception. The three highly interrelated industries based in Los Angeles – motion pictures, television, and popular music – serve as the field site. Visits to industry locations and interviews with industry participants will be supplemented by a variety of written and visual resources, as well as regular lectures and discussions, to give students a “backstage” perspective that will help them understand culture and the Hollywood mythology more critically. Students will gain a sociological understanding of culture and its significance to society; identify the media megacorporations, their basic histories and significant holdings, and understand how these companies structure the field of cultural production; be familiar with the various processes of cultural production, and appreciate how these processes structure individual opportunities and careers as well as collaborative relationships; and be aware of the effects of commercial cultural products on individual and group socialization, with particular emphasis on popular understandings of “celebrity,” “reality,” and (Christian) “faith”. Student evaluation will be based on reflective journals, a presentation, and a final exam. This course may fulfill an elective in the Sociology major. Course dates: January 4-24.
SPAN W80 -- Interim in the Yucatan
Prof. Marilyn Bierling and Prof. Ed Miller
Students spend three weeks immersed in Mexican culture and Spanish language in Merida, the capital of the state of Yucatan. Merida has a population of one million and offers a colonial past, strong Mayan influence in the present, and intensive globalization as it faces the future. It is the site of two universities and several mission organizations. Students live with Mexican families and attend daily lecture and discussion classes focusing on aspects of Mexican culture such as Mexican and Mayan history, the history of Catholicism and Protestantism in Mexico, and the current political and economic context. Students also participate in excursions to Mayan ruins and attend religious and cultural events. Student learning objectives are to improve comprehension and fluency in the Spanish language, increase understanding of various cultural and religious phenomena of Mexico and particularly of Yucatan, and grow in personal maturity and awareness of cultural differences. Students keep a journal with notes from lectures and discussions as well as personal observations on Mexican culture and on their own experiences. Evaluation is based on satisfactory achievement of course goals, including participation in course activities, increased understanding of various cultural and religious phenomena of Mexico in general and Yucatan in particular, and growth in personal awareness and maturity—as measured by journal entries, a language journal, reflection papers, cultural reports based on interviews, and a final oral presentation. This course may fulfill an elective in the Spanish major and minor. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Prerequisites: SPAN 201 and permission of instructor. Course dates: January 3-24.
Study in Central America
IDIS W14 -- River and Rainforest: Costa Rica
Prof. Ryan Rooks
This 19-day cross-cultural wilderness adventure features two primary phases. The first phase consists of a nine-day backpacking descent from high elevation cloud forest to low elevation tropical rainforest. During this trek, students will master backcountry living and travel skills, gaining introductory knowledge of the diverse ecological systems. The main emphasis of this phase is on cultural immersion. During the trek students enjoy cultural and Spanish immersion experiences through continuous home stays with Costa Rican Families. Following the trek, students will trade backpacks for whitewater boats. Over the next eight days, participants will engage whitewater rafting skills, hard shell kayak instruction, and a Whitewater Rescue Technician course. The course will conclude with three days of surf instruction and exploration of magnificent natural beauty of the Manuel Antonio National Park along the Pacific coast. Along with gaining wilderness and whitewater travel skills, students will develop cross-cultural awareness as they interact on a daily level with remote Costa Rican communities and instructors. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Course Dates: January 4-24.
NURS W60 -- Belize: A Nursing Experience
Prof. Renae Boss Potts
Immerse yourself in the health issues and nursing care of the people of the small developing country of Belize, Central America. Belize is both geographically and culturally diverse with mountains, rainforests and the largest coral reef in this hemisphere! The objective of this course is to have nursing students reflect on Christian nursing care in a developing country, to experience cultural health care and to adapt nursing skills to a variety of settings. Nursing students have the opportunity to serve in community clinics, private hospitals, struggling government hospitals & an orphanage. Students learn from local herbalists, traditional midwives and folk healers. Students take an excursion to Guatemala for 3 days to explore the contrast in health care and culture of these two developing countries. Students will also have the opportunity to live in a Mayan village absorbing the culture firsthand. Students learn about village health needs and the role of the traditional birthing assistant. Clinical experiences, cultural events, reflective discussion and informal lectures contribute to the learning in this interim. Course goals are that students demonstrate Christian nursing care, understand cultural health care and adapt nursing skills to a variety of settings. Student evaluation is based on preparatory readings, required journal, final presentation and participation in course activities. Prerequisite: Students must complete at least one semester of nursing courses. Course dates: January 4-24.
SPAN W81 -- Spanish Language and Service Learning in Nicaragua
Prof. Olga Leder
Students spend three weeks immersed in Nicaraguan culture and Spanish language in Leon, north of the capital of Nicaragua. It is the site of two universities and several mission organizations. Students live with Nica families and attend daily lecture and discussion classes focusing on aspects of Nicaraguan culture such as Somoza, the Sandinistas, the history of Catholicism and Protestantism in Nicaragua, and the current political and economic context. Students also participate in excursions to historical sites and attend religious and cultural events. They keep a journal with notes from lectures and discussions as well as personal observations on Nicaraguan culture and on their own experiences. Evaluation is based on satisfactory achievements of course goals , including participation in course activities, increased understanding of various cultural and religious phenomena of Nicaraguan and growth in personal awareness and maturity—as measured by journal entries, a language journal, reflection papers, cultural reports based on interviews, and a final oral presentation. This course may fulfill an elective in the Spanish major or minor. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Prerequisites: SPAN 201 and permission of Spanish program advisor. Course dates: January 4-24.
Study in South America
IDIS W12 -- Business and Culture in Brazil
Prof. Bob Eames and Prof. Evert Van Der Heide
Brazil has become an important part of the world for a business person to understand. It is important for Christians to understand God’s intended role for business in society. Learn about both by exploring global and local businesses and by engaging the culture in Brazil, one of the major emerging markets and economies in the world today. Travel to Manaus, Sao Paolo, and other interior cities in Brazil as we meet with leaders in business, religion, and education to learn more about the history, culture and economy of this emerging global power. The course includes readings in the history and culture of Brazil, the current trade situation, the history of several Brazilian companies and also economic and political reports and briefings on the current status of the economy. We will also examine the condition of the Church in Brazil as part of the trip and plan to have extensive engagement with Brazilians at the Mackenzie Presbyterian University and other higher ed institutions that we will stay with and learn with during the trip. Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors of any major. Preference will be given to students majoring in business, economics, accounting or international development studies. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Course Dates: January 4-25.
