Study in North America
| GEOL W40 Hawaii: Volcanoes in the Sea | ||
| Hawaii: Volcanoes in the Sea 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. | $3200* | Gerry VanKooten, GGES
(gkv2@calvin.edu)
Ralph Stearley, GGES |
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| SPAN W80 Spanish in Yucatan | ||
| 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 into 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. They 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 achievements 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 or minor. Prerequisites: Spanish 201 and permission of Spanish program advisor. Course dates: January 4-27. | $2100* | O. Leder, Spanish (ledero@calvin.edu) |
| FREN W80 Quebec | ||
| Students in this course spend three weeks in the province of Quebec studying French-Canadian culture and language. Students live in Montreal with a French-speaking host family that provides bed, breakfast, and dinner. For lunch, a daily cash allowance is provided. At the Institut Farel, a French Reformed seminary located in Montreal’s city center (near McGill University and Concordia University), Calvin and Farel faculty offer students take part in seminars covering topics such as the differences between Quebecois French and “standard French,” the religious history of Quebec, current events in Quebec, literature set in Montreal, and the ecology of the Saint-Lawrence River. A Bible study in French is also offered. Students visit the major cultural attractions of the city and have the opportunity to take part in winter activities. Walking tours in Montreal focus on discovering the various neighborhoods that form this uniquely bilingual and multicultural city. In Quebec City, students spend a weekend studying the French colonial heritage of the province’s capital. The course grade is based on regular participation in course activities and satisfactory progress in achieving language goals as evidenced by completing a series of assignments. Students reflect on cultural difference and the challenge of adapting to the cultural expectations of the other in journal entries and in three reflection papers in French. This course satisfies the Cross-Cultural Engagement core requirement. To obtain credit towards a French major or minor (W80), French 215/301 is a prerequisite and all assignments must be completed in French. To take the course for general interim credit (W40), French 201 is required (or equivalent by permission of the instructor). Some assignments may be completed in English. | $2,810 if traveling with the group, $2,196 if traveling independently | Otto Selles, French (oselles@calvin.edu) |
| REL W10 Urban Missions in New York City | ||
Urban missions, ethnic and cultural diversity and race relations are inseparable dynamics of modern life and a challenge to the Christian Church as it seeks to fulfill the Great Commission. This course examines the overlap of urban living and human diversity by critically analyzing: demographic trends, the sociology of American race relations, historical and ‘modern’ missiological strategies, the Christian Community Development movement, and a Reformed-Christian perspective on urban missions, the multicultural cultural church and race relations. Classroom learning will be supplemented by travel to New York City to experience urban missions and incredible ethnic and racial diversity. Students will critically examine the history of CRC missions in New York City, visit contemporary urban churches, and study the complexity of ethnically diverse neighborhoods and the challenges of ministry in such neighborhoods. The students will keep a reflective journal of this experience and give a class presentation addressing a specific issue or aspect of urban missions and race relations. Students will gain an appreciation of the challenges of the missional church in the urban setting and exploration of differing approaches to those challenges. Students will be required to prepare for our interaction with Christian leaders and fully participate in that interaction, keep a journal of the interim experience and prepare a class presentation at the conclusion of the Interim. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Course dates: January 6-26. For more information, check out the following: |
$1442* | Jack Kooreman, Religion |
| POLS W80 United Nations in New York | ||
| A first-hand study of major global issues before the UN; the UN’s programs and activities to address them; and the perspectives and diplomacy of different countries on them. The heart of the course features two weeks of intensive briefings sessions with UN officials and diplomats of member states, plus three days of introductory sessions on campus. The topics of the semester range from political issues (e.g., nation-building in Afghanistan, peacekeeping in Sudan, nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea, combating terrorism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) to economic and social issues(e.g., sustainable development, trade, HIV-AIDS, hunger, human rights, and global warming). On-site class discussions are integrated with the briefings. A list of required readings will be available in December. Evaluation will be bases on participation in the briefing and class sessions, a journal of all briefing session, and a reflective essay or issue paper. This course may fulfill an elective in the Political Science, International Relations and International Development studies majors. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. POLS 207 or 309 is recommended. Course dates: January 6-26. | $1,795* | Robert DeVries, (rdevries@calvin.edu) |
| GEOL 151 Big Sky Geology: Montana Field Experience (May) | ||
| (field version of on-campus Geol 151) This Interim in May course in Physical Geology is based in SW Montana, a location with a wide variety of superb geologic exposures and landscapes. 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 the Earth. Topics include rocks and minerals, volcanoes, weathering, rivers and streams, geologic time, plate tectonics, natural resources and geologic hazards. Afternoon field activities are an important part of the course, and field work complements morning lecture and lab activities. Included among the many visited localities are Butte, Yellowstone National Park and Craters of the Moon National Monument. As a graded course, quizzes and exams will cover lecture, lab and text. Students will be required to complete lab assignments and maintain a written field log. 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, and fills Physical World core. NOTE: This 2- week Interim course begins immediately after spring semester exams. Course dates: May 21 - June 3. | $1100* | Ralph Stearley, GGES (rstearle@calvin.edu) Gerry VanKooten, GGES (gkv2@calvin.edu) |
| IDIS W47 Who Owns the West? An Introduction to Federal Land and Resource Management (May) | ||
| The federal government owns almost one third of the total land area of the United States, making it the single largest and most important land owner in the nation. Decisions about federal land and resources are fundamentally political decisions, and political conflicts over these lands have become increasingly contentious. Federal land policy and management raise fundamental questions about conservation and environmental protection. What constitutes wise use of these public treasures? What “public” or “publics” should be served? What standards should we use to determine land health and quality? Course participants will examine existing answers to these questions and works with others in the West to identify new answers for the 21st century. The class will travel to Oregon from May 24 to June 16, spending time in the high desert of eastern Oregon, the Klamath River Basin, the Cascade Mountains, and the Oregon coast. Students will learn how federal land agencies carry out their responsibilities to balance land and resource use with environmental protection and how these decisions impact the people and the landscape of the American West. In particular, they will learn how federal agencies make management decisions and how they as citizens can participate in the process. Students will be evaluated on the basis of their engagement with a wide range of guests—ranchers, federal employees, ecologists, etc.—their notes, and two short reflection papers. This course may fulfill an elective in the Geography and Environmental Science majors as well as the Environmental Studies minor. Course dates: May 24-June 16. | $2313* | James Skillen, GGES (jrs39@calvin.edu) |
Study in Central America
| BIOL W10 Tropical Ecosystems | ||
| Tropical ecosystems contain the highest concentration of Earth’s biodiversity. Under the pressures of human population growth and resource use, tropical ecosystems are also experiencing the highest rates of biodiversity loss. How can successful conservation work occur such that the well-being of local people is not compromised or even promoted? And how can human- centered development work be done in such a way that the natural ecosystem to which humans belongs is not degraded? These are the fundamental questions we engage as we survey a variety of tropical habitats in Belize and Costa Rica - including coral reefs, mangrove swamps, rain forests, alpine cloud forests and montane pinelands. Daily field trips will combine plant and animal identification, investigation of ecosystem processes and evaluation of human impact. Extended interaction with local inhabitants, including an overnight stay with villagers of Maya Centre in Belize will provide cross-cultural engagement credit for the course. Course evaluation will be based on a daily journal, active participation in course activities and evening discussions, as well as one written test. Course dates: January 6-26. | $3400* | RandyVanDragt, Biology (dwarners@calvin.edu) |
| IDIS W15 River & Rainforest: Costa Rica Cross Cultural and Wilderness Skills Intensive | ||
| 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, gain introductory knowledge of the diverse ecological systems, and enjoy cultural and Spanish immersion experiences through multiple 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 two 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 4-23 | $3500* | Ryan Walter-Rooks HPERDS (rmw3@calvin.edu) |
Study in South America
| IDIS W12 Galapagos: Evolution’s Diamonds or Ecuador’s DisneyIslands. | ||
| As “living laboratories of evolution” the Galapagos Islands are one of the most unique and fascinating places on earth. Having an equatorial climate, these ‘jewels’ are also quickly becoming trendy vacation spots, generating local economies that are heavily reliant on the ecotourism industry. Participants in this course will investigate the biology of both the terrestrial and underwater worlds of the Galapagos Islands, and also study the economic and environmental issues and tradeoffs that are necessary to maintain these areas. Particular attention will be given to the application of Reformed Christian principles of biological and economic stewardship as tools for assessing the current and future status of this important natural area. Students will spend the first 3 days of interim on-campus attending lectures, then travel to Ecuador where we will spend eight days on the Galapagos archipelago and six days in mainland Ecuador. Daily excursions include hiking, boating, and snorkeling. Evaluation is based on a daily journal, active participation in course activities, and an exam. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Course dates: January 6-26. | $3897* | Curt Blankespoor, Biology (cblankes@calvin.edu) Scott VanderLinde, Econ. (vdls@calvin.edu) |
