Study in Europe
ARTH W80 -- Venetian Art and Architecture
Prof. Craig Hanson
This course is intended to introduce students to the art and architecture of the Venetian Empire, from the Late Medieval period through the nineteenth century. The first three days will be spent in Grand Rapids with the bulk of the course sited in and around Venice. Day trips will be made by train to Verona, Ravenna, Padua and one or two other nearby cities. In addition to providing an overview of the art and history of a single city, the course aims to help students think more clearly about the larger topic of cultural travel given that Venice has such a rich history of tourism. Students' performance will be assessed on the basis of a book review and slide exam (completed before we leave Grand Rapids) and a journal and synthesis paper (completed in Venice). This course may fulfill an elective in the Art History major. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Prerequisite: ARTH 102. Course Dates: January 2-21.
CAS W40 -- English Language by Rail (MAY/JUNE INTERIM)
Prof. Peggy Goetz and Prof. Judy Vander Woude
Students explore the dialects of the English Language within a historical context. While in Great Britain and Ireland, students travel by rail through different regions, collecting samples of English, Scottish and Irish dialects and visiting important linguistic sites. By collecting samples from each of these regions, students learn about the history of English as it is spoken in the United Kingdom and Ireland as well as in the United States. Students must complete readings on the linguistics of the regions, present on the features of the dialect samples they collect, and write three papers that summarize their readings, analyses of data, and interviews in each region. Students learn how to use the International Phonetic Alphabet to transcribe recorded samples. Students compare and contrast the speech sound features of common dialects in the United Kingdom and Ireland such as British Received Pronunciation, Cockney, Estuary, Scottish, and Irish. Students also compare and contrast lexical usage among the various dialects. They describe key historical factors in the rise of the English Language, as related to local events in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Students are evaluated on the quality of their papers, presentations, tests of readings, transcriptions, and participation in discussions. This course may fulfill an elective in Speech Pathology major. This course is a CCE optional course. Course dates: May 21-June 8.
GERM W80 -- German Interim Abroad
Prof. Mary Buteyn
Participants engage with and improve their knowledge of the German language and culture on this study experience, which includes stays in Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin, locations in former East Germany, and in southern former West Germany. Activities include four home stays, lectures, discussions, interviews, tours, and attendance at cultural and social events. Course participants choose where they will travel independently during the last five days. Course goals include active participation in course activities, growth in intercultural sensitivity, gains in mastery of the language, and increased understanding of various religious, political, and broadly cultural phenomena of Germany. Students will be assessed on their individual vocabulary acquisition, submission of an examination of a current issue in German society based upon two interviews, and submission of at least two analytic journal entries. This course may fulfill an elective in the German major & minor. Prerequisites: German 301 and permission of the instructor. Course dates: December 28 - January 27.
IDIS W13 -- French Feminism in Paris
Prof. Vicki DeVries and Prof. Ruth Groenhout
French feminist philosophy emphasizes lived experience and perspectivalism, situatedness, and context in a way that is quite different from Anglo-American feminism. For American students, however, have very little understanding of French history, language, religion, and culture. This interim class will read French feminist theory in its own context, focusing on three central issues in feminist theory: essentialism, the relationship between gender and rationality, and the relationship between gender and ethnicity, culture, and race (with special emphasis on Islam). While reading the most important works that have shaped this debate, the class will consider the cultural and linguistic factors within which these questions arose, and meet with some contemporary French theorists. The class will also consider the ways in which these issues intersect with Reformed perspectives: feminist discussions of standpoint theory share enormous epistemological ground with Reformed worldview discussions; feminist wrestling with issues of culture/race/ethnicity helps us understand the complexity of similar questions in a Reformed context. French is not a requirement for the class, students fluent in French will have the opportunity to read and write in French; English translations will be available for all the readings as well. Students will be evaluated on the basis of class discussion, regular journal entries, and a final reflection paper. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Course dates: January 2-24.
IDIS W15 -- L'Abri Fellowship
Prof. Lee Hardy (oversees, but does not accompany group)
L’Abri Fellowship is a Christian study center situated in the French-speaking portion of the Swiss Alps. Founded in the 1950s by the Presbyterian missionary couple, Francis and Edith Schaeffer, it has become known as a place where people with questions about the Christian faith can go for instruction and counsel. Instruction is based on the tutorial system. Typically, students spend half the day in study, the other half working in the community. Up to five Calvin students may spend the month of January at L’Abri in independent study for interim course credit. Students determine the course of their study with their tutors on site. Evaluation for the course is based on a daily journal of readings notes and reflections. This course is CCE optional. Course dates: January 3-28.
IDIS W42 -- Italy: Ancient and Medieval
Prof. Ken Bratt and Prof. Mark Williams
The primary academic objective of this trip is to gain an understanding of the classical context in which western Christianity developed and flourished. Participants visit many sites in Italy, with special emphasis on the urban centers of classical, medieval, and Renaissance culture. On-site lectures address topics in Roman and early Christian history, religion, literature, art, and architecture. The itinerary
includes Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Sorrento, Amalfi, Palestrina, Perugia, Assisi, Ravenna, Bologna, Florence, Tivoli, and Ostia.
Participants write a take-home test on background readings (available in October), prepare an oral report for delivery at an assigned site, keep a detailed journal, and write a comprehensive essay on one of the major topics covered by the course. This course may fulfill an elective in the Classics major and minor. Optional cross-cultural engagement credit is available for those who meet additional requirements. Prior course work in classical languages or culture is not required. Course dates: January 4-24.
IDIS W52 -- Business, Engineering, and Religion in the Context of European Culture
Prof. Ned Nielsen and Prof. Cal Jen
In Today’s global economy, business practices, engineering design, product development, and product marketing must take the international market into account. This course introduces the students to the business practices and product development in the international market, focusing on business and R & D in Europe. Students will learn how the languages, history, culture, economics, regulations, and policies of Europe shape the business and design process through tours of businesses, engineering research facilities, manufacturing facilities, as well as discussion sessions with leading business executives and research engineers in Europe. A second theme of the course reviews the history of the reformation with visits to Wittenberg, Heidelberg, and more. Locations will include Amsterdam, Brugge, Paris, Trier, Munich, Nurnberg, Prague, Leipzig, Berlin, and Bremen. Additional religious and cultural locations will include visits to the Begijnhof, The Hague, Versailles, Notre Dame Cathedral, Reims, Dachau, Neuschwanstein, St. Vitas Cathedral, and more. Evaluation will be based on a research paper, a daily journal, class participation, and a paper regarding the cultural aspects of the course. This is a CCE Integral Course. Anticipated course dates: January 6-28.
IDIS W60 -- Science and Religion: Italy and England
Prof. Hessel Bouma III
Italy and England present some of the most significant developments in science, religion and culture. Through on-site visits, this course explores the lives and times of prominent scientists from antiquity through the Scientific Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment, their seminal discoveries as influenced by culture, and their struggles with the Christian faith and the church. Students begin their journey in Rome with an introduction to the history of western science and the Catholic church. Visits include the Colosseum and Vatican City. The class travels to Florence, Pisa, and Venice, with particular emphasis upon Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), but also Galen, Leonardo da Vinci, Andreas Vesalius, and their European predecessors and counterparts. From Venice, the class travels to London, to explore the lives and contributions of Isaac Newton (1642-1727) and Charles Darwin (1809-1882), and their struggles with their faith and the Church of England. Attention also focuses on Francis Bacon, Robert Boyle, John Flamsteed, William Harvey, Robert Hooke, John Hunter, John Snow, Florence Nightingale, and Alexander Fleming. Visits include historical sites and museums in London, Cambridge, Oxford and Windsor as well as Stonehenge and Salisbury. Students read biographies of Galileo, Newton, and Darwin, and select writings of these individuals and other scientists. They learn about crucial experiments, clashing interpersonal relationships, and tensions between science/technology/medicine, culture and Christian faith traditions. Short daily lectures, group discussions and projects focus the issues. Visits to homes, science and cultural museums, cathedrals and universities enhance their learning. Students will learn how to travel through Europe on an economical budget using hostels for accommodations and public transportation. Evaluation is based on readings, discussions, journals, and an on-site oral presentation. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Prerequisites: One course in the Physical World or Living World, or permission of the instructor. Pre-course meetings on November 20 and December 4. Course dates: January 3-24.
IDIS W61 -- International Missions Computing/Accounting
Prof. Victor Norman
Students will travel to Carlisle, England, to the international headquarters of Operation Mobilization, to learn first-hand the needs of an international missions organization in the areas of business/accounting and software development. While there, computer science and information systems students will learn the Open Petra open-software system, including its culture, how to build it, test it, document it, file and fix bugs, etc. Accounting students will work with the international finance team to learn non-profit international financing procedures, generate end-of-year fiscal reports, document internal controls, etc., and how to market OM internationally to donors. CS/IS majors will be required to know some C+ before the trip, and will be encouraged to contribute to OpenPetra after the trip. Students will be evaluated on their written journals, their work with the team at OM, and their teamwork within the student group. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Prerequisites: CS 108 & 112 or BUS 203 & 204. Course dates: January 4-24.
PSYC W60 -- History of Psychology and Religion
Prof. Blake Riek and Prof. Julie Yonker
This off-campus, European, dual-discipline course will involve the investigation of sites, museums, archives, and institutes of those individuals who created and contributed to the fields of experimental, clinical and cognitive psychology. The best way to understand these famous scientists and their contributions to psychology is to see where they lived, breathed and worked, thereby permitting a greater
appreciation of how their contexts shaped their viewpoints and their theories. Our students’ immersion in the birthplaces of these distinctive schools of psychological thought will help them integrate different areas of psychology in order to form a deep appreciation for the roots of these fascinating fields of psychology. Texts include original readings (translated) by Wundt, Freud, and Piaget. Additionally, the origins of these “fathers of psychology” are in cities in which the Church Reformers lived and worked, thereby allowing students the opportunity to experience reformation history where it happened. Aspects of reformation history we will investigate include: the Reformation museum in Geneva, Luther in Worms, the Heidelberg Catechism in Heidelberg and the Anglican Church in London. Selected Reformation texts are also included in the readings. Through this experience, we expect our students to articulate the central concept contributions of each psychologist and reformer studied, but more importantly, understand how the cultural and historical context shaped these theoretical perspectives and what that means for a student of psychology and religion today. Student cumulative learning in the course will be evaluated on active engagement in daily group discussions of required readings and site visits, daily guided reflective journal entries and a final presentation summarizing their personal learning objectives. This course will fulfill the CCE requirement. Prerequisites: PSYC 151 and REL 121 or 131. Course dates: January 4-24.
