SWK 3xx Eco-Social Lifeways in Costa Rica                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Semester I, 2 credits

Students will explore Costa Rica's beaches and nature reserves, live with Costa Rican families, and work with community members on a service project while delving into the social and environmental institutions that support individual, families and communities. During their travel throughout the country, students will gain a sense of Costa Rica's rich culture and natural environment. In both Asheville and Costa Rica, students will meet with social service agencies that focus on disability, domestic violence, education, aging, homelessness and other concerns, giving them a basis for true cross-cultural comparison. Knowledge of Spanish is helpful, but not required.   

ENG/THR 377 The City and the Stage: Theatre History and Criticism in London
Semester I, 2 credits      
Co-requisite: THR 191 Theatre Appreciation, 1 credit, Term 2     
For centuries, London has been home to some of the world's best theatre. Students will develop their appreciation of live theatre as an art form and place this practical appreciation in the context of theatre history, as well as the diverse social and cultural history of London. The examination of London's history will enrich students' overall experience of the city and its many galleries, museums and historical sites. The group will attend a number of performances in London and Stratford-upon-Avon, giving students exposure to a variety of plays and performance venues.

Spring 2009 course with term length travel

LAN 2xx Chile: Language, Culture and History

Term 3, 8 credits
Pre-requisites: Spanish II or permission of instructor and LAN 271 Spanish for International Development, 2 credits, Term 2
After completing a Term 2 preparatory course on campus, students enrolled in this term-length course will study in Chile for 2 months. During the travel portion, students will voyage through the Atacama desert, visit natural reserves in the Andean plateau, explore the capital city of Santiago and the coastal towns of middle Chile, work in the Patagonia region "where the end of the world begins" and participate in service projects and homestays on Quehui Island. This course will immerse students in colloquial Spanish and aspects of Chilean culture, history, economics, agricultural practices and geography. Students successfully completing this course will have significantly advanced their Spanish language skills. Good health, personal fitness and a sense of humor are required.

Spring 2009 courses with summer break travel

ENS 377 Salmon and Cedar: Natural and Cultural Histories of Southeast Alaska        
Semester II, 4 credits    
Pre-requisite: ENS 116 Introduction to Environmental Studies  
This "Discovery Through Wilderness" course focuses on the two major resources of southeast Alaska, forests and fish, and students will hear testimonials from people who rely on either resource for employment, recreation, or cultural identity. Students will also study "best practices" in watershed and forest management, as well as participate in stream restoration projects through Trout Unlimited, the US Forest Service and other non-profit conservation groups. Good physical condition, primitive camping experience and willingness to eat local foods (fish) are required. Students must also be comfortable around water, boats, and wet weather.

HIS 377 Continuity and Change in China: Exploring Urban and Rural Worlds                                                                                                                                                                            Term 4, 2 credits
Students in this course will study modern day China, seeking an exposure to its broad, complex history evolving to the present through Mao's revolution and post -Mao developments. Pre-travel coursework will also include an introduction to the Mandarin language, traditional Chinese customs, and personal interaction. After several days in Beijing visiting the Great Wall, the Palace Museum, and the Summer Palace, the group will travel to Shandong Province, home to 100 million people and the hometown of Confucius. Students will have the opportunity to interact with Chinese university students and will participate in homestays with local families for a portion of their study.

ART 3xx The Bohemian Art World in France: Post-Impressionism to Surrealism
Term 4, 2 credits
Students will explore French Modernist art history and literature, as well as learn some basic French for travel needs. After on-campus study, students will travel to Paris, a source of endless inspiration for artists and writers and a focal point of the avant garde, and the French Riviera city of Nice, home to major collections of Chagall and Matisse. Students will visit museums, residences, and writing spaces of significant French authors and artists in Nice and Paris, examining how these locations alter students' perceptions of the works studied. Art History II and French language skills are encouraged, but not required.

ANT 377 Field Study in Oaxaca, Mexico
Semester II, 2 credits
Pre-requisite: Spanish II or equivalent
Co-requisite: ANT 434 Native Peoples of Southern Mexico, 2 credits, Term 3
Students will examine Mexico's past and present as well as receive training on the techniques of anthropological fieldwork. During off-campus travel, students will practice anthropological field methods in the Sierra Mazateca region of Oaxaca, an area with a rich indigenous cultural heritage. Students will learn about Mazatec language, culture and history through immersion and close contact with Mazatec families. Participants must be in good physical condition and possess the ability to adapt to unfamiliar circumstances (no rigid dietary restrictions), as well as display sensitivity to different customs and behaviors.

ENS 3xx Ecological Agriculture: Policy and Practice in the United Kingdom
Semester II, 2 credits
Pre-requisite ENS 116 Introduction to Environmental Studies
Food, fodder, farming and facilitating ecological agriculture in the United Kingdom through farm policy is the focus of this course. Students will learn how current European Union policies promote ecological agriculture. The UK is home to the oldest agricultural research center in the world, the oldest sustainable agriculture organization in the world, and internationally recognized organic farming pioneers. While traveling, students will meet with farmers and artisan food-producers, researchers, policy makers and sustainable agriculture advocates to better understand how government policies can support a strong ecological food system. Participants will have the opportunity to explore local history and culture, hike in the mountains of Snowdonia, and participate in a service-learning project at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales.