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A Sampling of Recent Short-Term Study Abroad Courses
The following faculty-led courses are currently being offered or have been offered in previous years. Short-term study abroad courses include at least eight weeks of on-campus coursework prior to departure for off-campus sites. Students must be qualified in terms of GPA, credit hours and specified course pre-requisites in order to register. While it is often the case that study abroad courses are repeated in subsequent years, the focus of each course always depends on faculty and staff experience and student interest. Warren Wilson typically offers seven to nine study abroad courses during the academic year.
Alaska: Natural and Cultural Histories of Southeast Alaska
This course focuses on the two major resources of southeast Alaska, forests and fish. Students learn from those who rely on either resource for employment or recreation, as well as cultural identity. Participants also study "best practices" in watershed and forest management, and participate in stream restoration projects with non-profit conservation groups.
Brazil: Portugese and Culture in Northern Brazil
Students investigate different language-learning techniques and frameworks for viewing culture. After on-campus coursework, students will boat up the Amazon into the Brazilian rainforest where they will work with artisans, river-fishing communities and indigenous herb-crafters. Students will consider the cultural elements which have enabled the groups to maintain their families, culture and home in a sustainable manner.
Chile: Language, Culture and History
After on-campus preparation, students study in Chile for two months, voyaging through the Atacama desert, natural reserves in the Andean plateau, the capital city of Santiago, the coastal towns of middle Chile, and the Patagonia region. Students will participate in home stays and service projects. This course immerses students in colloquial Chilean Spanish and aspects of Chilean culture, history, economics, geography and agricultural practices.
China: Exploring Ancient and Modern China
This course accents continuity and change in both urban and rural worlds through visiting archeological sites and seeking an understanding of problems related to growth and modernization evolving from Mao's revolution and post-Mao history. Travel includes visiting Beijing, and other historical sites in Central China. The group also receives a brief introduction to Mandarin language and gains appreciation of the role of religion/myth in Chinese culture.
Costa Rica:
Courses focus on tropical ecosystems, species interaction, bio-diversity and environmental concerns with exposure to the three main Costa Rican ecosystems: lowland rain forests, tropical dry forests and cloud forests. Travel in country brings contact with local people and their conservation efforts as well as with specialists in various restoration projects. One course also studies the psychological constraints in creating a "culture of conservation" and problems related to eco-tourism. Use of Spanish serves to expose the cultural richness of Costa Rica and is the medium for research efforts.
France: The Bohemian Art World: Post-Impressionism to Surrealism
Students explore Fernch Modernist art history and literature, as well as practice basic French for travel needs. While in France, students will visit museums, residences, and writing spaces of significant authors and artists in Paris and Nice, examining how these locations alter students' perceptions of the works studied.
Germany: Brothers Grimm to Contemporary Berlin
Students examine familiar fairy tales through new perspectives by re-reading, studying relevant social and historical background information, and writing. Participants visit castles, museums, forests, rural areas, small towns and cities during a journey that begins in Frankfurt, travels through the beautiful Hessian region, and ends in Berlin--all areas where the Grimm Brothers lived, worked, and gathered stories.
Ghana: Culture, Globalization, and Development in Ghana
Students will look at the ways in which processes of globalization and development influence everyday life in Ghana. Students will learn about profound moments in Ghana’s history including the slave trade, colonization , and independence, as well as current challenges facing this developing nation. While in Ghana, students will visit major historic, eco-tourist and agricultural sites, attend lectures at the University of Ghana, volunteer at a primary school, and learn about the work of local non-governmental organizationss and institutions. Students will also experience Ghana’s rich cultural diversity by visiting national parks, museums and markets, and attending art, music, dance and drumming performances.
Greece: Truth, Beauty, and Goodness in Ancient Greece
This course explores the world of classical Greece with on-site lectures and tours focusing on ancient Greek culture, philosophy and mythology. This WorldWide course complements the regularly offered WWC course "Problems of Truth and Goodness in Ancient Philosophy," by providing a fuller grasp of classical Greek culture and introducing students to current Greek language, culture and major national issues. An earlier course in the discipline of Sports Psychology examined the world of the Olympics back to its Greek origins.
Ireland: Traditional Music and Ancient Megaliths
Students examine the connections between the Irish and Appalachian traditions of music and dance, tracing their historical development from shared folk roots to the present day. In addition, students will learn about the archaeological and historical sites of ancient Ireland, focusing on the transition from a hunter-gatherer society to an agricultural society during the early Neolithic period.
Italy:
Several different courses have been offered in Italy. One focuses on literature, history and culture and travels to a Waldensian community in the northwestern Alps. Prior to travel students concentrate on the intellectual, artistic, literary and musical culture of the Renaissance and Reformation/Counter-reformation periods. Travel includes visits to nearby cities such as Turin, Genoa and Milan. Students visit museums and cathedrals and roam alpine trails to isolated mountain villages significant in Waldensian history. Another course, Art in Italy, allows students to hone their watercolor and/or ceramic techniques while residing at a studio in the beautiful Tuscan countryside, a region of medieval towers, churches and castles.
London: Theatre Appreciation in London
Usually conducted in the fall semester with travel during the winter break. The London schedule includes visits to the Globe Theatre, the Shakespeare Exhibition, and the Royal National Theatre, and includes attending performances at a variety of theaters to take in contemporary comedies, musicals and/or dramas in London's famous West End. The group normally stays in the Kensington area of London providing easy access to museums, historical sites, local markets and shops. Post performance discussions and reviews give students an appreciation of live theatre.
Malta: Shedding Light on Malta
Through background readings and the work of artists such as Caravaggio, va n Gogh, Klee, and Macke, students explore Malta and its 7,000 year old culture, learning about the many peoples that have contributed to this unique island--from the Bronze Age culture through Arabs, Normans, Ottoman Turks, the French, and the British. Participants study how the quality of light in this Mediterranean country has influenced the work and life of inhabitants and artists.
Mexico: Anthropology in Mexico
The course provides an introduction to the techniques of anthropological fieldwork through visits to Mexican institutes and museums in the Sierra Mazateca region of Oaxaca and Mexico City. Students learn about the local language, culture and history, observe shamanic practices and other aspects of local culture through home stays with Mazatec families.
Micronesia: Music and Culture
This course introduces students to the music and culture of Micronesia, a region of many small islands located in the western Pacific between Hawaii and the Philippines. Students document the fusion of American and European singing traditions with local musical traditions, and gain background knowledge of the prehistory, language, social organization and indigenous art and navigation of the Micronesian islands.
New Zealand: Sustainable Travel and Outdoor Education
This course seeks to capture the beauty and culture of New Zealand, incorporating coursework in Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Studies. The itinerary includes a stay with farm families, a backpacking expedition to Arthur's Pass National Park, travel to the South Island's West Coast, and a stay in Moria Marae.
Nicaragua: Viva la Revolucion?
The beauty and resiliency of the people and environment of this small yet disparate Latin American country are extraordinary. Students will explore the interdependent social, environmental, political, economic, and cultural issues in Nicaragua from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Students will also examine the impacts of shifting political paradigms upon Nicaragua’s rich heritage. While in Nicaragua, students may have the opportunity to participate in community service projects.
Scandinavia: Climate Change and Sustainable Energy
With a focus on the countries of Iceland and Denmark, this course will investigate: 1) the current and historical impacts of climate change in Scandinavia, 2) the development and implication of sources of renewable energy, and 3) the role sustainable agriculture has on climate change. Students will tour renewable energy facilities (geothermal in Iceland, wind in Denmark) and sustainable and organic farms in both countries. Students will also visit glaciers in Iceland and discuss changes in the global climate.
Scotland:
Several short-term study abroad courses have been focused on Scotland. In the most recent course, offered through the department of Outdoor Leadership, students studied the historical and philsophical roots of Outward Bound in the United Kingdom. The group was immersed in the wilderness and culture of the western Highlands, exploring the dramatic natural environments through backpacking and sea kayaking. Students also participated in a service learning project at a village primary school. Other courses have looked at elementary education in Scotland and Scottish folk culture.
Spain: The Landscapes and Language of Andalucía
Students will stay with families in the Moorish city of Granada at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. Study will take place at the University of Granada Modern Language Center. with students choosing from multiple courses (for example, Spanish language, literature, history, geography, or culture). Students will also participate in service projects in the region, and take excursions to Sevilla, Córdoba, Cadiz, and other sites.
Thailand: Social Changes and Inequalities
Our Thailand courses have been based in the area of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. One course seeks to have students learn how Buddhism is changing with the challenges of modern times. Our most recent course was designed to provide an overview of the history, culture, and social relations in contemporary Thai society. Special focus is given to issues related to social stratification and inequalities based on gender, age, and ethnicity.Students also spend a few days in the homes of families in a small, rural community to learn the local ways of sustainable living and farming.
United Kingdom: Ecological Agriculture in Policy and Practice
Students learn how 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. Students meet with farmers and artisan-food producers, researchers and sustainable agriculture advocates to better understand how government policies can support a strong ecological food system.