January Term 2009 Programs: Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean

Penguins, Icebergs and Amazon Jungles (UMAIE)
DELAYED UNTIL JANUARY 2010. PLEASE CONTACT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION IF YOU HAVE INTEREST IN THIS COURSE
This course is a basic study of the environment of the Earth, looking at internal (plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes and mountains) and external (surface effects, water, glaciers, oceans and atmosphere) processes with special emphasis on the patterns of change in the Antarctic. We will study the atmosphere, the oceans, land, life and paleoclimatology used to measure changes. Additionally we look at the impact of human activity on the planet Earth. This course is a laboratory science course based in the extreme outdoor laboratory of the Antarctic and rugged Patagonia. We will use data acquired through NASA remote sensors as well as those we set up and monitor. Part of this course is conducted while cruising in the rough seas from southernmost Argentina to the Antarctic and some in the Glacier Parks of Patagonia.

• Faculty Director: Terry Flower, St. Catherine 

Spanish Language through Cultural Immersion in Mexico (UMAIE)
Explore the vibrant culture and history of Mexico, and experience a unique language immersion program. The combination of cultural immersion, classroom instruction, native interviews, journaling sessions, and family homestays will provide students with an extraordinary language learning experience.  Students enroll in one of two levels of Spanish. All courses are conducted in Spanish and have 5-7 students.  The program includes excursions, and also engages students in writing and discussion activities that augment the cultural excursions.  Students will have the opportunity to use Spanish in many settings and the program intends to challenge them to gain a degree of spoken language proficiency and cultural understanding beyond what might be achieved in an academic semester in a college classroom.

• Enrollment: Selection
• Prerequisites: The previous course in sequence during the previous semester, as well as a 3.0 GPA in all Spanish classes, or with permission of the instructor.
• Maximum participants: 20
• Counts toward: SPAN 301major/minor
• Fee: $2385 + $175 UST off-campus study fee
• Fulfills: Language requirement SPAN 211
• Faculty Director: Juli Kroll, UST
• Detailed Course Description