January Term 2009 Programs: United States

Ethics: East and West in Hawaii (UST) 
As an introduction to ethics, this course will focus on the historical and philosophical origins of human reflections on the ultimate end and meaning of human life as well as on the morality of human actions. Special emphasis will be placed on the consideration of the similarities and differences found by comparing eastern and western ethical theories as well as their practical applications. The course will consist of readings, lectures, guest presentations by internationally recognized faculty members of the University of Hawai’i, and weekly field trips to temples, museums and historical sites and shrines on Oahu. Students will be evaluated by way of four papers and class participation.

• Enrollment: selection
• Prerequisites: PHIL 115
• Maximum participants: 16
• Counts toward: Philosophy major/minor
• Fee: $5075 (includes $175 UST off-campus study fee)
• Fulfills:  Philosophy core requirement (PHIL 214); Human Diversity core requirement
• Faculty Director: Stephen Laumakis, UST
• Detailed Course Description

Hawaii: Multi-cultural Communication in Organizational Settings (UMAIE)
Hawaii provides an ideal multicultural classroom. The Islands abound in a rich blend of diverse ethnic-cultural groups from East and West. The intercultural landscape provides both a warm and rich cultural context for students to observe, experience, and learn about the successful integration of multiple cultural groups. Students are introduced to the theories and concepts of intercultural communication from an organizational perspective. Contemporary issues and topics are examined via readings, lectures, and small-group experiences. On-site learning at local corporations, arts organizations, human-services providers, and healthcare and educational institutions provides students the opportunity to witness the way cultural communication impacts all interaction. Throughout the course students study and observe multicultural work environments, the impact of culture on personal life and  organizational performance, the influence of culture on team-building, decision-making, and leadership, and conflict management. Following two weeks on Oahu, we travel to Kauai, for an in-depth study of Hawaiian culture, including tensions between authentic culture and tourism culture. A unique feature of this course is an extensive community-based learning experience with preschool through high school students at a charter school in which students learn in their native Hawaiian dialect and in English.

• Enrollment: selection
• Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of one college-level communications
• Maximum participants: 26 course or permission of the faculty director
• Counts toward: Communication and Journalism major/minor (300-level and elective)                
• Fee: $4675 + $175 UST off-campus study fee
• Fulfills: Human Diversity core requirement
• Faculty Directors: Debra Peterson and Tim Scully, UST
• Detailed Course Description

Regional Geology and Geological Field Methods (GEOL 260) / Advanced Field Methods (GEOL 460) (UST)
Students will travel to Southern Nevada, Utah and California for camping, fieldwork and studying the earth. In the field, students will examine geological structures, modern-day faults, and the processes that shape the earth’s surface and study the ancient record of past climate and environments preserved in the rock record. Student teams will learn basic techniques and instruments of geological mapping and rock description, how to recognize geological structures like faults and folds, ways to interpret the evolution of the earth from sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks and to link surface processes with the rock record.  We do some of this work at national parks, including Zion Canyon and Death Valley. Much of the time is spent outdoors, and students must be prepared to spend most of the day in the field, hiking and looking closely at rocks. We stay in motels once a week to clean-up and rest!

• Enrollment: selection
• Prerequisites: For GEOL 260: GEOL 110, 111, 113, 114 or 115
• Maximum Participants: 1-4 for GEOL 260 For GEOL 460: GEOL 260 or permission from instructor
• Counts toward: Geology major/minor elective 4-6 for GEOL 460
• Fee: $3425 includes $175 UST off-campus study fee
• Fulfills: Natural Science lab requirement
• Faculty Directors: Tom Hickson and Kevin Theissen, UST
• Detailed Course Description

Theatre in New York (UMAIE)
This is a class to examine the current American theatre and there is really no better center for such work than New York City which is the hub of commercial theatre development in America and the world. Being in New York will enable us to not only see performances, but also to meet with working theatre professionals, tour major venues and explore the commercial aspects of theatre production.  The course is meant to be more affordable than most, so there will be a home component in St. Paul during which we will read plays and other background material and discuss issues in the modern theatre. Then, there will be a ten day trip to New York to see plays and meet with theatre artists as well as see some important historical and cultural sights.

• Enrollment: selection
• Prerequisites: none
• Maximum participants: 26
• Counts toward: no major/minor requirement
• Fee: $2885 + $175 UST off-campus study fee
• Fulfills: Fine Arts core requirement
• Faculty Director: Carolyn Levy, Hamline
• Detailed Course Description