FALL SEMESTER REQUIRED COURSES:

Fall 2005

Required Courses:

Introduction to Experiential Education: 3 credits

While reflecting about education and society, the main objective of the course is to learn about experiential education. Cross-cultural analysis, global citizenship and the Mission of Global College will be studied. Each session will also include time for discussing practical aspects of a semester at Global College; how to define individual academic objectives; how to implement them; exploring ways of documenting the learning; how to organize coming semesters; among others, will be issues reviewed. Integrated with the different seminars, the goal is to provide students with tools to develop the skills needed for succeeding in the program.

Cross-Cultural Research Methods: 3 credits

A varied set of methods of research, artistic creation, and integrative thinking will be introduced in this seminar. Students and coordinators will explore, apply and discuss diverse methods for art creation, social research, and cross cultural analysis in the context of experiential learning. Invited speakers will present their own creative experiences and their diverse methodological approaches. An emphasis will be placed on reviewing and understanding case studies (i.e. indigenous peoples, endangered species, political history, and others) that illustrate integrative thinking in research and creation processes in multicultural settings.

Global Issues and Latin America: 3 credits

The goal of this seminar is to provide an understanding of the diverse and broad aspects within contemporary global issues and to enable students to think globally. This focus relates to one of the goals of Global College; "to take the most urgent human problems as the basis of their curriculum." This issue might include development and global economy, ethnic and gender discrimination and emigration, indigenous trends, human rights, and will be studies through a variety of approaches, readings and experiences. Immersion in our culture and field trips in Costa Rica and Nicaragua are important components of this seminar.

Spanish: All Levels

Spanish for Beginners: 4 credits

Course Description
The goal of the Spanish Program, taking grammatical structure and practice into account, is to provide basic instruments that will allow students to obtain a basic level of communication and comprehension that will allow them to interact in the new culture. This is done according to the educational model of Global College which is based on learning through experience. Students move from basic verb conjugation to short and guided outside practices. The content of this course is also linked to other courses of the student (Global issues; Cross Cultural issues, Holistic Health; etc) through vocabulary lists, visits, structured conversation and written assignments.

Spanish for intermediates: 4 credits

Course Description
The course covers the basic grammar structures already known by students and gradually increases its content to more complex grammar formations as students learn the language. Furthermore, students improve their oral and written language skills and get involved with their new socio-cultural surroundings. The content of this course is also linked to the other course of the student (Global issues; Cross Cultural issues, Holistic Health; etc) through vocabulary lists, visits, structured conversation and written assignments.

Advanced Spanish: 4 Credits

Course Description
This course is for students with an advanced level of fluency in Spanish and is designed according to the students’ needs and interests. Students work directly with their professor in designing the content and length of the course. At this level, students work on advanced grammar; Spanish composition or Latin American literature depending on their focus interest.

Writing Course: 3 credits
The objective of this course will be to improve the students’ writing skills. It will cover aspects related to writing mechanics as well as content. Though the course will have credits of its own, it will be linked to the other seminars offered. Thus, students will hand in to the writing instructor assignments from their various courses.

Field Trip to Nicaragua:

At the end of the fall semester students will participate in a two-week field trip to Nicaragua where they will experience first hand the challenges a third world country faces in a globalized world. During this trip students will have the opportunity to meet with different sectors of the population (political parties, women’s organizations, labor unions, environmental groups, educators) and participate in service learning activities.

Spring 2006

Required Courses:

Field Work and Independent Study: 3 credits

This course will emphasize the application of Cross Cultural Methods in independent study options. Students and coordinators will identify and discuss the subjects of study and the methodological approaches. Students will design their field work, apply different methods according to their specific needs, and will discuss in class the practical and theoretical issues that arise while doing fields work in experiential education. Coordinators and invited speakers will present and discuss their own fields work experiences, stressing the integrative thinking approach.

Latin American Studies: 3 credits

The goal of this seminar is o provide an understanding of the diverse aspects of contemporary Central America through a variety of approaches, experiences and readings. The historical roots of the current political situation and the role of key social actors will be covered. Also covered, the role of the region in the global economy and its connection with history and socio-political factors.

With trip to Ecuador

Spanish for Beginners and Intermediates: 4 credits

Please refer to the description provided in the Fall 2005 semester

Spring Elective Courses:

Holistic Health and Traditional Healing in Latin America: 3 credits

In this seminar students will explore the most common holistic healing approaches used in the Central American region by visiting, interviewing and relating to well know health practitioners. Emphasis will be given to the study of indigenous ways of healing (medicine man, rituals and different expressions of shamanism), as well as the study of tropical medicinal plants. Basic theory about Holistic Health will be reviewed. Holistic Healing and allopathic medicine, traditionally viewed as opponents, will be studied under the light of the current integrative experiences in Latin America. In a two week trip to Ecuador this subject will be covered by visiting indigenous communities, healers, shamans and integrated projects.

With trip to Ecuador.

Global Environmental Issues and Latin America: 3 credits

This seminar will address the planet’s environmental situation in the Latin American context. Global indicators of climate change, pollution, loss of habitat, loss of cultural diversity, extinction of species, water scarcity, desertification, invasive species, and others will be covered with participation of local experts and environmental leaders in Costa Rica and Ecuador. A three-day field trip in Costa Rica will be complemented with a two-week educational trip in Ecuador. Participants will learn about how Latin America is being affected by the most pressing environmental global issues, what has been its impact on the planet, and what are the main regional policies and actions to respond to those issues, including the indigenous peoples’ strategies.

Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution: 3 credits

This optional seminar will explore the most important conflicts humanity is faced with and the different non-violent ways in which they can be or have been approached. Students will learn how these conflicts manifest themselves in Latin America and different ways to solving them. The conflicts analyzed include ethnic and racial issues, political and military violence, conflict related to natural resources and domestic violence.

Writing Course: 3 credits

Please refer to the description provided in the Fall 2005 semester

Spanish for Continuing Students: 4 credits

Please refer to the description for Advanced Spanish provided in the Fall 2005 semester

Independent Study: 3-6 credits

Students interested in doing an independent study in Latin America must consider their Spanish proficiency when planning to do so. According to the student’s progress in her/his level of Spanish during the first weeks of the semester, field projects or internships will be available in the second part of the semester. For intermediate and advanced students in Spanish, internships are available from the beginning of the semester. In both cases the student will have a faculty advisor to help her/him find an internship.

Service Learning in Latin America: 3-6 credits

Service Learning, as a method of experiential education, will be stressed during the Foundation Year Program. Students and Faculty will assess the diverse options to link courses and independent studies with community and institutional projects in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Ecuador. The LAC has long standing links with organizations and communities (indigenous peoples, organic agriculture projects, conflict resolution initiatives and others) which will be integrated into the service learning components, as a way to contribute to social change initiatives, and to enhance academic learning.

Trip to Ecuador:

The trip to Ecuador will incorporate the most important components of the optional seminars. We will visit the Ecuadorian Amazon in order to learn about he challenges this vital region faces and the efforts being made in order to preserve it. This trip will include visits to indigenous communities in order to learn about heir ancestral culture and their traditional ways of healing as learning about the conflicts that arise from ethnic discrimination. Economic and political aspects will also be reflected upon.