About St. Andrews

Concurrent music classes

Other summer 2007 immersions

Dates:  May 15-19 (at Millikin), Aug. 5-18 (in Canada), 2007

Instructor: Dr. Laurie Glencross 
lglencross@mail.millikin.edu
Office: Perkinson Music Center 319       Telephone: 217-424-3594 

Join us for two weeks by the sea in Canada's Maritime provinces intensively studying the history, culture and music of our nearest neighbor.  As well as attending classes in quaint and historic St Andrew's-By-The-Sea, New Brunswick, we will take day trips to colorful Acadian historic sites, board a ship excursion to Ile Ste. Croix, go whale-watching, visit art galleries and fish farms, hear concerts featuring local Celtic and Acadian musicians and Millikin ensembles, sample local cuisine and much more. 

Satisfies Global Studies and Fine Arts requirements, Music and Dance electives.

It is a truism to say that the United States has had a profound effect on Canada's development as a nation; these countries do, after all, share the longest undefended border in the world. And the majority of the Canada’s population lives within one hundred miles of that border.  One writer has described any national differences between these close neighbors as "more real than apparent."  It is patently easy for United States citizens to take Canada and Canadians for granted – our boring neighbors to the north where nothing much of significance ever happens except a few hockey games.   How many times have Canadians laughed at the sight of a car with US license plates crossing the border in mid-summer with snow skis tied to the roof racks?

But what is Canada REALLY like?  What are the subtle cultural differences and influences that might be missed at first glace, if considered at all?  Where are the scenic hideaways that only the locals know about?  What makes Canada distinct and unique?

Some of these answers may be found in the summer immersion course, Introduction to Canadian Culture, offered in conjunction with St. Andrews-by-the-Sea Summer Music Festival in New Brunswick, one of the Maritime Provinces of Eastern Canada.  

Introduction to Canadian Culture – Course Description 

The course will combine four component sections for the 3 credits of off-campus and global studies (IN350) requirement.:

-         an introductory week-long session held on the Millikin campus in mid-May and taught by Dr. Laurie Glencross who will oversee all facets of the course.

-         three mini-courses taught by guest lecturers, faculty of the St. Andrews Summer School, to take place during the residency in August.  

The three in-Canada mini-courses are (follow links for detailed descriptions):  

1. The French Connection: New Brunswick’s Acadia

Tracing the history of the French explorers and settlers in the Maritimes from their earliest settlement on Ile Sainte-Croix to their deportation in 1755 to the area that would later become Louisiana. 

2. Introduction the Canadian Art

A survey of the rich diversity and heritage of Canadian art including indigenous art of the Inuit and First Nations peoples. 

3. Creative Expression for Performing Artists

Learning methods of visual perception that will enable students to creatively record their experiences without the use of cameras or video. 

The Introduction to Canadian Culture session, 15 hours presented on campus in May, will prepare you for your trip by gaining a basic understanding of the country as a whole.  A cultural view of our northern neighbors – how we view them, how different they are from us, what we share, how we share, how we get along, how we help form a community, what gets in the way – will be studied through the films, literature, and popular culture of Canada’s contemporary artists and writers.  As well, we’ll get to know the geography and political system of Canada and the ethnic and cultural diversity of its population, both rural and urban. Through these resources we will see how other people view themselves and us, and how to building bridges to a better community both locally and globally.   

Course Requirements: 

Reading assignments:

• Your Neighbor As Yourself: Race, Religion and Region : North America into the Twenty-First Century – Brian Brown. (Available from Amazon)
• Selected reading from works of Canadian literature

In class assignments:

• Through reading and class discussion, formulate a perspective on the upcoming trip and develop a research plan comparing US and Canadian culture and social structures.

Written assignments:

• Create a journal during the trip that reflects what you learn, what you see and experience, and how your expectations are met or not. 
• Write a research paper synthesizing your experiences of the trip and your previous perspectives.  What questions did you answer?  How did your experience in a foreign country change you?
• All assignments required in mini-courses.

Total Credits: 3 

Housing will be provided through St. Andrews Arts Council, for one at Salty Towers. (The hotel is mentioned in this personal story about visiting St. Andrews. Another site provides some history of the building.)

Fees: Tuition (3 credits) $795, Airfare (optional) $450, Housing ($25/day basic shared accommodation) $350, Ground transportation from airport $100, Miscellaneous approx. $200. 

Total: $1,895

Center for International Education