The on-campus session will prepare students for their 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. 

See the 2007 course description for more details.   
For more information, contact instructor at lglencross@mail.millikin.edu                                           

 

Buenos Aires Tango Immersion

Travel to the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires to learn the Tango. This course will explore the tango in its native culture and allow students to observe first hand how this dance permeates the Argentinean culture. Students must also register for DA 491 Independent Study in Dance.

Approximate Costs: Airfare: $1100 Lodging: $250 Excursion: $60 Activities, Food, Spending: $500.  Deadline for registration is February 10, 2008.
For more information, contact instructor at smorrissey@millikin.edu                                                

London's Museums: treasures, oddities and issues. (IN350) Amanda Pippitt. May 19- June 6, 2008. (In London May 26 through June 6; on Millikin campus May 19 through June 5.)

What is the purpose of museums and for whom do they exist?  What types of cultural interactions occur within museum settings?  These are the questions that will frame our studies in this course.  The class will read about and discuss current issues in museum studies on-campus at Millikin before exploring those issues on-site in the U.K.  Along with a daytrip to Stonehenge, London’s wealth of museums and historic sites will be our main venue to examine the often controversial issues surrounding museums, including: cultural heritage, representation of the “other,” technology, social class, politics, audience, authenticity, corporate sponsorship, aesthetics, ethics, and more.  For example, students will investigate what issues surround the debate between the British Museum and the Greek government surrounding the repatriation of the Parthenon (or “Elgin”) marbles.  Students will keep a journal based on their readings and museum visits and will choose a museum that fits within their own personal interests as a subject for an in-depth study. 

Some of the museums we will be visiting include: The British Museum, The Tate Modern, Sir John Soane's Museum, Westminster Abbey, The Jewish Museum, and The Hunterian.

Costs: Approximate cost will be $2,000 plus airfare & meals. Fee includes tuition, housing and London tube pass, museum entry fees, daytrip to Stonehenge and Salisbury, and ticket to a performance at the Globe Theatre. Deadline for registration is March 3, 2008.

For more information, contact instructor at apippitt@millikin.edu        The 2007 course                    

Understanding (the) French for Successful Business and Travel (IN350) or Study Paris in French (FR350) Randi Polk & Larry Stapleton. May 25 - June 8, 2008.
 

• Compare cultural and social structures beyond those found in the United States, reflect on how the diversity of the world affects their everyday lives, and explore culturally diverse points of view through substantive research, including examination of primary sources.
• Heighten cultural sensitivity
• Go beyond stereotypes to understand otherness

• Improve oral, aural, and written proficiency in French
• Explore real-life situations using the French language
• Improve knowledge of French culture
• Improve critical thinking skills

For more information, contact instructors at rpolk@millikin.edu or lstapleton@millikin.edu                   

A Comparative study of European and U.S. Management Issues (MG 481).  Larry Stapleton. May 25 - June 8, 2008.

For more information, contact instructor at lstapleton@millikin.edu                                                 

The Culture of Argentina. (SP350/IN350)  Eduardo Cabrera. May 15-27, 2008.

Travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina, plus two classes before departure (dates TBA). Total cost: $2268.00. Deposit (due Feb. 10) $ 500.00 (non-refundable, first come, first serve basis).

*There is approximately $500.00 personal expenses (food, transportation, tango lessons, museums, theatre, and other cultural sites) to be paid out by students during the trip to Argentina.  
For more information, contact instructor at ecabrera@millikin.edu                                                  

Art Explorations in Europe: Italy, Spain and England: Immersion in the arts and culture of the European Union. Jim Schietinger & Annette Russo. May 20 - June 13.

IN 350 Museum study in Italy, Spain & London-3 credits
AR 260 Watercolor- 3 credits
AR 360 Photo - 3 credits
AR 360 Beadmaking glass studio - 3 credits
AR 360 Hot Glass studio - 3 credits
**Students choose one of the two glass classes, plus two other classes for a total of nine credits. There are no prerequisites for the classes.

• This European travel immersion experience will begin on the island of Murano in the bay of Venice. Murano Island is the home of the Venetian glass tradition, where the world’s most famous hand-blown has been made for centuries. Students will spend ten days on the island, which is only a short boat ride to St Marks Square and the heart of Renaissance and modern Venice.

• On Murano, at the famous Abate Zanetti Glass School, students in this course will have the opportunity to work with master glass artists in their glass and lampwork classes. For one week students in hot glass will learn furnace techniques and form cup, plates and vases of their own design. In the lampworking studio, students can learn the ancient tradition of Venetian bead and jewelry making.

• At the end of the glass course, we will take a morning train ride to Florence, where the Italian Renaissance was born. There we will spend three busy days touring the many museums and churches, such as the Uffizi, which houses the works of Botticelli and Leonardo Da Vinci; the Academia museum with Michelangelo’s David; and the great Cathedral that sits in the center of town.

• Another short train ride will take us to the east coast of Italy, where we will board a ferry for an overnight crossing of the Mediterranean to Barcelona, Spain. Now on bicycles, we will tour the remarkable architecture of Antoni Gaudí, which can be seen throughout the city. We’ll visit Gaudi’s best-known work, the immense church of the Sagrada Família. Other famous sights will include the Contemporary Art Museum, the Picasso and Miro Museums.

• We’ll take our last train ride across Spain to the one of the most famous destinations in the world: the city of Madrid. Madrid is considered one of the top European destinations for art museums, and the Prado Museum is its best-known. At the Prado we’ll see the works of Diego Velázquez, Francisco de Goya, and El Greco. We will also visit the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, established from a private collection, and the Reina Sofia Museum, where Pablo Picasso's Guernica now hangs.

• A flight cross the English Channel returns us to London where after two full days of seeing sights in London such as The Tower of London, Big Ben, the Tate Modern and the Victoria and Albert museums, we’ll depart from Heathrow Airport for our trip home.

Cost: for 9 credits (includes tuition and airfare, glass blowing class fees, apartment, hostels, trains, and overnight Mediterranean ferry): $5400.00. Students are responsible for food and museum entrance fees. A deposit of $500.00 due 2/15/08. Prerequisite: None, open to all majors.
For more information, contact jschietinger@millikin.edu  or arusso@millikin.edu      The 2006 course    

Social Policy in Ireland. (SO360)  Mary Garrison. May 20-30, 2008.

This course will examine social policy in Ireland with a particular focus on social services including the mental health and health care systems.  There will be significant focus on the history of Ireland as well as Irish culture and political system as it relates to social policy. Students will participate in group discussions at Millikin in preparation for the trip as well as while in Ireland to gain knowledge and understanding of the areas indicated above.  Visits to various cities including Ennis, Shannon, Limerick, and Dublin, Ireland will allow for comparisons as well as contrasts of social and health services offered in each city and the challenges and successes each community has related to meeting the needs of the Irish population they serve.  Visits to museums, cultural events, as well as interactions with local persons and systems will allow students to gain an in depth appreciation for Irish culture.  Daily journal reflections will be required for each student allowing for open ended reflections as well as structured reflections as specific topics will be assigned for responses in each daily entry.  

Cost (including tuition and airfare):  $3440.00. First Deposit of $500.00 due  2/15/08. Prerequisite: Sociology 314, Social Work Theory and Practice, must be completed prior to leaving for the trip. Additionally, all students will be enrolled in the course based upon instructor consent.
Contact instructors for more information, at mgarrison@millikin.edu                                                
 

Introduction to Nigerian Culture & History (IN350) and/or Introduction to African Religions (HI360) . Florence Folami & Tim Kovalcik. (Each course is three credits.) May 19 – June 4, 2008.

We will travel to Lagos, Nigeria and study at the University of Lagos for 14 days.  During that time we will explore the culture of Nigeria and study in depth the nature of West African religion.  Total cost: $2,300.00 plus tuition ($850/course) and personal expense for meals ($30/day est.) and incidentals. Deadlines: $500 deposit by Feb. 1, with balance due May 1, 2008.
Contact instructors for more information, at ffolami@mail.millikin.edu or tkovalcik@mail.millikin.edu       

Field Ecology and Field Ecology for Teachers. (BI220/BI320/lab science - 4 credits) Judy Parrish. May 24 - 31, 2008.

This eight day session at Oak Bluffs at Lake Shelbyville, IL is an intensive introduction to terrestrial and aquatic life of central Illinois. All students must stay at the Oak Bluff forest service house for the duration of the course. Students will collect and examine specimens, become familiar with basic field techniques, learn to recognize specific plants, animals, and microscopic organisms, and investigate their habitats. Descriptive and simple statistical observations will be required. Freshwater and forest habitats found in Illinois will be emphasized, but rainforest and desert systems are included briefly to focus on plant and animal relationships. Familiarity with the physical environment and common organisms should increase as specific identification methods are introduced. This course involves you with the process of biology. Your field investigations are the most important activities in this course. Plant collections, insect collections, a research problem, and specific journal entries will be required. BI 320 also do a unit plan on ecology. No pre-requisites for BI 220; two previous science courses and admission to teacher ed for BI 320.
Contact instructor for more information jparrish@mail.millikin.edu                                                    

Ecological Journeys: Alaskan Ecology . (BI280/BI380 - 4 credits) Judy Parrish. June 7 -  23.

Biology 280 - No pre-requisites Biology 380 - At least 2 previous college biology courses, independent project and report required Objectives of the course are to

1. become familiar with the organisms that inhabit the Alaskan taiga and tundra and their adaptations
2. be able to identify the mammals, birds, trees, and many of the common flowering herbs that we are likely to see;
3. be able to use field guides and dichotomous keys to identify less common species;
4. study biotic and abiotic mechanisms influencing species distributions and community organization in taiga and tundra;
5. become familiar with environmental issues relating to habitats we will visit;
6. develop a question into a scientific investigation that can be carried out while we are on the trip;
7. conduct a group project at two sites.

We will meet for two intensive days on campus to prepare for the two week course trip to Alaska. There will be lectures on arctic ecology including composition of communities, species interactions, and succession. Readings from handouts of Barbour and Billings, Van Cleve et al, and other sources will be assigned for discussion. Each student will prepare a presentation on an important organism or geological feature of the Alaskan taiga or tundra on campus. This presentation of 15 to 25 minutes should include visual aids, and should describe the organism(s) and its habitat, its adaptations and ecological interactions, how to identify it (them) in the field, how likely we are to see them, and where. It will be necessary to find literature about current research being done on the organisms, and to make copies of at least one paper of interest for classmates so that there will be some discussion. Presenters should prepare at least 3 questions that could be investigated that are related to the organism or geological feature (not necessarily that you would be able to do while there, but questions that intrigue you). Each student will then have a particular area of expertise as we serendipitously encounter organisms in the field. Field experience will include tent camping and hiking in Alaska. Travel expenses will be $1100, with tuition in addition.
Contact instructor for more information at  jparrish@mail.millikin.edu                                               

Teach English to Chinese students. (ED481 & IN350) Nan Gaylen & David Vilmin.
May 19- June 1, 2008. Course page

Join a May 2008 Immersion experience open to all majors to ChangChun City in the People’s Republic of China, to teach English to middle and high school Chinese students. Also visit Beijing's Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall and Olympic sites.

Travel expenses:  Airfare: $1500, 6 credits of tuition: $1716, students are responsible for some incidentals and some meals. (Our hosts in China cover the cost of housing and most food, in exchange for our teaching.) Registration for both courses and an $800 deposit is required by December 1, 2007. 
Email ngaylen@millikin.edu  or   dvilmin@millikin.edu            Pictures from the 2005 course                

Explore Traditional Chinese Medicine & Culture. (NU350/SO360/IN 350, six credits).
Karla Luxner & Jo Carter. May 19 - 31, 2008 on campus, June 1 - 14 in China.    Course page 

These two 3-credit courses will provide a comparative analysis of healthcare and culture in China and the U.S. Both courses will take advantage of opportunities to practice traditional Chinese medicine techniques and explore Chinese history and culture. Side trips may include visits to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing, and Mongolia! Costs include airfare, housing and food (together estimated at $2770), plus 6 credit hours of summer tuition ($1716), textbooks, and personal expenses. A $500 deposit will be required by January 1, 2008.
Email kluxner@millikin.edu or jocarter@millikin.edu.   The 2006 course.                                      

Culture and Civilization of the Hispanic Caribbean. (IN350)  Luis Peralta. June 2-15, 2008.

IN 350 contains a substantial dimension of cultural and social structural comparison. Students will gain substantive understanding of how the diversity of the world affects their everyday lives. A significant component of this immersion course reaches beyond the United States and students are exposed to primary sources from multiple cultures. This global course also contains a significant research component, which encourages students to explore culturally diverse points of view.

Estimated expenses (subject to change):  $2,818 . Register by March 15th, deposit of $500 by March 31st, and full payment by April 30th, 2008. 
Contact instructor for more information at lperalta@mail.millikin.edu      The 2007 course.                  

Create and Lead: Small Business Exploration in Italy.  (ET 260) Bruce Nims, Sharon Alpi, & Rick Bibb. June 25 -- July 6, 2008.

Using a 12 day visit to Northern Italy as the focus of the experience, this course will expose students to international entrepreneurship.  Students will be expected to travel as a group from the US to Northern Italy, using the travel experience as a way to understand group dynamics, leadership and the excitement of international travel.  This course provides students with the opportunity to apply concepts learned to real world situations in doing business in a foreign country.  Students will be exposed to the political, social, economic and historical elements of Northern Italy and the role these play in defining this region's way of doing business.  Students will be exposed to the case based learning method by reviewing several existing cases and by creating a new case based on exposure and information gathering while in Italy. Course objectives:

• Develop broad awareness of a variety of multinational business practices ( for example, supply chain management, human resource management, marketing and finance).
• Develop awareness of cultural differences and how these differences affect business practices, processes, and strategies.
• Develop awareness of challenges in international travel and skills to master those challenges.
• Identify unique aspects of business climate and potential for new business opportunities in the international market.
• Apply knowledge and skills developed in other classes to analysis of an international business environment.

Entrepreneurship International Study Objectives

• Develop awareness of the importance of local/small businesses to self, family, business, community and economy.
• Develop awareness of small business export and import opportunities.  Apply exposure to Italian business culture to consider whether a small business can go global without becoming a big business.
• Integrate knowledge about the relationship between the power and importance of local business with the efficiencies and economies of scale associated with large global businesses and develop recommendations about how entrepreneurs in both Europe and the US can address the juxtaposition of these two forces.  ( "Best versus Biggest")
• Use exposure to Italian small businesses to identify common business practices among US and Italian small businesses to Identify common business practices among US and Italian entrepreneurs as well as unique business practices and the implications of potential transfer of identified unique practices.
• Compare rural Italian life/business to rural US business practices.  Use this exposure to identify unique opportunities for business growth.
• Understand the challenges faced by small business and the impact of the morals and values that shape the Italian business personality.

Contact instructors for more information. 
bnims@mail.millikin.edu     salpi@mail.millikin.edu   or  rbibb@mail.millikin.edu