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nicaragua: humanities II in El sauce

HUMN 221, or 'HUMN II', is the second installment of Geneseo's Humanities-core requirement, and as such, is a required course for all Geneseo students.  Humanities II in Nicaragua gives students the chance to examine some of the central themes of the course and required readings, beyond the traditional European and North American contexts.  

Fast Facts

Program Type:            Faculty-led      
Term/Duration:Summer/4 weeks 
Summer 2013 Program Dates:May 21 - June 18, 2013
Credits:4
Application Fee:$20
Estimated Program Fees:     $4100 (includes airfare)
Tuition:$928 (in-state)/ $2472(out-of-state)
Application Deadline:October 15

 

Course Details

The success of Humanities I and II as a study abroad experience is well established and requires no explanation.  What is particular to this proposal is its location.  Humanities II already spans two hemispheres in its required reading list.  It traces the rise of Europe as it expanded its influence to the New World and the rest of the world through colonialism, imperialism, and global capitalism.  It reiterates the concept of 'global' to emphasize the constant dynamics between the metropolis and the periphery, the developed and under-developed areas.  Although European and North American texts predominate, several central themes of the course involve Latin America as well.  Teaching Humanities II in Nicaragua will offer students a robust opportunity to examine themes of colonialism, the slave trade, applied Marxism, globalization, and capitalism as a modern form of production and accumulation.

Humanities II is a required course for Geneseo students and it satisfies SUNY's Western Civilization general education requirement.

 

The Setting

The course will be based in El Sauce, the site of Geneseo's service learning initiative.  The students will have the opportunity to study the texts of Humanities II in an environment where people struggle to establish education, health care, and economic development in the face of real poverty.  We anticipate with great excitement what students may discover in their readings given that context.  Finally, the course will enhance and expand our relationship with El Sauce.

 

Excursions

In addition to short excursions in the environs of El Sauce, we will visit the cities of Managua and León.

 

Links:

Summer 2013 Program Costs

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Humanities Selection Procedures

Special Considerations

Because the location for the course brings particular challenges, students should be prepared for those challenges.  While students will not be required to speak Spanish, some knowledge of the language will be useful.  We hope that Spanish majors will take advantage of this opportunity.  In El Sauce, students will stay with the families already participating in our service learning initiative--a value added to the study abroad experience--but participants must understand that living with a family brings with it certain responsibilities.

Students will be required to conform to a fairly specific diet.  Students will be required to get appropriate vaccinations.  The students will have very limited access to computers. 

 

Orientation

The course will begin with four days on campus at SUNY Geneseo.  This will allow for students to access computers and the library in preparation for travel, as well as offering an opportunity for the necessary orientation and preparation.

 

Course Instructor

Wes Kennison, Faculty Fellow for the Office of International Programs, will direct the course.  Wes has taught Humanities at Geneseo for two decades and has travelled abroad with students many times in his teaching career.  He may be contacted at kennison@geneseo.edu.

 

Application Deadline:

October 15