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In this, the 22nd year in which Lafayette College is offering concentrated, three-week courses abroad during January’s interim session between regular semesters, more than 150 students are planning to take seven courses offered in locations around the world. Many of the students are taking a course at no charge as a benefit of being a Marquis Scholar.
The courses are taught by Lafayette professors who are particularly well-suited to lead them by virtue of their experience and expertise. The courses are academically rigorous – not sightseeing junkets with a little learning thrown in. In many of the courses, the students meet and speak with prominent business people, major cultural figures, government officials and academics, learning directly from these experts about the subject matter they are studying in the foreign nations.
AFRICA
Modern Sub-Sarahan Africa: Kenya and Tanzania — Rexford A. Ahene, associate professor of economics and business, and Dan F. Bauer, professor of anthropology and sociology
This course is designed to offer three weeks of practical exposure to Africa’s precarious balance between traditions and modern developments, in the expression and interpretation of its social culture, music, art, literature, economic development, and politics. It includes an interdisciplinary examination of issues and policies for managing natural resources, economic and cultural transition, appropriate technology, and sustainable development in East Africa.
ASIA
Inside the People’s Republic of China — Kim D. Bennett, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering
This course introduces the complex interaction between traditional culture, communist thinking, and the forces of modernization in the People’s Republic of China. The practices and characteristics of distinct Chinese subcultures are examined by traveling to representative areas: Bejing in the north, Kunming in the southwest, and Guangzhou on the southeast coast. Students meet with government officials and business people, attend arts performances, visit a factory, hospital, and university, and attend supplemental lectures.
EUROPE
French Commerce and Culture — Rose Marie L. Bukics, professor of economics and business, and Roxanne Lalande, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures and department head
This course has a dual focus. The first consists of an introduction to the financial reporting aspects of France’s business environment as well as an introduction to the ever-changing economic marketplace of the European Community. Students learn about the forms of business organization used by French companies; these, in turn, are contrasted with those used by U.S. companies. The Maastricht Treaty, the issue of privatization of French companies, the French banking system, and the stock market will also be discussed. The course also examines French culture and its impact on the manufacturing, production, and marketing process. Students are immersed in both the cultural and business aspects of France. Visits to the French Stock Exchange (the Bourse) and several American and French companies are arranged.
Israel and Jordan — Howard J. Marblestone, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures, and Ilan Peleg, Charles A. Dana Professor of Government and Law
The course will take students to see all the important sites and sights, ancient and modern, in Israel and Jordan. In Israel students will experience the legacy of the Bible and Ancient Judaism, and the world of early Christianity and Islam. In Jordan they will experience the grandeur of Nabatean and Islamic civilizations. In both lands they will see, examine, and discuss the ancient legacy continuing in two vibrant and modern societies working together to create peace and stability in the Middle East.
The New Russia and the Old — Rado Pribic, professor of foreign languages and literatures and chair of the International Affairs program
Through first-hand experience of Russia – with examination of official statements, the views of citizens, and critical points of view – students should comprehend the social changes, how they came about, the problems the new Soviet society faced, the meaning of World War II for the Russians, the rationale for Soviet domestic and foreign policies, and today’s complex situation.
THE PACIFIC
The Geologic Evolution of the Hawaiian Islands — Dru Germanoski and Lawrence L. Malinconico, associate professors of geology and environmental geoscience
This course provides students with an understanding of how volcanic processes, geomorphic processes, and coastal processes have shaped, and continue to shape, the Hawaiian Islands. The course focuses on volcanism, landform development, and coastal processes. The Hawaiian Islands provide a unique opportunity to study active volcanic processes building the islands in conjunction with geomorphic processes which alter the volcanic landscape. While most people associate active volcanoes with Hawaii, few realize that surface and groundwater flow, glaciers, and coastal processes are actively reshaping the landscape. The Hawaiian landscape ranges in age from 23 million years old to minutes old. Students have the unique opportunity to study the volcanic processes creating the islands and then see how the soils, landscapes, and coasts have evolved through time. In addition, the influence of climactic variation on vegetation and landscapes is dramatically demonstrated.
SOUTH AMERICA
Exploring South America: Brazil, Argentina, and the Andes — Michael S. Jordan, instructor of foreign languages and literatures, and George M. Rosa, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures
This course involves travel to such destinations as Lima and/or Cuzco, Buenos Aires, and Rio de Janiero to investigate the cultural development of South America from pre-Columbian through modern times. Students study Inca, colonial, and post-colonial society, architecture, and art, visiting archeological sites, museums, churches, and other places of interest. Historical and sociological readings and literary texts include such major authors as El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, Machado de Assis, and Jorge Luis Borges.