Professor Joel Thompson

A unique opportunity to explore and study one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. We will camp in the Amazon rain forest, hike through the highland cloud forest, and spend a week snorkeling and exploring the Galapagos Islands. While in Ecuador, students will have an opportunity to learn about tropical rain forest ecology, examine the history and culture of Ecuador, and study the unique features of the Galapagos Islands where Darwin developed his ideas on the origin of species. Participants must be in excellent physical condition.

A service learning component will be integrated into this class. Pre-departure readings and lectures will prepare us for the trip. Evaluation will be based on student participation, examinations, daily journal entries, and a final project. Fulfills the Environmental Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $ 5,950

Professor Ed Grasso

Explore ancient civilizations and world class organizations on this adventure. The countries of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia have exhibited high levels of economic growth, business development, and cultural changes over the last decade and are designated as the new Asian Tigers or the next Mini Dragons. We will compare and contrast the management strategies and leadership styles of organizations in each country while exploring their historical and cultural treasures, and interacting with students and faculty at major universities.

In Thailand we will visit ancient temples in Bangkok, ride elephants at the Lampang training center and visit a hill tribe village near Chiang Mai. While in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam we will explore the Cu Chi Tunnels near Saigon, visit clothing manufacturers in Hoi An and walk the grounds of the Forbidden Purple City in Hue, the former imperial capital of past Vietnamese dynasties. In the capital city of Hanoi we will visit Ho Chi Minh's House, the Temple of Literature and enjoy "Roi Nuoc" a traditional water puppet show. While in Cambodia we will explore the more than 100 sacred temples of Angkor Wat built between the 9th and 13th centuries in honor of the Khmer Kings. Evaluation will be based on group project, paper, journal and intercultural interactions. Open to all majors. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $ 8,150

Professor David Duncan

This course is designed to familiarize you with diverse environments of Roatan, Honduras, and to provide you with an appreciation of the complex, interdisciplinary nature of this fragile environment. The course will examine the integrated tropical ecosystems including coral reefs, sea grasses, mangroves, and rocky intertidal zones. The geological component will examine carbonate systems particularly as related to the unique geological features, and the role tropical shallow-water ecosystems play in the geological development of the region. This environment is an optimum site in which to see firsthand the interaction of geologic and biologic processes operating to produce this unique environment while requiring only a basic scientific understanding. The course format will include preparatory lectures on the Eckerd campus, a field program at the Institute of Marine Sciences on Roatan, and a wrap-up on campus following return. The field portion will require, at times, long periods on and in the water, making observations and collecting data. Consequently good swimming skills and snorkeling abilities are required. SCUBA certification is not required, but recommended. Non-divers are welcome. A significant portion of this program will also be dedicated to examining the Roatan culture and how the population interacts with the environment. Evaluation will be based on class participation, performance on research projects and presentations, and examinations. Fulfills the Environmental Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $3,725

Professor Nancy DiBella

Learn Spanish in Cuenca, Ecuador. Live with a host family and attend intensive language classes taught by local instructors. Other activities include culinary and dance classes, as well as guided visits to museums, markets, archaeological sites, and hot springs. One weekend excursion features hiking in Cajas National Park, with its scenic trails and blue lagoons. A second weekend excursion includes a visit to Ingapirca, Ecuador's most impressive Inca ruins. Students will also visit the historic center of Quito, Ecuador's capital. Perched at 8,000 feet in the Andes Mountains, Cuenca is one of South America's best preserved colonial cities. Its historic core is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city has gained renown as a production center for Panama hats. The program is open to all students who wish to study Spanish at the beginning or intermediate level. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $ 3,800

Professor Tom DiSalvo

Learn Italian while living in Sicily and discovering the multiple layers of civilization – Phoenician, Greek, Byzantine, Roman, Norman and Spanish – that make this Mediterranean island one of the most culturally intriguing destinations in all of Europe. The program is based in the capital city of Palermo, where daily language classes will take place. Afternoons and some weekends will be devoted to exploring the cultural heritage and natural beauty of the island, the remains of a Phoenician settlement (port and cemetery), and fascinating vestiges of Sicily's history that you will experience while traveling around the island. Destinations include Monreal, Segesta, Cefalu, Selinunte, Agrigento, and Piazza Armerina. This Winter Term invites students with no knowledge of Italian as well as those who have studied or are studying Italian to be a part of the program. Grade is based on performance in the language class as well as the knowledge of history and culture that will be presented throughout the course. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $ 6,250

Professor Ashley Scheu

In this course, we explore the south of France while learning French at an accelerated rate. Montpellier is ideal for combining language study with an experience of French culture and history. Its numerous universities contribute to the vibrancy and youth of the population, while its foundations remind one of the oldness of the city itself. It is also a melting pot of cultures, combining French traditions with influences from other countries. In this program, morning language study precedes afternoons of casual conversation or cultural activities. Weekends provide opportunities for longer group excursions to nearby attractions. This course, completed with a passing grade, may be used as part of the Language Requirement or as credit towards the major or minor. No previous French experience required. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $ 5,000

Professor Scott Burnett

Explore France over the past half million years, including the biological and cultural record for human origins in the region. Inspect, 25,000 year-old cave paintings, walk amongst thousands of Neolithic standing stones and tombs in Carnac, and visit hill-top Medieval castles, while learning about the different archaeological time periods in French antiquity. We will travel clockwise from the museums of Paris, south to the Mediterranean to visit a 400,000 year-old campsite, westward to examine numerous Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon cave sites in Dordogne Valley, before turning northward to the Neolithic stone monument sites on the Atlantic coast of Brittany. Additional course topics include the peopling of Europe, archaeological evidence of modern human behavior, and the origins of domestication. Assessment will be based on student participation, written assignments, discussions, a pre-departure site paper/presentation, and a personal journal. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $6,750

Professor Yanira Angulo-Cano

A unique opportunity to visit the largest island in the Caribbean, our closest by estranged neighbor, that has marched to its own drumbeat, and for which it has been inaccessible to most Americans for half a century. Students will attend lectures/seminars in Havana at the Centro de Estudios Martianos and will visit historical landmarks, including Colonial Havana (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and the University of Havana, founded in 1728. They will have opportunities to engage in dialogue with Cuban citizens in a variety of settings, and to participate in experiences that will allow them to come away with greater understanding of a wide range of issues in contemporary Cuban society, from sports to politics, from cinema to popular music. Such activities will stimulate critical thinking in terms of internal Cuban issues and especially with regard to future diplomatic and commercial relations between the United States and Cuba. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $5,350

Professor Brian MacHarg

Travel to the beautiful and exotic countries of Ethiopia and Uganda where we will explore the social concerns of these regions and how community service might be an appropriate response to such issues. We will meet with various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working on social problems that are particularly acute in Ethiopia and Uganda –The after-effects of the conflicts in Uganda, the remnants of the widespread Ethiopian famine in 1984, as well as current problems of poverty, health and education. We will volunteer with several NGOs that are working on the concerns of the past and present. Our service in Ethiopia will be at a school for blind children in Mekele and will include physical work as part of an engineering project to provide running water for the pupils. We'll also have time to explore these two countries and see sights of cultural, historical and natural significance. Evaluation will be based on participation at site visits to NGOs as well as a written reflective project. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $6,100

Professor Doug McMahon

Following the rigorous 15-minute walk up a steep mountain, you look out at the Pacific Ocean from the Yoga Farm, where you will learn about a more sustainable way of life through permaculture based design and land use. You will gain an intimate understanding of this rural region of Costa Rica, regarded as one for the most biologically diverse places in the world, and, you can expect to see an abundance of wildlife during your stay. We will harvest both rainwater and natural spring water on site, work in organic gardens, eat from fruit trees and live in buildings built with natural materials in an architecture that eliminates separation from the natural beauty around us. We will work alongside the Guaymi people on service projects at the Conteburica Indigenous Reserve. We will also plant trees in areas that were cleared for cattle lands in recent decades while learning about reforestation efforts in this portion of the Costa Rican rainforest. Fulfills the Environmental Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $3,600

Professor Allan Meyers

This program explores the history and cultural heritage of the Bahamian people through an archaeological investigation of its plantation past. Students travel to Cat Island, a slender stretch of land on the eastern edge of the Bahamanian archipelago. There they participate in an investigation of an abandoned settlement, set against a backdrop of subtropical forest, that was established after the American Revolutionary War by colonists who were loyal to the British Crown. Recognized by locals as an important heritage site, the location is the focus of efforts to learn more about slavery in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Through field survey and mapping of the plantation's physical remains, students not only become acquainted with some essential methods of archaeological data collection, but they also assume a special vantage point from which to view key features of the Bahamian past. In addition to fieldwork, the program considers the role of heritage management policy in addressing local attitudes toward the preservation and stewardship of archaeological remains related to slavery. The course includes preparatory sessions on the Eckerd campus followed by the field program near historic Port Howe on Cat Island. Evaluation will be based on several writing assignments, class participation, command of field methods, a journal, and a final project. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $3,350

Professor Steve Denison

In this course, students will learn about the history of science by immersing themselves in the wealth of resources on this subject in London. Students will visit, among other sites, the Natural History Museum (including the Darwin Center), the Science Museum of London, Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, the National Maritime Museum and Down House, home of Charles Darwin. A day in Cambridge will connect students to the great discovery of the DNA double helix by Watson and Crick. Through these trips and related readings, students will also learn about important science topics such as evolution, molecular biology, microbiology and navigation. Students will also have opportunities to experience other aspects of London including arts and theatre through activities included in the course and will have time to explore London on their own. Costs DO NOT include round trip airfare to London, round trip transport from the airport to the London Study Centre, personal expenses and entertainment not within the program design. Fulfills the Natural Sciences (N) Area Requirement.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $3,300

Professor Michael Jerryson

Spend a month living at a Thai Buddhist monastery. Thailand is a global center of Buddhist activity. One of the most significant changes to Thai Buddhism is the recent creation of an Order of the Nuns. We will learn the makings of this historic phenomenon from its founder, the first fully ordained Thai Buddhist nun Dhammananda Bhikkhuni. Her monastery Wat Songdhammakalyani is close to Bangkok, which allows us the ability to observe Thai culture outside the bustle of a global city, but within 30 minutes of what Bangkok has to offer.

In and around Bangkok, we will enjoy collaborations with Buddhist colleges and learn alongside monks. We will travel the Chao Phraya River, sample diverse culinary delights, visit Buddhist temples and examine Thai material culture through its curious shops and famous Jatujak Mall, which hosts over 5,000 individual stalls. Open to all majors. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $4,500

Professor Gregg Brooks

This program is varied in that it combines the politics of apartheid, marine life along the Cape of Good Hope, the rugged coastline of the Garden Route, and game viewing in one of South Africa's best private game reserves, all of which include physically active components. Activities include: A visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress members were detained during the apartheid struggle (including a tour by a former inmate - currently a guide). Cape Point tour including the Fynbos (the smallest and most diverse of the world's six floral kingdoms) with penguins, seals and other wildlife. Grootbos Nature Reserve along the SW coast for marine life including whales (Southern Right and Humpback) and "Great Whites". The Garden Route for spectacular geology and biology. Kariega Game Reserve (a private 'owner-operated' game reserve) incorporating contrasting riverine, bushveld and grassland Eco-systems, and more than 25 species of game, including Giraffe, Zebra, Eland, Wildebeest, a wide variety of antelope and more than 200 bird species. This trip will be physically active including hiking, boat trips (marine and safari river cruise) and zip lining. Fulfills the Environmental Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $7,275

Professor Marion Smith

Experience a variety of artistic media in two of Europe's richest and most active cultural centers. With its 200 year history and numerous art institutions and organizations, Vienna, Austria's capital, provides many memorable experiences. We will attend the opera, symphony and chamber concerts, visit museums, palaces, and significant architectural structures. We will take a vigorous hike through the Vienna Woods and a day trip through the Wachau Valley. Prague has been an imperial city, the birthplace of numerous artists and musicians, and the site of major religious upheavals. During our stay we will take advantage of several musical offerings at the national theatre; visit Prague castle which is now the seat of the Czech Republic government; St. Vitu's Cathedral which took more than 500 years to build; the Old Town Square; Charles Bridge and the Old Jewish Cemetery. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $5,200

Professor Bruce Foltz

An immersion in one of the world's greatest and most enduring civilizations, tracing powerful currents of ancient spirituality that still animate not just theology, but philosophy, art and architecture, politics, and everyday life in the Byzantine East. Beginning in Athens, with its awe-inspiring Acropolis and museums displaying the great art of antiquity, and a day trip to the Greek Island of Aegina, we will visit medieval monasteries perched atop steep rock pinnacles in Meteora, and explore the venerable churches, towers, and city walls of Thessalonica, stretched out along the Aegean Sea, as well as the perfectly-preserved, underground tomb of King Philip, father of Alexander the Great. In the snow-covered mountains of Bulgaria, we will visit spectacular Rila Monastery and numerous sites in the bustling, modern city of Sofia. Traveling through Romania, we will explore castles and pristine medieval Saxon villages in Transylvania, the spectacular Carpathian Mountains, and the celebrated "painted monasteries" of Bukovina. And in ancient Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) we will explore the greatest monuments of Byzantine art and spirituality, including the Hagia Sophia and Chora Churches, the Hippodrome, the Great Walls, and the mysterious Underground Cisterns, and shop in the vast Grand Bazaar that once served the Silk Road. The Byzantine world-view will be related to its predecessors and neighbors (including ancient Greek religion and Islam), as we undertake a first-hand exploration of the mystical spirituality of the Eastern Church known as hesychasm—its aesthetic dimensions in architecture, iconography, and liturgy, and especially its living embodiment in monastic practice. Altogether, our itinerary will include at least ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Evaluation on readings, participation, and journal or final paper. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $7,650

Professor Tony Brunello

How do we balance the need for security with the equally vital human need for freedom? Peace and human rights in the 21st Century are increasingly defined by the fear of global terrorism, war, poverty, environmental deterioration, and weapons of mass destruction. How effective is the United States in building trust and institutional relationships of cooperation in international relations to deal with these issues?

At the United Nations in New York City students will learn about the work of the UN through discussions with UN staff, delegates from the Member-States and representatives of non-governmental international organizations. The main topics of the course include the pivotal role of the UN in the areas of peacekeeping, terrorism, human rights, global health, sustainable development, and collective security. Students will study first-hand how the UN operates to help establish the balance between peace and security in global affairs. There will be meetings with Missions of the permanent members of the Security Council, and with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Sanctions Committee. In addition, we will examine the role of the UN in the ongoing crises and change in Africa and the Middle East, as well as many issues related to human rights, the global environment and UN reform. The main goal is for students to engage in discussions concerning how the UN facilitates the effort to lead the world toward a future of trust, rule of law, human rights and common decency.

Evaluation for the course will be based on completion of assigned readings, attendance at briefings in New York, a daily New York journal, and a final paper assessing the United Nations effectiveness and efforts in the subjects we are studying. Students are responsible for their own airfare and will meet in NYC on Sunday, January 6. Fulfills the Social Science Academic Area requirement.

Tentative Dates
January 6-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $3,225

Professor Yolanda Molina-Gavilan

Learn Spanish while living in Madrid, Spain's vibrant capital, its largest and most exciting city and a center of art, culture and entertainment. Live with a host family and attend intensive language classes taught by expert faculty at the Centro de Estudios Hispanicos of University of Nebrija. Students will have access to University facilities such as the Library, Computer Lab, and Recreation Areas and to all activities organized by the International Club. The program includes a guided tour of downtown Madrid and guided visits to the world famous Prado Museum and the National Museum of Anthropology. An excursion to the city of Segovia, a World Heritage Site best known for its spectacular Roman aqueduct, is also included. Other optional cultural activities and excursions to nearby towns will be available. Grade is based on performance in the language class as well as knowledge of Spanish society, history and culture presented during the course. Students with no previous knowledge of Spanish and also those who are currently studying the language are invited to participate. This course, completed with a passing grade, may be used as credit towards the Spanish major or minor. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $5,200

Professor Olivier Debure

Immerse yourself in a culture and learn about one of the poorest countries of the western hemisphere. Volunteer alongside the non-profit organization, Pronica, and actively participate in their pre-established development projects to alleviate Nicaragua's struggle after years of dictatorship, revolutionary and civil war, and the destruction caused by Hurricane Mitch. The trip will begin with a 4 day instruction period in Managua that will cover political history, the effects of globalization on the economy and trade, as well as health care and education systems in Nicaragua. We will then travel around the country actively participating in a service project. While traveling, students will have the opportunity to experience home stays with a Nicaraguan family. Evaluation based on active participation in the lectures and service project as well as several written reflections that detail the student's international service-learning experience and personal growth. Fulfills the Global Perspective.

Additional Program Information available here

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $ 3,400

Professor Brian Ransom

Experience and explore the fascinating history, artwork and ruins of the peoples who inhabited pre-Columbian South America in a journey which will traverse both the physical and mystical expanse of Peru. In Lima, we will visit the Gold Amano, Erotic and Anthropological museums. We will travel south to the ruins of Paracas, and then fly over the spectacular Nazca lines. From Nazca we climb deep into the Andes to the flamboyant international city of Cuzco and the ruins of Machu Pichu. Heading to the Peruvian North Coast, site of some of the oldest ruins and richest caches of Moche ceramics in South America, we will tour the newly discovered tombs of Sipan, then travel down the coast to the scenic ruins of Chan Chan, finishing our tour. Evaluation will be based on participation in activities and discussions, and the successful completion of a travel journal which includes reports and comments from each site. Interview with faculty leader required. Fulfills Art academic area.

Tentative Dates
January 3-25, 2013
Approximate Cost: $8,000

Ghost Ranch is a working ranch located in the uniquely beautiful high desert of northern New Mexico. Participate in a regional orientation program and enroll in one individual study project. Students travel on their own.

Prioritize three selections in 1-2-3 order; every effort will be make to confirm your first choice. Evaluation by project leaders. Costs do not include airfare. Costs are, however, inclusive of all fees except where noted and include round trip transportation from the Albuquerque Airport. Weekend and evening activities, dances, movies, and worship services are included. Enrollment is limited by Ghost Ranch –apply early.

Tentative Dates
January 2-24, 2013

Courses include:

During January, Washington University offers concentrated introductory courses in engineering and applied science. These courses allow students attending institutions affiliated with the dual-degree program to explore their interest in and aptitude for these fields. Students should plan for travel expenses to and from St. Louis, personal expenses, dinners and incidental expenses.
See Professor Harry Ellis for additional information

Course offered: Introduction to Electrical and Electronic Circuits
Note: Please check for prerequisites

Tentative Dates
December 26, 2012 – January 12, 2013
Approximate Cost: $1,775