Come to LaGrange and see the world
The Interim, or 'Jan Term,' is the middle of LaGrange College's academic calendar,
between fall and spring semesters. Interim courses are designed to encourage students
to explore course content outside of their majors through personal, hands-on experience.
Jan Term classes include on-campus projects, independent research, internships
and study-travel experiences. Capture a glimpse of the fun and challenge of Jan
Term by taking a look at recent classes below.
2018 Study-Away Courses
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL PROJECTS
Tanzania: An African Adventure
This course focuses on the politics, economics,
culture and environment of Africa through the exotic country of Tanzania.
Students will fly in past the legendary Kilimanjaro to spend time in Arusha, a
city where the Rwanda massacres were prosecuted. We’ll view that location,
visit the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights which continues to wage
the fight for justice in countries today, and see the East African Community
HQ, where economic development is the mission. We’ll also go out to Shenga
Shenga market, where beads, glass, pottery, and other goods are made by
handicapped adults and children. Then we’ll travel to the desert outpost in
Isoitok, engage in a wild Tarangire game drive, and drive through the amazing
Ngorongoro Crater, where elephants, lions, hippos, rhinos, ostriches, zebras,
cape buffalo and other animals dwell in their natural habitat, ending the trip
at the Karatu Country Lodge. Majors from all disciplines will benefit from this
game-changing ten day trip.
Service and Sustainability in the Philippines
This travel course provides an opportunity to experience
service learning in the metro area of Manila, Philippines and tropical ecology
in a remote area of the Philippines. The
Philippines includes 7000
islands and 80 local languages. The Philippines ecology also is diverse and
beautiful, including volcanoes, rain forests, beaches, and some of the world’s
most diverse coral reefs. Since English is the language of instruction in
schools, communication with locals is easy. Filipino culture has an Asian
foundation, but has been modified by 3 centuries of Spanish and American colonial rule.
Students will find Filipinos to be exceptionally warm and hospitable people and
have the opportunity to form lasting friendships.
Cultural Explorations of Thailand
The objective of this travel away course
is to gain an understanding of Thai culture through excursions in Bangkok,
Chiang Mai, and the surrounding mountain regions of northern Thailand. Students
will have an opportunity to experience the culture of Thailand through a
program provided by Chiang Mai University and local expert guides. Experiences
include working with hill tribe ethnic groups and other populations. Through
visits to selected venues students will learn about the economic, religious and
social practices of Thailand.
The Mayan Riviera: Archaeology, Animals, and Adventure in
the Yucatan
The Yucatan peninsula is a safe, welcoming, Mexican
province where the Mayan people historically built great cities and continue to
live today in an environment filled with stunning archaeology, an impressive
diversity of birds and wildlife, and a friendly, traditional culture. This course will explore the people,
culture, food, flora, and fauna of the Yucatan, focusing on the tropical
coastline known as the Mayan Riviera.
Costa Rica and Georgia:
Children and Communities from the Capital to the Coast
This course will take a comparative look
at schools and communities from the Capital to the Coast of Costa Rica and
Georgia. Students will spend the first week of the course investigating,
visiting, and participating with schools and community outreach programs for
children and families in Atlanta and coastal areas in Georgia. After exploring
local issues and needs, students will spend 10 days in Costa Rica visiting
schools and participating in community outreach programs in the capital city of
San Jose and the coastal town of Manuel Antonio. Discover how schools and
communities interact in local and international locations. Other activities
will include visiting the city market in Quepos, exploring the sights around
San Jose such as the Poas Volcano, Doka Coffee Estate and La Paz Waterfall,
touring the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park, cruising on a catamaran
around the National Park, and spending afternoons and evenings interacting with
locals in a variety of contexts.
A Journey through Music History
Take a journey through some of the most important centers
of western music history including Prague, Vienna, Venice, and Milan. In
Prague, visit the Estates Theater where the premiers of some of Mozart’s most
famous operas and symphonies took place. In Vienna, see where Mozart and Haydn
lived and worked including the famous Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt. In
Venice, see the famous St. Mark’s Basilica where many famous composers worked
and where polychoral music was invented. Visits to the La Pieta Church
(Vivaldi) and the famous opera house “La Fenice” are also included. The trip
culminates in Milan with visits to La Scala opera house and to see da Vinci’s
The Last Supper.
The Art and Architecture of Italy: Naples, Rome and Florence
This course includes visits to three of Italy’s most
significant cities: Naples, Rome
and Florence. In Naples, students will visit the Archeological Museum, with
many artefacts from the excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as the
Museum at Capodimonte. They will also tour underground Naples, together with
Pompeii and Paestum, the site of several Greek temples. In Rome, students will
visit the Pantheon, the forum, the Colosseum, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the
Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and several recently opened archeological
sites, such as the Crypta Balbi. In Florence, they will visit the new museum of
the Duomo, the Uffizi, the Accademia, which houses Michelangelo’s David, the
Baptistery, and Santa Maria del Fiore, where they will climb up to the cupola
of Brunelleschi’s celebrated dome. Some
free time will allow for private explorations.
The Best of Paris & Barcelona
Students will travel to Europe and discover the cultures
of two major cities: Paris,
France (the romantic city of lights with the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the
Champs-Elysees, and internationally renowned foods: wine, cheese, chocolate and much
more) and Barcelona, Spain (a lively and vibrant city with superb restaurants,
sidewalk cafes, art and music). Students will be instructed and enlightened by
a team of expert professors who will accompany the group every step of the way.
In this course, students will learn about the culture of
France and Spain and visit many popular tourist attractions such as the Eiffel
Tower. To prepare for traveling, students will be instructed in both survival
French and survival Spanish. In addition, because these two countries are
famous for their cuisines, students will be introduced to the basic chemistry
behind the development of internationally famous wines, cheeses, and other
popular dishes. We will of course sample many of these delicacies during our
travels, and after a cooking class in which we will assist in the preparation
of a meal. Students will also learn about the multi-million dollar perfume
industry and how to make their own signature aromas.
Enterprise and Service in Ecuador
Students will be working in poor communities located on
the outskirts of Quito. Teams will work with local pastors and churches on
projects to benefit children and the elderly in these communities. Construction
will be a major component of the team. Students will help build facilities for
housing and feeding the elderly poor and/or for after school programs for
Compassion International children. Each
construction team will also have Vacation Bible School component branching out
into marginalized areas of Quito teaching very poor children about the love of
Jesus. Students will also work with youth providing education, mentoring, and
sports play. The cocoa/chocolate and cut flower industries will be studied and
students will visit a rose plantation, cocoa producer, indigenous markets, and
historic and natural sites. The course also includes the activities of
zip-lining the cloud forest and riding a cable car to the top of the highest
mountain in Quito.
DOMESTIC TRAVEL PROJECTS
Ecology and Culture of Hawaii
The geographic isolation of the Hawaiian Islands
contributes to its unique ecology, culture and social issues. This course will
examine the diverse habitats and unique geologic features found on Oahu and the
Big Island as well as the social and economic factors affecting native
Hawaiians. Several snorkeling events, day hikes, and an optional experience in
a shark cage will provide the opportunity to explore marine ecosystems, extinct
volcanoes, and rain and cloud forests. Students will experience the history and
culture of the Hawaiian Islands with trips to the last palace of the monarchy
and a luau. Finally, our participation in two service projects including
rainforest restoration and the serving the homeless population provide the
opportunity to witness and effect economic and social issues in Hawaii.
MAY AWAY
Health Service and Field Experience: Uganda
This is a service-learning course that provides students
the opportunity to be fully immersed in the Ugandan culture. Students will be
introduced to public health issues from a global perspective, although the
focus will be on Uganda. Working alongside the Ugandan people, students will
have the opportunity to participate in medical clinics where they will provide
education about health promotion and disease prevention.
Education, Sport and Society of Ancient Greece
Walk in the footsteps of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in
Athens to learn how their ideas on education are still relevant today. Then
travel to Peloponnese to learn about the first Olympic Games and grasp the
complexities of ancient Greek societies through excursions to historical
archaeological sites. Before traveling to Greece, students are required to
complete online assignments that include viewing video lectures and writing
responses to posted readings.
Course goals are evaluated with structured written
responses to selected readings and pre-recorded audio and video lectures.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Michele
Raphoon
Coordinator
Office of Global Engagement
mraphoon@lagrange.edu
Phone: 706-880-8429
Fax: 706-880-8738
Office of General Education and Global Engagement
Study Away
Smith Hall, 2nd floor
LaGrange College
601 Broad Street
LaGrange, GA 30240
Although no major revisions are anticipated in the courses described in this brochure,
LaGrange College reserves the right to make whatever changes may be necessary in
the status, costs, requirements, or other details of its Interim courses. Any course
may be canceled for adequate reason, such as lack of sufficient enrollment.