Summer 2019 Courses

St. Croix Plantation Heritage Study Tour

Students in this three-week study tour in the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands will participate in the assessment and interpretation of an enslaved laborer village and cemetery at a plantation called Estate Lower Bethlehem. The study site is a sugar plantation that operated continuously from the Danish colonial period in the 1730s until the Bethlehem Central Factory closed in 1966. Part of the site is located in the Virgin Islands National Guard Armory, and the archaeological discovery of the lost cemetery and traces of an enslaved laborer village coincides with a rise in local pride and commemoration of the ancestors interred in the burial ground. The National Guard wants to interpret the site and make it accessible to the public who may visit the cemetery, and the Study Tour will add to this effort. Students will also visit natural and cultural sites in St. Croix that relate to plantations and colonialism, including Estate Whim, Salt River, and Christiansted, while learning about Caribbean history, culture, and language. Students will develop practical skills in archaeology and heritage management, as each will be instructed in variety of field activities, including the excavation and assessment of archaeological resources, documentation of historic structures, completion of interviews, and design of interpretive materials.

Lenik/Dennie
4 Credits
July 13 – August 1

St. Croix Plantation Heritage Study Tour

Students in this three-week study tour in the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands will participate in the assessment and interpretation of an enslaved laborer village and cemetery at a plantation called Estate Lower Bethlehem. The study site is a sugar plantation that operated continuously from the Danish colonial period in the 1730s until the Bethlehem Central Factory closed in 1966. Part of the site is located in the Virgin Islands National Guard Armory, and the archaeological discovery of the lost cemetery and traces of an enslaved laborer village coincides with a rise in local pride and commemoration of the ancestors interred in the burial ground. The National Guard wants to interpret the site and make it accessible to the public who may visit the cemetery, and the Study Tour will add to this effort. Students will also visit natural and cultural sites in St. Croix that relate to plantations and colonialism, including Estate Whim, Salt River, and Christiansted, while learning about Caribbean history, culture, and language. Students will develop practical skills in archaeology and heritage management, as each will be instructed in variety of field activities, including the excavation and assessment of archaeological resources, documentation of historic structures, completion of interviews, and design of interpretive materials.

Lenik/Dennie
4 Credits
July 13 – August 1

Studies in British Literature, “Summer Shakespeare”

This course consists of on-site study in Stratford-upon-Avon and London of the relevance of Shakespeare’s works to modern audiences, emphasizing unique thematic and cultural interpretations which broaden students’ understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare’s plays and also of the “Shakespeare Industry,” with Stratford as its epicenter. Coursework includes six pre-trip meetings prior to leaving the country to discuss all of the plays as well as to review vital travel information with Jennifer and/or Andrew Cognard-Black; attendance at all Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST) productions in Stratford; attendance at all Globe Theatre productions in London; participation in all workshops, lectures, and tours conducted by Jennifer and/or Andrew Cognard-Black, the Shakespeare Centre faculty, and/or the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) actors and directors; visits to all Shakespeare Trust properties; and visits to additional sites of Shakespearean interest, such as a day trip to Warwick Castle or to view an additional theatre production in Oxford or Cambridge. In England, group activities will last for 18 days—from June 3rd to June 24th—with a free weekend at the end for further study or travel on an individual basis. Plays at the RST and Globe run the gamut of Shakespeare’s oeuvre, from tragedies to histories to comedies (e.g., Macbeth, As You Like It, Henry V as well as Restoration
dramas that aren’t staged very often (e.g., (The Provoked Wife, Venice Preserved). As part of this course, in addition to reading and discussing each and every play with SMCM faculty, students should expect to to do the same with members of the Shakespeare Centre faculty before attending any performance. After viewing a production, students will further study the text as a moment of Shakespeare’s performance history with RSC actors, Shakespeare Centre faculty, and the study tour leaders.

Pre-requisites include: ENGL 204 and one of the following: ENGL 281, 282, 283, 284, or 285 or permission of the instructor. Recommended: ENGL 281 or 284 (for topics before 1700).

Cognard-Black
4 Credits
June 3 – June 24
MEETING June 3 – June 6
Meeting Location: Montgomery Hall 103

Greece Study Tour

St. Mary’s Greece Summer Study Tour offers participants the opportunity to gain knowledge of the many layers of history in this part of the world of which influence far greater than the islands that encompass it. Students are able to make the sites, sounds, and structures of their readings come alive and learn that Greece has literally lived and died many times over and is now, most certainly, very much alive.

Taber
4 credits
June 5 – June 29

Topics in Writing: Chesapeake Writers’ Conference Seminar in Creative Writing

This unique course will be rooted in the intensive experience of the Chesapeake Writers’ Conference, during which students will immerse themselves for one week in the art and craft of fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction. In addition to attending a daily three-hour workshop in your genre, you will be required to attend all other conference literary events, including daily readings, lectures, craft talks, and panel discussions (there will be approximately two to three such events each day).
Other requirements will include daily journal responses to the literary events of the conference, and thoughtful, constructive responses to your workshop peers’ submissions. You will work out with the professor a short reading list in your genre that you will use as a touchstone for your work. Finally, you will work with the professor via email in revising the work produced in and for your workshop. This, along with the other assignments and an introductory reflection essay on the work, will be due in a portfolio approximately one month after the conference ends. This course is worth two-credits. Prerequisite: 200-level writing course or permission of the instructor.

Gabriel
2 credits
June 23 – 29 (on St. Mary’s campus) and correspondence with professor post-conference.
M,T,W,R,F 9:00am – 4:00pm
Location: TBD

Greece Study Tour

St. Mary’s Greece Summer Study Tour offers participants the opportunity to gain knowledge of the many layers of history in this part of the world of which influence far greater than the islands that encompass it. Students are able to make the sites, sounds, and structures of their readings come alive and learn that Greece has literally lived and died many times over and is now, most certainly, very much alive.

Taber
4 credits
June 5 – June 29

St. Croix Plantation Heritage Study Tour

Students in this three-week study tour in the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands will participate in the assessment and interpretation of an enslaved laborer village and cemetery at a plantation called Estate Lower Bethlehem. The study site is a sugar plantation that operated continuously from the Danish colonial period in the 1730s until the Bethlehem Central Factory closed in 1966. Part of the site is located in the Virgin Islands National Guard Armory, and the archaeological discovery of the lost cemetery and traces of an enslaved laborer village coincides with a rise in local pride and commemoration of the ancestors interred in the burial ground. The National Guard wants to interpret the site and make it accessible to the public who may visit the cemetery, and the Study Tour will add to this effort. Students will also visit natural and cultural sites in St. Croix that relate to plantations and colonialism, including Estate Whim, Salt River, and Christiansted, while learning about Caribbean history, culture, and language. Students will develop practical skills in archaeology and heritage management, as each will be instructed in a variety of field activities, including the excavation and assessment of archaeological resources, documentation of historic structures, completion of interviews, and design of interpretive materials.

Lenik/Dennie
4 Credits
July 13 – August 1

Himalayan Sacred River Tour of India

An intensive and mindful journey of India that introduces students to Hindu culture and traditions in the Northwest Himalayas and on the Gangetic plain. This trekking tour follows along the sacred river Ganga from the ancient and holy city of Varanasi through pilgrimage towns on the plains up to its glacial source in the high Himalayas and back. Students will walk ancient pilgrimage trails with Hindus from all parts of India. They will visit temples, camp out at high elevations amidst massive snow-capped Himalayan peaks, interact with pilgrims and wandering world-renouncers, stay in a summer palace on the banks of the sacred river, receive a private performance of classical Indian music, learn ancient Vedic chant, participate in the fire rituals and massive gatherings in devotion to the river goddess, shop for Indian clothing in the bazaars, and partake of Ayurvedic massage.

Meckel
4 Credits
June 3 – June 19, 2019

Greece Study Tour

St. Mary’s Greece Summer Study Tour offers participants the opportunity to gain knowledge of the many layers of history in this part of the world of which influence far greater than the islands that encompass it. Students are able to make the sites, sounds, and structures of their readings come alive and learn that Greece has literally lived and died many times over and is now, most certainly, very much alive.

Taber
4 credits
June 5 – June 29

Greece Study Tour

St. Mary’s Greece Summer Study Tour offers participants the opportunity to gain knowledge of the many layers of history in this part of the world of which influence far greater than the islands that encompass it. Students are able to make the sites, sounds, and structures of their readings come alive and learn that Greece has literally lived and died many times over and is now, most certainly, very much alive.

Taber
4 credits
June 5 – June 29

Thailand Study Tour

The class will explore traditional and contemporary Buddhist views on the relationships between Buddhist wisdom and social justice, and relates the academic study of Buddhism (from the readings, lectures, and course discussions) to the concrete experiences of being in a Buddhist culture, meeting important Buddhist leaders, and learning first-hand what Engaged Buddhism and Thailand is all about. Students will learn about the philosophical and historical roots of Buddhism but will also step outside the bounds of the classroom and experience how Buddhism is lived and incorporated into the everyday lives of people throughout Thailand.

Schroeder
4 credits
May 13 – June 3

Washington Program

This 8-12 credit course will consist of two weeks of intensive instruction, one prior to the beginning of the internship and the other following the internship, with various sessions and assignments during the summer as well. By combining a rigorous academic program and internship experience, the course meets the requirements of the ELAW program.
The first academic week, on the SMCM campus, will consist of an overview of political actors and groups in Washington, D.C. These daylong intensive sessions will cover policymaking in the U.S. government, the role of advocacy and pressure groups, policy analysis, and international relations. The premise of this week is to give students an idea of how Washington “works” and how the different bureaucracies and organizations work together. In addition, this week will give students some analytical tools to prepare them for their internships, including experience with policy briefs and policy analysis.
The second academic week, in Washington, DC, will start in mid-August before the beginning of the fall semester at St. Mary’s but following the students’ internship experiences. This week will
cover some important themes in politics in the context of what the students learned over the summer. This will be another intensive week of instruction and students are expected to actively participate in the sessions and share their experiences. Some of the themes this week will touch on include the nature of power, the roles of various actors in the policymaking process, and students’ revised assessment of how policy is made.
In between these two weeklong sessions, students will spend approximately two-and-a-half months at an internship in the Washington area. During the summer, students will meet regularly with St. Mary’s alumni mentors who work in Washington.

Shafqat/Fehrs
8-12 credits
May 13 – May 17 on SMCM Campus
August 12 – August 14 in Washington DC
M,T,W,R,F 9:00am – 5:00pm
Location: Kent 212

Greece Study Tour

St. Mary’s Greece Summer Study Tour offers participants the opportunity to gain knowledge of the many layers of history in this part of the world of which influence far greater than the islands that encompass it. Students are able to make the sites, sounds, and structures of their readings come alive and learn that Greece has literally lived and died many times over and is now, most certainly, very much alive.

Taber
4 credits
June 5 – June 29

Thailand Study Tour

The class will explore traditional and contemporary Buddhist views on the relationships between Buddhist wisdom and social justice, and relates the academic study of Buddhism (from the readings, lectures, and course discussions) to the concrete experiences of being in a Buddhist culture, meeting important Buddhist leaders, and learning first-hand what Engaged Buddhism and Thailand is all about. Students will learn about the philosophical and historical roots of Buddhism but will also step outside the bounds of the classroom and experience how Buddhism is lived and incorporated into the everyday lives of people throughout Thailand.

Schroeder
4 Credits
May 13 – June 3

Greece Study Tour

St. Mary’s Greece Summer Study Tour offers participants the opportunity to gain knowledge of the many layers of history in this part of the world of which influence far greater than the islands that encompass it. Students are able to make the sites, sounds, and structures of their readings come alive and learn that Greece has literally lived and died many times over and is now, most certainly, very much alive.

Taber
4 credits
June 5 – June 29

Greece Study Tour

St. Mary’s Greece Summer Study Tour offers participants the opportunity to gain knowledge of the many layers of history in this part of the world of which influence far greater than the islands that encompass it. Students are able to make the sites, sounds, and structures of their readings come alive and learn that Greece has literally lived and died many times over and is now, most certainly, very much alive.

Taber
4 credits
June 5 – June 29