Sciences and the College of Business. Meghan Millea, professor of economics, taught a course titled “Economics of Recovery” that focused on challenges facing post-conflict countries like South Africa that are rebuilding their economies following years of violence or war. Shoup said the country once-internationally ostracized for strict, government-enforced racial segregation should provide an ideal location for American students to examine these topics. “Given its long period of colonization and the
Participating students also take part in faculty-
As for cultural experiences in America’s
subsequent 40-plus years of racial stratification
led excursions to Madrid and Segovia, as well as
northern neighbor, he said the students reside at
under Apartheid, South Africans of all races
cultural activities offered through their courses
the Hôtel Manoir des Remparts, which is located
know all too well the dilemmas of democratic
that included food tours and museum and theater
at the heart of the Old City and just a few blocks
and economic transition,” he said.
visits, among other activities.
from the popular St. Lawrence River promenade.
As part of the itinerary, Shoup said the MSU
During the Iberian Peninsula experience,
They also may attend the Festival d’été, an annual
travelers visited Robben Island, site of freedom
students have additional opportunities to
music event, and visit several museums and other
fighter (and, later, first post-Apartheid president)
experience daily home life. “They live with host
noteworthy locales.
Nelson Mandela’s longest incarceration during the
families to give them consistent exposure to
Finally, the Department of Geosciences
white-dominated era; and the Kimberly Diamond
everyday spoken Spanish,” Davvison said, adding
continues its long-standing study-abroad program
Mine, once the largest diamond extraction site on
that host families additionally provide most of the
to the Bahamas. On San Salvador Island, John
earth and a locus of South Africa’s 20th century
visitors’ meals and take care of their laundry needs.
Rodgers, professor of physical geography, teaches
economic development. In addition to the new
Because it provides a “lived experience in a
a course called “Geosciences Study Abroad:
study-abroad programs, several others continue to
Spanish-speaking country for a significant period
take MSU faculty and students to Canada and Spain.
of time, while still having the support of MSU
“The course focuses on tropical carbonate
One of MSU’s largest is a foreign language
faculty on the ground as the program runs,” this
island geomorphology and coastal processes,”
program to Alcalá de Henares, Spain, led by
program is especially appealing and meaningful
Rodgers said. “We explore caves, snorkel coral
Brian Davisson and Karina Zelaya, both assistant
for students completing a Spanish-language
reefs and monitor beach processes with the
professors in the Department of Classical and
degree, he said.
over-arching goal of understanding how marine
Bahamas Field Methods.”
Modern Languages and Literature. It tends to
Back on the North American continent, a
and atmospheric processes shape carbonate
attract students in many different majors who
program in the Canadian providence of Quebec is
island landforms. We also devote significant
want to further their knowledge of Spanish
being led by Forrest Blackbourn, a lecturer in the
time to understanding climate change, sea level
language and culture, Davisson said.
Department of Classical and Modern Languages
fluctuations, and marine environmental issues.”
“Students take courses through Alcalingua,
and Literature. In the capital, Quebec City,
Though providing geoscience field experience
which is a language school connected to the
participants from several different majors may
is a primary focus, students also are encouraged to
University of Alcalá,” he continued. “Beginning
take courses in French, the province’s primary
examine human aspects of the academic major.
this summer, some of the more advanced
language.
“We do spend some time discussing human-
students take courses offered by the faculty
Blackbourn said this program provides the
related topics, such as the historical significance of
coordinators. Students can earn up to six credits
“opportunity to earn a double major or minor
San Salvador Island, including the initial landfall
if they participate in the one-month program, or
in French in a truly immersive, Francophone
of Christopher Columbus, the fate of the natives
12 credits in the two-month program.”
environment.”
after Europeans, Spanish and English settlements and cultural differences between Bahamians and Americans,” Rodgers said. For more information on MSU study-abroad programs, visit http://international.msstate.edu/ abroad/.
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VISION SPRING/SUMMER 2015 | COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES