Spring:summer15visionmagazine

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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


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