Winter 2012-2013 Field Study Programs

• Japan: Religion and Pop Culture
• CHN 200F: Engaging Changing China
• INT 278F: Lively Arts in London
• REL 212F: India and the Infinite: Religion and Society
• ENV 365F: Environment and Development in Central America
• BIO 388F: Marine Biology Laboratory: Hawaii

Holt Students

• Eligibility: To apply for any study abroad or field study program, Holt School students must be currently enrolled in a degree program, be matriculated through the initial admission review process (i.e. completed two semesters at Holt), in good academic and college standing (grade point average of 3.0 or above preferred), and must have a good record of personal responsibility (e.g. judicial record)
• Credit: Holt students must coordinate with advisors in Holt to confirm credit approval and acceptance.  Holt graduate students will not automatically receive graduate credit for A&S/CPS field studies and cannot be considered for grant support unless the course is applicable to their current degree program. 
• Costs for A&S/CPS Field Study:  Holt Students participating on A&S/CPS field study courses pay the same price as A&S students and are eligible for grant support through International Programs and Hamilton Holt. 
• Costs for Holt Field Study:  The cost of a Holt field study is standard Holt tuition for the relevant number of credits plus a program fee to cover the trip costs.

Japan: Religion and Culture

This field study course will provide students with the opportunity to see Japanese culture “on the ground,” in actual lived experience. Our focus will be on two significant aspects of Japanese culture, viz., religion and popular culture. We will explore Tokyo and Kyoto, two historically important cultural centers of Japan, and will also visit Osaka. Our trip will include visits to Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and meccas of popular culture (e.g., Harajuku, Roppongi, the Kyoto International Manga Museum, the Iga Ninja Museum). We will read about significant themes in Japanese religion and pop culture, engage in conversations on these topics, visit a number of relevant sites, and reflect on what we learn through the experience.

NOTE: This course is pending approval and has not yet been assigned a course number

CHN 200F: Engaging Changing China

China's economic boom has brought huge changes in the nation that has thousands years of civilization.  How does modernization affect the ways people lived for centuries?  Are the traditional cultural institutions, such as Confucianism and Buddhism, still honored in a modern society?  What changes did economic development bring to the cityscape of modern cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai?  To find the answers to these questions, we set out on a 10-day journey to the "Middle Kingdom" to explore modern China via cultural excursions, lectures, and social engagement focused activities.

INT 278F: Lively Arts in London

This field study course immerses students in the theatre and visual arts of London (eight nights). Explores all elements that the London theatre has to offer: lunch time pub drama; Covent Garden and Underground busquers; avant garde works, political drama, contemporary refashionings of classical works; musicals; and new works by British, American, and Contemporary playwrights.  In addition, students will visit several of the famed museums and galleries in London including the Tate Modern, the British Museum, the National Gallery and more. Students are required to attend all performances, discussions, and daily tours. Requires extensive walking. Itinerary Highlights: Tours of Globe Theatre, National Theatre, National Gallery and Tate Gallery.

REL 212F: India and the Infinite: Religion and Society

This course immerses students in the rich history and contemporary life of India, on whose soil some of the world’s most ancient religions and cultures developed.  It focuses on the spiritual traditions of India, from its Hindu and Buddhist temples and ashrams (places of spiritual retreat), to its diverse groups, including the Jains, Sikhs, Muslims and, of course, it yogis, gurus, and clerics.  The journey will take students through some of India’s most distinguished religious and architectural sites.  Itinerary Highlights: Taj Mahal, Kutab Minar, the pink city of Jaipur, Rishikesh, and the Jain ashram of Rajastan. 

ENV 365F: Environment and Development in Central America

Costa Rica has been successful in achieving economic growth and human development, even as the country has been able to preserve and restore much of its environment. By contrast, much of Central America has experienced widespread deforestation, rapid population growth and considerable instability. In combination with several environmental factors, this has led to depressed living standards throughout the region.  We will devote considerable attention to understanding these very different outcomes and consider appropriate models of sustainable development for the region. In Costa Rica, we visit a wide range of projects including coffee farms, wildlife refuges, national parks, craft cooperatives and energy facilities.

BIO 388F: Marine Biology Laboratory: Hawaii

The focus of this field course is the study of Central Pacific Ocean marine life at the marine laboratory of the University of Hawaii, Oahu, and on the island of Hawaii.  This course investigates the ecology, diversity, biogeography, and development of shallow water marine ecosystems with particular emphasis on the study of coral reeks, intertidal communities and mangroves.  Students will visit aquariums, do research at the Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology and put their knowledge and observational skills to work while snorkeling.  The course is physically demanding.

*All dates are tentative and subject to change depending on the final number of students, final costs and other considerations.

**Estimated costs for all programs are based on anticipated numbers of students, current exchange rates and commercial airfares.  Costs are subject to change.  Final prices will always be communicated to accepted students before they commit to the program.