2007-2008 Exploration Seminars
FALL 2007 Exploration Seminar
Oct. 20-28, 2007
The Renaissance: London and Stratford
Credo 231E
Dr. Gordon Lell, English, and Dr. Peter Schultz, Art
Estimated seminar cost: $2,100
The seminar focuses on the art of the Italian Renaissance and the literature of Elizabethan England. For the Renaissance in Italy, we study the art collections from Greek and Roman antiquity at the British Museum in London; we explore the impact of these classics on the painting and sculpture of the Renaissance collections at the National Art Gallery. For the Renaissance in England we tour the new Globe Theatre in London and attend theater productions by Shakespeare and his contemporaries. We visit historic sites associated with the Renaissance: Henry VIII's Palace at Hampton Court, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Southwark Cathedral and the George Inn. At Stratford-Upon-Avon we tour the Shakespeare Properties, Holy Trinity Church, nearby Warwick Castle and attend theater productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company. This will be an intense experience of art, literature and history.
Timeline | Application 
SPRING 2008 Exploration Seminars
Feb 23-March 2, 2008
Egypt: Window on the Middle East
Global Studies 112
Dr. James Aageson, Religion
Estimated seminar cost: $2,175*
This is a unique opportunity to witness the historical, political, social, and religious dimensions of a modern Middle Eastern country. Egypt is a window into the complicated and often troubled affairs of this crucible of human civilization. We look at the three lives of Egypt -Harmonic, Christian and Islamic - through visits to ancient sites in Cairo and the pyramids, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, and St. Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai, including opportunities for meeting with local people to hear their views of current events in the Middle East and the Islamic world. At St. Catherine's Monastery we will see exquisite sixth-century Orthodox icons and join other pilgrims climbing Mt. Sinai to witness the sunrise just as Moses did. In some of the great mosques of Egypt, we will have an opportunity to observe modern Islamic life and religious practices - all set against the backdrop of the glorious civilization of the Pharaohs. * Includes half board (breakfasts and dinners)
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Turkey: Ancient and Modern Christianity and Islam
Religion 100
Dr. Shawn Crutch and Hilda Koster, Religion
Estimated seminar cost: $2,320*
Ever wanted to walk where the Apostle Paul walked, visit some of the cities of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse, or see the city where one of the first Christian councils was held? This seminar will explore these important sites to learn more about Christianity's early history at Izmir (Smyrna), Efes (Ephesus), and Istanbul (Constantinople). At Ephesus we'll see the house where the Virgin Mary may have spent her last days. Turkey has a rich cultural history, especially the relationship between Christianity and Islam. In fascinating Istanbul we will visit Hagia Sophia, once the most magnificent church of ancient Christianity; Blue Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world; and the Suleymaniye Mosque built by the great architect Sinan. We'll watch the mysterious whirling dervishes dance and learn more about Islam's mystical traditions. At Topkapi Palace we'll see the beard of Mohammad and the arm of John the Baptist. Our seminar highlight is an anticipated audience with the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church. We'll also enjoy superb Turkish food and shop in the largest indoor shopping mall in the world, the Grand Bazaar. * Includes half board (breakfasts and dinners)
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Ancient Stars & Brand New Earth: Astronomy & Geology in Hawaii
Earth Science 104 or 106
Dr. Paul Seifert, Physics
Estimated seminar cost: $1,700
Just imagine spending seven sunny days on sandy beaches and watching nighttime skies ablaze in stars, all set in Hawaii's pristine island ecology. In Hilo and Kona we'll begin an investigation into the formation of the solar system and learn how astronomers study the heavens using telescopes and spacecraft. The lower latitude of Hilo helps us see much of the southern sky that is not visible from Moorhead, such as the Southern Cross, Alpha Centaur and much more of the Milky Way. We'll also travel up 14,000 feet to the summit of Mauna Kea to see some of the largest and best telescopes on earth. We'll learn about the inner workings of stars, the formation of stars and planets, and the large-scale structure of the universe. Students will also explore volcanoes, lava flows and other volcanic features unique to Hawaii, including the green, black and white sand beaches.
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Exploring Health, Culture and Vocation in Brazil
Nursing 351, Biology 306 or Biology 411-112
Dr. Linda Scott, Nursing
Estimated seminar cost: $2,000
This seminar offers an extraordinary glimpse into Brazilian culture and healthcare within the context of our own individual vocational interests in a health profession. We will visit with health professionals as we tour hospitals, clinics and public health agencies. Brazilians are known for their gracious hospitality and love of celebrations, which we will also experience through our encounter with local residents while staying at Camp Moriah, a retreat center operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brazil. Here we will be treated to a Churrasco (barbeque) that is a popular tradition in southern Brazil. We will also enjoy the beautiful Brazilian countryside while taking an excursion to Iguacu Falls, known as the eighth wonder of the world, and enjoy a beach outing on the Atlantic Ocean.
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The Art of Song in Times of Change
German and Music 362
Madelyn Burchill, German and David Hamilton, Music
Estimated seminar cost: $1,800
Wien, du Stadt meiner Traume, Vienna, city of my dreams. Vienna - the very name sets one's thoughts to music. The undisputed world capital of classical music will be our setting to explore and enhance our understanding of the art song genre and the cultural setting that gave it life. Mozart, Schubert, Mahler, Strauss and Schonberg head the list of Austrian composers we will study. We'll experience opera, concerts and recitals in the elegant settings of the Staatsoper and Volksoper. We'll visit Schonbrunn and Belvedere palaces to understand the opulence and beauty of a period that was the definition of elegance. No trip to Vienna would be complete without a stop at its famous coffee houses that inspired the conversations and dialogues of our composers and greatest thinkers. A day trip to Melk Abbey and a day at the Vienna International School with a Cobber who teaches music will add to an unforgettable week in one of the world's most beautiful and influential cities on the romantic Danube. This is an interdisciplinary course and either department may grant credit.
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New York City: High Fashion in America's Clothing Capital
Functional Clothing 444 and Textiles for Interiors 380
Mary Hoffmann, FNS
8-day seminar Feb. 23-March 1
Estimated seminar cost: $1,390
Step into the world of "High Fashion USA" in the vibrant city of New York. We'll meet and observe the designers at the Ralph Lauren studio, talk with fashion buyers at Saks Fifth Avenue and do some trend spotting in the small design shops of SoHo. We'll explore the many dimensions of a career in the textile field, visit interior design studios and tour the incredible museums of New York. An evening on Broadway will help us appreciate careers in costume design as we learn first-hand from a Fargo native in the business. Special highlights include a boat tour around Staten Island and the nearby Statue of Liberty, the Fashion Institute of New York, and an evening at the New York City Ballet. We'll talk with fashion buyers who stock Fargo department stores to learn how local fashions are chosen. You'll enjoy the time of your life as we explore the many exciting fashion career possibilities in America's "Greatest City."
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England and the History of Clinical Psychology
Psychology 357
Dr. Susan Cordes Green, Psychology
Estimated seminar cost: $1,975
This seminar is embedded within Psychology 357 (Abnormal Psychology) and will provide a means for students to better understand the historic treatment of mental illness and socially deviant behavior. The English cities of London and York offer a rich background for examining the roles of social influences, socioeconomic status, gender and religious beliefs in the conceptualization and treatment of mental illnesses. In London, we will visit the archives of the Hospital of St. Mary's of Bethlehem, once the notorious asylum known as "Bedlam." We will also tour the last home of Sigmund Freud, which features his famous couch, his library and other memorabilia. In York, we tour the Retreat Mental Hospital and visit with the center's chaplain. Quaker William Tuke established the retreat in 1796 to provide "moral treatment" for mental illnesses. Today, still consistent with its Quaker mission, it provides state-of-the-art services for PTSD, eating disorders, geriatric issues and more. We'll also take time for touring and exploring, Including a London theater production and an excursion to Stonehenge.
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Mozart, Czech Nationalism and Music of World War II in Prague
Music 356
Dr. Jeff Meyer, Music
Estimated seminar cost: $1,675
Have you ever wanted to experience where Mozart conducted his own compositions like "The Magic Flute," dine in a classic cellar pub, or see performances in five world-class concert halls? We'll do this and also see the most beautiful architecture in Europe as we journey through Prague's sights, culture and music. We'll learn why Prague was so beloved by Mozart and was important to his life, travels and career. We'll attend a performance of one of his operas at the Estates Theatre, the same theatre in which Mozart premiered "Don Giovanni" and visit Bertramka, the villa where Mozart stayed. We'll encounter how Czech nationalism is expressed in the visual and musical arts through museums dedicated to Smetana and Dvorak, two beloved Czech composers, and experience one of their operas in the stunning 19th century National Theater. We'll also see Terezin where many important Czech artists and cultural leaders were held before being transferred to Nazi concentration camps. Their works, especially those composed within the confines of the camp itself, are not only exquisite, but also reveal the unique and difficult situation in which they found themselves. We'll also take time to enjoy walks through Prague Castle, Old Town Square, the Charles Bridge and the Jewish Quarter.
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Paradise Re-Imagined: Hawaiian Literature and Culture
English 451X
Dr. Jonathan Steinwand, English
Estimated seminar cost: $1,700
A flight to Honolulu will capture our imagination as the quintessential winter antidote, a tropical retreat of luxury, warmth and tranquility. In this comfortable setting, we'll explore how colonization, globalization and decolonization have shaped Hawaii's cultural identity. Contemporary Hawaiian writers, historians, activists and post-colonial theorists will be our guides as we explore the near disappearance and recent resurgence of traditional Hula, chant, Hawaiian language, native Hawaiian rights, and multicultural identities and values. We'll spend time at the University of Hawaii, the Bishop Museum, the Polynesian Cultural Center, Kawaiahao Church, Mission House Museum, Chinatown and 'Iolani Palace. We will participate in a service-learning project to better understand some of the issues affecting local communities. We will attend a luau and hula demonstrations as well as have the opportunity to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial and time for swimming, surfing, and strolling on Waikiki and snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.
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French Guiana: Cross Cultural Identities
French 211
Dr. Zacharie N. Petnkeu, French
Estimated seminar cost: $2,340*
Meet France outside of Europe in French Guiana, an exotic and tropical paradise of untold plant, bird and animal species. A trip to Guiana is a "voyage" that will help you feel the exhilaration of discovering French, Francophone and European diversity in nearby South America. The rich history of this territory has brought together people from European, African, Native American and Asian descents. They are French citizens, and they have developed experiences that have become a distinctive and rich multicultural heritage for the French-speaking world. How do the Guianese cope with these multiple identities in their daily lives? You will be immersed in an exciting French-speaking environment that will help you practice and develop your linguistic skills. You will communicate with the populations in the friendliest way and gain new perspectives regarding the geography, the sociology, the nationalism, and the economy of French Guiana. *Includes half board (breakfasts and dinners)
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Robert Frost and New England: Context and Legacy
English 410
Dr. James Postema, English
8-day seminar
Estimated seminar cost: $1,050
Robert Frost, who often worked within others' legacies, continues to be one of America's most influential and enduring poets. His writing is closely linked with the Transcendentalism of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau- with crucial differences: Thoreau and Emerson were part of an upper-crust literary elite, while Frost was a mill-town boy and a hardscrabble farmer. We will examine the different contexts in which he wrote by strolling the posh streets of Boston's Beacon Hill and the Freedom Trail, and by staying at the Parker House Hotel, the literary salon of its day. We will visit Concord, touring the homes of Louisa Mae Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne, as well as Emerson and Thoreau. We'll stop in Lawrence, Frost's hometown, which was and still is a factory town of immigrants seeking work in the mills. We will visit several of Frost's homes, where he farmed rather poorly but wrote great poetry: Derry, New Hampshire ("Mending Wall"), Franconia, N.H. ("The Road Not Taken") and Bennington, Vermont ("Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"). After visiting the home of Emily Dickinson, whose work was another important influence, we will conclude the trip with a visit to the Archives at Amherst College to see original manuscripts of some of Frost's poems. At Middlebury College we'll talk with Jay Parini, Frost's biographer, and hopefully attend a "Poetry Slam" in Boston for a glimpse of the cutting-edge literary scene in New England today.
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Class, Caste, and Exclusion: The Legacy of Immigration in Paris and London
Sociology 328 or History 380
Dr. Nick Ellig, Sociology and Dr. Sonja Wentling, History
Estimated seminar cost: $1,800
In London and Paris we'll explore the significance of the British and French empires and how these western civilizations have influenced the lives of people around the world. We begin in Paris where we will visit Carnavalet Museum, the Louvre, Les Invalides, Monmartre, Notre Dame, and the Conciergerie to study French history and the worldwide significance of the French Revolution. At the 'Institut du Monde Arabe, the challenges and complexities of Muslim immigrant life in Paris will be revealed. After riding the Eurostar via the Chunnel to London, we focus on the impact of empire and decolonization, particularly on the ethnically diverse and culturally rich immigrant neighborhoods in the East End. Our studies and observations on class, caste, and exclusion will range from British royal historical sites, the Imperial War Museum and Churchill Museum to the mosques, synagogues, Bangladeshi restaurants on Brick Lane and the African neighborhoods in Brixton. Be prepared to experience Paris and London as more than just tourist attractions, but as colorful, diverse, complex, and challenging global neighborhoods.
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St. Peterburg: Cradle of Russian Poets
Russian 341
Elena Atitsobui, Russian
Estimated seminar cost: $1,950
Appealing to all students but especially those studying 19th century Russian literature, we travel to the most beautiful of all Russian cities-St. Petersburg-built by Peter the Great. Here we will find the city is the crossroads of French, Italian, Spanish, German and other European cutlures. We'll tour the Hermitage, former residence of the Russian tsars and now one of the worlds greatest museums with artifacts from the Stone Age to the 20th century and with thousands of works of art. We'll also see St. Iaac's Cathedral, one of the largest domed structures in the world, and Kazan Cathedral, inspired by the Basilica of St. Peter's in Rome. The heart of our seminar will be visits to St. Peterburg State University to meet with students from Russia and other parts of the world.
Timeline | Application
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Exploration Seminars
