Yes, This is College

So I know I have only talked about the ship, the places I am going to, and what i am packing, but I have not talked about the classes I am taking.  This semester I am only taking 4 courses, which will be weird since I usually take 5-6 courses a semester.

My Courses:

-Global Studies- The Local Geographies of Globalization  A-Day 0920-1035

       The Global Studies (GS) course for SAS Spring 2011 will require all students on the voyage to take a critical look at globalization and its impacts on cities and regions around the world. Globalization is usually defined as an array of forces that are effectively shrinking our world, and in this course we shall be investigating the local consequences of these forces.  The introductory section of the course begins with a look at transnational movements (flows) of trade, finance, information, people and culture. We shall be investigating the way such flows operate in and through a network of linked cities around the world, the top tier of which function as the 'command and control' centers at the so-called core of the global economy (the global 'North').  As we head for Brazil and then across to Africa and beyond, the emphasis of the course shifts to the 'periphery,' where we begin our exploration of the global 'South.' We shall be visiting some of the lower tier cities of the world's urban hierarchy -- in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The sources for Global Studies will include lectures and readings, supplemented with in-class discussions and debates, supplemented throughout with clips from documentaries and feature films. To this mix Global Studies this semester adds another dimension, involving fieldwork in the cities we visit along the way. This is the unique advantage of the Semester at Sea project, which allows us to step out of the classroom into the 'real' world, to flesh-out the 'local geographies of globalization' we have been learning about on board. One part of the fieldwork will come through SAS-sponsored FDP's and fieldtrips. Another component -- required for Global Studies this semester -- involves student fieldwork focusing on a specific research theme and conducted in groups (see later for a list of topics and a detailed description of the group projects).  

-The United Nations and Human Rights Law  A-Day 1455-1610

       This research seminar will focus on the work of the UN Human Rights Council - the UN's primary political organ for addressing international human rights issues. Seminar participants will engage in substantial research of human rights issues pending before this body.  After tracing the philosophical bases of international human rights law in the context of the positivist legal tradition of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the seminar will examine the shifting structure of the international legal system, as manifested in the creation of the United Nations human rights apparatus.  It will then explore the work of the former UN Commission on Human Rights and will consider the structural limitations of political organs in dealing with human rights matters.  The seminar will then analyze the creation of the Human Rights Council against the backdrop of these structural limitations.  The seminar will culminate in a critical examination of the work of the Council to date, including its work on issues of: hate speech, human trafficking, secret detention, and discrimination on the basis of sex and sexual orientation.  

-The West and the World  B-Day 1045-1200

       This course will explore the nexus of historical and cultural ties between the West, as represented by Europe, America, and western civilization broadly, and the wider world.  Areas of focus will include Latin America (Portugal and Spain); sub-Saharan Africa (Great Britain and Holland); India (Great Britain); and East Asia (Great Britain, France, and the United States).  Major topics will include differences between Portuguese and Spanish conquest in the Caribbean, South America, and elsewhere; Anglo-Dutch rivalry in South America and the emergence of apartheid; Islamic fundamentalism and resistance to the west; Gandhian non-violent resistance in India; and anti-colonial struggles in Ghana, South Africa, Vietnam, and China.  Although America's rapidly developing hegemonic role in global affairs and its limitations will be considered, especially since World War II, the emphasis of this course will be on the unique national and regional responses to western influence.

-Abnormal Psychology  B-Day 1615-1730

       How do you know what is "abnormal" behavior? What if you always fainted at the mere thought of spiders, but no one noticed, and you still got good grades and had friends - is this "abnormal"? We will examine how different factors interact to contribute to deviant behavior and mental illness throughout the lifespan. The causes, diagnostic criteria, and treatment of various illnesses such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, substance disorders, and sexual or gender identity disorders are presented using information from the text, case studies, research articles, and video examples. We will explore historical and current views about how individuals suffering from these ailments should be treated by their communities and the legal system. Students can expect this course to focus on mental health issues in the regions we will be visiting and should be prepared to discuss sensitive issues professionally. A major goal of this course is to come away with respect and understanding for people suffering from mental illness.

Classes are not held while we are in port, so we have class everyday while at sea (Yes, we have class on the weekends!).  This is the reason why we have A-Day and B-Day.  The classes alternate every other day.  One bad thing about not having classes in port is having to squish an entire semesters worth of work in less than 55 days.