During this year’s May Intersession, students have the opportunity to chose between five Study USA courses and explore a variety of professions in cities across the country.
Study USA offers domestic travel classes to students, typically during intersession terms.
Classes are geographically and academically diverse and create tangible connections between the classroom and the application of knowledge, according to Study USA coordinator Kevin Gates.
Gates said the courses are proposed and implemented by Study USA faculty members, and they determine course content and academic outcomes.
“The faculty come to us with a course proposal and preferred site, then our office works with them to plan the logistics and budget for the course,” Gates said. “It can take anywhere from six to 12 months, from course idea to course offering, in some cases longer.”
This year, students have the opportunity to learn about political media in Washington, D.C., attend the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, visit the College and Professional Sports Dietitian Association Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, or study magazine making or bridges in New York City.
Associate professor of political science and African-American studies Marvin P. King will teach the POL 398 course traveling to D.C., titled Political Media.
King said the class is designed as a follow-up to the 2016 Presidential Election.
“We will review the landscape in which citizens and voters receive political information, how this has evolved over time, how 2016 differed from past elections and what to expect in the future,” King said.
King has taught several Study USA classes in the past and said he always tries to explore a topic that is current and relevant. He has taught classes on labor union politics, the politics of gay rights and the politics of money.
The class will examine the potential political consequences of “hacktivist” organizations, political campaign advertising and how political discourse is affected by the ideas of “fake news” and “alternative facts.”
King said students receive a lot of value from taking part in experiential learning programs like Study USA. He has already set goals for what his students will learn this May.
“The political world is far more complicated than most give credit for,” King said. “Similarly, the role of the media in covering politics is fraught with tensions. I hope students appreciate that our political and media universe is never as simply black or white as many would like it to be.”
The application deadline for Study USA May Intersession classes is April 6.
Kristina Phillips, Study USA coordinator, said classes change each term and new courses are always being offered.
“Students should check our website periodically, especially if interested in a short-term travel course but current offerings don’t fall within their interests or academic requirements,” Phillips said. “Most of our courses will work as upper-level electives if they don’t apply to a student’s academic major.”
Student participants pay a course fee and other additional fees based on the particular course selected. For more information and to register for Study USA, students can visit the official website.
