Greece: Climate Change in Mediterranean Ecosystems
Credits: 4 (BIO 3XXX) Spring semester course with May travel in Greece for two weeks
Instructors: Alisa Hove (professor of biology) & Brian Conlan (Director of the Library)
Travel Dates: May 12-24, 2024

In recent years, global climate change has emerged as a complex and contentious issue facing humankind. This course introduces students to the discipline of Global Change Biology, which focuses on the biosphere's responses to large scale perturbations to the Earth system. The course will introduce the scientific basis for our understanding of the Earth's climate system, discuss how knowledge of past climate change informs our understanding of current impacts, and consider the predicted effects of climate change in Mediterranean type ecosystems (MTE's). MTE's cover 2% of Earth's land (only occurring in California, Chile, the Mediterranean basin, South Africa, & Australia), but harbor extremely high biodiversity. In part due to their characteristic climate, MTE's are experiencing some of the most intense effects of climate change. We will use case studies in conservation biology, fire ecology, & sustainable agriculture to consider the impacts of climate change in MTE's.
Application Fee: $75.00
Course Fee: $2,500* + airfare (est. $1,300-$1,500)
*(Limited amounts of need-based financial aid available)
GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum
Application Deadline: October 6th, 2023
Ireland: A Personal Book of Hours
Credits: 4 (PSY/ART 3750) Spring semester course with May travel in Ireland for two weeks
Instructors: Cristina Reitz-Krueger (professor of psychology) & Jessica White (professor of art)
Travel Dates: May 12-26, 2024

This Art & Psychology course is an introduction to the medieval Book of Hours and how it can be adapted to contemporary life. Especially popular in the Middle Ages, Books of Hours were devotional manuscripts that contained daily prayers and meditations that covered topics in everyday life from weather, to travel, to death and grief. Students will make personal books of hours using traditional European medieval materials and
techniques, then fill the books with texts utilizing a variety of calligraphy scripts and illuminated drawing techniques. Alongside our bookmaking, we'll explore the psychology behind mindful journaling, art as a form of meditation, and personal narrative. This course is a study abroad course
which includes a trip to Ireland where we will learn from primary sources held in the Special Collections at the Royal Irish Academy and the Book of Kells at Trinity Library.
Application Fee: $75.00
Course Fee: $1,900* + airfare (est. $1,100-$1,300)
*(Limited amounts of need-based financial aid available)
GPA Requirement: 2.5 minimum
Application Deadline: October 6th, 2023