J Term Offers Something for Everyone
When most people think of Hartwick College's J Term, they think of students traveling the world for educational and cultural experiences. And while J Term certainly involves passports and plane tickets, it also offers unique and exhilarating educational opportunities right here on Oyaron Hill.
Here are a few examples of the innovative J Term classes offered this winter.
Monsters and Musicals
Professor of Religious Studies and Department Chair Lisle Dalton taught the course that explored the meanings of monsters and musicals by viewing and analyzing a few outstanding examples from each genre. The class saw monsters and musicals up close when they took a field trip to New York City from Jan. 16-18 to see the musical, “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Asian Americans
Associate Professor of Political Science Jing Chen had students explore historical and contemporary cases of Asian American political, social, and cultural practices. Students took a field trip to Chinatown in New York City to visit cultural sites.
U.S. Policy and Community
This course, taught by Associate Professor of Political Science James Buthman, focused on the relationships between public policy and community building. Students traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day march and visited museums, federal institutions and memorials.
Museums and Power
Taught by Associate Professor of History Chad Anderson, the class examined the history of the nation’s most treasured collection of museums, the Smithsonian Institution. To ensure the lessons hit home, Anderson took the class on a multi-day visit to Washington, D.C., to solidify their understanding of the importance of the museums.
Winter Wanderlust
Students in this course put what they learned to the test. Over 20 students “rescued” two willing test subjects in an outdoor, real-life setting on the Hartwick College campus. Course Instructors Heidi Tanner, director of wellness and health promotion, and Matt Sanford, assistant dean of academic affairs/registrar students, covered topics such as how to become better-prepared hikers, which included helping students earn a Wilderness First Aid/CPR certification and an ensuring that they understood the Leave No Trace principles.
