Course Listings for the CBB Study Abroad Programs

Courses for the CBB London Center, Fall Semester 2002

Economics Program (Director Patrice Franko, Colby)

International Economic Problems (Ms. Franko)
The course will analyze hot topics in international economics, addressing pressing issues on the economic agenda such as the role of multinational corporations, financial crises, agricultural policy, telecommunications policy, competition policy, and labor and globalization. In considering the effects of global markets it will also address economic externalities such as the environment, growing income inequality, and poverty. Class discussions will attempt to discern an "American" versus a "European" standpoint. It will also test Fred Bergsten's (Institute for International Economics in Washington) proposition that the United States and Europe are on the brink of a major trade and economic conflict and will identify the policy responses from each side of the Atlantic that might promote stable, sustainable, global growth.

International Finance (Ms. Franko)
Students will gain the economic tools to analyze financial flows between nations, determine exchange rates, and understand the implications of key international prices for domestic performance. Students will examine problems of the international system and evaluate various policy options, particularly in how they relate to the U.S. and its relationship with the European Economic Union. In addition to lectures, the course will incorporate case studies.

Government Program (Director Sandy Maisel, Colby)

Comparative Political Parties (Mr. Maisel)
A comparative analysis of political parties and elections in the United States with those in other democracies, including Great Britain, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, and Australia. The course will be organized around concepts in the study of parties and elections--classifying party systems, party organizations, party identification and the meaning of partisanship, electoral systems, and so-called "second order" elections (e.g., to the European parliament)--and then would apply these concepts to particular systems as case studies.

Political Ethics (Mr. Maisel)
A discussion of critical ethical issues faced by governmental leaders throughout the world. After an initial examination of philosophical writings on the relationship between ethics and politics, we will examine a series of cases, including those involved with violence (e.g., the debate over nuclear disarmament), deception in government (e.g., the Iran-Contra case), policies regarding life and death (e.g., abortion and euthanasia), interventionist policies (e.g., the Balkans, Somalia), the relationship between politicians and the media and ethical imperatives facing legislators (in comparative perspective), and others.

Architecture and Urbanism in Modern Britain Program (Director Jill Pearlman, Bowdoin)

London: The Modern City in History (Ms. Pearlman)
The course will explore the evolution of the city of London and environs from 1660 to the present day. We will consider a variety of factors as determinants of urban form: changing cultural values, technological advancements, natural resources, social structure, geography, politics, economics, planning and design. Students will learn to read the city itself as a record of past and present negotiations between people and these forces, while also studying the rich literature of London's urban history (e.g. Dyos, Sutcliffe, Ackroyd, Porter). The class will make numerous excursions to city sites as well as to museums and institutions relevant to our study (e.g., the Museum of the City of London, the London Transport Museum).

Modern Architecture in England, 1666-2002 (Ms. Pearlman)
This course will examine the major British buildings, architects, and architectural theories from the 17th century to the present. We will also pay particular attention to the changing conditions of architectural practice and to the rise of new building types during these centuries--from railroad stations to grand hotels. Major issues of study include the picturesque tradition, British Classicism, Gothic Revival, Arts and Crafts Movement, modernism and the re-emergence of tradition in post-modern British architecture. Our setting in London will afford us opportunity to visit many buildings and monuments firsthand, as will side trips to Bath and Oxford. We also attend lectures sponsored by London's lively architectural community, (e.g., at the Architectural Association near the CBB London Center).

Courses for the CBB London Center, Spring Semester 2003

British Film and Literature Program (Director Tricia Welsch, Bowdoin)

History of British Film (Ms. Welsch)
Surveys the first hundred years of British cinema from its beginnings in the silent period to contemporary films. Topics covered include invention of cinema and patterns of movie-going in the U.K., work of important directors and producers (Alfred Hitchcock, Carol Reed, Alexander Korda), changes brought by World War II, the Angry Young Men of the '50s and '60s, and recent developments ("heritage" films, post-colonial perspectives, Scottish film).

British Literature and Film (Ms. Welsch)
Considers the adaptation of short stories, novels, and plays into films as well as work by major writers directly for the screen. Examines the differing needs and priorities of writers working in different formats and the relation of readers to screen adaptations. Focuses on British writers, possibly to include Shelley, Brontë, Fowles, Pinter, McEwen, Hardy, Woolf, Forster, Shakespeare, Austen, Dickens, and O'Brien.

Biomedical Ethics and Public Policy in the U.S. and Britain Program (Director David Cummiskey, Bates College)

Biomedical Ethics (Mr. Cummiskey)
During the past 40 years, rapid changes in the biological sciences and medical technology have thoroughly transformed the practice of medicine. The added complexity and power of medicine has in turn revolutionized the responsibilities and duties that accompany the medical professions. This course explores the values and norms governing the very different health care systems and practices in the United States, Britain, and the Netherlands. Particular emphasis is placed on (i) the rights and responsibilities of health care providers and patients (issues of confidentiality, medical paternalism, and non-disclosure, informed consent, and surrogate decision making) and (ii) the justification for passive and active euthanasia and the practice of physician-assisted suicide. We examine the relationship between national health care systems and the patient-physician relationship. A service-learning component introduces students directly to the British health care system.

Justice, Utility, and Health Care Policies (Mr. Cummiskey)
The United States and Great Britain have quite different approaches to the access, allocation, and rationing of health care services. In the United States, access to health care is determined by individual access to private or public insurance. The "pay for services" model, combined with third party insurance, has resulted in skyrocketing health care costs (currently 14 percent of GDP compared to 7 percent GDP in Great Britain) and 41 million uninsured in the United States. Yet the United States also has one of the most advanced hi-tech health care systems in the world. Recently, the United States is shifting to a managed care model of health insurance, which may limit health care spending but also threatens the quality of care and funding of medical education and research hospitals. The British model of a "single payer" and universal coverage succeeds in providing basic health care to all, at about half the costs, but also results in significant delays in access to service and rationing of access to many common procedures in the United States. This course focuses on differing conceptions of justice (socialism, liberal equality theory, and libertarianism) and issues of access to and rationing of health care services in the British and United States health care systems. We also evaluate the rationing of organs for transplant, age-based rationing, limits to access to new technologies and medicines, and the funding and constraints on medical research in the two health care systems.

Performing Arts Program (Director Anna Sullivan)

Acting I: Physical Theater and Performance (Ms. England)
This course will explore contemporary modes of physical theater and performance in British and European Theater. Through working together in an ensemble, students will learn a basic physical theater vocabulary. The emphasis of the course is to develop new skills, explore the group imagination and apply the techniques to a wide range of large scale play texts, including Greek Tragedy, Shakespeare, Restoration Comedy, and modern European playwrights. Theater games will engage the students physically and mentally, encouraging the development of physical and vocal confidence, and by learning new performance skills the students will create a unique ensemble.

Acting II: Professional Skills Acting Workshop (Ms. Sullivan)
A course for actors and directors developing the professional skills used in theater, film, and television. Sight reading, monologue work, scene study, interview technique, and creating a résumé are explored in the first half of the semester, using a wide range of texts and styles from Shakespeare to Harold Pinter. During the second half of the term, the class chooses a project for performance. Past work has included one-act plays, devised workshop performances, and Jacobean play texts. A final performance is given for the CBB faculty and students in exam week.

Voice and Movement (Ms. Rabinowitz and Mr. Gordon)
Students are taught by professional voice and movement coaches. This course meets four times a week.

Fall 2002 and Spring 2003 General Studies Option

If students' academic interests do not coincide with the programs being offered, they can select their own set of courses from the listed courses, provided that at least two of them are taught by CBB faculty.

In spring 2003 a music elective course will be taught. In fall 2002 and spring 2003, other elective courses at the CBB London Center will include an English literature course, an art history course, and the following:

Performing Arts: Text and Performance (Ms. Sullivan and Mr. Gordon)
London is the capital of world theater, and this course focuses on the wide range of plays and production styles in both the West End and fringe venues. It will explore an exciting diversity in performance styles, keeping abreast of the latest trends and innovations in performance, design, writing, and music. Students will see approximately 12 plays (including one musical), ranging from Shakespeare and Greek Tragedy to the latest modern British playwrights. Seminars will concentrate on an analysis of the productions and supporting play text work. There will be background classes on theater history, the organization, economics, and social political aspects of modern British theater, criticism, and review writing and any other topics specifically relevant to the choice of plays. There will also be field trips, including a backstage tour of the National Theatre and a visit to Shakespeare's reconstructed Globe Theatre Museum.

History: Roman Britain, Continuity and Change (Mr. Casey)
This course examines the impact of the Roman Conquest on Britain in the first-fifth centuries a.d. in the light of modern studies of cultural and technological interaction. Emphasis is placed upon the archaeological evidence for cultural change, adaptation, and resistance through detailed studies of key monuments and excavations. Material cultural evidence such as coins, pottery, glass, and other artifacts will be examined. Contemporary historical narratives will be examined and contrasted with less formal written evidence such as inscriptions and graffiti. A program of site and museum visits will be an essential element of the course. Past fieldtrips have included Hadrian's Wall, Fishbourne Villa, the Roman Baths at Bath, and the British and London museums. No knowledge of Latin is needed; sources will be studied in translation.

Economics: The Economic Integration of the European Union (Mr. Staab)
The course will provide a comprehensive examination of the processes of European economic integration and offers a critical analysis of EU policies in their broader political-economic context. The course also focuses on the external dimension of Europe in the global economy and is therefore divided into four parts. A historical overview of the main economic events and currents is followed by a brief introduction to the key institutions and processes. The course then shifts its attention to the analysis of the main economic policies that continue to shape the integration processes of the EU, including the Single Market, Economic and Monetary Union or the Common Agricultural Policy. The course closes with a look at the EU and its impact on global economics, ranging from the WTO to EU enlargement and the Third World.

Government: Contemporary British Politics (Mr. Lodge)
This comparative politics course will examine the British system of government and the most important issues and developments in British politics since 1945. Topics will include parliamentary government, the evolving party system, electoral behavior, the rise and fall of the welfare state, Thatcher's economic revolution, race relations, the breakup of the empire, NATO, the European Union, Welsh and Scottish devolution, and Northern Ireland.

Courses for CBB Cape Town Center, Fall 2002

Anthropology Program (Director Catherine Besteman, Colby)

Culture and Politics in Cape Town (Ms. Besteman)
Politics is expressed culturally, aesthetically, and silently everywhere in the world. We will explore how people in Cape Town are expressing political views and political activism in aesthetic and performative ways. Through reading novels, plays, short stories, and poetry, visiting museums, attending cultural performances, and holding workshops with cultural producers we'll work toward an anthropological understanding of the poetics of political/cultural expression.

Transforming South Africa (Ms. Besteman)
South Africa is in the midst of transforming itself from an authoritarian, racist, non-democratic, isolated state to a democratic state based on principles of human rights, tolerance, equity, and social justice. The challenges of managing this transformation are enormous. The course investigates numerous dimensions of transformation in contemporary South Africa, giving particular attention to the following areas: human rights, education, globalization, tourism, racism, crime, and reconciliation.

Courses for CBB Cape Town Center, Spring 2003

Anthropology Program (Director Elizabeth Eames, Bates)

When Cultures Clash: Understanding Power in the Contemporary African Context (Ms. Eames)
African societies are often characterized as emphasizing the importance of duties to the group--communal ownership and collective responsibility--rather than individual rights or personal conscience. This cannot be said of the European societies that colonized South Africa. The course will focus on the tensions between communalism and individualism and will explore indigenous and imported notions of power and corruption, prosperity and disease as they are lived and understood within contemporary Africa. We will look at how kin-ordered social systems respond to the incursions of global capitalism and the advent of the nation-state. How have such new organizational forms as political parties, religious congregations, ethnic groups, and occupational associations been constructed under changing historical conditions? Special attention will be paid to the South African apartheid situation and, through fieldwork in Cape Town, the contemporary post-apartheid era.

"Seeing" Africa: The Politics of South African Image Production (Ms. Eames)
Most North Americans have "seen" Africa only through non-African eyes, coming to an understanding of Africa through such characters as Tarzan and such genres as the "jungle melodrama" or the "nature show." Officially sanctioned colonial- and apartheid-era South African media productions betray many of the same imperialist fantasies. The new political structure in South Africa might lead to institutional transformations in the image production process. This second course in the instructor's program curriculum is conceived as a collaborative fieldwork project concerning the production and consumption of public images in contemporary Cape Town. Through close attention to media exposure during our sojourn, we will explore the following questions: Has post-apartheid-era media production challenged racist stereotypes? How might contemporary South Africans use photography, film, video, television, theater, art, music, or advertising to present a new national identity through the reinvention of a shared past? Of what significance is the globalization process in this context?

Courses for CBB Quito Center, Fall 2002

Prerequisites: students must have one year of college-level Spanish language skills in order to take the biology program and a year and a half to take the history program. The biology program also requires that students have one year of college-level biology.

Biology Program (Director Russell Johnson, Colby)

Biology of Tropical Plants (Mr. Johnson)
This course will cover the basic principles of plant physiology, development, and ecology with a special emphasis on tropical systems. The course will include lectures, discussion, and student presentations on such topics as photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, mineral nutrition, plant growth and development, and reproduction. We will also consider the relationships of tropical plants with other organisms such as symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms and animal pollinators and herbivores. These topics will be discussed in the context of both native tropical plants and of cultivated plants important for tropical agriculture. Methods such as hypothesis formulation and testing, experimental design, statistical analysis, graphics, and seminars also will be an important part of the course. The course will be concentrated at the beginning of the semester to prepare you for independent research (see following course). Even when the course will be based in Quito, there will be opportunities to illustrate classroom concepts through local fieldtrips. At the end of the semester, concepts and methods presented in this class will be reevaluated following the experience of your independent research projects.

Tropical Plant Biology: Independent Research Project (Mr. Johnson, Colby)
You will work independently or in small groups to explore specific questions in tropical plant biology, in consultation with the instructor and local scientists. Although some work will be done in Quito, much of the independent study project will be carried out in the field at biological study sites. The guiding philosophy behind the independent study will be to begin the semester with one or two short-term research projects focused on discrete questions. You will then choose and carry out a final long-term research project. You will be expected to write up your independent research projects in the format of papers for a scientific journal and be prepared to present the results of your research to your peers.

Flora and Ethnobotany of Ecuador (program staff)
The course will introduce you to the diversity of plant species and communities of Ecuador and the importance of these plants to Ecuadorian culture. You will learn to identify species and families of plants that are important to the Ecuadorian flora. Traditional as well as current uses of native plant species as foods, medicines, and building materials or for other cultural or economic purposes will be examined. Biogeography of the Ecuadorian flora as well as the environmental threats that exist for native plant communities will also be emphasized. Techniques of plant collection and preparation of herbarium specimens will be integrated into the field portions of this course.

History Program (Director Lilian Guerra, Bates)

Culture, Identity, and Society: A History of Ecuador, 1530-Present (Ms. Guerra)
We will spend nearly three weeks on the colonial period and the rest of the semester studying the social and political history of the 19th and 20th centuries. As part of the colonial unit for the course, we will take several walking tours of the city's oldest neighborhoods, observing and discussing how the architecture of mansions, government buildings, libraries, and churches of the colonial elite reflect colonial values and ideologies of conquest. As we move closer to the contemporary era, one assignment will require you to pair up with another student and take your own walking tours through the most modern parts of Quito. Your objective will be the same: to understand how ideological messages about the power, prestige, and authority of Ecuador's political and economic elites are mirrored in different but related ways in the buildings, stores, and residences they inhabit. Seeing how history embeds itself into the everyday lives of Ecuadorians will be a major goal of this course.

Independent Study Based on Volunteer Community Work (Ms. Guerra)
All students participating in the CBB Quito program are required to participate in volunteer community work programs. Taking advantage of this opportunity to work with local people and organizations, students will design their own research projects, guided and overseen by local staff and the instructor.

Modern Indigenous Movements in Ecuador (program staff)
This course will examine the politics of indigenous movements in Ecuador. The instructor will use his position within the indigenous movement to introduce students to the social and political struggles that indigenous peoples in Ecuador face today.

Spanish Language (program staff)
All students are required to take one Spanish language course while on the program unless they can demonstrate fluency in the language, in which case a Spanish literature course is substituted. Spanish language skills are tested upon arrival in Quito.