Examples of January Courses
Each January, Rider University faculty members lead study abroad and domestic travel courses for Rider students. While courses and destinations vary from year to year, they always promise to engage and challenge you — whether by studying the interconnections between nature and business; exploring music, arts and culture; or lending a helping hand in service learning projects.
In January 2008, Rider students participated in learning experiences all around the globe:
- THE ARTS ABROAD: A JOURNEY OF MUSIC, ART AND CULTURE IN GREECE AND LONDON
COURSE(S): MUS 312 The Arts Abroad or THE 312 The Arts Abroad
CREDITS: 3
FACULTY: Dr. Jerry Rife and Dr. Patrick Chmel
The Arts Abroad program began in the mid-1980s and has been going strong ever since. Each year, the “anchor” city is London, but always includes at least one other European city, such as Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Athens, and Vienna.. In order to achieve the goal of learning about the arts and culture of the various cities to which we travel, students will attend plays, musicals, art exhibitions and concerts as part of their experience. Drs. Rife and Chmel believe that nothing invigorates students more than international travel. You will return exhilarated, stimulated, more self-confident and ready to start planning your next trip! Dr. Jerry Rife coordinates the Rider University Band and music program, and teaches some of Rider’s most popular music classes. His very own Dixieland band has entertained thousands of fans in the surrounding area. Dr. Patrick Chmel is chairperson of the Fine Arts Department and has directed many popular plays and musicals as part of the University’s respected and growing theater program, including recent productions of “Hair” and “Urinetown.” - ITALIAN ODYSSEY: SORRENTO, ROME AND FLORENCE
COURSE: IND 210 Global Encounters: Italy
CREDITS: 3
FACULTY: Dr. Linda Materna
This course is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. Beginning with a tour of panoramic winding roads high over the cliffs along the Bay of Naples to beautiful Sorrento, this course will take you through scenic areas celebrated in songs such as “O Sole Mio” and “Santa Lucia.” The expertly guided tours include sightseeing programs in Pompeii, Rome, Siena and Florence and offer a mixture of visitations and lectures by local experts. You will tour Mt. Vesuvius, Colosseum, the Baths of Caracalla, Vatican Square, St. Peter's Basilica, the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and many other historic places. Dr. Linda Materna, professor of Spanish and chairperson of foreign languages and literatures, has led over a dozen study tours to destinations in Europe and Mexico. This is her third tour of Italy. - NATURE’S BUSINESS: ECUADOR AND THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
COURSE: CBA 316 Nature’s Business
CREDITS: 3
FACULTY: Dr. Susan Denbo, Dr. Julie Drawbridge, Dr. Jonathan Husch and Dr. Cynthia Newman
This interdisciplinary business-science course examines the relationship between economic, legal, biological and environmental concerns, and analyzes how Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands attempt to preserve the region’s biological diversity without sacrificing economic development. You will learn about ecotourism, biodiversity, geology, cultural norms, and the country’s legal and political systems. Its interdisciplinary nature makes this course ideal if you are a business major who plans to work at science-based companies, or a science major who wants to understand business principles. Dr. Susan Denbo, professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics; Dr. Julie Drawbridge, professor and chairperson of biology; Dr. Jonathan Husch, professor and chairperson of geological, environmental and marine sciences; and Dr. Cynthia Newman, associate professor of marketing, lead this interdisciplinary and innovative study abroad course. - COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT TO JAMAICA
COURSE: IND 210 Global Encounters: Jamaica
CREDITS: 3
FACULTY: Rev. Dr. Nancy Schluter and Mr. Donald Brown
This course is sponsored by the Multicultural Studies Program. You will spend 16 days helping others and learning about yourself, different cultures, and community living, through this community service project to Jamaica in the West Indies. During the day, you will help serve as a teacher’s aide and volunteer at the local elementary or secondary school supported by the United Church of Jamaica and Grand Cayman. After school, you will help design and participate in enrichment activities for children without parents. You will also be encouraged to become actively involved with the people and social life of rural Jamaica. Rev. Dr. Nancy Schluter is the chaplain at Rider University and Don Brown serves as director of the University’s Center for Multicultural Affairs and Community Service. - THE LITERACY AND MUSICAL CULTURE OF NEW ORLEANS
COURSE: AMS 214 Special Topics in American Studies
CREDITS: 3
FACULTY: Dr. Jack Sullivan
Dr. Sullivan’s jazz trip to New Orleans inspires comments from students such as: “The class where I fell in love with jazz.” … “The place where I discovered an alternate career.” … “The best experience I've had at Rider.” Through this hands-on class, you will visit artists in their homes, attend backstage rehearsals and jam sessions, sing and play on celebrated stages, and enter into the multi-ethnic street life of musical communities. Dr. Jack Sullivan, professor of English and director of Rider’s American studies program, has made this trip a Rider tradition since 1990. Every year, he leads students from Rider’s Princeton and Lawrenceville campuses on an inspiring trip for this three-credit American studies course. - GLOBAL BUSINESS STUDY TOUR: IRELAND
COURSE: CBA 315 Global Business Study Tour
CREDITS: 3
FACULTY: Dr. Margaret O’Reilly-Allen and Dr. Ira Sprotzer
Through this global business study tour of Ireland, you will gain an appreciation of how culture, history, and politics influence organizational dynamics, business functions and business customs. Dr. Margaret O’Reilly Allen, chairperson of accounting, and Dr. Ira Sprotzer, chairperson of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, have led several global business study tours to various countries in Europe. - WINTER BREAK IN SANTO DOMINGO
STAFF: Fr. Bruno Ugliamo and Bruce Evans, Jr., Class of 2001
Winter Break in Santo Domingo will take you on a service learning trip to the Dominican Republic. Working in an orphanage, you will join other Rider students in performing manual labor tasks. You also will interact with the children who live there, teaching them English as a second language and computer literacy, and playing sports. You will be housed at the Hotel Napolitano in Santo Domingo and travel daily to the orphanage. Besides working at the orphanage, you will be introduced to the culture and the society of the Dominican Republic. Most students are so moved by their experience they volunteer to return the following January for a longer stay. Fr. Bruno Ugliano, Rider’s chaplain, pursued a Jewish studies doctoral program at New York University. He is a monk at St. Mary's Abbey in Morristown and has been a Roman Catholic priest for 40 years. He has also taught in the graduate school of education at Seton Hall University and served as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Wilmington, DE. (N.B. This course is offered not-for-credit.)
DON’T LET LANGUAGE BE A BARRIER! As a service to our students, faculty and staff who are planning to travel abroad, Rider University offers free access to Rosetta Stone®, an award-winning software program for learning more than 30 different languages.
