Support for Canadian Courses

Dr. Neal Carter, associate professor of political science at St. Bonaventure University, has received a $9,500 grant from the Canadian government to support the development of Canadian content courses, including a six-credit course for summer 2010.

The course features a two-week trip to four major cities in Canada. About $5,000 of the grant will help defray travel expenses for the students who take the course, now being developed by Carter and Dr. Jeff Slagle, assistant professor of English.

The course — a seminar version of the World Views course (CLAR 108) taught every fall by Carter — will be merged with a section of Arts and Literature (CLAR 109) to account for the six credits. Both courses are Clare College (core program) requirements for all St. Bonaventure students, but are offered each semester in a number of sections and taught by several different faculty members.

Carter’s section of World Views focuses on identity and intergroup contact in general, but uses the United States-Canada border and international relations as a point of emphasis. The new summer course will focus on comparisons of the United States and Canada, as well as their international relations.

How the Arts and Literature course will be integrated into the curriculum has yet to be determined, Carter said.

Course time spent in Canada will include sessions with both countries’ diplomatic corps, politicians, practitioners, members of the tourism industry, and professors in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, as well as visits to relevant museums and landmarks.

The remaining $4,500 of the grant will be used to research the development of the class and the procurement of course materials, the cultivation of contacts for student trips, and the creation of a plan of study for the course. Some of Carter’s research will be devoted to enhancing two existing classes: Canadian Politics (POLS 370) and his traditional section of World Views (CLAR 108).

Carter’s grant follows a $5,000 Program Enhancement Grant received last fall to promote the development of Canadian Studies at the university. These funds are being used to support guest speakers as well as the development of a Canadian Studies concentration within the new International Studies major.

These courses will also support the new International Relations concentrations in political science and history.

The summer course offering will focus more on Canadian culture than his traditional fall class, Carter said.

“Many of my students live close enough to the border to have a personal interest in gaining understanding about the relationship between the U.S. and Canada,” Carter said. “As conditions develop in the world, a firm understanding of the similarities and differences of the two countries will become increasingly important.”

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Woman Charged with Posting
Nude Picture on Facebook

Arrests in Operation Diamond Drop

Two Arrested on Drug Charges