Person holding a postcard with pictures of snowy Iceland landscapes

HON 195: Living Now: writing Iceland & finding hope in a changing climate (3 credits)

SUMMER TRAVEL COURSE

Travel dates are May 22 – May 31, 2024

Discover the natural beauty of Iceland in the context of our changing climate. In this 10-day travel abroad course, students will journey to glaciers, volcanos, waterfalls, and geothermal pools, while exploring what it means to personally, socially, politically, and metaphorically record the natural world during this era of climate change. We will explore questions of place, home, sustainability, beauty, and hope through journaling, creative writing, and photo essay. Students do not have to consider themselves writers to participate in this program! Any person living in this time of change deserves a voice and a medium to share their experience. Students will read inspiring nature writing, keep a journal, and finish the course with a final creative project that encapsulates their experience.

Requirements: Honors Minor

Faculty

Amy Amoroso, MFA, Honors Lecturer in Writing, amy.amoroso@maine.edu

Bernadette Esposito, MFA, Honors Writing Instructor, bernadette.esposito@maine.edu

Eligibility

All students who have declared the USM Honors minor are invited to apply. Additionally, students should have a valid passport (with an expiration date no earlier than 6 months after expected return to US) or be in the process of applying for a passport.

Tuition and Fees

To be determined

Application

The application deadline is March 18, 2024

A complete application includes all of the following:

  1. Submit the program application form
    • We recommend looking over the application before completing it so you have all parts ready, as unfortunately you cannot save as you go.
  2. A letter of recommendation from a faculty member or academic advisor
  3. Copy of academic transcript
    • Information regarding requesting a transcript can be found here (It’s probably easiest to either follow the steps for “Electronic Delivery” or “Unofficial Transcript via Classic MaineStreet” and either way, send to Kimberly Sinclair (ksinc@maine.edu)

Once the application committee has reviewed applications, you will be notified of acceptance via email. At that time, all students accepted to the program will be asked to submit a nonrefundable deposit and will be enrolled in the course in MaineStreet by a USM staff member.