HON 195: Living Now: writing Iceland & finding hope in a changing climate (3 credits)
SUMMER TRAVEL COURSE
Travel dates are May 27-June 5, 2023
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
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
Students accepted to this travel program will receive generous scholarships towards the program fee and tuition fees*. Each student will receive a $3,500 MEIF scholarship and a $500 Haglund scholarship. After these scholarships are applied to your student account for this course, the remaining amount you will need to cover is ~$620, plus the cost of books, supplies, some meals, and other personal expenses while traveling.
The program fee includes: accommodation, airfare, ground transportation, most meals, academic site visits and entrance fees.
*All students will be billed for tuition at the in-state rate, regardless of residency.
Application
The application deadline is April 3, 2023.
A complete application includes all of the following:
- 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.
- A letter of recommendation from a faculty member or academic advisor
- Here is the link you can share with faculty/staff to complete a recommendation on your behalf: Online Recommendation for Travel Program
- 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 emily.zider@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 Emily Zider in the Office of International Programs.