Study Abroad and Field Expeditions

Course descriptions: 

These courses are held during a 4 week mini-semester at the end of the May and beginning of June. The courses have significant field experience and are by nature interdisciplinary. In some cases, (e.g. when Study Abroad) they include travel and overnight components. The J-term courses have a common curricular and assessment structure that includes: daily reflective journal writing; individual research projects; team multimedia projects (i.e. using digital cameras and videorecorders to create powerpoint and video presentations) that demonstrate in-depth understanding; leadership skills and team building activities. There are thre types of J-term courses: 1) City themed courses (e.g. Architecture in the City, Nature in the City, History in the City) that use the city as a classroom; 2) the Sustainability themed courses (e.g. Water, Energy, Food, Transportation, Soil, River, and Air) that focus on one dimension of the fundamental challenge confronting our species: how to live in a harmonious and sustainable way; and 3) the Study Abroad courses (e.g. Island Biodiversity (Puerto Rico), Natural History of Maine, Geography and History of Aztec and Mayan empires (Mexico), History and Challenges of European Union (France and Germany).

For 2009 (Y3) J-term program we are offering the following:

6th grade

1) Architecture of the City - an explorations of the buildings and structures that make-up our city. Students will study the history, architecture, engineering and human ecology of representative city structures using readings, movies, and daily site visits.

 

 

2) "WATER". Have you ever wondered where the water of NYC's 11 million inhabitants comes from? What does it take to produce and transport what some have claimed is the best tap-water in world? This course uses readings, movies, laboratory experiences and fieldtrips (including several camping trips in the NYC watershed area forests) to explore where our water comes from and what we have to do to it to get it to reliably come out of our faucets.

 3) Island Biodiversity - Ecology of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's rich biological and cultural heritage serve as outdoor classroom in which to learn fundamental biological, historical and cultural principles. We will travel by plane to the island, and camp and hike in a representative sample of the island's ecosystems, and visit the historically and culturally significant sites. This is a trip for those who do not mind roughing it out in the rainforest, getting soaked to you neck in mud in the mangrove swamps, or snorkeling in the coral reefs.

 

7th Grade

 

1) Nature in the City - New York city os one of Americans greenest cities and yet most of its inhabitants do not know it. In addition to Central Park, the city boasts large green areas such as Van Cortland Park, the Jamaica Bay estuary, preserved forests along the Hudson river to name a few. Complimenting these green areas are four zoos, three botanical gardens and and one of America's great natural history museums. A short distance from the city are the Catskills Forest Preserve and the beaches of Long Island. The course explores the incredible variety ecosystems, green areas and institutions that showcase nature's beauty and diversity in all its glorious dimensions.

2) "ENERGY" - What does it take to power a city of 11 million? Where does the city's energy come from? How is it distributed to support housing, transportation and industry? What is our city's carbon footprint? What measures can the city and its residents take to become more energy efficient? What would happen if the city lost its electrical power? This course explores how energy use is intricately related to human activities, to the quality of human life, and to our prospects for a sustainable future.

3) Natural History of Northeastern Seaboard - New York to Maine - The course explores the diversity of ecosystems, and the history and geography of the northeastern seaboard. Students will participate in an extended bus and camping trip along the coast going all the way to Nova Scotia. Along the way they will explore first hand the cultural, historical and ecological richness of the region and its people.

 8th grade

1) History in the City

2) Food

3) Natural History of the great Mayan and Aztec empires (Mexico)

9th grade

1) Art in the City

2) Transportation

3) Challenges and opportunities of the Europen Union (France-Germany)

 
10th grade (tentative)
 
1)
 
2) Soil
 
3) Great Parks of the Western United States
 
11th grade (tentative)
 
1) College Trip - exploring college opportunities in the Northeast
 
2) Poverty and Inequality in the City
 
3) Africa trip - Biodiversity and Human development
 
12th grade (tentative)
 
1) Research or Community Service internships
2) Air
3) Asia trip
 
June Term Study Abroad and Field Expeditions Program (press release June 2009)
 
CSS-MSE's signature J-term – the “June” mini-semester, is a distinctive component of the special CSS educational experience.  Every June student enroll in one of 6 interdisciplinary courses – and which use the city or the world as a classroom started now enters its second exciting week. This year’s program includes two “In the City” courses: “Nature in the City” and “Architecture in the City”; two sustainability themes courses: “Water” and “Energy” and two study abroad courses “Island Biodiversity (Puerto Rico)” and “Natural History of Northeastern Seaboard (Maine)”.
 
CSS is the only school in the city, and one of the few the nation, with such a comprehensive and ambitious J-term program. J-term has many educational advantages over the regular traditional curriculum and schedule, which typically constrain the kinds of activities possible and have narrow disciplinary focus. Lead by two core faculty, who team up with a pair of Columbia University students, the courses emphasize interdisciplinary analysis and thinking, hands-on learning, and in-depth exploration of big questions or problems. In the "Water" course, for example, students learn about forest ecology and water cycle while they camp in the Catskills' watershed region. They explore the biochemistry of water and the engineering challenges of processing, transporting and distributing water to 11 million NYC residents. In the “Energy” course students examine NYC’s energy sources and energy consumption – and explore the questions: What exactly does it take to power our modern city – and what measures that are being taken to improve energy efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint? The “in the city” courses use our great city as an open classroom. The “Architecture in the City” class, for example, explores how building and bridge design relates to both aesthetics and structural demands. The “Nature in the City” course exposes students to the incredibly diverse natural spaces that are found in or within easy travel of our urban center: the parks, state nature preserves and federally protected ecosystems that make our city green and biologically diverse. The Travel abroad courses have a science focus - for example in 6th grade they may examine the rich ecological diversity and natural history of the island of Puerto Rico (Island Biodiversity). In 7th grade we explore Maine (Natural History of the Northeastern Seaboard), and in 8th grade we travel to Chile - land of the mountains and the sea.
 
In an adventure of living and learning, during this second week, J-term students are spread throughout the Caribbean, Maine, Upstate New York, the Jamaica Bay Estuary, and in a variety of locations throughout the city. Learning by experiencing things in the real world, CSS students develop a better appreciation for the complexities and messiness of real world problems. In J-term, CSS students learn concepts and theories by combining classroom instruction and reading, with observing and experiencing in real world context. Equally important is the social, emotional and moral development that takes place in these tight-nit learning communities. Students learn to cooperate, to lead, to follow, to assume responsibility of aspects of their existence which they often take for granted (for e.g. washing their cloths, preparing their own food, securing a dry home or tent, ensuring they have adequate water supply). By living in a physical and social environment different from what they are familiar with, students are challenged to fundamentally rethink the ways they interact with their physical and social environment.
 
J-term certainly represents some of the best education CSS offers!