Fall Semester Seminars

Experiential Learning Seminars with an immersion from Sunday, October 19, 2008 to Saturday, October 25, 2008 (the online application will be availible later this summer).

Social Concerns Seminars are one-credit experiential and service-learning opportunities built around national and international immersion experiences. Students examine social issues from multiple perspectives, read relevant texts, study the Catholic social tradition and take an active role in building a learning community.

Appalachia Seminar

The goal of the Appalachia Seminar is to introduce students to the culture and social issues of the Appalachia region through community-based learning. The course provides the opportunity for active participation in the community and direct relationship with Appalachian people. Exploration begins in the orientation classes where students become acquainted with the history, culture, and challenges facing the region.

Cultural Diversity Seminar
The Cultural Diversity Seminar explores the rich cultural heritage of Chicago's ethnic neighborhoods and immigrant traditions while examining the corresponding problems of urban life and racism. The Seminar’s focus is a week-long immersion (during break) in Chicago that involves dialogue with various community groups, participation in ethnic activities, and academic reflection.

Energy Policy, the Environment & Social Change Seminar

The course will introduce students to the scientific, environmental, economic, geopolitical, and social implications of current energy technologies. During the immersion week in Washington, DC, students will identify the limitations of current energy policies and environmental regulation through visits to industry lobbying groups, policy makers, environmental and religious organizations, and federal regulatory bodies.

Gospel of Life Seminar
This seminar will examine life-related issues such as the death penalty, euthanasia, abortion, human cloning, and stem cell research through experiential learning. Immersed in Washington, DC, participants will meet with representatives from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, elected officials, advocacy groups, legal professionals, and bioethicists whose work involves life-related concerns.

Lives in the Balance - Youth, Violence, and Society Seminar

This seminar examines the world of youth impacted by violence, either as victims or as perpetrators, with a focus on Indiana. This seminar is the result of a partnership between the Center for Social Concerns and the Indianapolis Peace Institute.

Washington, D.C., Seminar
Religion in the United States continues to have a major influence on political parties, public policy and cultural values. This seminar seeks to explore the complex interplay between religion and politics by providing students with the opportunity to witness this relationship firsthand. Students will meet with various religious leaders, legislators, and interest groups to examine the status of this historically evolving relationship.