Social Justice Literature and Environmental Science in

GERMANY

May 11-25, 2025

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At a Glance | Course Descriptions

Itinerary | Next Steps

At a Glance

Courses Descriptions

ENGL 2226: Literature of Social Justice (Dr. Teutsch)

What role does literature have in social justice? How does literature help us think critically about injustice and help us ​develop empathy? Using Civil Rights activist Lillian Smith as a fulcrum, students will examine depictions of social justice in ​American literature and beyond in various genres of literature (fiction, memoir, graphic novel, drama, etc.). The course will ​focus on issues of gender, sexuality, race, class, and other issues.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Articulate knowledge about the work of Lillian Smith and its significance in a variety of contexts (historical, artistic, ​religious, etc.).
   
2. Think critically about injustice in the context of both contemporary American society and the world through the ​application of ethical perspectives/concepts to ethical questions.
   
3. Develop empathy towards and an understanding of the diverse life situations which characterize the human experience. ​(i.e. Recognize the complex context of ethical issues and the cross-relationships among issues.)
   
4. Students will engage in thinking about themselves and to lead them to the space where they can discuss their core beliefs ​and the justification for those beliefs.
   
5. Through academic research, students will state a position and engage with the objections, responding accurately to the ​objections.
   

ENVS 2070: Environmental Science (Dr. Schmitz)

Introduction to the study of man's interaction with the environment. Problems of energy and resource utilization and waste ​disposal resulting in air, water and land pollution. Lecture only.

Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate the following outcome-based learning skills:

• Understand the basic concepts related to environmental science including: Renewable energy: the 3 Rs of waste ​management, Feedback loops, Approaches – Conservation, Preservation, Land Ethic, Population growth rate, IPAT Model, ​Bioaccumulation/magnification, Trophic levels and energy transfer, GMOs, Traditional and Industrial Agriculture, ​Greenhouse gases, Species designation (endemic, invasive, etc.)
  

Itinerary

We anticipate that travel will include time in the following locations:

• TBD
  

Next Steps

AUG

Talk to your Piedmont Advisors about your circumstances.

• Your Academic Advisor can make sure you are taking classes that keep you track to graduate.
• Career Services will give you advice about how to make the most of your experience. Travel study is a great way to build employable skills and begin to fill up your resume. Having a plan before you leave is the best way to get the most out of the experience.
• Financial Aid can verify whether your financial aid package can be applied to the faculty-led courses.

Apply for a Passport

• At times it can take 6-8 months for your passport application to be processed, so apply early.
  
• If you already have a passport, check to make sure that it does not expire within 6 months of your RETURN date. You may not be allowed into the host country by immigration officials if it expires in less than 6 months.

Apply for Scholarships

• See Travel Study Director for some scholarships that may be able to help you pay for your travel study experience.
  

OCT

Complete an Initial Interest Form

• The sooner you let us know your interest, the better. Deadline for initial interest form is December 31st. Completing this form does not obligate you to participate.
  

DEC

Pay Deposit ($500)

• Deadline for the deposit is December 31st. This deposit is non-refundable, unless the trip is cancelled or there are extenuating circumstances preventing a student from participating.
  

FEB

Pay Remaining Travel Study Fee

• Deadline for fee is March 1st. The fee is non-refundable, unless the trip is cancelled or there are extenuating circumstances preventing a student from participating.

Attend Required Orientation Seminar (dates TBA)

• An orientation seminar for all students traveling abroad will be offered during February. The seminar will cover logistical concerns (university paperwork, passports, travel health insurance, etc.), safety while traveling and will prepare you to get the most out of your travel study experience.