Frequently Offered Courses
Semester at Sea offers three-credit courses across a wide range of disciplines. Course syllabi reflect the expertise of the faculty member and the voyage itinerary. Many of the courses listed below are offered on every voyage. Typically one-third of the courses are lower-division and two-thirds are upper-division. For more information on these courses, go to: catalog.colostate.edu.
Academic Requirements and Credit
- All students register for three courses in addition to the required Global Studies course for a total of four courses, or 12 credits.
- Each course has an in-country Field Class, which you must consider when planning your schedule.
- Each course is three credits.
- Lower-division courses are designated with 100- and 200-level numbers.
- Upper-division courses are 300- and 400-level.
The Global Studies Course (3 credits)
The core course for the voyage, Global Studies, is required of all students and provides an integrated, interdisciplinary introduction to each of the countries visited on a given itinerary. The course examines the traditional and changing systems and values of a country and its cultures, while providing the fundamental knowledge necessary to prepare students for field activities in the host country. Global Studies is designed to help students deepen their understanding of specific features of contemporary life and culture (such as politics, religion, environment, art, music, family systems, and health). This common course is also designed to take maximum advantage of the opportunity for students to think critically about their own societies and global change. Specifically designed pre-port and post-port class sessions examine patterns of cultural interaction and communication to promote intercultural competency and self-awareness among Semester at Sea students.
Field Classes
Every course includes one in-country educational field class designed for experiential learning. Field classes present the opportunity both for the professor and the participant to engage in further dedicated learning and discovery in each country. A field class takes place during a full 8-hour port day and the same expectations are placed on a field class day as placed on a class day at sea.
Course Listings
- Each voyage offers 45 to 50 course sections selected from the list
- Each voyage offers about 25 additional courses based on the itinerary and special faculty
- Courses listed in bold are offered every voyage
- Voyage specific courses listings are typically posted 12-9 months prior to the program start date. View Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 offerings.
Subject Area | Lower Division Courses | Upper Division Courses |
|---|---|---|
Business | Business Ethics | Marketing International Marketing International Business Management Social and Sustainable Venturing and/or Principles of Entrepreneurship Contemporary Management Practices Leadership and Social Responsibility and/or Leading High Performance Teams Buyer Behavior and/or Services Marketing |
Communication, Journalism, and Media Studies | Media in Society | Intercultural Communication Journalism, Peace, and War Feature Writing Digital Documentary Photography Intermediate Creative Writing International Mass Communication |
Political Science, Economics, and History | International Relations U.S. Foreign Relations Asian Civilizations Principles of Microeconomics and/or Principles of Macroeconomics | Comparative Economic Systems and/or Economic Development Comparative Government and Politics Globalization, Sustainability, & Justice U.S.-China Relations since 1800* Pacific Wars: Korea and Vietnam |
Literatures and Languages | Reading Without Borders 1st Year Spanish** | World Drama Modern Women Writers Literature of the Earth and/or Critical Studies of Popular Texts |
Environment and Health | Oceanography Global Environmental Systems Survey of Human Nutrition | Biological Diversity and/or Coastal Environmental Ecology |
Performing and Visual Arts | Exploring World Music Introduction to Theatre Soundscapes as Human Practice | Global Encounters in Art Seminar in Art History Global Theatre |
Psychology and Human Development | Individual and Family Development and/or General Psychology | Abnormal Psychology Social Psychology and/or Psychology of Human Sexuality Special Topics in Psychology Children and Youth in Global Context |
Religion and Philosophy | Religions of the East and/or Religions of the West*** Introduction to Ethics | Topics in Comparative Religions Meaning and Truth in Religion |
Society and Culture | Global Studies World Interdependence: Current Global Issues Introductory Cultural Anthropology Introduction to Women’s Studies Social Problems | Cultural Geography Gender and Society and/or Women in Development Cultural Change or Social Change |
Tourism and Hospitality | Principles of Natural Resource Tourism | Food and Society International Issues in Recreation & Tourism |
**on voyages including Spanish-speaking countries
***dependent on the itinerary
