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.
Discipline | Offered All VoyagesIndicated by underline. Contingent faculty availability. (about 1/3 of voyage course sections) | Offered Most Voyages(about 1/3 of voyage course sections) |
BUSINESS | Marketing International Marketing International Business Management Social and Sustainable Venturing and/or Principles of Entrepreneurship | Contemporary Management Practices Leadership and Social Responsibility Buyer Behavior and/or Services Marketing |
COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM AND MEDIA STUDIES | Intercultural Communication Intermediate Creative Writing | Media in Society Feature Writing Digital Documentary Photography International Mass Communication |
ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE | Principles of Microeconomics and/orPrinciples of Macroeconomics International Relations Comparative Government and Politics and/or US Foreign Relations | Economic Development Comparative Economic Systems Globalization, Sustainability, & Justice |
HISTORY | U.S.-China Relations since 1800 (Fall) Asian Civilizations or China in the Modern World or Pacific Wars: Korea and Vietnam | |
LITERATURES AND LANGUAGES | Reading Without Borders and/or World Literatures | World Drama Modern Women Writers |
NATURAL RESOURCES | Oceanography Biological Diversity and/or Coastal Environmental Ecology | Global Environmental Systems |
PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS | Exploring World Music Global Encounters in Art | Introduction to Theatre Introduction to the Visual Arts Seminar in Art History |
PSYCHOLOGY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | Abnormal Psychology Social Psychology and/or Psychology of Human Sexuality | Individual and Family Development and/or General Psychology Children and Youth in Global Context Special Topics in Psychology |
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION | Religions of the East | Topics in Comparative Religions Meaning and Truth in Religion |
SOCIETY AND CULTURE | Global Studies Introductory Cultural Anthropology World Interdependence: Current Global Issues | Social Problems Cultural Geography and/or Introduction to Geography Gender and Society Human Origins and Variation Cultural Change OR Social Change |
TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY | Principles of Natural Resource Tourism International Issues in Recreation & Tourism Food and Society or Culinary Tourism |
Looking for courses offered on your specific voyage?
Voyage specific courses listings are typically posted 12-9 months prior to the program start date. Click a term below to access voyage specific course listings.
