International Capstones

You can search for International Capstones on the Education Abroad website by can selecting "Capstone" under "Duration."

7 INTERNATIONAL CAPSTONE COURSES which go outside of the U.S.
*The terms in which these Capstones are offered vary. Please check the Class Schedule, or the Education Abroad website, for current offerings.*

1) Knowing Our Neighbors—Knowing Ourselves: An Exploration of Leadership Through Service in Mexico—first offering summer, 2012
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/know-our-neighbor-know-ourselves
Students will learn, serve, and live together in Mexico for about 3 weeks. Through pre-trip classes, direct service in Mexican communities, interactive sessions with grass-roots leaders, and reflection students will explore the following: leadership, community development, and the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. Service projects may include any of the following: serving meals, building housing, painting, interacting with children. Some Spanish is highly recommended but not required. This is an excellent study abroad opportunity for 1st time international travelers.

2) Health and Aging in Nicaragua SPRING TERM
Margaret Neal, nealm@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/health-and-aging-nicaragua
This spring-term course held at Portland State University and subsequent two-week study abroad program in Nicaragua will provide students with meaningful experiences in an international context through: (a) learning from and interaction with experts in the fields of social gerontology, public health, community development, and other multidisciplinary perspectives; (b) local use and testing of training materials designed to prepare students to administer those materials while in Nicaragua; (c) research and program development with international organizations and governmental agencies; (d) involvement in activities associated with securing resources for the program (e.g., funds, supplies for Nicaraguan partners) and (e) travel to Nicaragua for the purpose of engaging in service learning in a developing country.

Although Spanish-speaking students are preferred, students speaking only English may participate, provided there is at least one Spanish-speaking student for each English-only speaking student.  Additionally, translators having knowledge of Nicaraguan vernacular and culture will be provided.  Students from a variety of backgrounds are encouraged to apply to maximize the interdisciplinary nature of the course.    

3) Carribean or Ghana Overseas Experience (run out of Black Studies via Kofi Agorsah)
Kofi Agorsah, agorsahe@pdx.edu
African Studies Overseas Experience: Ghana
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/african-studies-overseas-experience...
This six credit summer 2009 program will offer students opportunities to experience aspects of African history and culture through the lens of the Ghanaian cultural experience. The program has three main components, which overlap in many ways: Academic Experience, students participate in talks, seminars and demonstrations on traditional social, political and religious expressions, to be given by academic and traditional specialists of both rural and urban Ghana; also undertake a field project on an approved topic or subject based on direct interaction, interviews, archival, museum and/or library research; Cultural/Learning Experience - will provide opportunities for first-hand interaction with traditional leaders office bearers, chiefs, queens and queen mothers; Historical/ Learning Experience this will involve participation in educational excursions and practical field experience of historical and traditional cultural sites such as museums, shrines and historical towns.

4) Costa Rica
Jenna Padbury, padburyj@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/costa-rica
This capstone provides an opportunity to learn about Costa Rica and immerse yourself in the culture. The course includes a 2 week service-learning experience in the city of Turrialba, Costa Rica. In Turrialba, you will conduct daily service in a community-based setting such as a school, national park, or social service organization. Evenings will be spent studying Spanish and learning about social, political, economic and environmental issues in Costa Rica.  Educational field trips to other parts of Costa Rica will be scheduled during the weekends.
This capstone is open to PSU juniors and seniors in all majors. Spanish language
skills are preferred but not required.

5) Health and Migration in Oaxaca, Mexico
Jack Corbet, corbettj@pdx.edu, and Sam Gioia, gioia@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/health-and-migration-oaxaca-mexico
Increasingly, migrant workers in Oregon and other western states are arriving from southern Mexico, especially from the indigenous communities in the southern state of Oaxaca. Migration impacts the health of this population in complex ways, and challenges health care systems on both sides of the border. This capstone course takes students to Oaxaca, Mexico to study the cultural, economic and social forces that impact health in both sending and receiving communities. We focus particular attention on diabetes and other chronic illnesses related to changes in diet and activity patterns among this translational population, but students will also have the opportunity to learn about the relationship between migration and HIV, and to visit with organizations that work on prevention in this area.
*Note: The 2011 application information and budget for Summer 2011 is now available at the Education Abroad website.

6) Environmental Activism and Community Engagement in Mexico
Jack Corbet, corbettj@pdx.edu, and Michael Taylor, motaylor@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/environmental-activism-and-communit...
Following three campus class sessions in July and August, students will spend two weeks in the southern state of Oaxaca, Mexico. This international capstone explores sustainability and environmental activism in Oaxaca, Mexico.  Given the increasing interconnectedness between Mexico and the United States we want to understand how Mexican families and communities demonstrate environmental awareness and ultimately begin to make behavioral choices by opting for sustainable approaches to everyday activities of living. Specifically this course will assess how urban and rural households address efforts to sustain clean water, local food production, and a healthy environment in the face of political and economic changes contributing to a declining quality of life and increased migration. The capstone provides students an opportunity to work with community members in rural and urban settings in support of efforts to secure sustainability through innovation as well as the conservation of tradition.  Students live with local families in Oaxaca City, participate in daily language classes and travel on public transportation to rural communities.
*Note: This class will not be offered in Summer 2011.

7)Sustainable Rural Development in NW Argentina WINTER TERM
Leopoldo Rodriguez, leopoldo@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/sustainable-rural-development-nw-ar...
Students in this capstone will explore the town of San Pedro de Colalao's potential to attract foreign tourism, always keeping in mind social equity and environmental impact. Foreign tourism exhibits less seasonal variation than Argentine tourism and enjoys considerably higher purchasing power, making it ideal to address the community's concerns.

Through fieldwork, direct observation, interaction and data collection students will become familiar with the social and economic challenges faced by developing nations and gain first-hand knowledge of the complexities of development in South America.  They will explore the potential of diverse alternatives to achieve ecologically sound and equitable development in a rural context.


LOCAL CAPSTONES WITH AN INTERNATIONAL FOCUS

1) Seasonal Workers- Micheal Chamberlain ( 1 course winter term )
2) International Debt Relief- Pat Rumer (Spring)
3) 1 Bilingual Education by Ann Wales (Fall)
4) 1 Japanese Language program by Suwako Watnabe (winter)
5) 6 Capstones on Immigrant and Refugee  by Sam Gioia (runs each term)
6) 4 ELL Capstones by Michelle Culley (runs each term)
7) 5 Capstones on Immigrants in the Workplace (Fall & Summer, Andrew Reed)