Service-Learning & CBR Courses
January Term 2009: Community Engagement Courses
JAN 047: Food, Shelter, Water, and Energy Systems for the Future: An Introduction to Permaculture Instructor: Kristen Sbrogna
This course will explore sustainable ideas related to food, shelter, water and energy, including home and community gardens, family farms, farmer’s markets, community supported agriculture, and natural green building. Students will spend one day a week in the field, touring local farms and gardens and participating in hands-on gardening and building projects.
JAN 065: Precious Water and Watersheds Instructor: Steven Bachofer
This course will focus on individual and societal responsibilities with respect to appropriate water use. Students will take weekly field trips to the St. Mary’s College Swamp, where they will record watershed quality assessments for a regional organization. Students will then design an elementary school-level educational web resource, and teach science lessons related to water to elementary students.
JAN 066: Poverty, Policy, and Preschool in Urban America Instructor: Mary True
In this course students will consider important factors faced by low-income and minority preschool children and what it will take to overcome the education gap in the U.S. Students will serve weekly in a low-income preschool, examine policy issues related to early childhood education, and make policy recommendations based on their research and experiences.
JAN 076: Doing Faithjustice: Living Against the Grain in a Complex World
Instructor: Jennifer Pigza
In this course students will explore what issues of justice matter to them and how they can put their passions into action. Readings will focus on Catholic Social thought, liberation theology, human development, and the life stories of activists. Students will participate in a day of service in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood and a week of immersion in a Franciscan Worker Community in Salinas.
JAN 125: Religious Pluralism and California Prisons: America’s Church/State “Culture War” Meets Public Policy Instructor: Barbara A McGraw
In this course, students will explore historical and current trends in American religion, culture and law that have led to today’s prison religion policies. Students will take a field trip and interview prison chaplains and possibly inmates, as well as witness religious services in a prison. Students’ work will contribute to “The Prison Religion Project” of the new Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism at SMC.
JAN 165: Christian Service Internship Instructors: Brother Michael Avila and Randy Farris
Students will engage reflectively in an experience of direct service to the disadvantaged and relate this experience to Christian tradition. Students will live in a community at or near the places of their service and will work with many types of disadvantaged people, such as the abused, the economically poor, or mentally or physically challenged.
JAN 166: Seeing with New Eyes Instructors: Kathleen Taylor and Annalee Lamoreaux
In this course students will learn about the process of change---how learning, development and experience interact to support personal growth. Students will participate in service-learning with local nonprofit organizations for 6-8 hours per week, and reflect on their roles as conscious and committed citizens. Open to freshmen with consent of instructor.
JAN 186: Race, Class, Gender, and Capitalism in New Orleans Instructor: Cynthia Ganote
In this course, students will consider and come into contact with multiple individuals, organizations, and forces that are reshaping post-Katrina New Orleans. Students will travel to New Orleans and serve with the Katrina Warriors Network, an umbrella organization of groups aimed at ending violence against women in New Orleans. Students will speak with residents about the rebuilding process and will apply social theories to their findings.
January Term 2009: Courses with Social Justice Themes
JAN 023: Economic Justice and Catholic Social Thought Instructor: Jack Cassidy
This course will engage Catholic social thought with current economic issues such as globalization, affirmative action, sweatshops and corporate downsizing. Students will volunteer one day of community service at a “Street Retreat” in the Tenderloin of San Francisco to bring the principles of social justice discussed in the course to life.
JAN 030: Trial by Jury: Inside the Death Penalty Instructors: Sue Fallis and Paul Zarnoth
This course will address controversial topics including violent crime, race, poverty, and insanity. Students will consider the realities of life on death row and participate in an educational tour of San Quentin State Prison, the home of the state’s male death row and only gas chamber. Students will examine their individual views on capital punishment and be challenged to take the perspective of a juror.
JAN 035: Against the Grain: Food Activism & Social Justice Instructor: Cathy Glenn
Through reading and discussions, guest food activists, student participation in food activism, and written assignments, students will gain an understanding of food activism and its relationship to social justice. Students will lunch at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, the restaurant credited with starting the organic, locally-grown food movement in the Bay Area.
JAN 102: Social Entrepreneurship Instructor: Norman Bedford
In this course students will promote entrepreneurial values and develop the leadership required for socially and environmentally sustainable business. Students will focus on creating profitable businesses that give back to society through operating ethically, legally, ecologically, and communally.
JAN 122: Global Climate Change Instructor: Philip Leitner
In this course, students will examine the climate system of our planet and review the means by which human activities are pushing the climate system into uncharted territory. Students will consider what can be done to adapt to climate change and reduce adverse effects in the future.
JAN 124: Intergroup Dialogue Program: Facilitator Training Instructor: Mary McCall
This course will prepare students to facilitate dialogues in situations where understanding and listening are needed. Students will develop an increased understanding of themselves as individuals and members of social groups; develop effective facilitation, communication, conflict exploration and resolution skills; and apply social justice issues to discussion facilitation situations. The class will view films, practice facilitation and reflect on readings in weekly journals.
JAN 128: Shapers of Catholic Social Thought Instructor: Fr. John R. Morris
This course will introduce students to four important Catholics----Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez, Oscar Romero and Cardinal Bernardin---who have shaped public debate and theological reflection on important contemporary social issues, including poverty, the migrant farm-worker, and peace and justice. Students will attempt to more deeply understand social problems and the moral vision that moved these individuals to become agents for social change.
