UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

About The Program

Summer 2020 Courses

Experiencing Scotland in the summer allows you to design an experience that works best for you. The program is broken into two 4-week modules. You'll enroll in one course each module and you can participate in one or both modules. Dates for each module can be found on our calendars page, and information about the courses offered during each module can be found below.

MODULE ONE (select one course from the following options)
Course & Textbook Equivalent

Chemistry Concepts & Application: Scotch Whisky, Food & the Environment/Ruth Robinson/Normandale Community College/3 cr., plus optional 1 credit lab./ 3-4 cr.

Basic chemical principles will be presented within the framework of several real world themes that will illustrate the role chemistry plays in our lives.  Themes may vary and may include the role chemistry plays in cooking, crime, pseudoscience, cosmetics, art, polymers, poisons and consumer products to name a few.  Emphasis will be placed on using the chemical concepts to solve problems in these topics areas.   No prerequisites. This course is specifically designed for non-majors and fulfills the MnTC goal 3. 

Textbook(s):

Normandale Community College: CHEM 1001/Chemistry Concepts and Applications: Scotch Whisky, Food, and the Environment/3 cr.(4)

UW-River Falls: CHEM 100/Modern Alchemy/3 cr.(4)

UW-Stout: CHEM GXX/Chemistry Elective/3 cr.(4)

UW-Superior: CHEM 100/Our Chemical Environment/3 cr. satisfies University studies Environmental Science

UW-Whitewater: CHEM 9999M/ Elective/3 cr.(4)

Branding/David Bonko/UW-River Falls/3 cr.

We are a society that has become “brandcentric.”  For example, as consumers, we’ll gladly pay a higher price for the privilege of wearing a fashion forward company’s mark.  Ask a group of people to characterize the type of individual who drives any make of car—from Cadillac to Ford Escort—and you’ll probably get the same description.  The mention of some brands may cause us to curl up our noses in disgust while the utterance of others can incite long, passionate rants.  Why is this?  What is it about branding that can cause an almost “cult-like” behavior amongst its enthusiasts?  In this class, we’re going to delve into the above inquiries…and a whole lot more.

Textbook(s):

Murray State University (KY): MKT 360 /Principles of Marketing OR BUS 396 Internationla Business Seminar/ 3 cr.

UW-River Falls: MARC 350/Branding/3 cr.

UW-Stout: BUMKG XXX/Marketing Elective/3 cr.

UW-Superior: BUS 484/Marketing Strategy and Brand Mangement/3 cr.

Potter and Politics: Parallels in the Muggle World/Melissa Shaffer O'Connell/Lake Superior State University/3 cr.

In addition to being an enjoyable series for young and old alike, the Harry Potter series also offers insight into our understanding of politics and political issues.  This course investigates how politics and political issues are portrayed in the Harry Potter series and what that tells us about the way our contemporary culture understands politics. 

Textbook(s):Potter & Politics: Rowling, J.K. (1997). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York: Scholastic.
            Rowling, J.K. (1998). Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Scholastic.
            Rowling, J.K. (1999). Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. New York: Scholastic.
            Rowling, J.K. (2000). Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. New York: Scholastic.
            Rowling, J.K. (2003). Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. New York: Scholastic.
            Rowling, J.K. (2005). Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. New York: Scholastic.
            Rowling, J.K. (2007). Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York: Scholastic.
            Rowling, J.K., Tiffany, J., Thorne, J. (2016) Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.  New York: Scholastic.
            Barratt, B. (2012).  The Politics of Harry Potter. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.  ISBN: 9780230608993

Lake Superior State University: HONR 202/Potter and Politics: Parallels in the Muggle World/3 cr.

Murray State University (KY): POL 480/ topical Seminar in Political Science/ 3 cr.

UW-River Falls: POLI 289/Special Topics: Potter & Politics/3 cr.

UW-Stout: POLS GXX/Political Science Elective/3 cr.

UW-Superior: POLS 289/Political Science Elective/3 cr.

UW-Whitewater: POLISCI 9999S/elective/3 cr.

Human Lifespan and Development/University of Wisconsin-River Falls/3 cr.

This course provides an overview of developmental theories as they apply to a K-12 setting.

Prerequisites: COUN 610 is a pre-or co-requisite.

Textbook(s):

UW-River Falls: COUN 612/Human Lifespan Development/3 cr.

Counseling and the Chemical Dependency Process/Cindy Anderton/University of Wisconsin-Whitewater/3 cr.

This course is a study of alcohol and other drug abuse, the process of chemical dependency, its impact on the family and its importance in the area of counseling. This course will enable the counselor to identify and assess the substance abuser and examine the counselor's role in the prevention and intervention process. Students will develop knowledge of the behavioral, psychological, physical health, and social effects of psychoactive substances and addictive disorders on the user and significant others. It will examine the history, philosophy and trends in addiction counseling. The student will learn to identify the various symptoms of progressive stages of chemical dependency and counseling modalities for treatment.

Prerquisites: Principles or Pre-practicum counseling skills course and Theories of Counseling Course

Textbook(s):

UW-River Falls: COUNS 789/Special Topics in Counseling/3 cr.

UW-Whitewater: COUNSED 746/Counseling and the Chemical Dependency Process/3 cr.

 

MODULE TWO (select one course from the following options)
Course & Textbook Equivalent

International Environmental Policy/Melissa Shaffer O'Connell/Lake Superior State University/3 cr.

This course is intended to familiarize students with the efforts of the international community to establish policy guidelines designed to begin the regulation of the global environment. The course covers basic concepts to international relations necessary to understand the general workings of the nation-state system. It then begins an exploration of significant historical international environmental issues and the ways in which these have been dealt with by the international community. The course further challenges students by investigating various alternative solutions for solving the myriad of global environmental problems faced by all of humankind in the new century.

Environmental policy is a complex topic and so in order to fully examine the topic we will be studying concepts from public policy, politics, law, history, economics, and science.  There will be case studies including climate change, hazardous chemicals, and nuclear energy. 

Textbook(s): International Environmental Policy: Chasek, P.S., Downie, D. L., and Brown, J. W. (Eds.).  (2017).  Global Environmental Politics, 7th Edition.  Boulder, CO: Westview Press.  ISBN: 9780813349794.

Lake Superior State University: POLI 342/International Environmental Policy/3 cr.

Murray State University (KY): POL 480/Topical Seminar in Political Science/ 3 cr.

UW-River Falls: POLI 389/Special Topics: International Environmental Policy/3 cr.

UW-Stout: POLS XXX/Political Science Elective/ 3 cr.

UW-Superior: POLS 389/Political Science Elective/3 cr.

UW-Whitewater: POLISCI 999/Elective/3 cr.

History of Jazz/Sharri VanAlstine/UW-Whitewater/3 cr.

This class is designed to introduce you to the history and cultural contexts of jazz, as well as to cultivate awareness and an understanding of the process of jazz improvisation. The semester will be a chronological survey of the major styles and artists of jazz. The course will start with musical stylings idiomatic to jazz, origins and meaning in jazz, and will conclude with modern day jazz.  The major figures and trends in jazz will be investigated with special emphasis upon recordings as documentation of stylistic development. Students will gain an understanding of the historical and cultural characteristics of jazz as well as the various musical styles and idioms of the art form.

This course is designed using a listening approach to jazz with emphases both upon styles and the contribution made by selected jazz musicians. Other influences upon jazz will also be surveyed.  This course does not require prior musical experience or expertise.

Textbook: DeVeaux, S. and Giddins, G. (2009 or 2015).  Jazz.  New York: W. W. Norton and Company

Murray State University (KY): MUS 104/ Intro to Jazz History/ 3 cr.

UW-River Falls: MUS 255/History of Jazz/3 cr. (d)

UW-Stout: MUSIC 231/Honors Jazz History/3 cr.

UW-Superior: MUSI 266/Jazz Appreciation/3 cr.

UW-Whitewater: MUS 143/Survey of American Jazz/3 cr. (DV, GA)

 

Group Counseling/University of Wisconsin-River Falls/3 cr.

This course focuses on the study of group theories and techniques through supervised experience in small groups. The purpose is two-fold: (1) to acquaint the student with the theories and techniques of the major approaches to group counseling through didactic presentation, and (2) to integrate contect with practical application via student involvement in various types of group experiences. This course is designed to facilitate experiential learning.

Textbook(s):

UW-River Falls: COUN 732/Group Counseling/3 cr.

Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling/Cindy Anderton/UW-Whitewater/3 cr.

This course is designed to provide students with foundational knowledge and competency base for effective counseling with diverse populations. It will examine multicultural and pluralistic trends, including characteristics and concerns among diverse groups nationally and internationally. Theories of multicultural counseling, identity development, worldviews, acculturation issues, conflict resolution, social justice, advocacy and multicultural competencies will be discussed. Individual, couple, family, group and community strategies for working with and advocating for diverse populations will be examined. Counselors¿ roles in eliminating biases, prejudices, oppression and discrimination will be highlighted. Students will be involved in experiential learning activities aimed at fostering an understanding of themselves and culturally diverse individuals.

Prerequisite: Principles or Pre-practicum counseling skills course and Theories of Counseling Course

Textbook(s):

UW-River Falls: COUNS 615/Cultural and Ethical Foundations of Counseling/3 cr.

UW-Whitewater:  COUNSED 741/Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling/3 cr.

 

Melissa Shaffer-O'Connell Sharri VanAlstine Ruth Robinson David Bonko

Melissa Shaffer-O'Connell

Melissa Shaffer-O'Connell, PhD, Lake Superior State University, Department of Political Science in the School of Kinesiology and Behavioral Sciences

Melissa is an Assistant Professor at Lake Superior State University.  She teaches international relations and comparative politics, with a focus on women's issues, the environment, and, of course, Harry Potter. 

Her interest in Great Britain began many years ago as a high schooler, when she did an exchange program in Mansfield, England.  Since then, she has returned to the country as often as possible, though usually as a tourist rather than an academic.  Her most recent academic travels took her to Germany and Poland where she was studying memory and memorialization of traumatic events.  While a wonderful experience, she is looking forward to a lighter topic (Harry Potter and International Environmental Policy) in Scotland.

Melissa lives in Pickford, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with her husband, Ken and a household full of pets. While Ken would happily spend the summer with her Scotland, someone has to shut the chickens in every night and he drew the short straw.  She enjoys reading novels, horseback riding, and hiking. Melissa is looking forward to the Experience Scotland program (Summer 2020)!
 

Sharri VanAlstine

Dr. Sharri VanAlstine is an Associate Professor in the Music Department at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

Dr. VanAlstine's teaching load is focused on music teacher training and vocal jazz.  She is passionate about teaching and enjoys working with students.  She taught at an international high school in Germany in 2005-2007, and this is her second summer teaching Survey of Jazz in the Experience Scotland program.

Dr. VanAlstine's recent research is focused on vocal jazz improvisational techniques and student confidence and self-efficacy associated with public improvisation.  

She is looking forward to exploring the local jazz scene in Scotland and opening up the history and world of jazz with the students in the program.
 

Ruth Robinson

Dr. Ruth Robinson is a Professor of Chemistry and Vacuum Technology at Normandale Community College. She teaches Introductory Chemistry, General Chemistry I & II, Foundations of General, Organic and Biochemsitry and Foundations of Vacuum Science. She is a co-principle investigator on an NSF-ATE grant that focusses on preparing students for the technological workforce.

Dr. R is an avid hiker and loves to be out in nature, and with her dog. she has bever been to Scotland and is looking forward to exploring cities, towns and perhaps doing some hiking.

David Bonko

David Bonko
Associate Professor, Marketing Communications
Communication and Media Studies Department
University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Dave has been at UW-River Falls for 22 years. He has taught a wide array of courses first in The College of Business and Economics and since 2009, in the marketing communications program. All of his courses feature a significant amount of experiential learning, the objective being to provide students with components for their professional portfolio. 

Also a practitioner within the marketing communications field, Dave works with The Selby Ave JazzFest (an arts-based community development project that traditionally draws 10,000 people and serves St. Paul’s Selby Avenue corridor) in the areas of grant writing, branding, social media, PR and advertising. He also works with Hmong College Prep Academy, a St. Paul-based K-12 charter school, where he provides PR and advertising services as well as contributes to the school’s grant campaigns.

When he is not teaching, Dave enjoys fishing, Clark Griswold-inspired family road trips and coaching football.