Summer in West Michigan: Connect, Learn, and Work
Summer in West Michigan provides students in ANY major the opportunity to have a rich and unique learning experience, earning 9 credits, while learning and working in West Michigan.
Why Summer in West Michigan?
· Learn from GVSU faculty, community leaders, and regional experts
· Work in worthwhile and fulfilling internships within the region
· Connect with the land, history, and culture surrounding Grand Valley State University and West Michigan
Course Details
ENG 382 Literature and the Environment
This course will examine and critically assess how literature across several genres, such as the lyric essay, nonfiction, poetry, and the novella—as well as documentary film—broadly engage the interrelated complexities of climate change, industrialized agriculture, the histories of colonialism and imperialism (or racial capitalism), racism, speciesism and structural inequality. We will broadly interrogate Western civilization’s historical and contemporary relations with (and attitudes toward) nonhuman nature, with a special emphasis on the cultural problem of anthropocentrism. Most importantly, we’ll consider how and why collective engagement with literature, new media (e.g., podcasts, video essays, etc.) and other forms of art, writing, and communication can help us imagine salutary, practical, and sustainable solutions to environmental problems in West Michigan. Students will work across both INT 323 and ENG 382 on the proposed program-wide project utilizing theories, methodologies, and approaches from coursework.
Prerequisites: WRT 150 and Junior standing
Credits: 3
Semester Offered: Spring
Instruction: In-Person – Allendale Campus
Fulfillment: SWS, General Education – Issues: Sustainability
Instructor: Dr. Brian Deyo
INT 323 Design Thinking to Meet Real World Needs
Design thinking is a problem-solving process that engages in a collaborative method to research complex design needs by exploring a variety of possible solutions. INT 323 students will be exploring challenges associated with transition areas between suburbia, farms, and forests to provide solutions that promote sustainable agriculture and wetland preservation. Students will work across both INT 323 and ENG 382 on the proposed program-wide project utilizing theories, methodologies, and approaches from coursework.
Prerequisites: Junior standing
Credits: 3
Semester Offered: Spring
Instruction: In-Person – Allendale Campus
Fulfillment: General Education – Issues: Information, Innovation, or Technology
Instructor: Dr. Darien Ripple
INT 490 Internship
Students will be placed at internship sites to complete 150 hours of internship experience over the Spring and Summer sessions. The internship sites will reflect the theme of Nature, Storytelling, and Action. In-person meetings to be held on the Allendale campus will focus on professional development (e.g. resume, cover letter, interviews, etc.) and reflective discussions about their internship experiences. For weeks we do not hold class meetings, we will go on field trips or continuing implementation of the program-wide project.
Prerequisites: None
Credits: 3
Semester Offered: Spring/Summer
Instruction: Internship site and In-Person – Allendale Campus
Fulfillment: Internship/elective credit
Instructor: Dr. Denise Goerisch
Program-Wide Project
In both ENG 382 and INT 323, students will consult and collaborate with stakeholders and experts by working on a project to improve wildlife habitat on the GVSU Allendale Campus. In addition to working directly with stakeholders and the land, students will have an opportunity to develop a multimedia presentation showcasing the rewilding process. This will allow for students who may not be able to engage directly with the land and/or students with interests in media, communication, and/or design to enhance their knowledge and skills in those areas.
Internships
Students can expect to learn on the job experience while working with our community and regional partners. Some internship partners are seeking interns for specific roles (e.g. data collection, curation, youth development, education, outreach, marketing, communication, etc.), while others will be project-based (e.g. building a community garden).
Internship partners:
Center for Lakes and Streams
4-H
TriCities Historical Museum
Fulton Street Market
Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore
Internships focusing on:
- Data collection
- Community Development
- Curation
- Youth development
- Education
- Marketing
- Communication