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Course Descriptions

GCOS 110 Latin American Studies Seminar (3 required credits in fall)

The Latin American Studies Seminar is a 3-credit course required in the fall Semester of the Foundation Year. The goal of this seminar is to introduce students to the history and geography of the region; to examine current social, economic, political and environmental issues affecting Latin America; to explore different responses to these issues; and to assess in what ways these regional issues are manifestations of larger global issues. Short field trips in Costa Rica and a two-week trip to another Central American country will allow students to gain a more specific, thorough, and intimate perspective by means of greater firsthand experience with some of these issues. Among the topics covered are colonialism and imperialism; resistance and revolution; poverty and migration; development and conservation; art and popular culture; and race, class, ethnicity, and gender.

GCOS 130 Foundation Year Orientation Seminar (3 required credits in fall)

This seminar introduces Foundation Year students to the program's theoretical foundations and practices, and provides students with concrete tools and skills to begin their studies in this international, experiential program. In the fall semester, students explore issues and expectations associated with being an LIU Global student, initially including an examination of experiential education theory, the program's mission in practice, as well as health and safety issues. This seminar's main goals are to create an educational context, both in and outside of the classroom; to discover and discuss new relevant insights regarding educational approaches and learning; to understand their development as LIU Global students; to reflect on cross-cultural adaptation and intercultural understanding in Costa Rica; and to teach students how to stay healthy and safe while abroad. Students develop and carry out a week-long group service learning project to have first-hand experiences related to the content and issues examined in the seminar.

GCOS 170 Writing, Research and Documentation Seminar (2 required credits in fall)

This course helps students develop their academic writing skills, including conducting library and electronic research, exploring and organizing ideas, using and integrating different sources, improving writing mechanics, correctly citing bibliographic references, providing support for arguments, and assessing and editing their own work and that of their peers. Through frequent short writing exercises in and out of class students learn to use writing as a practical and familiar personal tool for discovering and clarifying ideas. Research projects involving group activities as well as personal intellectual inquiry lead to polished pieces for the semester portfolio.

Spanish Language

4 required credits in fall, 3 credits in Spring (required for new students, elective but highly recommended for continuing students)
Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Spanish language courses are taught each semester in Costa Rica. Students are required to take a 4-credit language course in the fall semester. In the spring semester Spanish is an elective, though HIGHLY recommended, 3-credit course for continuing students.

GCOS 120 in fall, 121 in spring Beginner Spanish (4 required credits in fall, 3 elective credits in spring)

Spanish classes for beginners have the goals of forming basic oral and written communication skills, as well as introducing the students to Latin culture. To achieve these goals, the students meet four times a week for a total of six hours. They also complete daily assignments, participate in field activities, live with a Costa Rican family, and interact daily with Spanish-speaking people..

GCOS 220 in fall, 221 in spring Intermediate Spanish (4 required credits in fall, 3 elective credits in spring)

Spanish classes for intermediate students have the goals of improving oral and written communication skills already acquired and learning about Latin culture. To achieve these goals, students meet four times a week for a total of six hours, participate in field activities, complete daily assignments, live with a Costa Rican family, and interact daily with Spanish-speaking people..

GCOS 320 in fall, 321 in spring Advanced Spanish (4 required credits in fall, 3 elective credits in spring)

Spanish classes for advanced students have the goals of improving specific oral and written communication skills based on individual needs at the appropriate level. The students attend class twice a week for a total of three hours, complete weekly assignments, live with a Costa Rican family, interact daily with Spanish-speaking people, and write about weekly readings related to topics of interest or Latin American literature.

GCOS 102 Living Latin American Culture Independent Study (1-3 elective credits in fall)

In this elective independent study course, students have the opportunity to explore different aspects of Costa Rican and Latin American culture through direct experiences to increase their awareness, understanding and appreciation of different cultures as well as to reflect upon their own cultural perceptions. To explore these cultural aspects, students can participate in group activities organized by the Living Latin American Culture Coordinator and/or on their own. The organized group activities will be explored through a variety of means, including field trips, movies, recreational activities, artistic presentations, and workshops. Essential aspects of the participation in the group activities will be the promotion of the sense of community, intercultural understanding, and appreciation of cultural diversity. Students taking this course work with their advisors to define the activities, relevant readings and document their learning as part of the semester portfolio.

GCOS 143 Holistic Health and Culture Seminar (3 elective credits in fall)

Health is an area closely linked to culture, environment and economy, all of which are social determinants of the quality of life of populations. The study of health and well-being in the context of social current events is necessary to understand the world from a holistic perspective, in order to promote social awareness and transformation. This class will introduce students to the study of ancestral as well as modern systems of healing, analyzing their impact as well as the trends in a globalized world. In addition to videos, readings, discussions, and theoretical analysis, this class provides a practical component in which students will be able to experience yoga and meditation as linked to health. Small field trips and short visits will be used to complement the class.

GCOS 144 Introduction to Holistic Health and Culture Seminar (2 elective credits in fall)

This 2-credit course is essentially a version of GCOS 143 with modified requirements. Health is an area closely linked to culture, environment, and economy, all of which are social determinants of the quality of life of populations. The study of health and well-being in the context of social current events is necessary to understand the world from a holistic perspective, in order to promote social awareness and transformation. This class will introduce students to the study of ancestral as well as modern systems of healing, analyzing their impact as well as the trends in a globalized world. In addition to videos, readings, discussions, and theoretical analysis, this class provides a practical component in which students will be able to experience yoga and meditation as linked to health. Small field trips and short visits will be used to complement the class.

GCOS 150 Global Environmental Issues and Latin America Seminar (3 elective credits in fall)

This 3-credit elective seminar addresses the Latin American environmental situation in the global context. Participants learn how Latin America is contributing to and is being affected by the most pressing environmental global issues. The main regional policies and grassroots actions to respond to the regional environmental issues will be studied, including indigenous peoples' strategies. Possible topics include: global and regional indicators of climate change, pollution, loss of habitat and cultural diversity, extinction of species, water scarcity, alternative agriculture, solid waste management, ecological restoration and sustainability. These subjects are covered with the participation of local experts and environmental leaders in Costa Rica and another country in the region. Several short visits in Costa Rica are complemented with a two-week educational trip in another country in the region.

GCOS 153 Introduction to Global Environmental Issues and Latin America Seminar (2 elective credits in fall)

This 2-credit elective seminar addresses the Latin American environmental situation in the global context. This course is essentially a version of GCOS 150 with modified requirements. Participants learn how Latin America is contributing to and is being affected by the most pressing environmental global issues. The main regional policies and grassroots actions to respond to the regional environmental issues will be studied, including indigenous peoples' strategies. Possible topics include: global and regional indicators of climate change, pollution, loss of habitat and cultural diversity, extinction of species, water scarcity, alternative agriculture, solid waste management, ecological restoration and sustainability. These subjects are covered with the participation of local experts and environmental leaders in Costa Rica and another country in the region. Several short visits in Costa Rica are complemented with a two-week educational trip in another country in the region.

GCOS 127 Gender and Sexuality (3 elective units, fall semester)

This course will introduce students to three major key developments in the perception of sex and gender in the West and their political and legal implications. Students will gain an understanding of major changes in the perception of:

What sex and gender is
How science, religion, and philosophy help to construct these categories
Their political and ethical implications (or how they became human rights)

The course will cover three historical periods, i.e. Pre-modernity, Modernity, and Post-modernity in the West. Despite the emphasis on Western Europe, the course will also examine Latin American and Asian variations. Finally, current controversies such as abortion, sexual mutilation, sexual minorities' rights, birth control, and gender reassignments will be analyzed.

GCOS 128 Introduction to Gender and Sexuality (2 elective units, fall semester)

This course is essentially a version of GCOS 127 with modified requirements. This course will introduce students to three major key developments in the perception of sex and gender in the West and their political and legal implications. Students will gain an understanding of major changes in the perception of:

What sex and gender is
How science, religion, and philosophy help to construct these categories
Their political and ethical implications (or how they became human rights)

Spanish Language Independent Study -fall: GCOS 105, 106, 205, 206, 305 or 306; spring: GCOS 205, 206, 305 or 306 (1-4 elective credits in fall or 1-3 elective credits in spring)

Spanish independent study courses are especially geared towards advanced Spanish students. Students may focus independent study courses on reading and writing, Latin American Literature, advanced grammar studies, Latin American music, among other subjects. 45 hours per credit.

GCOS 190-199 Independent Study (Freshman) (1-3 credits, in fall and spring)
GCOS 290-299 Independent Study (Sophomore) (1-3 credits, in fall and spring)
GCOS 390-399 Independent Study (Junior) (1-6 credits, in fall and spring)
GCOS 490-499 Independent Study (Senior) (1-6 credits, in fall and spring)

Each semester at the Costa Rica Center, students have individual flexibility in conducting a Directed Independent Study with guidance and approval from their Faculty Advisor. There may also be opportunities for independent study projects, service learning projects, and/or internships. Students must develop and get approval for a detailed learning plan of all independent study work to make sure it meets academic, health, and safety criteria. Students may not repeat the same course numbers for credit either in the same or in a different semester. Total hours (activities and individual study and documentation): 45 hours per credit.

GCOS 111 Introduction to Global Studies (3 required credits in spring)

The Introduction to Global Studies Seminar is a 3-unit course required in the spring semester of freshman year. The course introduces students to major global issues and the multidimensional phenomenon of globalization, with an emphasis on Latin America for concrete examples. The major global issues covered in the Seminar include:

history: the recurrent process of integration and disintegration since the major Greek, Roman, Spanish, English and French empires. Did globalization start in 1492?
social: globalization provides great social opportunities but it also provokes great upheavals and backlashes such as genocide and war.
psychological: if globalization is such a an opportunity for greater opportunities for self-development and autonomy, why are people so vulnerable to depression, alienation, and other mental problems?
medical: How pandemics are a major problem in a globalized world.
economical: is the Third World richer or poorer, more independent or more dependent on foreign aid, investments and financial troubles?
cultural: Are we becoming more alike or are we becoming more local as a reaction to mass globalized culture?
technological: Are we creating a culture of total dependence on gadgets and computers that exchange the real for simulation, hyper reality and mass hysteria?

In this course students will become aware of the challenges and opportunities that global issues and globalization present, and will be able to better understand and appreciate local responses and alternative perspectives to these issues.

GCOS 142 Field Work Methods for Independent Study (2 required credits in spring)

This is a required course for all Freshman year students in the spring semester. This course introduces students to methodological approaches we commonly think of as qualitative, with special emphases on interview-based research, ethnography, and comparative research. The course is intended to prepare students for a two-week independent study project of their choosing with logistical guidance from their advisors. At the end of the course students will have a solid written research project that will be presented to the LIU Global community. By the end of the semester students will

be familiar with research methods utilized by social scientists to examine and explain the complexities of the social world; and
be able to design, implement, and analyze their own social research.

GCOS 104 Field Work Project (2 required credits in spring)

During the spring semester, students carry out a two-week field work project in Costa Rica (or approved alternative) which could be an internship, service learning project or research, artistic, or action project. Students will work with their advisor to identify and set-up an appropriate and exciting experience related to individual learning goals and academic interests, in coordination with the Field Work Methods course where they will be designing, preparing and documenting the project. The goal of this two-week experience is to put field work methods in practice, to examine theory in practice, to explore areas of academic interests and identify new ones, and to further develop the skills learned in the Field Work Methods course. All projects must be approved by a faculty advisor to ensure that the proposal meets required academic and safety criteria.

GCOS 171 Electronic Portfolio Construction Seminar (2 required credits in spring)

This course offers an introduction to the tools and processes that have to be followed in order to create and publish a digital portfolio project. During this workshop and on their own, students will review and study different ways to work with video, photo image manipulation, digital storytelling and web publishing. All of these techniques will serve as alternatives to visually express the students' interests. In order to accomplish the course's main goal, students will be required to perform short in-class exercises, homework assignments, and full projects, using the tools recommended in class or the ones chosen by students with previous authorization of the instructor.

GCOS 173 Writing the College Essay Workshop (2 elective credits in spring)

This is a writing workshop with two main purposes: to hone the skills needed to produce college level academic essays based on evidence and logic, and to make writing a familiar and comfortable tool for students' investigation and self-expression. Students in the writing course will write some essays about topics covered in other courses to deepen their understanding of global issues. Students will participate in weekly workshop sessions, guided by the instructor, in which they will receive constructive, collaborative critique from their classmates. This peer feedback will help students write informed revisions of their work and support their active commitment to improve. The class is based on the idea of writing as a process and supports the development of critical reading, thinking, and writing skills.

GCOS 174 Globalization in Contemporary World Fiction (2 elective credits in spring)

The goal of this 2-credit course is to gain a deeper understanding of the processes of globalization by reading what important writers from around the world have said about the subject. We will read work by some of the major scholars who have contributed to the debates about globalization. These writings will provide the framework for our consideration of recent novels and stories from India, China, the Middle East, and the United States. We will explore how the globalization phenomenon is experienced on a human level in various cultures. For students taking the course for two hours, the requirements are: weekly written responses to the reading assignments, two analytic essays, oral presentations, and active class participation.

GCOS 175 Globalization in Contemporary World Fiction, Intensive (3 elective credits in spring)

The goal of this 3 credit course is to gain a deeper understanding of the processes of globalization by reading what important writers from around the world have said about the subject. We will read work by some of the major scholars who have contributed to the debates about globalization. These writings will provide the framework for our consideration of recent novels and stories from India, China, the Middle East, and the United States. We will explore how the globalization phenomenon is experienced on a human level in various cultures. The course requirements are: weekly written responses to the reading assignments, two analytic essays, oral presentations, and active class participation. This course is essentially a version of GCOS 174 with additional requirements. Students taking this intensive course are also expected to write a research paper and read and report on two extra novels.

GCOS 140 Introduction to Peace and Conflict Resolution Seminar (2 elective credits in spring)

This 2-credit course will introduce students to a basic theoretical framework of Peace and Conflict Resolution. This course is essentially a version of GCOS 141 with modified requirements. Through readings, visits, lectures, movies, discussions, and personal exploration, students will learn about and analyze global issues that are at the root of conflict and violence. The main goal of this course is to examine peaceful alternatives for conflict resolution on both personal and social levels, while referencing current, real-world examples. Students will develop an action project (in a group or individually) based on personal interests and following specific guidelines.

GCOS 141 Peace and Conflict Resolution Seminar (3 elective credits in spring)

This 3-credit course will introduce students to a basic theoretical framework of Peace and Conflict Resolution. Through readings, visits, lectures, movies, discussions, and personal exploration, students will learn about and analyze global issues that are at the root of conflict and violence. The main goal of this course is to examine peaceful alternatives for conflict resolution on both personal and social levels, while referencing current, real-world examples. Students will develop an action project (in a group or individually) based on personal interests and following specific guidelines.

GCOS 154 Contemporary Indigenous Peoples in Latin America (3 elective credits in spring)

This 3-credit elective seminar addresses the most urgent issues in the agenda of the Latin American Indigenous Peoples Movement and its relationship with global trends. The Seminar explores the thoughts and experiences of various indigenous peoples of Costa Rica and another country in the region, in the context of the present political situations in those countries. A set of readings covers aspects related to global related issues, indigenous struggles, nature, intercultural education, international legislation, market economy, tourism, and power relations. A Seminar reader, internet research, interviews, direct observations, collective discussions, personal reflections, and academic documentation are the main resources for learning.

GCOS 155 Introduction to Contemporary Indigenous Peoples in Latin America (2 elective credits in spring)

This 2-credit elective seminar addresses the most urgent issues in the agenda of the Latin American Indigenous Peoples Movement and its relationship with global trends. This course is essentially a version of GCOS 154 with modified requirements. The Seminar explores the thoughts and experiences of various indigenous peoples of Costa Rica and another country in the region, in the context of the present political situations in those countries. A set of readings covers aspects related to global related issues, indigenous struggles, nature, intercultural education, international legislation, market economy, tourism, and power relations. A Seminar reader, internet research, interviews, direct observations, collective discussions, personal reflections, and academic documentation are the main resources for learning.