Charting Academic Excellence: Hartwick College’s Transformative July Courses

New York State’s appeal to international students lies in academic excellence, particularly in cutting-edge research in environmental and business studies. As a global melting pot, New York provides a unique blend of cultures, arts, and academics – fostering growth and exploration. For July in New York State there are three guaranteed-to-run courses available for students in three different disciplines. 

1. Gender and the Environment (ENSS-250)

This course delves into the intricate relationship between people and their physical environments, acknowledging that individuals experience and impact these environments differently. Focused on gender, it explores how environmental changes affect people based on gender roles and relations. The course uses theories and case studies to encourage a nuanced understanding of how gender shapes and is shaped by the natural world. This knowledge is fundamental for developing gender-sensitive methodologies crucial to addressing environmental challenges. The course culminates in a research project in which students select and investigate one issue related to gender and the environment as a testament to all they learned throughout the course. Click here to view the syllabus for this course. 

2. Controversial Social Issues (SOCI-111)

Sociologists argue that the roots of social problems extend beyond individuals, influencing behaviour on a broader scale. This course tackles a range of contemporary social issues, including health care, addiction, poverty, unemployment, crime, violence, family dynamics, racism, and ageism. After examining the causes and consequences of these issues, students engage in discussions on potential interventions to alleviate the societal challenges at hand. By the course’s end, students will be able to analyse how social problems are defined, understand the importance of data, explain factors influencing prevalence, critically evaluate policies, and improve their critical thinking skills. Click here to view the syllabus for this course. 

3. Intro to Augmented Reality (ART-250)

Augmented reality transforms the real physical world by integrating digital media, such as visual and auditory elements, through technology. This course takes students on a journey into the realm of augmented reality, utilising smartphone apps like Membit and Artivive. Beyond exploring the creation of augmented reality experiences, the course covers essential skills and software for developing digital assets used in building these experiences. At the completion of this course, students will be able to create and manipulate digital images for AR at an introductory level, create 3D models with texture wrapping for AR at an introductory level, and be able to create a full augmented reality experience at an introductory level. Click here to read the syllabus for this course.

CISaustralia carefully picked these courses to align with current academic trends and the growing interest in global perspectives. This diverse selection for July in New York State reflects a commitment to forward-thinking learning.