THIS IS A TWO-SEMESTER COURSE.

This course focuses on how the natural environment influences cultures and civilizations. Through various case studies, students will gain an understanding of how people live in different natural surroundings, and they will come away with a greater appreciation for how communities are formed. They will also discuss how the modern idea of the nation came to be and the idea of citizenship. They will examine how cultures are formed and influenced by languages, religions, holidays, stories, myths, and all sorts of symbols, landmarks, and ideas. By the end of the course, the students will begin to develop questions about a global community.

Class Meetings: Mondays, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Fall Semester: September 14 – December 14, 2026
Spring Semester: January 11 – May 10, 2027

Student Expectations: Students are expected to participate in class discussions and will have occasional reading and writing assignments for homework.

Student Support: The instructor is available via email.

Feedback/Assessment: Students will be assessed on the quality of their written work and their in-class participation.

Materials: All reading materials will be available on the internet.