Seventy-eight West Virginia Wesleyan College students will earn college credit and see many parts of the world next month during the College’s May Term program.  The students will travel to Bolivia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Russia, South Korea, and Turkey.

“International travel and studying other cultures are an integral part of Wesleyan’s curriculum,” says William R. Haden, president of the College.  “The experience helps students understand their place in the world as well as obtain in-depth knowledge about global issues.”

Seventeen students will travel to the Western Hemisphere’s second poorest country, Bolivia, for 21 days to learn about Aymaran culture, Incan archeological sites, colonial history, and present international inequality and development issues.  The course, led by Dr. Mathew Johnson, associate professor of sociology, and Dr. Don Levy, assistant professor of sociology, will also include a service-learning component.  Wesleyan students will teach English to the residents of the Island of the Sun.

Greece and western Turkey will be visited by 14 students and two Wesleyan alumni.  Dr. Kathleen Long, professor of communication, will lead the class, which will compare Hellenic history, and ancient and contemporary culture and society to the students’ native culture.  The course will also explore the cultures and history of western Turkey.

Twenty students will travel to the Republic of Ireland, where students will spend two weeks in Clare and Galway counties and the final week in Dublin.  The art, history, and literature trip is being led by Dr. Devon McNamara, associate professor of English, Dr. William Mahoney, associate professor of history, and alumnus Sara Lynn Shawger.  Among the highlights of the class are attending theatre productions, visiting Celtic ruins, exploring the Aran Islands, learning Irish dancing, and visiting museums.  This is the fourth year Dr. McNamara has taught the Ireland course.

A three-week seminar in Rome, Florence, and Venice emphasizing history and art will be led by Margo Davis, assistant professor of art, and Judith Martin, head of cataloging in Wesleyan’s Anne Pfeiffer Library.  Twelve students will explore great sites of ancient Christian, Renaissance, and modern Italy, including the many incomparable churches, and the major museums of Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Dr. Carol Means, associate professor of education, will lead nine students to explore Russian culture, music, history, and the Orthodox Church for a better understanding of the current social, religions, and political climate.  Wesleyan students will live and work in a Russian orphanage with at-risk students.

An immersion into the history, politics, language, culture, education, religions, and society of South Korea will include six students along with Dr. Debbie Bush, assistant professor of education, and Dr. Kwame Boateng, associate professor of political science.  Field excursions will permit students to experience street markets, the Demilitarized Zone, museums, temples, and various attractions of Seoul.  Wesleyan students will also visit Hawaii to experience Polynesian cultures.

In addition to the May Term travel courses, over 35 on-campus classes will be available.  For a complete list of Wesleyan’s May Term classes, go to www.wvwc.edu/SummerTerms/index.asp or contact Dr. Shirley Fortney, associate dean of the College at (304) 473-8042.