STUDENT VOICES "Our core course for Duke in the Andes was a unique opportunity to truly learn about the political and social realities of Ecuador and Latin America over all." -Fall 2007 Student Evaluation "The core course made a big difference in my understanding of all the things I was experiencing... My overall experience has been very positive academically and I have learned a lot. My views of the world have changed in many ways that have not changed my major, but may influence my future career choices." -Fall 2007 Student Evaluation

DUKE IN THE ANDES - CORE SEMINAR

SPANISH VERSION DOWNLOAD (Fall 2007 detailed description)

**NOTE: The Spring 2008 course description and structure will be slightly different from the fall 2007 course, as we always seek to enhance. The new description should be posted in late January 2008.

POLSCI 100N.01 (CCI, SS)
CULANTH 199A (SS, CCI)
SPANISH 144S (ALP, CCI, FL) cross listed with ICS and LAS

The Construction of Pluricultural Nation-States in Andean America: Debates and Emergent Experiences

The core course is mandatory for all students registered in the Duke in America Andina Program.

The central issues of the course will be address in two modules which will include the present socio – political processes, issues currently confronting the region, and the emergence of new social and political actors. Attention will be placed on the politics of culture, the importance of intercultural relations, and the challenges of both, particularly with regards to political change, social and cultural movements, their discourses, and new conceptions and constructions of identity.

The course will be coordinated by the regional program director and will involve, as invited speakers, Indigenous, Afro Ecuadorian and Mestizo intellectuals and public figures. The course will be open to local students as well. The course will also include field visits to Amazonian, Andean and Afro Coastal Communities.

Methodology:

The course will take the form of a symposium where students will make brief presentations on issues related to the session and post critical questions for class discussion. In second part of the session, the professor will further reflect on the themes discussed. For some specific themes, invited speakers will make related presentations. In addition, the students will make field visits to organizations representing the main social movements.

Each 15 hour module will be presented by an expert on the related theme. A reading list will be provided for each module.

The course activity will include learning service work that will take place off campus in community based programs previously selected.

Evaluation:

The grade for the course will be based on:

• Level of class participation: 15% of final grade
• Quality of class presentations and discussion: 25% of final grade
• Final report for modules II and III (research paper or other creative project format such as video, photo exposition, etc.): 50% of final grade
• Level of involvement and activity in the service learning experience: 10% of final grade

Last Revised: 10 January 2008