The Pro Humanitate Center

Nicaragua

This summer, with the support of the Pro Humanitate Center, a Project of the Lilly Endowment, and the Office of International Studies, Wake Forest University will again offer a summer study program in Nicaragua.  Dr. Gary Miller will teach HES 384: Special Topics: Health Issues on a Global Scale.  Dr. Steve Giles will teach COM 351C:  Comparative Communication. Each course is 3.0 credit hours.

The first two weeks of the courses will consist of intensive on-campus course work. Dr. Giles and Dr. Miller will then accompany students to Managua, Nicaragua, where they will engage in service-learning projects in educational and medical settings. Experiences will include volunteering in acute care clinics, physical therapy/rehabilitation facilities, public and private elementary schools and conducting university-based research. At the end of each day, reflection, analysis, and group discussion will be facilitated by the faculty. Students must possess a proficient level of Spanish to fully benefit from these experiences.

Students who participate in this trip will receive some financial compensation from the Pro Humanitate Center through a grant provided by the Lilly Endowment.

 

Course Descriptions

COM 351C: Comparative Communication (3 hours)

The purpose of this course is to learn about approaches to promoting health or preventing disease through media and community-based interventions. Students will engage in readings and discussion that compare these approaches in the U.S. and Nicaragua. After completing two weeks of class on campus, students will spend 3 weeks in Nicaragua participating in service-learning projects while reflecting on the application of behavior change approaches within the Nicaraguan cultural context. Frequent excursions will be part of the educational experience.

This course satisfies the cultural diversity divisional requirement.

Although Spanish language fluency is not required, having a foundation of knowledge in Spanish is helpful. Students must also register for HES 384.

 

HES 384 – Special Topics – Health Issues on a Global Scale (3 hours)

This 3-hour discussion and experiential designed study abroad course will explore health issues on a global scale, with an emphasis on health problems in developing nations.  Topics discussed will include how health behaviors (physical activity and nutrition) affect disease risk, the implication of the environment on these behaviors, and challenges associated with providing health care to underserved communities.  Hands-on experiences will be provided to students to participate in service projects at health clinics in the Winston-Salem community and then in clinical and educational settings in Nicaragua.  Discussions involving reflection on these experiences will an important component of this course.  Students must also register for COM 351C: Comparative Communication (3 hours).

 

Contact Information

Dr. Steven Giles (gilessm@wfu.edu, 758-4442)

Dr. Gary Miller (millergd@wfu.edu, 758-1901)