SU-320: Service to the Earth

Sed Vitae. This is a Service Learning course designed to foster an inter-disciplinary conversation about environmentalism at both the international and local levels. Service Learning is “a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development” (Jacoby, Service-Learning in Higher Education, 1996). Organized around different philosophical models for human beings’ relationship to the natural world—anthropocentric vs non-anthropocentric— each week students will read selections from various historiographic, philosophical, artistic, or theological works that describe and/or advocate for one of these models, and they will then be asked to analyze those arguments critically. At the same time, students enrolled in the class will be expected to serve a total of 42 hours over the course of its 16-week semester (approx. 4-hrs per week) outside of the classroom. Pre-approved service opportunities and/or organizations at Carroll College or in the broader Helena area will be made available for signup on the first day of class (additional opportunities can be approved at the instructor’s discretion). Once students have begun their service hours, they will be required to submit weekly journal entries that reflect on their experiences (being respectful of any of their organization’s policies related to privacy and confidentiality), and they will need to come to class (a 1.5hr seminar held once a week) prepared to put those experiences in dialogue with the class’s assigned readings.