Isabella Cannon Global Education Center

Course Description

GBL 209 US: Wealth and Poverty 

In this course students examine the ways in which economic globalization has exacerbated the divide between the rich and the poor in contemporary society and engage in a moral critique of the increasing disparities between wealth and poverty in our world. Through readings, research, and visits to anti-poverty agencies, students examine the ways in which people experience aspects of wealth and poverty in our world, draw on philosophical and ethical resources to study and assess the moral consequences of the reigning model of globalization, and search for strategies to address the growing poverty in our world.   

This course begins at Elon with morning sessions focused on discussing readings, theories, and experiences in the communities and afternoons engaging in and learning about issues of wealth and poverty in our local community. The second week we travel to New York to work with the Poverty Initiative, a national grassroots anti-poverty movement and to meet with various UN and NGO agencies addressing international poverty issues. The final week brings us back to campus to continue to research, discuss, and imagine new and effective strategies for addressing poverty and inequality in our world.

• The Winter Term and fall courses partially fulfill the General Studies requirement in the area of Civilization OR Society in the Studies in the Arts and Sciences.  It may also count toward the GST Capstone Seminar.

• The WT course also satisfies the Experiential Learning Requirement for the General Studies requirement.

• Grades count toward an Elon GPA.

• This course may not be taken on an audit or pass/fail basis.

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Housing

Students will be housed in shared accommodations.

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Tentative Itinerary

• Week 1: Meet at Elon
  • Preparatory readings and lectures
  • Poverty simulation
• Week 2: Travel to New York City
  • Walking tour of Wall Street
  • Meetings with anti-poverty groups
  • Lectures on economic crisis and theories of impoverishment
  • Tour of UN
  • Meetings with UNICEF and UN Women, interfaith leaders fighting poverty
  • Free day in NYC
  • MLK day
  • Examine US Congress and issues of wealth and poverty
• Week 3:
  • Return to Burlington
  • Lead MLK day presentation
  • Process and debrief NY experiences
  • Work on research projects

Note: Itinerary is subject to change due to availability of local facilities and scheduling issues.

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Cancellation Policy

Deposit Refunds - If you have paid the deposit and are cancelling your participation prior to the deposit refund deadline, the amount will remian as a credit on your account to be applied towards the following semester's billing. If you have any questions about your deposit, you may contact the Bursar's office at bursar@elon.edu or 336-278-5300.

• 11 AM, March 3 - 11:59 PM, March 19, 2015: Priority application period for Winter Term 2016 programs.

• Apr. 2, 2015: The GEC will begin to send notifications via email for all applications received by the priority application deadline.

• Apr. 9 - Sep. 8, 2015: New applications will be accepted and reviewed on a space-available basis.

• Sep. 15, 2015: Final application deadline for Winter Term 2016 Study USA programs. **Students who cancel after this date will not have the deposit refunded.**

• Sep. 30, 2015: Full payment deadline.

• Oct. 1 - Oct. 16, 2015: Students who cancel between these dates will still be responsible for 50 percent of the cost of the program.

• Oct. 17 - Oct. 31, 2015: Students who cancel between these dates will still be responsible for 75 percent of the cost of the program.

• As of Nov. 1, 2015: Students who cancel after November 1 will still be responsible for the full program cost.

*All students are automatically enrolled in a travel insurance policy through iTravel, an outside insurance provider (www.itravelinsured.com). This policy covers students who must cancel their participation due to serious issues of physical health to the student or an immediate family member (parent or grandparent) that occur after the final day to have the $400 deposit refunded. Travel insurance does not insure against changes in mental health. The insurance also does not cover any other changes in circumstances such as disciplinary or academic status; job, internship, graduate school or theatrical performance opportunities; leadership opportunities on campus; fear; other personal issues. Students who must cancel their participation after the final day to have the $400 deposit refunded may be able to seek a refund through the travel insurance company.

If airline bookings have already been made by the time of a student's cancellation, some airlines may issue the student a voucher for the value of the ticket less some penalty fee for change in ticketing. These are usually valid for 12 months with the airline issuing the ticket.  The airline can provide specific details.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Woody Pelton, Dean of International Programs.  We encourage you to address any questions you may have as soon as possible, as a delay in doing so could result in increased charges for which you may be liable.

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Cost

Costs for Study USA vary program to program and are in addition to the tuition for Winter Term, which is included in the fall semester tuition bill.

Costs range between $1200 and $1500. Final costs TBD.

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Scholarships/Travel Grants

Need-based scholarships are available for Elon WT programs through the GEC.

For additional information on scholarships or other funding for study abroad, see the Funding for Study Abroad page.

If you qualify for a travel grant through any of the fellows or scholars programs, see the appropriate program director for more information on how to apply the grant to your study abroad program.  Visit the Deadlines and Events Calendar for travel grant deadlines.

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For More Information

Program Leader 1: Rebecca Todd Peters
Professor of Religious Studies
Spence Pavilion-Religion/Phil. 215 
2340 Campus Box 
Elon, NC 27244
336.278.5247 (phone)
rpeters@elon.edu

Study USA
Isabella Cannon Global Education Center
CB 2375, Global Commons 360
Elon, NC 27244
336.278.6700 (phone)
336.278.6692 (fax)
studyusa@elon.edu