Sociology  
 

Summer Course: Communities and Watersheds
 
During summer 2011, we are offering an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to complete a directed study course examining the interface of communities and watersheds, and the associated issues of stewardship and sustainability. This examination will use the Grand River and the Grand Rapids metropolitan area as an example of the social significance of waterways in U.S. community development. 
 
The Grand River The Grand River
 
This directed study course will meet on five Saturdays (May 14, June 4, June 25, July 16, and August 6) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During these six hour periods we will kayak sections of the Grand River, stopping for programs and presentations provided by the course instructor and community members. Experiencing the city from the water offers a unique perspective that most people don't consider. Between class meetings, students will complete off-water activities (e.g. a field trip to the Public Museum; a walk through the downtown on the river walk) and readings that guide student understanding of this topic. 
 
The content of the course is designed to support majors in Sociology, Education, Environmental Studies, Geography, Urban Studies, and Community Leadership.  It is offered as an undergraduate course in Sociology, and both an undergraduate and graduate course in Education.
 
The Grand River Mallard Ducks on the Pigeon River
 
Students will be graded on demonstrated understanding of the relationship between communities and watersheds. To do this, we will have an in-class exam on the final day of the course, and all students will complete a 15-page paper that significantly incorporates content from the course (speakers, readings, videos, experiential learning on the river). Graduate students will additionally complete a literature review and develop K-12 course curriculum.
 
You WILL NOT be graded on how well you kayak. The kayaking abilities of class members will differ, and will not impact participation points. Even if you've never kayaked before, you will be able to complete the kayaking required in this course. 
 
Participation in the course requires a recreational kayak, kayak paddle, and personal flotation device (PFD). If you own these items or can borrow them, the instructor will need to approve your equipment prior to use in the class. If you prefer, we have made arrangements to rent this equipment at a cost of $150 per person for the course.
 
Dr. Kathy Kremer About the instructor: Dr. Kathy Kremer is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Aquinas. She holds a B.S. and M.S. from Minnesota State University-Mankato, a Ph.D. in Rural Sociology from Iowa State University, and worked in community organizations and community developments from 1982-1997. Specifically, she's a community sociologist most interested in community development and change.  A Minnesota native, Dr. Kremer has paddled a lot of water since her first experience in an aluminum Boy Scout canoe in the early 1970s. With a preference for river-based recreational kayaking she enjoys both remote and urban water.