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Study Abroad
| Title | Offering | Standing | Credits | Credits | When | F | W | S | Su | Description | Preparatory | Faculty | Days of Week | Multiple Standings | Start Quarters |
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Andean Roots: Biocultural Diversity Conservation in Highland Peru
Steven Scheuerell biology cultural studies environmental studies sustainability studies |
Program | SO - SRSophomore - Senior | 8 | 08 | Day, Evening and Weekend | SuSummer |
This study-abroad program to highland Peru will combine studies of biocultural diversity, cultural ecology, conservation biology, and sustainable development to learn how people are working to conserve cultural landscapes in the face of globalization and climate change. The Cusco region of Peru provides an ideal place to immerse in these studies. Here the headwaters of the Amazon flow from glacial covered peaks of the Andes to tropical rainforest, passing through radical changes in flora and fauna and thousands of years of continuous human habitation and domestication. Globally recognized as one of the origins of agriculture, these cultural landscapes hold an immense wealth of cultural knowledge and agricultural and ecosystem diversity that has developed and endured through pre-Incan, Incan, Spanish, and Peruvian rule. Yet these people, knowledge, culture, biodiversity, and landscapes, summed up as biocultural diversity, are straining from rapid development of resource extraction industries, industrial agriculture, globalization, and climate change. To study this we will base out of the town of Pisac in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, from which we will make day and overnight visits to highland Quechua communities, valley locations, and high jungle tropical sites. We will participate in local projects that support diversity while providing for sustainable human development in order to understand the complexities of global initiatives such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Millennium Development Goals.
Participating in this program will require the ability to travel independently and as a cooperative member of our learning community. We will have orientation meetings on the Evergreen Olympia campus preceeding summer session, but students will travel independently to Cusco, Peru, where we will gather together at a designated hostel June 20-21. Each participant will have to purchase their own plane tickets, which minimizes cost to you and maximizes flexibility in travel routes and timing. Faculty will arrange all lodging and local group transport during the stay. We will study together from June 21 to July 22; this includes evaluation writing and conferences. Students are encouraged to consider further independent study at one of the local language schools or independent travel to local communities, Incan sites such as Machu Picchu, and diverse ecosystems.
Please understand the following about costs and travel conditions. A non-refundable deposit of $150 is due by May 1 to secure your space. Students will be required to pay an $800 student fee that covers lodging, group transport, program site visits, and a fraction of faculty travel costs. Lodging costs are calculated on youth-hostel like conditions with same-sex shared rooms and shared bathrooms. Private accomodations can be arranged in advance at approximately double the price, contact faculty if you prefer this option. Students will pay out-of-pocket for their own food and meals in order to meet dietary needs and different budgets; $7 per day gives you ample options at restaurants, shops, and outdoor markets. Students will pay out-of-pocket for any personal items and independent outings during free time to local areas of interest including museums, artisan markets, and Incan archeological sites. ATM machines are easy to access in the region. Students will arrange and pay for their own plane flights to Cusco, Peru. Faculty can provide advice on travel options. Students need to have sufficient Spanish language ability to greet people, ask and understand directions, work with currency, and purchase food. Much of what we do will require extensive walking, sometimes at high elevation and on uneven ground. You will have to carry everything you bring, so pack light and know that you can buy just about anything you need. Contact faculty for a suggested packing list. Please email any questions to faculty member Steve Scheuerell at
(scheuers |
conservation biology, agricultural diversity conservation, biocultural diversity studies, ecology, cultural studies, sustainable development | Steven Scheuerell | Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Summer | |||
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Art, Culture, and Spirit
Hirsh Diamant consciousness studies cultural studies education literature somatic studies visual arts Signature Required: Winter |
Program | FR - SRFreshmen - Senior | 4, 8, 12 | 04 08 12 | Evening and Weekend | FFall | WWinter | All human societies and cultures express their relationship to spirit through art. Art is the earliest and most enduring expression of humanity. For community and the individual, art can be a practice of connecting with higher consciousness and with the spirit. In today's global community it is important to understand art of other cultures and by so doing to awaken art within oneself while learning to understand the "other." All children naturally understand the importance of art and are creating art constantly in their play. All children are artists and all can paint, play, sing, and dance. Children also have an instinctive sense of right and wrong. In the modern, industrial world these natural abilities often become suppressed and lost. Modern educators need to be confident in their own artistic abilities and grounded in their own moral core; they need to be trained in communication across cultures and able to support children's healthy development. The students in this half-time, interdisciplinary program will immerse themselves in study and practice of art and in cultural experiences that are vastly different from the Western dominant culture by studying Native American, Muslim, Hebrew, and Chinese cultures. Students will make art, study myths and world religions as they have been shaped by cultures and landscapes of the past, and examine cultural and ethical norms. Students will also examine cultural influences and pressures of today's global society and will investigate the importance of preserving and developing cultural, artistic, and ethical traditions. Students will engage in traditional academic study such as reading, writing, and seminars and will also engage in art making, meditation, community events, and the practice of Tai Ji. Students will participate in their community's spiritual practices and will cultivate their own spiritual, meditative, ethical, and artistic life. In addition to classroom study, students will participate in mediation retreats and will go on field trips to explore art and spiritual resources in the community. In winter quarter students will be able to work on community service projects, in schools, and on Native American reservations. Students will also have the option to travel to China in March of 2011 to study in important Daoist, Buddhist, and Confucian centers. Students who wish to participate in this travel option should register for either 4 credits (just the trip) or 12 credits (8-credit program plus the trip). | community, culture, and consciousness studies; art; education; literature; and writing. | Hirsh Diamant | Wed Thu Sat Sun | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||
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Biodiversity Studies in Argentina
Erik Thuesen biology botany ecology field studies language studies marine science natural history study abroad Signature Required: Fall |
Program | JR - SRJunior - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | FFall | WWinter | In the 19th century, well-known European scientists such as Darwin, d'Orbigny and Bonpland traveled in Argentina and brought their knowledge of the flora and fauna back to Europe. The marine, desert and alpine environments of the Southern Cone harbor flora and fauna very different from similar environments in North America. In this two-quarter program, we carry out intensive natural history studies of the unique organisms and ecosystems of Argentina, focusing on those of Patagonia. After an introductory week in Olympia at the start of fall quarter, the study abroad portion of the program will commence with a 4-week intensive study of Spanish language in Buenos Aires to prepare us for our travels and studies in Argentina during fall and winter quarters. We will begin to study the flora and fauna of the Southern Cone through preliminary readings, lectures and class work in Buenos Aires. We will take a short trip to the sub-tropical province of Misiones during October, then move to the coastal and mountain regions of Patagonia in November. We will study the natural history of Patagonia, beginning with field studies on the Atlantic coast and then moving to the Andean Lakes District, taking advantage of the progressively warmer weather of the austral spring. Students will conduct formal field exercises and keep field notebooks detailing their work and observations. We will read primary literature articles related to the biodiversity of Argentina and augment our field studies with seminars. During winter quarter (summer in the southern hemisphere), students will reinforce their language skills with two weeks of intensive Spanish studies in Patagonia, examine montane habitats, then work in small groups on focused projects examining biodiversity topics. It will be possible to conduct more focused studies on specific ecosystems or organisms, including those in more southern parts of Patagonia, at this time of the year. Clear project goals, reading lists, timelines, etc., will be developed during fall quarter in order to insure successful projects in winter quarter. Examples of individual/small group projects include: comparisons of plant/animal biodiversity between coastal, desert and alpine zones; comparative studies on the impacts of ecotourism activities on biodiversity; or examining community composition of intertidal habitats along a gradient from north to south, among others. The total estimated cost for this program (including expenses incurred over Thanksgiving and winter breaks) for food, lodging, transportation, Spanish language instruction and fieldwork activities (whale watching, national park fees, museum fees, etc.) is $7,575. The college’s current total estimated cost for food, lodging, etc. per quarter in Olympia is $4,005. With the low cost of living and traveling in Latin America, participating in this two quarter program will actually be less expensive than living in Olympia. | biodiversity, conservation, field biology, Latin American studies, natural history and Spanish language. | Erik Thuesen | Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | |||
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Caribbean Tourism: A Critical Analysis
Tom Womeldorff cultural studies economics international studies study abroad |
Program | FR - SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | WWinter | Escaping to paradise on a tropical island has been a part of the Western psyche for centuries. Exotic plants and animals, sunshine, coconut palms, turquoise waters and romance all form part of a modern day fantasy to be lived out on a Caribbean tropical island. The tourism industry has developed to fulfill the fantasy, offering packaged deals at resorts, island hopping on cruises and local cultural entertainment. More recently, the market has expanded, catering to "non-tourists" who want to experience the authentic, wild and untouched. While not perceiving of themselves as tourists, they are driven by very similar desires and images. The collective fantasies are reinforced and shaped by countries seeking to attract needed tourist dollars, and the tourism industry carefully constructing resorts and tours to cater to the tourist's preconceptions. While tourism provides an important source of jobs and income for Caribbean peoples, it comes at a cost. Fulfilling tourist fantasies constrains self-determination. Caribbean peoples become commodified; they themselves are consumed by the tourist. In this program, we will study the evolution of Caribbean tourism with particular focus on economic impacts, the shaping of the tourist experience, impacts on the local people, changing Western perceptions of the region and the tourism mentality. In the first four weeks, we will analyze the development of Caribbean tourism and its economic role, how the tourist experience is marketed, and what happens when cultures cross and mix through the tourist experience. In week five, each of us will begin an in-depth individual investigation of tourism. The quarter will culminate in the sharing of our individual projects, comparing and contrasting the impact of tourism across the region. With approval, students previously enrolled in (Fall 2010) will have the option to travel to the Caribbean during weeks 5, 6 and 7 as part of their independent project. All other students will complete their investigations on the Evergreen campus. The regular class schedule will continue throughout the quarter. | economics, economic development, Caribbean studies, and the social sciences and humanities. | Tom Womeldorff | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Winter | ||||
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China: Its Language and Culture
Lin Crowley |
Program | FR - SRFreshmen - Senior | 8, 12 | 08 12 | Day, Evening and Weekend | SuSummer | This unique, study-abroad program allows you to experience China, the second largest economy in the world. Through a short-term study in Shanghai, a renowned international metropolis, students will participate in a three week summer program at the International School of Tongji University. The university experience will offer Chinese language classes, insight into Chinese culture: modern, traditional, urban, suburban, and rural life. In addition, students will travel to Nanjing, known as the Capital City of Ten Dynasties in China's history, and then on to the city of Xian, a treasure house of cultural relics where Qin Shi Huang’s tomb resides, guarded by terra cotta warriors. Travel continues to the city of Luo Yang, the Cradle of Buddhism and the location of the Shaolin Temple—renowned for its Shaolin martial arts that are so popular in China and the rest of the world—and finally to Beijing, the current capital of China, to visit the Great Wall, National Palace Museum, and the Summer Palace. All students will travel during first session. Students enrolling for 12 credits will continue to meet during second session to reflect and continue to learn through seminars, readings, and films and through work on video or photo journals documenting the trip. More information and application procedures are available online at or by contacting faculty by April 1. | culture studies, Chinese studies, teaching, international relations, media, and global business, trade, or politics | Lin Crowley | Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Summer | |||
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Memory and Conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean
Ulrike Krotscheck and Steven Niva classics cultural studies international studies political science study abroad Signature Required: Winter |
Program | SO - SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | FFall | WWinter | SSpring | –David Lowenthal, ) In this program, students will investigate the political, cultural and economic life of the Eastern Mediterranean. Situated between Europe and the Middle East, this area includes the lands known today as Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Egypt. Although it is the origin of some of the world's most important civilizations and religious traditions, this region has increasingly become a site of political conflict, war and terrorism. This program will explore how the past, and particularly contested memories of this past, plays a role in many conflicts that have arisen in this region as a result of colonialism, nationalism and religious differences. In particular, the program will focus on how contested memories of the past shape conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians, over the ancient heritage and modern identity of Egypt and over the identity and boundaries of modern Turkey and Greece. We will examine how struggles over the past—who claims it, what it means, and whose memories are empowered or marginalized—are primarily struggles over the present—who has power, which identities will be favored, and who has rights to territory and place. Drawing primarily upon the fields of archaeology and political science, the program will introduce students to central debates and methodological issues in each discipline and students will learn how to examine the evidence and claims from archaeological findings, museums and heritage sites in light of contemporary political and cultural power relations. In the fall, the program will trace this region's evolution from the rise of ancient Egypt and classical Greece to the rise of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and then the transformation of the region through European colonialism and modern nation-states. We will explore the relationship between past and present through examining specific archaeological sites in each area, including Luxor (ancient Thebes) in Egypt, the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem and Catalhoyuk in Turkey. In the winter, we will continue this study through examining Napoleon's conquest of Egypt, the origins and present status of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the population exchange between Greece and Turkey at the end of the Ottoman Empire, among other topics. Our study will be based on theoretical texts and primary sources, novels and religious documents, as well as guest speakers and occasional field trips. Students will build learning communities through workshops, lectures, research, seminars and presentations. In the process, students will learn how to apply theory to case studies, undertake advanced research projects and develop critical thinking skills based upon an awareness of a diversity of views. In the spring quarter, a group of students from the program—subject to qualifications and available space—will have the opportunity to travel abroad to Turkey and Egypt. This six-week travel abroad program will explore both ancient and modern sites and political developments in each location in order to deepen their learning about the role of memory and conflict within the contemporary region. | archaeology, education, cultural studies, history, Middle East studies, political science and international affairs. | Ulrike Krotscheck Steven Niva | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||
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Native Decolonization in the Pacific Rim: From the Northwest to New Zealand
Kristina Ackley and Zoltan Grossman American studies Native American studies cultural studies geography international studies Signature Required: Winter |
Program | SO - SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | FFall | WWinter | Maori scholar Linda Tuhiwai Smith asserts, “Our communities, cultures, languages and social practices – all may be spaces of marginalization, but they have also become spaces of resistance and hope.” In this program we will identify and contextualize these spaces and the politics of indigeneity and settler colonialism. We will use the Pacific Rim broadly as a geographic frame, with a focus on the Pacific Northwest Native nations and the Maori in Aotearoa (New Zealand). A comparative study of the role of treaties in Washington state and New Zealand—in natural resources, governance, the arts, education, etc.--will provide a key framework for the program. By concentrating on a larger region, students will have an opportunity to broaden Indigenous studies beyond the Lower 48 states, and explore common processes of Native decolonization in different settler societies. We will be studying decolonization through cultural revitalization and sovereign jurisdiction of First Nations. In order to examine the central role of Indigenous peoples in the region's cultural and environmental survival, we will use the lenses of geography, history, art and literature. In fall our focus will be on familiarizing students with the concept of sovereignty, working with local Native nations, and preparing to travel to Aotearoa or elsewhere. The concept of sovereignty must be placed within a local, historical, cultural and global context. Through theoretical readings and discussion, we will move from state-building in the U.S. and Canada to Native forms of nationalism. We will stress the complexities and intricacies of colonization and decolonization by concentrating on the First Nations of western Washington and British Columbia. We will later expand the focus to appreciate the similarities and differences of Indigenous experiences in other areas of the Pacific Rim, such as Native Alaskans, Aboriginal peoples in Australia, and South Pacific island peoples. We will emphasize common Pacific Rim concerns such as climate change, tourism, and cultural domination. For up to five weeks in winter quarter, many of us will travel to Aotearoa, where we will learn in a respectful and participatory way how the Maori have been engaged in revitalizing their language, art, land, and politics, and their still unfolding, changing relationships with the Pakeha (non-Maori) people and society. Other students in the program may fulfill their Study Abroad work in other Pacific Rim Indigenous regions, such as British Columbia, Australia, the Philippines, Hokkaido, Siberia, western Mexico, Central America, Ecuador, Peru, or Chile. Students will challenge post-colonial theory that merely deconstructs and move to a consideration of decolonizing practices. We will take as our basic premise in this program that those wishing to know about the history of a particular Native group should write it with a purpose to be in solidarity with these people today. Students will develop skills as writers and researchers by studying scholarly and imaginative works and by conducting policy research and fieldwork with Native and non-Native communities, and to compare community and government relationships in the U.S., Canada and New Zealand. Students will be expected to integrate extensive readings, lecture notes, films, interviews, and other sources in writing assignments. | Native American studies, geography, cultural studies and world Indigenous peoples studies | Kristina Ackley Zoltan Grossman | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | |||
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New Zealand: Maori and Native Decolonization in the Pacific Rim
Zoltan Grossman and Kristina Ackley American studies Native American studies cultural studies geography study abroad Signature Required: Winter |
Program | SO - SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | FFall | WWinter | Maori scholar Linda Tuhiwai Smith asserts, “Our communities, cultures, languages and social practices—all may be spaces of marginalization, but they have also become spaces of resistance and hope.” In this program we will identify and contextualize these spaces and the politics of indigeneity and settler colonialism. We will use the Pacific Rim broadly as a geographic frame, with a focus on the Pacific Northwest Native nations and the Maori in Aotearoa (New Zealand). By concentrating on a larger region, students will broaden Indigenous studies beyond the lower 48 states, and show common processes of Native decolonization in different settler societies. We will be studying decolonization through cultural revitalization, treaty relationships, and sovereign jurisdiction of First Nations. In order to examine the central role of Indigenous peoples in the region's cultural and environmental survival, we will use the lenses of geography, history, art and literature. In fall, our focus will be on familiarizing students with the concept of sovereignty, working with local Native nations, and preparing to travel to New Zealand. The concept of sovereignty must be placed within a local, historical, cultural and global context. Through theoretical readings and discussion, we will move from nation building in America to Native forms of nationalism. We will stress the complexities and intricacies of colonization and decolonization by concentrating on the First Nations of western Washington and British Columbia. In winter, we will examine the similarities and differences of Indigenous experiences in other areas of the Pacific Rim, including Aboriginal peoples in Australia, Pacific island peoples, and Tribal Filipinos. We will emphasize common concerns such as climate change, natural resource control, and the impacts of trade, tourism, militarization and cultural domination. For five weeks in winter quarter, most of us will travel to Aotearoa (New Zealand), where we will learn in a respectful and participatory way how the Maori have been engaged in revitalizing their language, art, land and politics. Through guest speakers and visits to Maori (communal social, spiritual, political centers), education centers, historical and contemporary public sites, and a Köhanga Reo (preschool Maori language program) we will build on our knowledge and work with Native nations. Students will challenge post-colonial theory that merely deconstructs and move to a consideration of decolonizing practices. Our basic premise in this program is that those wishing to know about the history of a particular Native group should write with a purpose to be of support to these people today. Students will develop skills as writers and researchers by studying scholarly and imaginative works and by conducting policy research and fieldwork. There will be films and guest speakers that reflect important aspects of Indigenous experiences. The program will include a range of research and presentation methodologies such as the production of thematic maps (cartography) and other computer graphics. Students will be expected to integrate extensive readings, lecture notes and other sources in writing assignments. | cultural studies, geography, Native American studies and world Indigenous peoples studies. | Zoltan Grossman Kristina Ackley | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | |||
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The Spanish-Speaking World: Cultural Crossings
Alice Nelson and Diego de Acosta cultural studies history language studies literature study abroad Signature Required: Winter Spring |
Program | SO - SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | FFall | WWinter | SSpring | Spain and Latin America share not only the Spanish language but also an intertwined history of complex cultural crossings. The cultures of both arose from dynamic and sometimes violent encounters, and continue to be shaped by uneven power relationships as well as vibrant forms of resistance. In Spain, Jews, Christians and Muslims once lived side-by-side during a period of relative religious tolerance and cultural flourishing, known as the medieval . Military campaigns and the notorious tribunals of the Spanish Inquisition eventually suppressed Jewish and Muslim communities, but legacies of these communities have persisted in Spanish society. The first Spanish encounters with Latin America involved violent clashes between the Spaniards and indigenous peoples, as well as Africans brought to the Americas as slaves. The long aftermath of these initial clashes—wars of conquest, religious missions, colonization, and slavery, all confronted continuously through resistance—gave rise to new, hybrid Latin American communities. In the 20th century, Spain and several countries of Latin America experienced oppressive dictatorships as well as the resulting emergence of social movements that enabled democratization. The question of regional identity and difference has also defined several countries’ experiences, from Catalonia and the Basque region in Spain, to various indigenous ethnicities from Mexico to the Southern Cone. More recently, the context of economic globalization has given rise to unprecedented levels of international migration, with flows from Latin America to Spain and the U.S., as well as from North Africa and eastern Europe to Spain. All of these cultural crossings have involved challenges and conflict as well as rich and vibrant exchanges. Students will engage in an intensive study of the Spanish language and explore the literature remembered, imagined and recorded by Spaniards and Latin Americans in historical context. We will critically analyze selected texts from medieval times to the present. Every week will include seminars on readings in English translation, Spanish language classes, a lecture delivered in Spanish and a film in Spanish. During the fall and winter, we will explore various themes that define and describe key moments in the intertwined histories of Spain and Latin America. These may include national and regional identity, dictatorship and resistance, linguistic crossings and democratization processes. Spring quarter will offer opportunities to study abroad in Quito, Ecuador, or Santo Tomás, Nicaragua, as well as internships with local Latino organizations for those who stay on campus. All classes during the spring will be conducted in Spanish. | Latin American and international studies, literary and cultural studies, language, politics, history, education, film studies, writing, and human and social services. | Alice Nelson Diego de Acosta | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||
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Trek the Caucasus Mountains and Countries
Robert Smurr Signature Required: Summer |
Program | FR - SRFreshmen - Senior | 8 | 08 | Day, Evening and Weekend | SuSummer | This course is designed for particularly inquisitive and adventurous students who wish to explore the history, culture, politics, and landscapes of the Caucasus region during a physically demanding, four-week, foreign trek. Our early travels will take us to many ancient cultural sites in the countries of Armenia and Georgia. We spend the final few weeks of the program backpacking through two distinct areas of Georgia’s isolated high alpine regions that border Russia and Chechnya, but we also conclude the trip with a few relaxing days on the shores of the stunning Black Sea. Course readings will focus on Caucasian national histories, current political concerns, and the development of outdoor leadership skills. Students who participate in this unique program must be intellectually and emotionally mature, in top physical condition, and prepared to endure numerous physical hardships (e.g., rain, snow, mud, wind, high altitude hiking [maximum 11,000’], long, bumpy, dusty roads, foreign cultures). Rob Smurr has nearly two decades of experience leading commercial and student trips to this region. Depending on student interest and emphasis, credit can be given in the following disciplines: environmental studies, history, political science, Russian and Eurasian studies, art (photography, drawing), art history, writing, and adventure travel. | eco-tourism, adventure travel, environmental history, cultural studies | Robert Smurr | Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Summer |