From Harry Potter to Politics – UA Interim Program Offers Creative Courses

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — From studying the effects of baseball on the American culture to experiencing political life in Montgomery to exploring the literary phenomenon of Harry Potter, The University of Alabama Interim Program will once again provide interesting opportunities for students to earn college credit for courses not normally taught during the traditional school year.

The UA Interim Program, an innovative three-week term running May 17-June 4, allows students the opportunity to earn college credit in an intensive session scheduled between the end of the spring semester and the beginning of summer school. During Interim, students are allowed to register for one course, which typically runs three hours each day. Some of this year’s Interim classes include:

• Introduction to the European Union — In this class, students will travel to Liege, Belgium, to learn about the origins, current status and future prospects of the European Union. All sessions will be taught in English by a team of faculty from the Hautes Etudes Commerciales and business, policy and culture experts from Eastern and Western Europe.  The program includes day trips to a variety of locations including Brussels, Gent, Bruges and other cities in the region. (Instructor: Dr. Chad Hilton, associate professor of management and marketing, 205/348-9432)
• Life and Legend of Abraham Lincoln — This course will examine the life and legend of the man often considered the representative American. Through historical works, lectures, films, photographs and Lincoln’s own writings, the course will attempt to discover the “real” Abraham Lincoln and evaluate the impact both the actual life and the legend have had on American history. (Instructor: Dr. Lawrence Kohl, associate professor of history, 205/348-1852)
• Bahamas Field Course in Stream Restoration — In this course, students will travel to Andros Island, Bahamas, to learn field-based ecological sampling methodologies while evaluating tidal creeks in a Caribbean setting. Data collected will be incorporated into community-based conservation and restoration programs. Daily activities will focus on sampling of physical and biological characteristics of tidal creeks and interactive lectures. Lectures will be given in English by a UA faculty and Bahamian experts. Undergraduates from the College of the Bahamas will join UA students in data collection and interactive lectures. (Instructor: Dr. D. Albrey Arrington, professor of biology, 205/348-9034)
• The American Game: Baseball and Modern America — This class takes a look at baseball and its place in American culture as it conducts an interdisciplinary investigation of modern American society through the development and evolution of baseball. Special emphasis will be placed on the industrialization of 19th century America, the transformation of American race relations during the 20th century and the suburbanization of post-war America. (Instructor: Dr. Richard Megraw, assistant professor of American Studies, 205/348-9765)
• The Montgomery Experience — This class will provide UA students with exciting and rewarding experience in Alabama state government.  They will be placed in offices and agencies which have a critical impact on the lives of Alabamians. Seminars in Alabama state politics and government correlate closely with the actual internship experience which participants get during Interim.  In recent years, participants in this program have had opportunities to meet and share insights with and from numerous high-ranking state officials. (Instructor: Dr. William Stewart, political science professor emeritus, 205/348-3809)
• Effective Negotiations — Negotiations are pervasive in every aspect of life.  Having the ability to effectively negotiate can provide students with a competitive advantage in many situations.  This course will employ negotiation projects, expert guest speakers and additional readings to help students master critical negotiations skills. (Instructor: Dr. Louis Marino, associate professor of strategic management, 205/348-8946)
• The Literary Phenomenon of Harry Potter — J.K. Rowling’s series of books on the adventures of young Harry Potter are a popular phenomenon, but they are also a literary one. Rich with literary allusion and intertextual relationships, the narratives of Harry’s life re-inscribe and revise images and ideas from texts firmly ensconced in the canon of literary art and classical mythology. In this course, students will read and examine the Harry Potter books from the perspective of their relations with other works. The course will ultimately confront the boundaries between “children’s literature” and “serious” literary art. (Instructor: Dr. Deneen Senasi, department of English)
• Presidential Campaign Communication — The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with political campaign techniques and strategies which are used when dealing with the media. The course is designed to provide students with both a historical look at presidential campaign communication and an analysis of current presidential candidates and campaigns. (Instructor: Dr. Melissa Smith, department of telecommunications and film)

For more information on Interim, its history or a list of courses offered this year, contact Dr. Hank Lazer, assistant vice president for undergraduate programs and services, at 205/348-4893. A complete list of courses and descriptions is also available online at www.registrar.ua.edu.