The New-Ish Mountain Term: What Classes Are Offered?
Becca Boynton | October 18, 2023
On Oct. 18, Warren Wilson College (WWC) held a meeting in Canon Lounge to discuss the new Mountain Terms for current students. Mountain Terms at WWC have, in the past, been reserved for non-students. However, now WWC students have the opportunity to explore and learn outside of a traditional classroom setting.
Mountain Terms at WWC are typically three-week-long courses for individuals over the age of 18 taught by WWC faculty. The classes highlight community building, experiential learning and exploration for life-long learners.
Now, these courses that were reserved for non-WWC students have opened up to any student who wishes to push their learning even further.
Five classes will be offered to students. The classes will begin immediately after commencement in May and last three and a half weeks, ending in early June. Students will remain on campus during these courses and engage with their broader community as well as travel with their class.
The classes offered are:
American Women Writers in Context. Taught by Paula Garrett, this class requires students to apply to the course, similar to other study abroad courses. Accepted students get the opportunity to travel to New England for ten days and expand their knowledge of American women writers even further. Students will visit historical sites as well as work through the work of various women writers. Unlike local courses, students are required to submit an application in order to participate in the class. The application can be found here.
Serve it Forth: Food Writing in Creative Nonfiction, taught by Alysia Sawchyn. This course is a local class, taught on the WWC campus with many afternoon field trips throughout. Students will learn and examine various forms of food writing. Students will also work with the local community to create a meal and provide them with hands-on experience in the professional food writing field.
Everybody Lives Downstream: The French Broad and Colorado Rivers. Taught by Amy Knisley and Pat Ciccotto, students in this class will study the biodiversity, water quality and more of two separate rivers; The French Broad and the Colorado River. With a ten-day travel component, students will engage with professionals and learn about the various threats to our rivers. This class completes student’s PEG Two requirements. The application for this course can be found here.
Archaeological Field School: Freedom and Family at a Historically Black N.C. Homestead taught by Scotti Norman. This is a local course where students will work together and excavate at Boyd Cabin in Leicester, N.C., a historically Black site. Throughout the weeks, students will evaluate findings and historical perspectives and engage in critical discussions regarding race and archaeology.
The Tourism Balancing Act: Applying Global Sustainability Lessons to the WNC Tourism Economy Sustainable Tourism. Taught by Kristen Keane, this course is a local course with one overnight trip. Students will dissect the interconnectedness of tourism and environmental sustainability while engaging with their local Western North Carolina community.
Students applying for the travel Mountain Term classes must be in good academic standing with WWC as well as have a GPA of at least 2.0.
All courses offered require a $700 fee for housing, food and various excursions. Some courses have an additional fee.
For travel courses, applications must be submitted by Oct. 25. However, local courses require no application.
Interested students can learn more about WWC Mountain Term on myWWC or by clicking here.
Mountain Term opens up new learning opportunities for students. With engaging class assignments and off-campus activities, students will step into a new realm of knowledge in just under three weeks.