Service-Learning at Frogtown Farm: The Reflective Woman and Global Search for Justice Courses

During their Fall 2021 semester, Honors students in the Global Search for Justice and The Reflective Woman courses participated in service-learning at Frogtown Farm in St. Paul, Minnesota. Frogtown Farm is a non-profit organization with farmland that has the capacity to produce 16,000 pounds of produce. All of the food is donated back to the community. St. Kate's Honors students were able to learn about the process of farming and help care for the land.

Women, Aging, & Lit: Exploring the Science of Aging with the Stories of Literature

This interprofessional and transdisciplinary course was a collaboration between the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health and the School for Humanities, Arts and Sciences. Honors students formed partnerships with CSJs and engaged in meaningful and transformative intergenerational discussions. Healthcare students learned about the science and experience of aging through literature and across disciplines, applying the knowledge to conversations with their CSJ partners.

This HONORS/IPE seminar course, designed for students pursuing majors in the health professions and students who are interested in learning more about aging, will weave the science of aging, called gerontology, with stories in literature to explore topics about women and aging. Topics and questions to be covered through lectures, discussion, team assignments, and 12 hours of service learning will include but are not limited to: Cognitive and psychological changes related to aging:

● Sexuality and aging;

● Aging in place and the continuum of care;

● Loss, grief, death and dying;

● How to reframe aging issues to ensure a better future for all older adults, particularly older women.

● How literature can contribute to the understanding of aging.

● The depiction of aging and the experiences of aging women in works of literature.

● The ways works of literature support pervasive attitudes about aging, and the ways they can disrupt those attitudes.

Mni Sota Makoce and Settler Colonialism: Communication and Theological Perspectives

In Fall 2021, Professors Margaret McCue-Enser and Vincent Skemp from departments of communication and theology, respectively, collaborated to lead the Honors seminar titled Mni Sota Makoce and Settler Colonialism: Communication and Theological Perspectives. With the literature work American Indian Liberation: A Theology Sovereignty by George E. “Think” Tinker as the foundation, this course centers and amplifies indigenous voices, specifically those of the Dakota community. Through discussions, readings, and crafting papers, students in this course learn about Dakota spirituality and how settler colonialism has jeopardized its recognition from society at large. This course is designed to explore from communication and theological lenses how the imagery of settler colonialism and its dominance in mainstream perspectives marginalizes the Dakota experiences of land and water as spiritual materials.

The group of 18 engaged and motivated students in this course had the opportunity to participate in the Sacred Site Tour, an aspect of the Healing Minnesota Stories effort with the Minnesota Council of Churches. This reflective and immersive experience allowed students to learn about Minnesota history through indigenous voices and perspectives. Students began the Sacred Sites Tour at the Church of St. Peter in St. Paul, and continued to Fort Snelling State Park, Dakota Internment Camp site, and finally, ended at Pilot Knob Hill, a traditional burial ground.

Decolonizing Art and Religion in Spain and the Americas: Resistance, Reparations, and Repair

This course is an exploration of the cultures of Spain and the Americas at the time of the colonial Conquest with attention placed on indigenous expressions and Jewish, Muslim and African influences on visual culture. The course considers the ways various expressive forms of material culture (including art, artifacts and architecture) reflect, maintain, and change religious and socio-political meanings over space and time. Drawing on cultural studies, multidisciplinary methods will be used to assess imagery, religious practices, and sacred spaces that continue to hold significant meaning for indigenous, Latin American, and U.S. Latinx populations today.

"Squeezing a Jellyfish": The Complex Work of Interpreters with case studies

This course engages students in a critical analysis of interpreting between languages and cultures. We will look at the work of the interpreter across multiple settings including healthcare, education, business, mental/behavioral health, and social work, as well as in the criminal justice system and during local emergencies/disasters. In each setting, we will examine interpreting from key social, linguistic, cultural, ethical, and political perspectives, with a focus on language access and communication equity. Through readings, interviews, guest speakers, observations and connections with local communities, we will explore these topics with a focus on interpreting between Spanish-English and American Sign Language (ASL)-English. As well, we will explore career pathways in interpreting, both for heritage speakers/signers and for those studying one or more languages. This course balances the theory knowledge with case studies, real life situations and career readiness considerations.

Cultures of Crossed Destinies: Tarot for Collective Transformation

The proliferation of tarot decks, guides, and popular practices in recent years testify to a resurgence of interest in hermetic traditions, divination, and spirituality. That this revival has coincided with mass movements for race, class, and gender justice; the acceleration of climate collapse; and the widespread rise of authoritarian politics, is no coincidence. This course aims to engage the history and iconography of the tarot - and its expressions in culture and society over time - in order to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the current interest in the 78-card deck and its potential for collective transformation. Working closely with Pamela Colman Smith’s interpretation of the classic 1909 Rider-Waite-Smith deck, we’ll study the symbolism of the cards and many influential contemporary interpretations. We’ll also work with scholarly and popular texts by authors including Italo Calvino, Rashunda Tramble, Rachel Pollack, and Aleister Crowley.

Quote from faculty evaluation of Cultures of Crossed Destinies: Tarot for Collective Transformation:

“Both Dr. C and Dr. H show great interest in the class and material. They are well prepared and bring students to discussions that relate to the real world and tarot. They balanced the curriculum perfectly with tarot being integrated in different meanings. “

Cultures of Crossed DestiniesCultures of Crossed Destines St. Kate's Tarot for Transformation

Aesthetics of Immediacy: Navigating the Intersection of Creativity and Technology

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the interplay between creativity and technology has never been more captivating. This interdisciplinary course invites you to explore the exciting convergence of art, literature, self-publishing, artificial intelligence, code, and the intriguing concept of obsolescence, all while embracing the essence of immediacy. Specifically, in this course you’ll dive into the vibrant world of zines, the alternative self-publishing format that has been a haven for rebels, activists, and artists for decades. Discover the historical context and contemporary relevance of zines as a means of personal expression, social commentary, and storytelling. Delve into the concept of immediacy in an era defined by constant connectivity. Examine how artists and creators leverage the urgency of the digital age to craft compelling print and digital narratives, experiences, and art forms. By studying and making zines, you’ll Investigate the allure of outdated technology and its present role in contemporary art and literature.

Phonetics: The Physics of Human Speech

This course will be an introduction to the study of Phonetics. This is an area of Linguistics that relates to Physics. We will learn the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), how it is based on the mechanics of speech articulation, and how it can be used to transcribe utterances in any language. We will also learn acoustic phonetics, which focuses on the study of sound waves. What is the physics behind how sounds are produced? This will also involve learning how to use phonetics analysis software and how to interpret sound waves and spectrograms.

Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?: Legacies of Racist Housing Policies

Who are the people are in your neighborhood? Ever wonder why neighborhoods look the way they do? How does your built environment shape your relationship with neighbors, local government, and democracy more broadly? In this class we will learn about strategies to make neighborhoods segregated and resistance and responses to those strategies. Students will identify current policies aimed at correcting legacies of discrimination in housing and will have an opportunity to propose solutions.

Printmaking and Ceramics: Exploring Relief and Screen Techniques

This course explores the intersection of printmaking and ceramics, introducing students to techniques for transferring prints onto clay surfaces. Through hands-on experience, students will learn to merge traditional printmaking methods—such as relief and screen printing—with ceramic processes like hand-building, wheel throwing, and glazing. The course will cover the fundamentals of both printmaking and ceramics, guiding students through the process of designing, transferring, and firing prints onto various ceramic forms. Emphasis will be placed on experimentation, creative problem-solving, and the development of a personal artistic voice.

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