Syllabus
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Image Courtesy of Caroline Richard, Used with Permission
Course Overview
This seminar provides a look at immigration from diverse perspectives, principally through a week-long immersion at the Annunciation House on the border of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Preparation will begin with sessions built around the Notre Dame Forum on immigration and continue with readings and written assignments. During the winter break students will visit sites such as border patrol posts and factories (maquilas), explore legal issues, and dialogue with refugees and parish organizations. Particular attention will be paid to assessing the role of the Catholic Church in relation to immigration. Fluency in Spanish is preferred but not required.
This Social Concerns Seminar in El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez will be a six-day immersion experience to explore immigration from a variety of perspectives. Seminar participants will visit immigration-related sites such as border patrol posts, colonias, and maquilas, and will explore legal aspects of the immigration process. The seminar will include observation of the role of the Annunciation House and its affiliate refugee houses in the border community. There will be dialogue with members of the community and parish organizations to better understand, from theological and interdisciplinary perspectives, the Church's role as it relates to immigration, the faith of the immigrants and the Church's role in their lives. The immersion will include participation in a celebration of Mass on Sunday in Juarez.
The 2007-2008 school year marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Center for Social Concerns, and the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's encyclical Sollicitudo rei socialis (On Social Concerns). Both anticipating and fulfilling John Paul's prophetic vision, the Center for Social Concerns continues to facilitate solidarity on campus, in the South Bend community, across the nation, and throughout the world. Celebrate both of these remarkable anniversaries by practicing the virtue of solidarity.
"Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortures of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit onseself to the common good; that is to say the good of all and each individual, because we are really responsible for all." (On Social Concern, #38)
Image Courtesy of Mikey Maurer, Used by Permission
Learning Goals
- To examine some of the social, cultural, and international forces operative in El Paso/Ciudad Juarez and similar border towns through discussion, readings, and written reflection.
- To build a community of learners fostering flexibility, faith reflection, leadership development, and student-directed experiential learning through shared conversation and involvement with members of the border community.
- To study the various forces and values functioning in the lives of the people of the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez border community through direct involvement with local individuals during the immersion.
Prerequisites
A valid passport, government issued ID, or birth certificate is required for this seminar. There are no additional prerequisites for this course though fluency in Spanish is preferred.
Course Requirements
The Border Issues Seminar is a one credit course, graded "S" or "U".
- Participation in four clases prior to the immersion and two follow-up classes (see calendar for class dates and times).
- Completion of assigned readings, short reflection papers, and a research project (5-7 pages).
- Participation in all activities in El Paso/Juarez.
- Completion of course evaluation forms submitted by the Seminar Director, Cynthia Toms-Smedley.
