Students rehearse a scene from Urinetown during January IEX. (Photo by Lindsay Lelivelt '11)
Just after Christmas break and before the Spring Semester, Gustavus Adolphus College holds an Interim Experience (IEX). During the month of January, students enroll in just one class. Classes are offered on a variety of topics, both on and off campus, that provide an in-depth look at subjects and themes not typically offered throughout the rest of the year.
January IEX allows time for students and faculty to “do something for sheer intellectual fun, with experimental courses and hands-on courses that cater to specific interests,” Associate Provost and Dean of Academic Programs Barbara Kaiser says. “It is a break to energize and enrich.”
Courses are chosen based on what students will be interested in and what professors want to teach. Each course proposal for IEX goes through multiple committees before it can be approved.
This year, class topics range from Science Fiction Film to Changing the World to Avian Biology. Other courses include Art Forgery and Fraud, A Century of Influenza, and Paleolimnology.
In addition to on-campus classes, many students enroll in travel courses. India, Antarctica, Peru, Spain, New Zealand, London, Greece, and Egypt are a few of the destinations for courses in 2010. There are 299 students abroad on seven different continents this year. While abroad, students immerse themselves in new cultures and surroundings as they study.
Internships are another alternative for those looking to explore career options and job opportunities. More than 160 students are working and exploring careers during January 2010. Internship locations range from Minnesota to Texas in fields like nursing, teaching, and law.
January also provides an opportunity to put in many hours of rehearsal time for the Theatre and Dance Department. A production of the satirical musical comedy Urinetown involves more than 30 cast and crew members. Rehearsals last all day and evening rehearsals occur three times a week. The play is then performed in February after the new semester begins.
Outside of intensive learning, other unique opportunities take place during January. The Peer Assistants sponsor many exercise programs in the evenings during IEX. Yoga, Zumba, and Middle Eastern dance sessions provide a fun environment in which to work out and learn new ways to stay healthy. Intramural sports are also offered and broomball is a popular choice.
Lucas Neher '10 advances the ball during a recent intramural broomball game. (Photo by Lindsay Lelivelt '11)
The January Interim Experience offers the Gustavus community a change of pace and a chance to broaden horizons before the start of the new semester.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510