The course is divided into three sessions:
1. PRE-TRIP: Preparation
2. TRIP: Experience
3. POST-TRIP: Synthesis
1. PRE-TRIP SESSION
Preparation
The pre-trip session will consist of assignments using recommended web sites (see "Outline" link) and required readings over the months of March and April, 2008. These assignments will focus on background information on China's ecosystems, economic growth, industry, government, education, ethnic diversity, history, culture, and the human impacts on biodiversity and human health.
2. TRIP SESSION
Experience
The trip session will consist of a seventeen day expedition to study and perform hands-on research along side academics, field scientists, governmental leaders at both Nanjing University and established field sites in Jiangsu Province. Students will be guided by Chinese and American faculty through a program of field-based research activities that focus on real environmental issues (like eutrophication of China's largest fresh water body, Lake Tai, and the pollution of the Yangtze River due to industrial waste), round-table discussion sessions, and participant presentations. Key here is that students will apply the principals of modern environmental science and economical principles to help China develop sustainable ecosystems. Maintenance of a journal, research of selected species and ecosystem biodiversity, and completion of research reports are also required (see "Requirements" link). Sightseeing events will be incorporated into the itinerary so as to add to the multidisciplinary educational benefits of this practicum.
* Jiangsu Province was selected since it is an overpopulated, affluent and industrialized area, revealing the realities of modern day China. Penn State also has a linkage relationship with Nanjing University since it is a member of the Worldwide Universities Network, which is currently Penn State's major international network for research collaboration and graduate-level student exchange.
3. POST-TRIP SESSION
Synthesis
Submission of research reports, journal entries, species and ecosystem assignments, and answers to questions that summarize the objectives of the course will also occur during the post trip session (see "Outline" link for more information).