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Beginning in 2007 JFK University's Integral Studies Department began offering Integral Field Courses. The field courses orient around a central thread of how Integral Theory can be brought to bear on complex, global issues today. These 10-day courses offer students of Integral Theory an opportunity to engage in practical application of the model in the field, through partnership with integrally-informed organizations in other countries. In particular, courses explore how the leaders within these organizations use integral folk methods (i.e., informal and intuitive uses of 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-person practices), as well as those who are applying Integral Theory more fully in their programming.
The first course went to El Salvador in Fall 2007. The next course will to go Peru in Spring 2009 (see details below). In the following years we are planning on offering courses in Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa. We are in the process of developing courses to occur domestically in the United States as well. If you have an organization that you think could partner with JFKU for a field course of this nature, please contact us.
2009 Spring Course in Peru
- Applied learning about Integral Theory in Amazon rainforest conservation and sustainable development.
- Learn about current environmental conservation efforts via field activities and applied small group work
- Experience the rainforest and learn from an indigenous community in the Amazon basin
- Explore the global issues of climate change and biodiversity in the cloud forest
- Inquire into the inter-play of premodern, modern and postmodern cultures in a global context today
- Integrate your spiritual practice with social change
- Bring your education in Integral Theory into practice for the planet.
Integral Field Course Details
Place: Peru (Cusco, Amazon basin, cloud forest, and Machu Picchu)
Dates: Due to the feedback from last field course, we have set our tentative dates during the holiday for JFK students, between Summer and Fall quarters, likely September 5th-15th. This will give students an ability to really focus on the field course, at a time when they don't have other competing academic commitments with other campus courses. We have yet to finalize these dates, in collaboration with the academic policies of JFK and also our Peruvian partner organization, Amazon Conservation Association, but you can tentatively note those in your calendars!
Cost: The course price includes a tuition fee as well as travel fee, and usually the price is very reasonable compared to other international courses offered elsewhere. Tuition: for JFKU students, this counts as a 2-unit course, with regular tuition fees that apply; non-degree students can audit this course for a reduced tuition rate. Travel Fee: We have yet to determine the travel fee. As you know, we try to keep this as cost effective and accessible for students. In general, the travel fee covers airfare, in-country travel, accommodation, instruction, translation, and facilitation of activities; you will be responsible for vaccinations, food and water, and recreational purchases. For those living outside the Bay Area, we will take out the airfare cost from your travel amount, and you'll be responsible for getting a flight from your city to Lima. I'll inform you as soon as we have a travel fee finalized—stay tuned!
Who: Individuals interested in how Integral Theory is, or can be, applied to pertinent issues in today’s world, such as: coaches, leaders, consultants, activists, healers, and other social change agents. Priority will be given to enrolled JFKU students (on campus or online) from JFKU and the course is also open to non-degree students.
Academic credits: This is as a 2-unit course (For JFKU students this can count as an elective or professional development course).
Grade evaluation criteria: Participation in field lectures, daily activities, and experiential exercises; Small Group Assignments (developed and presented during course); Final Paper (students will have two weeks after returning to write this; due the final meeting).
Prerequisites: (please read this carefully, and talk with us if it is unclear.)
EITHER: For on-campus students: Social and Cultural Psychology and Integral Psychology A. For on-line students: Cultural Development and Intro to Integral Theory-Five Elements.
OR: Sufficient cross-cultural experience and familiarity with Integral Theory, to be determined by faculty.
Pre-readings: Will be expected of the students and reading lists will be provided upon registration.
Application process: Includes a 2-page essay question and interview. The essay question is: What personal experiences brought you to the awareness of global issues, and how do you see an Integral Approach might assist our understanding and response to these issues? The essay question must be 1.5 spaced and submitted to Gail Hochachka by January 15th. The essay will be reviewed by us, brief interviews will occur during April and May, and students will be informed if they are accepted in the course shortly after.
Faculty: Vernice Solimar and Gail Hochachka, Integral Studies Department, JFKU
Contact: vsolimar@jfku.edu and ghochachka@integralinstitute.org
Course Objectives:
Key global issues that we'll focus on in Peru:
o biodiversity and cultural diversity
o climate change,
o conservation efforts with indigenous communities
Key topics that we engage in each field course:
o history and evolution of approaches to development (magic, mythic, rational, postmodern, integral)
o integral spirituality and social change
o small groups that pick a topic to which they can direct their applied integral inquiry over the 10 days.
Schedule of Field Activities:
Day 1-2: Cusco
Settle in, discuss personal and course intentions, visit city and surrounding area.
Day 3-4: Machu Picchu
Train through Sacred Valley of the Inkas, stay in the town of Aguas Calientes, visit ruins for sunrise.
Learn about major waves of consciousness and how they have been engaged in development.
Day 5: Cloud Forest
Travel to and stay in Waychechas Retreat in cloud forest overlooking Amazon basin.
Learn about biodiversity and climate change from integral perspective.
Day 6-7: Amazon community
Stay in rainforest with Huachapaire community on Q'eros River.
Participate in activities and ceremonies with Huachapaire indigenous people; experiential learning and field lectures.
Day 8: Cloud Forest
Stay again in Waychechas Retreat.
Integrate learning, small group presentations.
Day 9: Andean community
Travel to Challabamba community where we will stay.
Learn about integral spirituality and social change, via participating as invited guests for a traditional festival in honor of La Virgin de Chanca.
Day 10: Cusco
Return to Cusco for reflections and closing
Day 11: Travel
Leave Cusco, travel to Lima, night flight to SFO.
WATCH FOR THE UP-COMING FIELD-PLACEMENT PROGRAM
At JFKU, in association with the Integral Research Center, we are in the process of creating a field-placement program for graduate students to engage and apply their learning to address real-time issues in various locations on the planet. These field-placements will also be available for self-funded interns, who will participate as non-degree students. The field-placement program will include a 10-day intensive course to prepare and orient students to the field-placement, and then three-five months of project work with integrally-informed organizations in countries in the global south. This type of field-placement is an invaluable learning opportunity and one that can provide necessary work experience to those individuals wanting to do further work in sustainability or development. The current countries and project topics we are looking at to develop as field-placements include:
- El Salvador: post-war healing, community development, and gender equality
- Peru: conservation of cloud forest and Amazon rainforest
- Nigeria: integral leadership development and sustainable livelihoods
- Ethiopia: HIV/AIDS, community health, and poverty alleviation
DOMESTIC FIELD-PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Domestic field-placement opportunities may be available with the following organizations.
COTS (Committee on the Shelterless)
Petaluma, California
John Records
Integral Recovery
John Dupuy
Teleosis
Berkeley, California
Joel Kreisberg
The Center for Integral Human Being
Sebastopol, California
Vipassana Esbjörn-Hargens
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