Augsburg’s River Semester: 100 Days on the Mississippi
 
A unique, multifaceted educational experience! Students will spend the semester paddling the Mississippi River, exploring the history, literature, food, music, and culture of the American heartland. This program will challenge students both physically and academically, as they learn about the politics of the river, the effects of climate change, grassroots social movements in America, and more. No outdoors or camping experience required, but participants must be willing to spend most of the semester camping outside and traveling by canoe.

Learn more and apply to this program on our website
 
Highlights

• Live a green semester by traveling by custom-designed boats, cooking your food along the river, and staying in campsites with very little carbon emissions!
• Study stream ecology and the natural history of the Mississippi River with visits along the way to river research stations.
• Learn about the history and ongoing challenges of race relations and American Indian communities and their fight for justice.
• Explore towns and cities along the Mississippi River, including major metropolitan areas such as Memphis, St. Louis, and New Orleans.
• Spend your semester on one of the most unique programs available to college students today!

Courses & Internships
Students will take the following required courses: 

• Directed Research Project (available in different disciplines by arrangement)
• Field Seminar: Sustainability, Leadership, and Community (Environmental Studies 310)
• Reading the River: a multi-disciplinary and multi-sensory exploration of the human and natural communities along the Mississippi Required (Environmental Studies 330-A)

Elective Courses include:

• Wilderness, Civilization, and Liberation: QBIPOC Environmentalisms (Environmental Studies 330-B)
• Recreational Wellness: Sailing, Canoeing and Paddling  (Recreational Wellness 120)
• Students needing other courses besides the regular core courses listed above, can take the independent study courses or hybrid courses. See the website for more details. 

Student Life
Students, along with accompanying faculty and river guides, will paddle custom-designed water strider boats along the Mississippi River. A majority of the evenings the group will set up camp along the river, cook meals, and discuss class topics around the campfire. Field labs, site visits, guest lectures, and individual research projects allow students to create their own program of study. There will be occasional stops at motels and hostels, with showers and laundry facilities. The group will sample the local cuisine and music in small towns and major river cities such as St. Louis, and Memphis. 

Dates
This program runs once every other fall semester. Upcoming semesters include Fall 2023 and Fall 2025. 

For More Information

• Request Information from us
• Email globaled@augsburg.edu or call +1-612-330-1159
• Learn more and apply to this program on our website