Led by Professors Tracy Wang and Rob Smid Curry is offering two courses:

• Math 2200: History of Mathematics Inquiry. This unique offering allows you to take a required course with three class meetings before semester break and three after break, fulfilling most of the course requirements in China! This course meets Mathematics Education major, mathematics minor, GE Global Interdependence requirements. Senior students wishing to participate may register for the course as an independent study.

• PRS 2160: Introduction to Buddhism. This course introduces students to Buddhism from its origins in India through its introduction and development in China. Students will learn about both the history and practice of Buddhism, including visits to the most prominent Buddhist temples in Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing. This course meets General Education requirements for Humanities Breadth or Global Interdependence, and satisfies the RWE (Reading/Writing Enhanced) requirement. It also fulfills requirements in the Philosophy Major and the Asian Studies minor.

Explore Beijing's ancient past and take pleasure in its exciting modern developments, enjoy the natural and historical significance of Xian, and appreciate the prosperous metropolis and rich cultural resources of Shanghai. Students in the Introduction to Buddhism class will have the opportunity to experience first-hand the history and culture of China at a diverse array of temples, monuments, and museums as well as through direct contact with ordinary Chinese families. We also will meet with Chinese graduate students and professor to learn Chinese mathematics education system. This is an excellent course for students with no significant background in Buddhism, but also provides opportunities for more advanced students to broaden and deepen their understanding.

The goal of this Study Away program, as with the goal of the courses, are to expose students to a different way of thinking, of acting, and of relating themselves to each other and the world around them. The intention of such exposure is to empower students to step back from their own commonly held beliefs so that they can assess them with some additional critical distance, while also learning about the greater diversity of our world.