PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

 

NEWBERRY SEMINAR: RESEARCH IN THE HUMANITIES

ACM Newberry Seminars offer Colorado College the rare opportunity of conducting independent research in one of the world’s great libraries and archives, the Newberry Library. Each fall, the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) offers a semester-length team-taught seminar, with a focus on a specific theme in the humanities. Colorado College students are eligible to apply to participate in the fall seminar. For information about fall seminars, click on "Fall Semester" under "Seminars" at the left to visit the relevant page on the ACM's website. In addition, each spring, Colorado College partners with the ACM to offer block or "short-term" seminars on a variety of themes. These seminars are taught by CC faculty at the Newberry Library and are open not only to CC students but also to students at other ACM and Great Lakes Colleges Association institutions. Information about the coming year's seminars may be found by clicking on the appropriate block course titles under "Seminars" at the left. (Note that Cornell College faculty also sometimes offer spring blocks In this program.)

 

For the short-term seminars taught by CC faculty, students meet with the faculty at the start of the block in Chicago, spending a week or so discussing common readings introducing the theme of the course. Thereafter, students conduct independent research in the Library's collections, under supervision of the faculty. From the beginning of the block, students work closely with research librarians to begin familiarizing themselves with the rich primary collections of the Newberry Library. Over the course of the term, students develop their own research topic, relevant to the theme of the course, and write a substantial paper, sharing drafts with each other and the faculty instructor.

 

THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY

The Newberry Library is one of the world’s leading independent research libraries. Focusing on the humanities, its evolving collections embrace the history and literature of Western Europe and the Americas. With an active educational and cultural presence in Chicago, the Newberry presents a variety of exhibits, classes, concerts, and other public programming related to its collections. In addition, the Newberry hosts a variety of highly-acclaimed scholars, many of whom present lectures or lead seminars on their work at the Newberry. Located in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, the Library is near theatres, museums, parks, concerts, shopping, restaurants, and Lake Michigan, making it a vibrant location from which to experience all that Chicago has to offer.

 

STUDENT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Newberry Seminars give Colorado College students a significant research experience that may prepare them for graduate study, professional education (such as law school), or other careers.

With a strong focus on research and writing, the seminars present students with a great opportunity to begin developing a senior thesis or other significant project, and to see whether the kind of research characteristic of graduate studies is for them.

 

CHICAGO LIFE

Students live in furnished, shared apartments within walking distance of the Newberry Library. At the Library, students have designated research carrels, where the books and documents they are examining can be stored. Colorado College seminars at the Newberry also often include field trips to explore the many cultural resources and diverse neighbors of Chicago. In some cases, students can gain additional work experience through a variety of part-time jobs at the Library.