COLLEGE OFTHE ATLANTIC CATALOGUE 1979-1980 COLLEGE OFTHE ATLANTIC CATALOGUE 1979-1980 This catalogue is a product of the combined efforts of numerous students, staff, and faculty. Merging many perspectives, we have worked for an honest presentation of this College. No written or graphic work can hope to fully portray the richness of life at College of the Atlantic; this cata- logue can only be offered as a point of access. Interested readers are in- vited to come visit and formulate their own views. INTRODUCTION College of the Atlantic (COA) is an accredited, four-year college awarding the Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology. COA is small (140 and growing), independent, and located in Maine on a beautiful coastal campus within walking distance of Acadia National Park. The College's curriculum re- volves around the study of the relationships between people and their natural and social environments. COA was conceived in 1969 by a number of people from different walks of life in an effort to bring increased intellectual diversity, environmental awareness, and economic stability to Mt. Desert Island. In response to important issues of the time - student dissatisfaction with large univer- sities and an increasing ecological and social consciousness - they de- cided to start a small college which would address these problems. The first thirty students arrived in the fall of 1972. Working with the staff and faculty as equals, they set out to develop a new kind of institu- tion and to define a new academic discipline, Human Ecology. The cur- riculum quickly evolved to embrace such seemingly diverse studies as carpentry and metaphysics but was held together by the focus on humans and their environments. The COA curriculum is rooted in concrete problems, not only those of global and local environments but also those of individuals living in a changing and complex society. Courses and workshops approach these subjects, sometimes formally, sometimes informally and personally. At the same time, the COA community is a place where problems are en- countered and solved in ways that transcend the classroom experience. COA is, itself, an experiment in the ecology of human relationships and in the meaning of community. Students are encouraged to participate in the governance of the College, to interact with the island community, and to live in an ecologically sound manner. 3 Introduction Because COA is committed to opening communication among people in differing fields, there are no "departments" to form barriers between dis- ciplines. Team-taught courses attempt to achieve common points of un- derstanding by placing philosophers, anthropologists, and biologists in the same classroom. In shaping the College's perspective, the sciences had to be humanized and the humanities brought into a practical relevance for our time. An education in human ecology works toward a world view that combines the clarity of the sciences with the compassion of arts and litera- ture. The natural resources of the earth are finite; the human potential has not yet reached its limits. Our goal is to search for viable, balanced alter- natives based on a broader understanding of the earth and the human predicament. This is the creative challenge confronting the human ecologist: to re-direct ourselves with understanding and imagination to- ward an improved quality of life without sacrificing individual integrity or our life-supporting environment. 4 ACADEMIC PROGRAM An education in human ecology brings together disciplines and perspec- tives which have traditionally been separate. Our academic program is designed to develop an understanding of the human condition in terms of social, biological, and physical interrelationships. We emphasize acquir- ing the skills to solve complex practical and philosophical problems with confidence and imagination. The organization of the curriculum into three related resource areas is primarily an aid for students and the College in academic planning. Model programs are available as guides for students wishing to emphasize a par- ticular curriculum area. These programs incorporate courses in all aca- demic areas and do not represent strict disciplinary divisions. Most stu- dents design individualized programs that include work in all three re- source areas. Many different forms of study are available at COA. While courses provide the foundation of the curriculum, student-initiated workshops, independent studies, internships, and final projects also provide impor- tant learning experiences. Classes are small and informal, ten students on an average. COA's small size necessarily limits the breadth of its curriculum. Stu- dents who want courses of study not available here are encouraged to make use of our exchange programs with the University of Maine at Orono, Marlboro College, and Huxley College of Environmental Studies or to apply as visiting students to colleges appropriate to their interests. This resource-sharing allows us to supplement our curriculum without di- luting our primary focus. 5 Academic Program Degree Requirements Degree requirements at COA mark the areas of knowledge and skill de- fined by our educational focus and philosophy as fundamental competen- cies. Although students design programs suited to their interests and styles, they must demonstrate successful completion of the following: - accumulation of 34 COA credits - at least one activity in each of the College's three resource areas - participation in a problem-solving workshop a College building experience in the form of service on a committee, advising, or workshop administration - a Human Ecology Essay relating the student's development as a human ecologist and demonstrating competency in basic writing skills - an internship of at least one term in a job related to the student's academic interests or occupational goals - a senior project which is a major piece of independent work reflect- ing the student's primary field of concentration The Human Ecology degree is further defined by students' meeting basic skill guidelines in the areas of foundational math, nonverbal com- munication, and manual skills.