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Postgraduate Learning Circles

What is a Learning Circle?

  • A Learning Circle is an academic “home” in The Scholar Ship program, similar to a university department or division, which organizes the exploration of themes in an interdisciplinary area of study.

  • A Learning Circle is also a group of students, professors and other staff who explore a set of related themes through classroom study, planned activities onboard, port programs, and informal interaction.

  • A Learning Circle is a set of related subjects (classes) addressing themes that meet the programmatic objectives of The Scholar Ship.

Postgraduate students select a learning circle in which they pursue their studies throughout the semester-long voyage. They enroll in four subjects (classes); one core subject predetermined by learning circle, and three elective subjects, one of which must be selected from within their own learning circle and two additional subjects from any learning circle.

Throughout the voyage, students in each learning circle participate in academic field study during port calls to explore themes belonging to their learning circle. Members also gather in small groups to share how their knowledge and perspectives gained through study and experiences relate to the themes of their particular learning circle. Through these interactions, students attain a broader understanding of the material they are studying, and from a more practical and holistic perspective.


Postgraduate Learning Circles


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Don't take our word for it!

 

We asked our Alumni and they had plenty to share about their semesters aboard The Scholar Ship. What did they take away from the experience? Get the perspectives only Alumni can offer!

 

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Why The Scholar Ship?

 

“The Scholar Ship promises to be a microcosm of our global age: 
a laboratory for global democracy. In seeking to create a truly transnational learning community, with its stress on experiential learning, The Scholar Ship represents a bold experiment in international and global education. Let’s explore this new form of learning and teaching.”  

John Lie, Dean

International and Area Studies
University of California, Berkeley