This course takes an engaged-learning approach to understanding the history of the global economy in an island (Jamaica) and specifically a community (Petersfield, in Westmoreland Parish.) Students will attend class each week and will also take a one-week service trip over spring break to work with the local community partner (the Petersfield-Galloway Benevolent Society or PGBS) in Petersfield. We will also work with Amizade, a non-profit organization based in Pittsburgh, which is the well-established partner of the PGBS and which works with numerous universities on global service learning projects. 

In Jamaica, we will participate in several service projects.  In previous years we have often two or more days in one of the local primary schools, working with students and teachers.  We also visit important historic sites related to the course, meet with community elders and leaders, and participate in the weekly meetings of the PGBS.