The Center for Advanced Undergraduate Studies and Experience (CAUSE) is a unique center that supports the educational mission of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, providing special services, courses, and facilities that are not available at the departmental level. A goal of the center is to promote undergraduate research and study abroad/study away. CAUSE-sponsored courses provide “real world experiences” for students – a chance to leave the classroom behind and spend time tackling a topic of contemporary importance in the field.
About CAUSE
CAUSE was created in the early 1990s to promote interdisciplinary, problem-based learning opportunities for undergraduates. CAUSE experiences vary from year to year and range from a multi-semester seminar course that allows students to do theme-based research both in the classroom and out in the field with a Maymester of summer travel component or one semester courses with an embedded travel component. CAUSE courses focus on the political, economic, and physical environment of a selected country or area. CAUSE courses are open to all majors in the college and every effort is made to keep costs affordable to make the experience accessible to a greater number of students. Recent CAUSE experiences have focused on both international and U.S. locations.
For 2026, there will be two CAUSE courses offered: one to the UK to study decolonizing museums and a second to Japan to study the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and Oregon to investigate preparations for a potential tsunami. Learn more below:
CAUSE 2026: Decolonizing the Academic Museum: Cascading Impacts of Colonization on Science Museums (DAC)
Spring 2026- EMSC 470W (3 credits) + spring break travel
Current decolonization efforts in Europe, including the UK, are breaking new ground by looking at how original collecting practices impacted the cultures and landscapes. In this class, students will look at university science collections and data collection practices in field science, current decolonization efforts, and how university museums can move forward. Students will analyze those processes to formulate their own views and or solutions to break these cycles in their future work.
Learn more about CAUSE 2026 UK >>
CAUSE 2026 (Japan and Oregon): Living with Impending Disaster
Spring 2026- EMSC 470W (3 credits) + Maymester travel
Course will combine classroom lectures, activities, including travel during Maymester, to explore what happened during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan and examine ongoing preparations for such an event on the west coast of the United States.