2022-2023 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Descriptions
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Religion Studies |
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REL 215, 216 - New Religious Movements Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 216).
How do religious groups form and develop? How do these groups differ from “traditional” religious communities? In this course, we will examine New Religious Movements (NRM) from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. We will investigate the beliefs, practices, and symbolism of several NRMs, seeking to understand both the unique histories of these groups and the patterns of development that may share. Finally, we will consider how these new movements interact with established religious traditions and how they are perceived by those outside of the group.
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REL 217 - Religion in Public Discourse Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
How is religion understood in public narratives? How is the category used in legal, educational, media, scientific, or religious contexts? In this course, we will consider how different public discourses define and describe religion and religious phenomena. By reading widely from a variety of contexts, we will see how various public concerns represent and/or misrepresent religion and religious diversity in the contemporary world. Finally, we will explore how religious diversity challenges traditional narratives about religion in local, national, and international contexts.
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REL 225 - Buddhist Traditions Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU and DE.
From its origins in India to its development throughout East and Southeast Asia and beyond, Buddhism has prospered in a wide variety of cultures and environments. This course will introduce students to the origins, evolution, and manifestations of Buddhism in scripture, practice, and artistic expression.
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REL 227 - Islamic Traditions Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU and DE.
This course will survey the beliefs, practices, and history of Islam, focusing on how Islam has evolved over time and culminating in a close examination of the forms Islam takes today and the place of Islam in current events. Special consideration will be given to what it means to consider Islam as a religion rather than a cultural or political entity. Attention will also be given to Islam’s relationship with other monotheistic traditions and to American Islam.
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REL 229 - Jewish Traditions Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Judaism has ancient roots and encompasses a multifaceted array of rituals, laws, holidays, and life-cycle events. Using “Time” and “Space” as the dual focal points of our course, we will examine the development of diverse Jewish communities from antiquity to the modern era in order to better understand the origins and practices of the spectrum of Jewish groups encountered today. Consequently, this course will emphasize the heterogeneity of Judaism as a religious system throughout history, while also examining what makes this diverse group of traditions and texts “Jewish.”
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REL 233 - Christian Traditions Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Christianity is not and never has been a single set of beliefs and practices; instead, the religion is marked by diversity of thought and action. The purpose of this course is to engage the variety in the tradition through the exploration of rituals and beliefs held by different Christian communities around the world and through time. In addition to primary and secondary readings, students will also explore the visual arts, architecture, and music as manifestations of Christian diversity. Additional themes for consideration will include the place of the Bible and its interpretation, the role of church leaders and their relationship to the divine, and ethical/moral differences that are present within the tradition.
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REL 252 - Hebrew Bible Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Jews and Christians alike regard the books of the Hebrew Bible as scripture. Yet, modern scholarship has sought an alternative approach to understanding this complicated collection of ancient texts that sets aside its identification as revelation and attempts to grasp the historical, political, and cultural contexts that surrounded its composition. Consequently, this course will introduce students to the Hebrew Bible as a repository of ancient Israelite traditions that were developed and shaped in specific historical and social contexts. To that end, rather than read the Bible from front to back like a novel written of whole cloth, we will begin by reading the final portion of the Bible, known as the “Writings,” first and work our way back through the Prophets, finishing with the Torah. By doing this, we will examine first those biblical books that provide the clearest glimpse of the scribal practices that framed production of the Hebrew Bible as a whole, as well as its compositional complexity. In addition, students will place particular biblical passages in dialogue with texts from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Moab, and Ugarit, illuminating Israel’s place in the religious and political world of the ancient Near East.
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REL 254 - New Testament Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
This course studies the distinctive scriptural foundation of Christianity in its literary, historical, and theological contexts. Topics may include Jesus as an historical figure and as the object of early Christian faith; the relationships of various early Christian communities to one another and to contemporary Judaisms, Greek religions, and philosophies; the place and role of Paul; the gospel genre and its several examples; the definition of the canon; approaches to interpreting the New Testament. No prior study of the New Testament is expected.
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REL 262, 263 - Religion & Literature Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 263).
This course provides an exploration of the ways in which literary imagination (metaphor, literary style, narrative voice, description, creative manipulation of time and place) interacts with religious imagination (projections of tradition, expression of mystical experience, ritual, symbolic phenomena) to produce works of a transformative nature. Examples from both Eastern and Western literary traditions may be chosen.
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REL 308 - Scrolls, Scribes, and Scriptures Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Did you ever wonder how ancient texts, like the New Testament, reach the modern world? In this course, students will explore the challenges and opportunities of studying New Testament and other ancient Christian materials in their oldest forms. Central to this examination will be how the texts were read, interpreted, and transmitted within Christian communities over time. This course will include an introduction to several techniques used to analyze ancient scriptural materials as well as the basic syntax and vocabulary of Koine Greek. No previous language skills are expected or required.
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REL 314 - Death and Desire in Tibetan Buddhism Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE and HU.
This course examines the practices of death and desire in the unique traditions of Tibetan tantra, a form of Himalayan Buddhism. Tibetan tantra involves practices of wrathful deities, sexual yogas, and subtle body technologies to produce a unique understanding of mind and body and their potential for transformation in both sexual union and in death. We will look at the foundational Tibetan Book of the Dead cycle of texts, as well as explore their evolving meanings in contemporary, non-Buddhist contexts like American Hospice. How have Tibetan Buddhists associated desire, power, and knowing? How might investigations of Tibetan practices of death and desire inform our own?
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REL 353, 354 - Gender & Sexuality in Judaism Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 354).
In this course we will examine how issues relating to gender and sexuality have influenced Jewish experience. We will discuss a wide range of Jewish history and literature, extending from the Bible to contemporary Jewish culture, in order to gain a broad perspective on how gender and sexuality have played a role in Jewish life and thought over time. We will consider how gender and sexuality relate to questions of power and authority and discuss the ways that bodies, both gendered and sexual, become meaningful in different Jewish contexts.
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REL 355 - Power and Piety in Ancient Christianity Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Until the rise of the Roman Emperor Constantine, the history of Christianity was marked by a plurality of belief structures, a constant threat of persecution, and a fluid leadership structure. With the imperial patronage of Constantine the face of ancient Christianity changed forever, embracing a close relationship between the church and the state, instituting particular formulas of belief, and solidifying the hierarchy of the ecclesiastical structure. Among other important developments in this period is the construction of the first grand Christian worship structures, the composition of the Nicene Creed, and the development of the canon of the New Testament. This class will examine these changes in the context of late antique society and politics and trace the influence of these changes across the span of Christian history.
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REL 357, 358 - The Holocaust: Nazi Germany & the Jews Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU and is a cluster course when offered as 358.
This course will examine the Holocaust and its historical context by considering both the pre-war position of Jews in Europe and the factors that led to the destruction of European Jewry during WWII. Religious context and responses to these events within affected communities will be studied through a variety of sources, including literature, film, and memoirs.
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REL 363 - Islam in America Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirements HU and DE and W.
American Muslims come from a wide diversity of backgrounds and cultures. In this course we will explore the historical contexts and current realities of Muslim communities in the United States. Questions to consider will include: How have traditional Islamic and Muslim doctrines and practices converged with American ideals of pluralism and secularism? Is there a distinctive “American Islam”? How have Muslim culture and Islam enriched the broader American culture?
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REL 365 - Gender & Sexuality in Islam Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE and HU and W.
Islam presents a particular challenge for Women’s and Gender Studies. A submissive, veiled woman is often the first image that comes to mind when Westerners think of Islam. Paradoxically, the oppressed Muslim women have become for non-Muslims a primary symbol of the perceived dangers of Islam, even as that image is used to represent disempowerment. Yet Islam is a major world religion with over 1.6 billion adherents, approximately half of whom are women, and all of whom are sexual beings whose religious positioning intersects with their gender and sexuality in myriad ways. So what do Muslims really believe about gender and sexuality? And what do they do? In this course, we will examine constructions of gender and sexuality in Islam by investigating both traditional sources such as the Qur’an, Hadith, and Islamic Law; and also by considering how Muslim women today are challenging the patriarchal structures of authority, while at the same time critiquing Western feminism.
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REL 371 - Paths in Jewish Thought Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Writers, philosophers, and scholars have engaged a fascinating array of questions from within the Jewish tradition since before the Common Era. In this seminar, we will survey the works of particular Jewish thinkers, from antiquity to the modern day, with special attention to certain topics and historical developments. Subjects to be considered include the Jewish people’s encounter with the religious or cultural “other,” the opposition or congruence of faith and reason, the persistence of evil, the nature of God and scripture, and what it means to be “Jewish.” The structure of the course will constitute a “who’s who” of Jewish thinkers through history, such as Philo of Alexandria, Moses Maimonides, Baruch Spinoza, and Ahad ha-Am. The final project will also allow students to discover and present the thought of a Jewish intellectual not included in this selective survey at the end of the semester.
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REL 450-469 - CUE: Culminating Undergraduate Experience Seminars in the Study of Religion Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W.
The seminars are a culminating undergraduate experience for our majors and other advanced students. Faculty and students work together to explore a research topic in depth. Each course offers both theoretical and methodological content.
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REL 470 - Honors Thesis in Religion Studies Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): Instructor permission required.
This project is designed for Religion Studies majors who have consistently proven to be excellent students. It offers them the opportunity to pursue a self-designed major research and analysis thesis in close consultation with a faculty member.
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REL 960 - Religion Studies Internship Course unit(s): 1
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REL 970 - Religion Studies Independent Study/Research
Each independent study/research course is to be designed in consultation with a faculty sponsor.
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RJ Fellows |
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RJF 450 - RJ Fellows Capstone Seminar Course unit(s): 0.5
The RJ Fellowship Program is predicated upon an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach to integrate certain core concerns into student experience. It is intended to address skills and strategies necessary for keen analysis and wise action in the face of contemporary and future changes. This course is designed as a Senior Seminar for RJ Fellows and brings together a group of faculty members who will present and lead discussions on the topic of change. The intent of the course is to bring together ideas and experiences and provide opportunities for students to reflect on, and make connections among the lessons learned and the implications of those lessons for making wise decisions. The central object of inquiry and the unifying theme will be change itself. Cultural, social, motivational, and operational issues will be woven as appropriate through the entire experience. Additionally, issues of life choices, creativity, communication, and effective self-expression will be given prominence. This course will be team taught.
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RJF 451 - RJ Fellows Senior Project & Symposium Course unit(s): 0.5
Prerequisite or corequisite: RJF 450 RJ Fellows Capstone Seminar
Students develop and conduct independent research, creative or community engagement projects within the context of the theme addressed in RJF 450 related to understanding and effecting change. Students will have the opportunity to connect their expertise and interests from their primary academic program to the course theme through project-based learning. This culminates in a presentation of their project work at the annual RJ Fellows Senior Symposium. Students will meet regularly with the faculty mentor as they work on their projects and prepare for the symposium.
Limited to RJ Fellows with senior status
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Russian |
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RUS 101 - Elementary Russian I Course unit(s): 1
An introduction to basic grammar and vocabulary as well as communication skills in Russian within its cultural contexts. Students will use a variety of authentic text and media resources to acquire and enhance linguistic skills. The first semester is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Russian; the second is for students with limited background in Russian. Assignment by placement test. Four class hours per week plus Language Learning Center assignments.
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RUS 102 - Elementary Russian II Course unit(s): 1
An introduction to basic grammar and vocabulary as well as communication skills in Russian within its cultural contexts. Students will use a variety of authentic text and media resources to acquire and enhance linguistic skills. The first semester is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Russian; the second is for students with limited background in Russian. Assignment by placement test. Four class hours per week plus Language Learning Center assignments.
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RUS 203 - Intermediate Russian I Course unit(s): 1
An accelerated review of basic Russian grammar through speaking, reading, writing, and other linguistically appropriate activities. The introduction of more advanced grammatical structures and a variety of authentic text and multimedia resources will enhance the students’ linguistic skills and sociocultural awareness of the Russian speaking world. The development of functional skills and communicative ability is emphasized. Students also acquire the linguistic tools needed to continue learning Russian as it pertains to their fields of interest. Assignment by placement test. Three class hours per week plus Language Learning Center assignments.
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RUS 204 - Intermediate Russian II Course unit(s): 1
An accelerated review of basic Russian grammar through speaking, reading, writing, and other linguistically appropriate activities. The introduction of more advanced grammatical structures and a variety of authentic text and multimedia resources will enhance the students’ linguistic skills and sociocultural awareness of the Russian speaking world. The development of functional skills and communicative ability is emphasized. Students also acquire the linguistic tools needed to continue learning Russian as it pertains to their fields of interest. Assignment by placement test. Three class hours per week plus Language Learning Center assignments.
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RUS 302 - Russian Conversation & Composition Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W.
Prerequisite(s): RUS 204 - Intermediate Russian II .
Students watch and discuss feature films produced in Russia. Extensive practice in the development of conversational and writing skills based on the analysis and synthesis of cultural information from a variety of authentic sources, including texts, film, newscasts, and TV. Increased acquisition of vocabulary, expansion of listening comprehension, stylistic analysis of contemporary film texts.
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RUS 303, 304 - Advanced Russian Conversation & Composition Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W when offered as 304.
Prerequisite(s): RUS 302 - Russian Conversation & Composition .
Students watch and discuss feature films produced in Russia. Advanced practice in the development of conversational and writing skills. In-depth study of idiomatic expressions and advanced lexical and stylistic analysis of contemporary literature and film.
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RUS 305, 306 - Readings in Russian Literature Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 306).
Prerequisite(s): RUS 204 - Intermediate Russian II .
An introduction to Russian literature from Pushkin to the present with emphasis on developing the students’ command of language skills. Selected readings in Russian will include poetry, prose, and drama.
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RUS 320 - The Russian Mystique: Russian Culture & Civilization Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU and DE.
Students study and discuss selected topics in Russian intellectual thought and artistic self-expression in their historical contexts and engage in cross-cultural analyses of Russia vis-à-vis the West. Readings, lectures, and discussion range from early Russian social practices to today’s Russia and from national identity to ethnic conflicts, injustice, violence, and crime. We will examine cultural artifacts, short stories, documentaries, scholarly articles, and up-to-date media commentary. Taught in English.
Offered in alternate years.
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RUS 402 - Twentieth Century Russian Literature in Translation Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE and HU.
Students study the works of Bunin, Sholokhov, Pasternak, Solzhenitsyn, Brodsky, and Alexievich as well as their experiences with and relationship to the Bolshevik revolution, ethnic and religious prejudice, censorship, the GULAGs, violence, and injustice. Harshly persecuted, self-exiled, or expelled from Russia, these philosophical frontrunners earned Nobel Prizes and recognition by the West. Short stories, novels, poetry, as well as literary criticism from 1917 to the present will be analyzed and discussed.
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RUS 490 - CUE: Russia & the Near Abroad Course unit(s): .5
Advanced study and analysis of selected areas in Russian Studies designed for majors and other qualified students. Students complete a CUE project linked to any Russian course listed higher than 304. Students write an integrative research paper and conduct a formal presentation connecting content from at least two upper-level Russian courses. Special emphasis is placed on advanced textual analysis, scholarly discussion, and writing. Project proposals are approved by a CUE faculty advisor prior to course registration. Required for all majors in Russian Studies.
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RUS 970 - Russian Independent Study/Research
Each independent study/research course is to be designed in consultation with a faculty sponsor.
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Semester in Washington |
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WSH 950 - Special Topics for the Washington Seminar Course unit(s): 1
The course will vary considerably from semester to semester and will utilize the variety of interests and specialties of the consortium faculties. The topic for the semester will be announced in advance. Visits to offices and agencies will be included as will meetings with officials and experts in Washington. Some examples of special topic courses are Public Relations Seminar, Violence and Values, Photojournalism, and Controversy & the Supreme Court.
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WSH 960 - Washington Semester Internship Course unit(s): 2
Each student will serve 25 to 30 hours each week in an internship in an office or agency in Washington, usually in a field related to the student’s major. A formal written report will be submitted to the Muhlenberg supervising faculty member at the conclusion of the internship. Pass/fail only, except for students enrolled in a practicum where letter grades A through F are assigned.
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Shankweiler Scholars |
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SHK 150 - Medicine as a Human Endeavor Course unit(s): .5
Shankweiler Scholars will explore the human dimensions of the practice of medicine in this seminar course. Assignments will consider how aspects of art, culture, ethics, history, religion, or literature inform or frame medicine and medical research. Weekly discussions will be led by Muhlenberg faculty representing a broad range of academic disciplines. Class meets once per week for 1.5 hours.
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SHK 250 - Medicine & Society Course unit(s): .5
Prerequisite(s): SHK 150 Medicine as a Human Endeavor
Shankweiler Scholars will prepare for and host one or more public speakers on campus as part of the annual Shankweiler Scholar Public Lecture Series. Assignments will include reading and discussing the body of literature (or other texts) associated with the speaker(s); making arrangements for the lecture(s); and hosting the speaker(s) while they are on campus.
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SHK 450 - Shankweiler Scholars Seminar Course unit(s): 0.5
This seminar for Shankweiler Scholars is an exploration of ethical, humanitarian, and sociological aspects of medical practice and healthcare systems. Weekly readings will be organized by the participants in response to individual student interests as informed by their experiences studying medicine as a human endeavor. Student-led discussions will illuminate critical and complex issues in healthcare including socioeconomics, gender equity, racial justice, and differing views of health, death, and dying. Practicing clinicians and alumni will participate in the seminar as guest discussion leaders, presenting case studies that encourage students to grapple with specific ethical problems that medical professionals face.
Pass/Fail only
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Sociology |
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SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE and SL.
What is sociology? How do sociologists go about their work? How is society structured? Is inequality an inherent part of human life? How and why do societies change? This course introduces the central concepts and principles of major sociological perspectives. It provides an overview of the study of social institutions, social stratification, and social change.
Taught every semester.
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SOC 224, 225 - American Ethnic Diversity Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE (and W and is a linked (IL) course when offered as 225).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
This course is designed to provide a general overview of the field of the sociology of race and ethnic relations with a particular emphasis on the historical situations and experiences of various immigrant and minority groups in American society. We will first examine the socio-political and economic history of a variety of minority and immigrant groups. A substantial amount of course material will then focus on analyzing the varying structural conditions and institutional barriers that affect the different strategies by which various minority and immigrant groups have sought entry and success in dominant society. Finally, throughout the course, discussions will be devoted to examining specific institutions and the various ways in which constructions of racial and ethnic categories and hierarchies are produced and reproduced in the U.S.
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SOC 235 - Inequality & Power Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
The study of inequality (how it emerges, its various manifestations, and why it persists) is a cornerstone of sociology. This course is designed for those who are interested in the theoretical conceptions and critiques of power and privilege and their combined effects on socio-political and economic life. The course is divided into three parts: a brief survey of the various theoretical perspectives of inequality and stratification; an examination of the complex intersections of race, ethnicity, and class structures in American society; and a discussion of gendered effects of migrant work within a global and comparative perspective.
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SOC 243 - Sexuality & Gender Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
In this class we will use sociological perspectives to explore sex, sexuality, and gender. We will examine the mechanisms of power that construct and regulate our identities, behaviors, and very bodies. In particular we will look at how sex, sexuality, and gender are shaped by law, research, medicine, “sexperts,” the media, and our family and friends. We will also look at how sex, sexuality, and gender permeate our daily lives, often in ways we do not even see.
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SOC 270-279 - Topics in Sociology Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
Selected courses with a specialized focus that are not contained within the regular sociology curriculum. Such topics might include Urban Sociology or Criminology.
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SOC 302 - Sociological Theory Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
An investigation of the classical foundations of social thought in sociology. The course concentrates on the original works of theorists such as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and other important authors from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as well as contemporary theorists. Analyses of central theoretical paradigms and questions are explored.
Taught every fall semester.
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SOC 311 - Research Design in Sociology Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology and one elective.
This course provides experience in the design and implementation of sociological research. It introduces quantitative and qualitative techniques for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data. The epistemological issues that underlie sociological research, the ethical questions involved in research, and the assumptions on which various research strategies are based are examined. The strengths and weaknesses of the most commonly used methods are evaluated. Students will design an original research project.
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SOC 312 - Quantitative Methods for Social Data Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 311 - Research Design in Sociology .
This course focuses on quantitative methods. Students will learn how to use statistics to address research questions in sociology, using popular statistical packages such as SPSS to analyze data.
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SOC 313 - Qualitative Methods Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): SOC 311 - Research Design in Sociology .
This course provides a theoretical and practical introduction to multiple forms of qualitative research methods and the numerous phases of conducting a qualitative research project, including project proposal, data collection, data management, analysis, interpretation, linking findings to theory, and presenting data. It will also engage questions about what we can know, strategic and ethical concerns, and the use and impact of self in doing research. The course assignments include a series of structured exercises to provide experience in collecting and analyzing data, as well as an original research project.
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SOC 317 - Sociology of Health Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirements SL and DE.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
In this course we will explore the social aspects of health, illness, and the health care system in the contemporary United States. This will include an introduction to the theoretical underpinnings of medical sociology and health disparities as well as examinations of the social and historical construction of medical problems and disease, the relationship between health care providers and patients, the health care system, and pressures that are transforming the medical sciences. This seminar provides a survey of a number of topics related to health, illness, and the health care system. Students will have the opportunity during the semester to delve more deeply into an issue of special interest or importance to them.
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SOC 320 - Environmental Sociology Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement SL.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
This course analyzes the social causes and consequences of environmental change. We explore the relationships among production, consumption, population, technology, and environment. The major theoretical paradigms in environmental sociology are used to analyze environmental issues. Some of the questions we address include: Is “green” capitalism possible? Does population growth lead to environmental degradation? Can technical fixes solve environmental problems? Has the environmental movement been successful?
Taught every other year.
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SOC 323 - Sociology of Food Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
This course relies on a sociological lens to uncover the complexity behind what is an everyday activity by examining the inter-related systems of production, processing, marketing, and consumption of food across and within international, national, regional, and local markets. We will consider what, when, how, and with whom we eat and discover how various aspects of food consumption and production can be understood in terms of the organization of society’s social institutions as well as the structure of social relations among the individuals that comprise that society.
Taught every other year.
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SOC 325 - Imagined Communities: The Sociology of Nations & States Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
This course aims to elucidate the complex interactions between nation and state by examining the nationalist experiences of several post-colonial and non-Western societies in Southeast Asia. A central part of this examination will entail addressing questions of citizenship and identity amidst contemporary socio-political and economic changes. Readings will focus on some of the central debates in the sub-field of political sociology as well as the dominant theoretical paradigms in the study of nations and nationalisms. A substantial part of the course will focus on a critical analysis of the institutional processes underlying state formation and nation-building as well as assessing the impact of globalization on institutional and group-level definitions of national, ethno-cultural, religious, and gender identities.
Taught every other year.
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SOC 340 - Development & Social Change Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement SL.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
This course analyzes development from a sociological perspective. It examines different theoretical models for understanding macro-level social change, such as modernization theory, dependency theory, and world-systems theory. Possible topics for exploration include the environment, economic development, revolution, urbanization, population, and poverty.
Taught every other year.
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SOC 342 - Boundaries & Belonging: Sociology of Diasporas Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
This course will investigate the impact of historical and contemporary movements of peoples across international borders and on definitions of citizenship and identities by raising questions about the permeability of national borders and the fluidity of cultural boundaries. A close examination of how globally dispersed peoples maintain and cultivate real and imagined ties to the ideals of a “homeland” or “place” reveals the cultural and institutional productions of transnational migrant communities that challenge the binary boundaries of “home” and “abroad.” Relying on a sociological perspective, we will consider the negotiations of belonging within and between these peoples and their host societies and study the different forms of transnational, diasporic, and cosmopolitan identities that result from such negotiations. In particular, case studies will include, but are not limited to, that of the Chinese and African Diasporas.
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SOC 350 - Social Movements, Protests, & Conflicts Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement SL.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology .
A sociological investigation of the causes and consequences of social movements. The course will examine both historical and contemporary social movements in the United States and elsewhere to understand the underlying social, economic, political, and demographic factors that cause their emergence and that influence their evolution. Movements as diverse as the Civil Rights movement and the White Supremacy movement will be examined.
Taught every other year.
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SOC 352 - Global Migration & Transnational Communities Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or instructor permission.
This seminar will explore the global flow of people across national boundaries in the late twentieth century and the ways in which these dispersed peoples build and maintain social networks across national borders. As such, we will be looking at the reasons that have impelled people to move about the globe, the ways that transnational social identities are being constructed among globally dispersed peoples, and the challenges that new social formations pose to the dominance of the nation-state as the primary source of social identities and political loyalties. This course will survey key current theoretical debates in the study of international migration with an emphasis on related literature dealing with gender, race and ethnicity, transnational practices and identities and cultural hybridity. The course is anchored in the US case, but we will consider other nations and the lessons they provide.
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SOC 450 - CUE: Senior Seminar in Sociology Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 302 - Sociological Theory and SOC 311 - Research Design in Sociology .
A sociology seminar in which students participate in a collective research and/or applied project. Open only to sociology majors and minors or by permission.
Taught every spring.
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SOC 970 - Sociology Independent Study/Research
Each independent study/research course is to be designed in consultation with a faculty sponsor.
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Spanish |
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SPN 101 - Elementary Spanish I Course unit(s): 1
An introduction to basic grammar and vocabulary as well as communication skills in Spanish within its cultural contexts. Students will use a variety of authentic text and media resources to acquire and enhance linguistic skills. This first semester is designed for students with little or no background in Spanish. Assignment by placement test. Four class hours per week plus regular out of class conversational and cultural events.
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SPN 102 - Elementary Spanish II Course unit(s): 1
An introduction to basic grammar and vocabulary as well as communication skills in Spanish within its cultural contexts. Students will use a variety of authentic text and media resources to acquire and enhance linguistic skills. SPN 102 is designed for students with a minimal basic background in Spanish. Assignment by placement test. Four class hours per week plus regular out of class conversational and cultural events.
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SPN 202 - Spanish for Heritage Speakers I Course unit(s): 1
Students who grow up hearing Spanish spoken at home come to the college language class with a set of skills and challenges that are different from those of students learning Spanish as a second language. Spanish for Heritage Speakers offers these students a focused setting in which they can capitalize on their already developed abilities in speaking and, especially, listening, while developing a richer and more precise vocabulary and strategies to navigate variations in register and regional and contextual usages. SPN 202 presupposes no prior formal study of Spanish and will focus especially on developing strong reading and writing skills, supported by a solid understanding of formal grammar. The cultures of Hispanic America and of Latinos in the United States will form the backbone of this course, with an eye at encouraging students to integrate their family traditions and lived experiences into their broader studies, activities, and goals. Class is conducted in Spanish.
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SPN 203 - Intermediate Spanish I Course unit(s): 1
An accelerated review of basic Spanish grammar through speaking, reading, writing, and other linguistically appropriate activities. The introduction of more advanced grammatical structures and a variety of authentic text and multimedia resources will enhance the students’ linguistic skills and sociocultural awareness of the Spanish speaking world. The development of functional skills and communicative ability is emphasized. Students also acquire the linguistic tools needed to continue learning Spanish as it pertains to their fields of interest. Assignment by placement test. Three class hours per week plus regular out of class conversational and cultural events.
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SPN 204 - Intermediate Spanish II Course unit(s): 1
An accelerated review of basic Spanish grammar through speaking, reading, writing, and other linguistically appropriate activities. The introduction of more advanced grammatical structures and a variety of authentic text and multimedia resources will enhance the students’ linguistic skills and sociocultural awareness of the Spanish speaking world. The development of functional skills and communicative ability is emphasized. Students also acquire the linguistic tools needed to continue learning Spanish as it pertains to their fields of interest. Assignment by placement test. Three class hours per week plus regular out of class conversational and cultural events.
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SPN 301 - Spanish Conversation & Composition Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): SPN 204 - Intermediate Spanish II .
Intensive practice of spoken Spanish with emphasis on techniques of oral expression, vocabulary development, and persistent grammatical difficulties. Discussions will be based on contemporary cultural readings, films, and other multi-media materials. Class is conducted in Spanish.
Offered every semester.
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SPN 303 - Spanish for Heritage Speakers II Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): SPN 202 Spanish for Heritage Speakers I
Students who grow up hearing Spanish spoken at home come to the college language class with a set of skills and challenges that are different from those of students learning Spanish as a second language. Spanish for Heritage Speakers offers these students a focused setting in which they can capitalize on their already developed abilities in speaking and, especially, listening, while developing a richer and more precise vocabulary and strategies to navigate variations in register and regional and contextual usages. SPN 303 focuses especially on developing strong reading and writing skills, supported by a solid understanding of formal grammar. The cultures of Hispanic America and of Latinos in the United States will form the backbone of this course, with an eye at encouraging students to integrate their family traditions and lived experiences into their broader studies, activities, and goals. Class is conducted in Spanish.
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SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 301 - Spanish Conversation & Composition or SPN 303 Spanish for Heritage Speakers II .
Focused work in Spanish composition allowing students to develop creative, professional, and academic writing styles. Emphasis is placed on structure, style, and content as well as grammar. Classic and contemporary texts, films, and other multi-media resources will provide stylistic models as well as a cultural context for writings. Class is conducted in Spanish.
Offered every semester.
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SPN 310 - Spanish for the Professions Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): SPN 301 - Spanish Conversation & Composition or SPN 303 Spanish for Heritage Speakers II
Using real-life case studies and scenarios, this course introduces students to professional practices in the Hispanic world. Contacts with local professionals, both inside and outside of the classroom, allow students to explore the numerous possibilities of using their linguistic and cultural knowledge of Spanish beyond the academic environment, such as working for companies with international offices, NGOs, and other institutions in Latin America, Spain, and in the growing Spanish-speaking communities of the United States. The specific areas explored will be based on students’ own interests and majors in order to assist them in developing their future career path while incorporating Spanish within those goals. This course focuses on acquiring the proper writing, analytical, and oral presentational skills necessary for such careers. In addition to linguistic training, students learn techniques for cross-cultural analysis vital to conducting business and other professional endeavors in Spanish-speaking contexts. Taught in Spanish.
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SPN 320 - Civilizations of Spain Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 301 - Spanish Conversation & Composition or SPN 303 Spanish for Heritage Speakers II .
An introduction to contemporary Spain in all of its rich complexity and ever-more visible diversity. Starting with a survey of the artistic, architectural, and historical heritage of Spain, the course connects Spain’s intellectual, economic, and social movements with a broader sense of how the nation connects with it regional parts and global partners. Class is conducted in Spanish.
Offered every year during the fall semester.
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SPN 322 - Civilizations of Latin America Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE and HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 301 - Spanish Conversation & Composition or SPN 303 Spanish for Heritage Speakers II .
An introduction to contemporary Latin American life with its intellectual, economic, and social phenomena as well as its regional aspects, highlighting factors that unite and that distinguish this area of the world. The course also surveys the artistic, architectural, and historical heritage of Latin America; addresses the challenges of globalization; and considers the political and economic role of the United States. Class is conducted in Spanish.
Offered every year during the spring semester.
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SPN 327 - Public Health in Practice: Panamá
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE, SL, and IL.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 102 Elementary Spanish II .
NOTE: This course is cross-listed with PBH 327
The study of public health is rooted in the notion that health is both a human right and the product of multiple and varied factors. In this course we will put that notion to the test, considering the global objectives for good health and the medical, environmental, socioeconomic, and political elements that facilitate -or hinder-achievement of those goals. In particular, we will examine the case of Panamá, preparing research projects over the course of the semester that will then be completed using data and experiences from a two-week visit to Panamá. Areas of focus include access to potable water, control of mosquito breeding areas, women’s health issues, language access in areas where other languages or illiteracy dominate, intersections of institutional health and local cultural practices, and funding policies for health centers in marginal and indigenous regions. To consolidate a sustainable relationship with our Panamanian partners, we will also design and complete a service project in collaboration with a local agency. The class is conducted in English with Spanish. The Spanish language component of the course includes an introduction to essential communication for healthcare and public health interviews; more advanced Spanish students will be introduced to the skills of oral interpreting and transcription.
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SPN 407 - Spanish Interpreting Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): One 400-level course in Spanish, SPN 303 Spanish for Heritage Speakers II ,or SPN 304 Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition ; or approval of instructor.
With a rapidly growing Latino and Hispanic immigrant population, the Lehigh Valley offers Spanish students a unique opportunity to hone their spoken language skills and cultural understanding. This class blends on-campus preparation in the basic theories and methodologies of oral interpretation with community-based practical experience, investigation, exploration, and reflection. Work with community partners working closely with Spanish speaking clients is contextualized during weekly classes, providing a solid introduction to local Hispanic/Latino culture and concerns. Students should expect to commit about 5 hours per week to the community service learning component of this course.
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SPN 408 - Spanish Translation Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W.
Prerequisite(s): One 400-level course in Spanish or approval of instructor.
The Lehigh Valley is undergoing demographic changes that call for new and better communication between English- and Spanish-speaking communities. This course prepares students to create effective bridges, translating written documents and other texts from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. As a service learning course it incorporates collaborative projects with organizations working closely with Spanish-speaking clients. Weekly classes will provide a solid introduction to the basic theories and methodologies of written translation with special focus on the specific needs and concerns of the local Latino and Hispanic immigrant communities. The class is conducted in Spanish, though given the special nature of English/Spanish and Spanish/English translation, class discussions may include Spanish, English, or even Spanglish. Students should expect to commit about 5 hours per week to the community service learning component of this course. Designed to complement SPN 407 - Spanish Interpreting .
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SPN 410 - Heroes and Sinners Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition .
A study of representative works of Spanish literature of the Middle Ages through the Renaissance. Emphasis is placed on the literary analysis of both major and marginal genres, such as epic poetry, the fable, ballads, the miracle story, the picaresque novel, and mystic poetry. We will highlight the historical and socio-cultural context of these period texts, paying special attention to the relationships among Christian, Arabic, and Jewish cultures coexisting in the Iberian Peninsula at the time. We will also explore the way in which these different cultural products were experienced by their mainly illiterate audiences, through private performance (communal readings, moral exemplum, teaching lessons) and public performance on the stage or the street (theatrical productions, puppet shows, songs, and dances). Texts are accompanied by a number of films/videos based on the literary works and/or the historical period. Class is conducted in Spanish.
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SPN 411 - Don Quijote Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition .
Don Quijote is one of the greatest and most humorous books ever written, and this course offers an in-depth study of Cervantes’s masterpiece, providing structural and historical insight into the birth of the modern novel. We will examine Don Quijote, as an emblem of artistic and social modernity in the West and as a multi-faceted cultural icon central to the humanities, exploring issues such as the nature of reality and illusion, heroism, humor, adventure, freedom and self-fulfillment, racial tolerance, love, the consequences of reading, metafiction, games, and truth. This course will also investigate the transition from an oral to a written culture and the importance of printing, and we will explore the problem of Spanish national identity through the emerging imperial processes of political and cultural exclusion. Class is conducted in Spanish.
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SPN 412 - Text and Stage Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition .
This course is an introduction to early modern drama of the XVI and XVII centuries from a performance-based approach. Students will read, analyze and interpret some of the most important plays produced during the Spain’s so-called Golden Age by authors like Cervantes, Lope, Tirso, and Calderón. We will focus on textual analysis and performance as two fundamental elements in the understanding and appreciation of Spanish theatre. Students will have access to the plays from different angles: 1) as texts to be studied analytically; 2) as cultural and historical exponents of a specific period; 3) as objects of literary and theatrical research; and 4) as productions waiting to be staged. After an introductory account of early modern Spanish theater and comedia performance then and now, classes are organized around three phases resembling those of theater production: text analysis, pre-production workshop, and staging. Note: By the second part of the semester students will need to schedule additional time outside the classroom to rehearse and complete the production of a short play or scenes for the stage. Class is conducted in Spanish.
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SPN 413 - From the Golden Age to the Silver Age Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition .
A study of the plays, poetry, and novels of eighteenth and nineteenth century Spain, reflecting the social, political, and ideological changes leading up to and throughout the Industrial Revolution. Special attention will be paid to the different roles of writer, narrator, and reader through textual clues. Taught in Spanish.
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SPN 414 - Spanish Identity in Times of Change Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition .
Literature has always reflected the character and context of its creators, opening a window to a sometimes distant past. So how do we study the texts of today? In this exploration of contemporary literature we will develop tools with which to interpret the cultures and contexts of today’s - and tomorrow’s - Spain. Emphasis is placed on literary reflections of the changes to the concept of national identity in Spain, spanning the harrowing realization in 1898 that Spain was no longer host to an empire, through the harsh repression and massive emigration under Franco’s rule, to the new reality of Spain as home to fast-growing immigrant communities. Class is conducted in Spanish.
Offered in alternate years.
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SPN 415 - The Literature of Conquest & Colonization in Spanish America Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE and HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition .
Reading and discussion of poetry and prose by Indoamerican writers of the Pre-Columbian era and by Spanish American writers from the fifteenth through the nineteenth centuries. Students will explore how literary components such as theme, character, and imagery represent the rise and fall of the Spanish Empire in the Americas and its resulting confluence of indigenous, African, and European cultures as they trace the development of Spanish American literature from its earliest expressions in pre-conquest cultures to the first declarations of defiance against the Spanish Crown by colonial writers. Emphasis is placed on an understanding of the technical development of various genres within each literary period as well as on the thematic content of work as it relates to the period’s historical, political, social, and philosophical content. Class is conducted in Spanish.
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SPN 416 - Postcolonial Realities in Spanish American Literature Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement or DE and HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition .
Reading and discussion of selections by Spanish American writers from the late nineteenth through the twenty-first centuries. For many Spanish American authors, obscuring the line between reality and fantasy becomes a literary game in the search for true reality within countries racked by civil strife that underscores the postcolonial paradigm in the Americas in terms of the subaltern issues of race, gender, and social class. Thus, students will delve into the artistic subconscious as they examine the legacy of the Spanish Conquest in the prose and poetry of literary periods that include modernismo, posmodernismo, and vanguardismo as well as the Boom and Post-Boom with their techniques of realismo mágico and realismo crítico. Emphasis is placed on an understanding of technical development of various genres within each literary period and on thematic content of work as it relates to that period’s historical, political, social, and philosophical context. Class is conducted in Spanish.
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SPN 417 - Contemporary Spanish American Novel Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE and HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition .
An in-depth study of the development of the novel in both the pre- and post- “boom” periods of the Spanish American narrative. Emphasis is placed on an analysis of the literary techniques and thematic aspects of the works in relation to the various artistic and philosophical movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Class is conducted in Spanish.
Offered in alternate years.
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SPN 418 - Hispanic Literature & Film Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition .
An analysis of the relationship between literature and film, focusing on texts from Spain and/or Spanish America and their film adaptations. Issues to be discussed include film adaptation as a cultural construct; narrative voice in literature and film; the transformation of the written word to a visual image; and the relationship between politics, literature, and film. Class is conducted in Spanish.
Offered in alternate years.
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SPN 419 - Border Literature Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE and HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition .
An exploration of contemporary narratives by Latino writers in the United States who focus on the border experience, understood as both a geographical and cultural phenomenon. Emphasis will be placed on the analysis of the literary techniques employed in the development of the narrative form within its political, social, and cultural context. Topics include issues of class, ethnicity, and gender. Class is conducted in Spanish.
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SPN 420 - Human Rights Literature in the Americas Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE and HU.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 304 - Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition .
A literary exploration of the nature of human rights in the Americas through a close examination of representative works of various genres, such as poetry, the short story, the novel, and drama. Emphasis is placed on an understanding of literary theory and technique within the historical, political, and philosophical context of each work. In this way, students will explore thematic issues such as the legal and ethical rights inherent in citizenship within the world and specifically within the Americas with respect to ethnic and religious minorities, women, gays, and political dissidents. Areas of comparison/contrast will include Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, El Salvador, Cuba, and the United States. Class is conducted in Spanish.
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SPN 450-499 - CUE: Senior Capstone Seminar: Transatlantic Issues in Hispanic Literatures & Cultures Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): One 400-level course in Spanish or approval of instructor.
The senior Capstone Seminar is a topics-based course in Spanish that will allow students to take their understanding of Hispanic literatures and cultures and apply it to broader multicultural and international perspectives. Whether focusing specifically on literature or centering on broader social, cultural, or linguistic issues, students will examine aspects of the on-going dialogue between Spain and the Americas within their historical, social, and political contexts. The explicitly comparative approach will both broaden and consolidate students’ understanding of language as a living process rooted in cultural contexts, a process essential in a pluralistic American society and in a world where nations―even those bound by a history of colonialism―are interdependent in increasingly complex ways. Students will work individually and collaboratively to design, research, and present their critical analyses and findings in a thoughtful and thought-provoking way using theoretical approaches consistent with the discipline. Class is conducted in Spanish.
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SPN 970 - Spanish Independent Study/Research
Each independent study/research course is to be designed in consultation with a faculty sponsor.
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Speech |
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SPC 250 - Basic Speech Course unit(s): 1
An introduction to the principles of public speaking. Concentration on the development of assurance and good platform presence through making frequent short speeches of simple expository or narrative types.
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Sustainability Studies |
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SUS 350 - Community Sustainability in Costa Rica Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirements DE and SC and satisfies the IL requirement.
Students explore solutions to complex community problems related to sustainability in Costa Rica. During the spring semester students develop projects and prepare for the two-week study/research/travel experience to Costa Rica at the end of May. Preparation includes study of the area’s ecological diversity; political, cultural, and social issues; research skills; and service in the Allentown Community. In Costa Rica students explore a variety of habitats, live in and interact with members of a small town, and conduct both community service and independent research projects. Research projects focus on ecology, sociology, culture, sustainability, and public health of the region. One objective is to remove the blinders of specific discipline-based learning and our own culture to enable us to develop sustainable solutions.
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SUS 355 - Climate Change & Sustainable Development in Bangladesh Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement DE and IL.
This team-taught course examines the impact of climate change on economic, social, and political development by focusing on the nation of Bangladesh. In addition to introducing students to the science and politics of climate change, the course also examines the specific environmental, economic, and social changes confronting Bangladesh’s political development since its independence; investigates the environmental and social consequences of state-sponsored development strategies, especially recent market-based “neo-liberal” policies; and evaluates new “sustainable development” strategies that are emerging as a response to the challenges posed by climate change.
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SUS 365 - Local Sustainability Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement SC and IL.
Prerequisite(s): Any single course in the Sustainability Studies Minor.
This course will take an integrated approach to analyzing sustainability at the local level, specifically looking at communities in the Lehigh Valley, and exploring human-environment issues within the context of the relationship among individuals, institutions, and ecology. This course focuses on teaching students science as a way of knowing and illustrating the importance of integrating scientific understanding with other disciplinary and societal perspective to advance sustainability in our local community. This is a field trip based, service-learning course where students will apply understanding of globally important sustainability issues to locally relevant situations through a series of 8-10 interactive field trips, reflective journaling, and community engaged research. The class will culminate with semester-long service-learning projects, collaboratively designed and conducted with our community partners. These projects will have students scientifically assessing current sustainability efforts and developing recommendations to advance our community partners’ missions by effectively integrating scientific understanding with our community partners’ experiences with outreach and communication, natural resource management, and local political and social engagement. Priorities for research will be determined in collaboration with community partners, and results and recommendations will be shared with and used by our community partners to advance their missions.
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SUS 405 - Sustainable Solutions Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W.
Prerequisite(s): Any three courses in the Sustainability Studies Major or Minor.
An integrative approach to developing sustainable solutions to meet the needs of human society by integrating environmental, economic, and social justice issues on local, regional, and global scales. Through readings, writing, presentations, digital research and dissemination, and field and laboratory work students will identify and explore complex problems. Then through project-based and integrative learning students will explore potential solutions that might help achieve sustainability objectives. Students will study the issues and focus on innovation & business solutions, policy approaches, individual action, stakeholder participation, campaign strategy, and dissemination related to solving the problems being analyzed.
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SUS 960 - Sustainability Studies Internship Course unit(s): 1
Internships arranged with local, national, and international public or private organizations in the areas of development, environment, and sustainability in practice.
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SUS 965 - Sustainability Studies Practicum Course unit(s): 0.5 - 1
Under faculty supervision students will serve as interns with local, national, and international public or private organizations in the areas of development, environment, and sustainability in practice. The practicum includes a significant academic (written, presentation, and/or production) component. Practica must be approved by the Program Director.
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SUS 970 - Sustainability Studies Independent Study/Research Course unit(s): 0.5 - 1
Each independent study/research course is to be designed in consultation with a faculty sponsor.
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Performance Theory, History, Literature |
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THR 100 - Theatre & Society: An Historical Introduction Course unit(s): 1
Students in this course study the historical development of world theatre with an emphasis on the western dramatic tradition as a way of understanding how the theatrical experience reflects the society in which it exists. A broad range of theatrical literature and theoretical material will be explored. The members of the class will attend several live theatrical performances and are required to participate in 2 laboratory hours per week.
This is the foundation course for the theatre major. Students planning to major in theatre must complete this course in their first year.
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THR 105 - Performance & Society Course unit(s): 1
This foundational course introduces first year students to the critical and historical study of performance in its widest sense. We ask: What does it mean to perform? Why do people perform? How do performance events shape social reality? How do they constitute, regulate, or disrupt power formations? How do forms, formats and meanings differ across cultures, times and places, and how do they relate to one another? Contextualizing theatre within a broader array of performing activities such as dance, music, ritual, play, sports, political protest, and everyday social behaviors, we interrogate the ideological, formal and functional aspects of performance as a mode of social production.
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THR 107 - Dramatic Text in Action Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W.
Prerequisite(s): THR 105 Performance & Society
Dramatic Text in action focuses on the specific historical category of drama and its way of thinking and producing meaning. This course teaches methods of textual analysis that specifically align with the tasks of theatre scholars and interpretive artists (as opposed to a literary studies paradigm). The essential perspective is seeing plays as structures of actions that create and embody meaning, and thinking about how to show the event of the play through compositional practice. Students will develop skills in locating and naming actions and events. They will practice dramaturgical investigation, visualization, and textual and contextual analysis across a range of dramatic moments and styles. Normally taken in Spring of first year, following Performance & Society.
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THR 153 - Accessibility & the Arts Course unit(s): 0.5
Access is created when people of diverse abilities have an equal opportunity to attend, participate in and enjoy arts programming. Gaining an understanding of, and an appreciation for, accessibility and the arts. Acquisition of specific skills and knowledge including legal obligations, universal design, effective communication, training, audience development and cultural programming. This course will explore the variety of ways organizations make the arts accessible for people with disabilities, elderly individuals and patrons with unique needs. Students will study accommodation options and the process of evaluating and creating policies, programs and activities with universal access in mind. Several case studies of various organizations will be considered and students will participate in several specific training modules.
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THR 212 - Performance Studies Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Meets general academic requirement W.
Prerequisite(s): THR 100 Theatre & Society: An Historical Introduction
This course introduces the burgeoning interdisciplinary field of Performance Studies and investigates the human body engaged in symbolic action using methods drawn from such disciplines as the performing arts, cultural anthropology, ritual studies, and popular culture studies. Thus, it analyzes aestheticized forms like theatre, performance art, dance, and music but also inquires into cultural performances like political protests, fashion shows, sporting events, and worship services. Students will learn the basic history of the field and develop a working knowledge of its scholarly methods and proclivities.
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THR 213 - Collective Creation in the Americas Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR: Writing
This course critically analyzes the connections among diverse theories, artistic proposals, and plays and performances based on collaborative processes. From colonizing mindsets to revolutionary movements, and to gestures of resistance against authoritarianism, art imagines a stage for political transformations. Is it possible to trace this active response in theatre theories and practices and, most importantly, to generate collaborative works that reclaim transnational dialogues to imagine new worlds? To what extent is it possible to find artistic voices that intersect personal concerns and socio-political landscapes? Classes incorporate theoretical reflections, collaborative experiences and digital collaborations.
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THR 217 - Staging Creativity with Children Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): THR 105 Performance & Society
Through guided research and readings, discussions, and participatory experiential application, students will discover what inspires young children (ages 4-12) to play, how children use their innate creativity, and how they learn in environments that foreground creative exploration and thought. In order to apply the knowledge gained from the readings and discussions, students in this course will be expected to play much themselves, to experience the topics with their bodies, and to embrace their own senses of creativity, with the goal of inspiring children they may work with and teach in creative fields like theatre.
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