UPCOMING SEMINARS
Spring 2009 Seminars
SC 371: Renaissance Studies. Dr. Mary Lindroth (Core Sub: En Core 2 or Ah 122)
SC 406: Immigration and Ethnic Identity in Modern Europe. Dr. Isabelle
Genest (Core Sub: La Core 2 or Hi 102)
Fall 2009 Seminars
SC 330: Ideal, Self and Society. Rita Wolpert (Ps 150 core)
SC 366: Film, Politics and Propaganda. John Yurko (Co 215 core)
Freshman Seminar (incoming freshmen only): SC 363: Ethnic Literature and Culture of the USA. Maxine Susman (En core 2)
Scholars seminars count as core for students who are part of the Scholars program. A seminar substitutes for the designated departmental core course of the teaching faculty member. For example, if a professor from the English department teaches a Scholars seminar, and if the student needs a core literature course, the Scholars seminar fulfills the second literature English core requirement. The substitutions are noted on the advisee module as “MS.” If a student takes a seminar and has already met the core requirement that corresponds to it, the course is credited as an elective. The Honors Project, SC 405, does not count as the core.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Sc 315 Creativity and Society (3)
Explores different theories and concepts of creativity as apply to different fields such as literature, art and music. Includes creative process and interpretation.
(Core Substitution: En core2, Ah 122, or Mu 122)
SC316 Exploring Women’s Studies (3)
This interdisciplinary study of women’s experience provides philosophical, literary and historical perspectives. Readings include the feminist works of Mary Wollstonescraft, Sojourner Truth, Simone de Beauvoir, Betty Friedan, Bell Hooks and others.
(Core Substitution: EN core 2, WS 316)
Sc 320 Capitalism and Socialism (3)
Analyzes the dominant models of socialism and capitalism in terms of economic and governmental institutions through historical and contemporary case studies.
(Core Substitution: Bu 101 or Po 125)
Sc 323 GAIA: A Theory of Ecology (3)
An attempt to understand the integral complexities of ecology by studying the contemporary theoretical model of GAIA.
(Core Substitution: Bi 106)
Sc 324 Violence and Political Change (3)
Analyzes the role of violence in social and political change through in-depth studies of specific historical and contemporary examples.
(Core Substitution: Po 125)
Sc 326 Music and the Arts (3)
Examines the connections between music, art and architecture.
(Core Substitution: MU 122)
Sc 329 Inner Voices, Outer Choices (3)
Examines the concept of consciousness through topics such as free will, artificial intelligence, altered states, East/West models, and methods of evaluation.
(Core Substitution: Ps 100)
Sc 330 Ideal Self and Reality (3)
Explores the conflict between an autonomous, knowable, and stable self and the reality of behavior that is often irrational and unpredictable. Includes determinants of behavior, cross-cultural identity, perception, and mental illness and the self.
(Core Substitution: Ps 150)
Sc 331 Psychology and Film
Interprets being and personality through an analysis of avant-garde and Hollywood films. Includes readings from psychology, philosophy, and film criticism.
(Core Substitution: Ps 150)
This course is open only to those scholars who have already completed one seminar.
Sc 332 The Family in U.S. Literature (3)
Analyzes the changing concept of family, family dynamics, and the family-in-society through selections in American literature.
(Core Substitution: En core2)
Sc 340 Utopian Societies (3)
Studies various models of utopian communities, both real and theoretical, from a variety of sources including literature, history, philosophy and psychology. Special emphasis given to value systems such as behavioral, phenomenological, feminist and economic.
(Core Substitution: En core2 or Ps 100)
Sc 345 Music and Technology (3)
Examines how music and technology interact in the development of composing, performing and listening.
(Core Substitution: Mu 122)
Sc 347 Science: Visions and Reality (3)
Questions the gap between scientific discoveries and their practical applications. Ethical concerns of nuclear weaponry, genetic engineering, and research and development are discussed.
(Core Substitution: Ch 105)
Sc 348 Language, Self and Society (3)
Attempts to understand how language mediates our experience both as individuals and as social, communicative beings. Includes interdisciplinary readings.
(Core Substitution: La core 2 or An 225)
Sc 353 Values and Visual Culture (3)
This seminar examines visual forms of modern culture and how they are embedded in the belief and value systems of the specific culture in which they are produced and received. Includes fine art and popular culture.
(Core Substitution: Ah 122)
Sc 354 Music and Postmodernism (3)
Explores how theories of postmodern culture affect the production, reception and study of music. Includes music appreciation.
(Core Substitution: Mu 122)
Sc 357 Comparative Genocide (3)
This seminar explores the phenomenon of genocide by examining major case studies from the early twentieth century to the present. Case studies include the Armenian genocide; the Holocaust; Cambodia; the former Yugoslavia; Rwanda; and the current genocide in Darfur. Some of the major issues raised in the course include racism and utopian violence, the psychology of genocide from the perspectives of victims and perpetrators, and the consistent failure of the international community to respond.
(Core Substitution: Hi 102 or Po 125)
Sc 360 Globalization (3)
Studies issues and methods of economic and political globalization by examining specific international case studies such as the European Union.
(Core Substitution: Bu 101)
Sc 361 Literature and Science (3)
Examines scientific themes in literature by focusing on ethical questions raised by scientific progress. Selections range from ancient to contemporary.
(Core Substitution: En core2)
Sc 362 Ecology and Society (3)
Analyzes ecological issues in relationship to societal values and to the availability of natural resources. Case studies range from global to local concerns and involves elementary field work.
(Core Substitution: Bi 106)
Sc 363 Ethnic Literature and Culture of the USA (3)
Explores twentieth-century ethnicity through a variety of literary, historical and cultural case studies. Includes Native American, African American and European immigrant topics.
(Core Substitution: En core2)
Sc 364 Medieval Studies (3)
Interprets the ideas, literature, art and culture of the Middle Ages through various primary and secondary sources.
(Core Substitution: En core2)
Sc 365: Controversial Legal Issues (3)
This course explores controversial legal issues impacting modern life, with an emphasis on business ethics and public law issues.
(Core substitution: BU 101 or PO 125)
Sc 366 Film: Politics and Propaganda (3)
Examines cinema from political and social perspectives. Includes issues of influence, ideology, and cinematic technique.
(Core Substitution: Co 215)
Sc 367 Suffering in U.S. Literature (3)
Presents a thematic and interdisciplinary approach to the issue of suffering in American fiction from colonial to contemporary selections.
(Core Substitution: En core 2)
Sc 368 French Autobiography (3)
Critically analyzes French culture through the primary texts of autobiography. Topics include social and political context, gender, and constructions of the self.
(Core Substitution: La core2)
Sc 369 Ethical Issues (3)
Explores contemporary ethical issues through various theoretical perspectives and case studies. The topics of individual choice and dialogue are emphasized.
(Core Substitution: Ph 210)
Sc 370 Interpreting Modern Art (3)
Interprets specific works of modern art through different methodologies such as formalism, social history and biography.
(Core Substitution: Ah 122)
Sc 371 Renaissance Studies (3)
Presents the Italian and Northern Renaissance through studies of literature or visual art. Includes in-depth analysis of social and historical context.
(Core Substitution: En core2 or Ah 122)
Sc 372 Decolonization (3)
Studies major historical issues, such as slavery, the transfer of power, and economic and political developments involved in the sovereignty struggles of nineteenth- and twentieth-century colonies.
(Core Substitution: Po 125)
Sc 373 French Popular Culture (3)
Explores how popular culture developed in France and helped create what we consider to be modern life. Includes new forms of media, mass entertainment, retailing, art and literature.
(Core Substitution: La core2)
Sc 405 Honors Project (3)
This course is an independent study in which the honors project is completed with an advisor and the program Director. Includes a research paper or creative project and its presentation.
(This course does not count as core credit.)
Note:
- En core2 fulfills the second English literature requirement.
- La core2 fulfills the second Foreign Language requirement.