First-Year Experience 2013-2014

Fall Semester Courses

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ANTH 059A ~ D2: Culture and Environments
CRN: 92580

Instructor: Luis Vivanco Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of Global and Regional Studies More . . .

Environmental degradation is currently one of the most pressing problems facing humanity. This course examines the socio-cultural causes and consequences of environmental degradation around the world, as well as the efforts to solve these problems. Students will analyze the increasing globalization of human/nature interactions and environmental degradation, and consider how solutions to environmental problems have dealt (or not dealt) with culturally distinct definitions of nature and social change.

Requirements Satisfied: one Social Science course and Non-European Cultures
Meets: MWF 1:55-2:45pm

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EC 060A ~ Capitalism and Human Welfare
CRN: 90184

Instructor: Ross Thomson Professor of Economics More . . .

Economic growth and innovation shape our world and our standard of living. This course examines theories of economic growth, the historical experience of growth and innovation that let the U.S. surge ahead of its competitors, the relative decline of the U.S. since 1950, and the more recent slowdown of growth.

Requirements Satisfied: one Social Science course
Meets: TR 1:00pm-2:15pm

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SOC 032A ~ Social Inequality
CRN: 91683

Instructor: Moustapha Diouf Associate Professor of Sociology More . . .

Who gets what and why? This course deals with class, racial/ethnic, and sex inequality in the distribution of valued rewards (e.g., wealth, power, prestige) in society. We shall describe this distribution, explain its causes, and discuss its consequences. The focus is on the contemporary United States, but we shall also touch on the history of inequality and briefly discuss global inequality.

Requirements Satisfied: one Social Science course
Meets: MWF 11:45am-12:35pm

Spring Semester Courses

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GEOG 099 ~ Race, Place and Music
CRN: TBD

Instructor: Rashad Shabazz Assistant Professor of Geography More . . .

Drawing on a wide range of source material, our task will be to probe the ways in which geography informs, shapes and augments the cultural lives of Black people in the U.S. Our concern with this topic is motivated by often unexplored, yet profound implications which space, place, and location have on Black cultural production. Scholars have spent much time demonstrating the political, epistemological and discursive impact of Black cultural production. Yet there is little attention has been paid to the landscapes on which these forms of culture emerge. This class attempts to do precisely that. We will explore how Black cultural products (largely music) are informed by space and location. Looking at the Blues, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Funk, Rock, Reggae, Hip-Hop, and case studies of musicians, this course seeks to make visible the spatial production of Black cultural products.

Requirements Satisfied: one Social Sciences course
Meets: TBD

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POLS 071 ~ Comparative Political Systems
CRN: TBD

Instructor: Matthew Carlson Associate Professor of Political Science More . . .

How do we compare political systems? Why do ethnic conflicts occur? What are the political consequences of electoral and political party systems? How do we measure countries in terms of their level of democracy? This course will introduce you to some of the central issues in the field of comparative politics. Through a combination of readings, lectures, discussions, and films, we will examine many of the major theoretical debates and topics in comparative politics, including democratization, electoral and party systems, political violence, ethnic conflict, human rights, and political economy. We will also look at how these theoretical issues are empirically represented in different parts of the world.

Requirements Satisfied:
Meets: TBD

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Thesis ~ ISSP Thesis (Optional)
CRN: TBD

Instructor: Ross Thomson Program Director 802-656-0182 More . . .

 

Requirements Satisfied: one Social Science course
Meets: TBD