Global Studies

This course introduces Global Studies through a survey of the world’s major geographic regions. Students will encounter core concepts related to processes of global connection and change, while also developing basic geographic literacy in the distribution of human and natural features on Earth. Students will examine and discuss significant issues–cultural, social, political-economic, and environmental–impacting humanity today as both problem and possibility. In particular, this course considers the diverse localized impacts of globalization as a continuing story of peoples and places isolated and connected by imperial, colonial, and international systems of the past and present.

MATH 21 or 54 recommended for transfer options

See the full list: SMC GE Area IV-B Course

This introductory course in rhetoric emphasizes clear, effective written communication and preparation of the research paper.

This course provides an exploration of intellectual, psychological, social and physical factors that impact lifelong learning, well-being and success. Topics include motivation and self-efficacy; critical thinking, academic integrity and active study strategies; health issues and lifestyle choices; relating to others as a global citizen; written and oral communication; time management; career exploration; and educational planning.

This course offers an interdisciplinary introduction to the fields of Global Studies and International Political Economy. Students will analyze critically the role of national governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and multinational corporations, in regard to phenomena such as, international markets and production regimes, monetary and trade policy, international and global conflict, and environmental degradation. Contending theoretical and ideological perspectives regarding international systems, processes, and trends will be applied and evaluated.

ENGL 2 recommended for transfer options

See the full list: SMC GE Area III Course

CSU GE Area A1 Course recommended

This introductory course offers an interdisciplinary exploration of the origins, current status, trends and possible solutions of major global issues. Students will examine multiple issues of concern such as international war and conflict, global inequality, food, water, energy, climate change, population growth, migration, and social change. The course will emphasize interdisciplinary inquiry by drawing upon both the holistic body of work in global studies, as well as the approaches of related fields such as anthropology, economics, environmental studies, geography, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, and women’s studies.

Cultural Anthropology is the study of human society and culture, analyzing both similarities and differences amongst cultural groups. This course will introduce students to important socio-cultural concepts used by cultural anthropologists including material culture, social organization, religion, kinship, ritual and symbolic systems, race, ethnicity, and language amongst others. Students will examine how cultural anthropologists understand the notion of culture in the study of human behavior in different regions of the world. The ethnographic method as a key methodology will be stressed throughout this course.

This course is an introduction to the archaeological record documenting the evolution of human culture from the earliest stone tool makers to the primary civilizations of the Old and New Worlds. Topics include hunter-gatherer adaptations, the invention and spread of agriculture, and the development of civilizations. Archaeological techniques and methods are introduced as the means for understanding these developments.

This course introduces the student to the place of language in society and how it varies in different cultures. The course explores how language changes in different segments of society, the relationship between dialects and social hierarchy, and language variations between genders. Students will learn to analyze linguistic expressions such as oral story-telling, poetry, and narratives from a cross-cultural perspective. Also students will discuss the role of language in issues related to nationalism.

This course presents a cross-cultural survey of the position of men and women within an anthropological framework. It assesses, in a comparative fashion, the biological basis of sexual differentiation and the cultural interpretation of these differences through "gender roles." Comparative materials from tribal, non-western, non-industrial, and western cultures will be used to illustrate the variety of gender roles and expectations. The course focuses on cultural institutions as fundamental in creating, defining, and reinforcing gender roles. Economics, politics, the arts, ethnicity, race, religion, kinship, world view, language, and other issues which influence choices, opportunities and limitations tied to gender will be examined.

Food nourishes not only our bodies, but also our souls, and plays a critical role in the identity formation of individuals and groups of people in society. This course explores how different cultural systems throughout the world shape the production, distribution and consumption of food. This course utilizes a cross-cultural focus to investigate the social, cultural, and ecological aspects of food, food products, and food resources in a global, historical, and comparative perspective.

This course will introduce students to the historical and cultural use of power by peoples and cultures in Latin America. We will investigate the use of power of Latin American peoples and cultures who lived prior to contact with Europeans, in colonial and post-colonial culture in Latin America, as well as in contemporary Latin American society. The investigation of the power of the US/Mexican border and of globalization within Latin America will also be covered in this course. A cross-cultural perspective will be employed drawing from examples in Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and from the influence of countries outside of Latin America including the United States, England, France, Portugal, Spain, China, and Japan. Power relations included in the notions of race, class, gender and sexuality, immigration and migration, and indigenism (amongst others), as they are practiced in Latin America, are explored throughout the semester.

This course will stress naked-eye astronomy and the historical development of astronomical thought, from the stone age to modern times. Students will learn about celestial motions and how these motions have shaped various cultural views, and how cultural beliefs and values shaped interpretations of the phenomena seen. We will see how eclipses of the sun and moon helped mark important epochs of time, and how solar and lunar motions were used to help create calendars. The class will study the development of astronomy in western European cultures, American cultures (North America, Mesoamerica, and South America), and non-western cultures (Asia, Africa).

This course focuses on the identification and analysis of processes and challenges of communication as affected by different cultures, especially as it affects communication among the various cultures found within the United States (e.g. African American, Asian American, Latino/a, Middle Eastern, Native American, European American and Gay/Lesbian cultures) and among the various cultures throughout the world. The course focuses on the principles of communication theory as they apply to the intercultural setting with an emphasis on the effects of differences in beliefs, values, attitudes, socio-political organization, role expectations, language and nonverbal behavior, etc.—all of which are interrelated.

This introductory course will use an interdisciplinary approach to provide students with a broad perspective on environmental problems and solutions. Students will be introduced to the strategies used by scientists, economists, political analysts and other writers and researchers to investigate and analyze environmental and urban issues, human/nature relationships, natural and built environments, and environmental citizenship.

This course introduces the field of environmental ethics with an emphasis on global environmental problems and global citizenship. The conceptual foundations of environmental attitudes and values are examined through an historical survey of philosophies of nature and human/nature relations. Ethical theories are presented and used to analyze contemporary environmental problems, e.g. mistreatment of animals, pollution, climate change, species extinction, natural resource depletion, environmental racism etc. The ethical assumptions underlying various national and international responses to environmental problems will be analyzed and evaluated.

This course examines environmental politics. The political, economic, and social origins of environmental change and degradation are examined, as well as democratic, bureaucratic and market-based solutions to environmental problems advocated by environmental movements, interest groups and political parties. Arguments for best public policy responses to a range of environmental problems will be assessed and debated. The course offers a practical problem-solving approach focusing primarily on the relations between a range of contemporary political values and on what it means to take political responsibility for reducing the human impact on the earth.

This course will focus on the theory and application of psychological principles as they relate to the causes of, and potential solutions to, current global environmental problems. Modern ecological issues (such as global climate change, habitat-loss, etc.) have their historical origin in human behavior; this class will focus both on relevant causal behaviors, and on the mental mechanisms that give rise to such behavior. An evolutionary perspective will be employed to identify the pathways by which the clash of a “universal human nature” and the modern environment results in an “evolutionary mismatch.” Evolutionary models such as the “tragedy of the commons” will be elucidated with relevant and real world examples. In addition, the course will explore potential avenues to effectively reshape human kind’s social, technological and economic relationship with its environment. As such, a systems approach will be taken that considers the human as a part of, as well as an influence on, ecosystems. Cutting edge research will be integrated from different domains of psychology (cognitive, social, developmental and evolutionary, etc.) as well as related fields (genetics, behavioral economics, game-theory, anthropology, etc.) to comprehensively study the human-environment interaction.

Apparel worn as national dress by people all over the world is surveyed. The origins and functions of clothing in different cultures are examined. Creative designing is inspired by ethnic costumes.

This course is a study of humanity and its planetary home of distinctive places, spaces, landscapes, and environments. The course systematically considers geographic patterns, processes, and issues, beginning with the basic questions of Where? and Why There? Specific topics examined include human population change and migration; agriculture and food systems; urban-economic development; cultural and environmental change in an age of globalization, with specific attention paid to language, religion, ethnic identity, and biodiversity; and international geopolitics.

This introductory course will use an interdisciplinary approach to provide students with a broad perspective on environmental problems and solutions. Students will be introduced to the strategies used by scientists, economists, political analysts and other writers and researchers to investigate and analyze environmental and urban issues, human/nature relationships, natural and built environments, and environmental citizenship.

This course introduces students to the multi-disciplinary study of urban society and space. Cities are examined both as complex social-economic groupings of people, and as material landscapes of buildings, pathways, and public and private spaces. Attention is paid to what cities are and have been (the evolving urban experience of the past and present) as well as to ever-changing ideas about what cities should be (urban planning and design for the future). While the overall perspective of the course is global, its primary focus is on the cities of North America and, in particular, the Los Angeles metropolitan area. This emphasis is evident both in the classroom and in field trips or other assignments that ask students to apply classroom ideas to our local urban setting.

This course provides a detailed introduction to global media systems around the world, examining the main economic and cultural dimensions of the international media environment. Key theoretical approaches to international and global communication will be examined. Consideration will be given to the key issues, main actors, and significant developments in global media.

This course is an introduction to the study of language. It provides an overview of the field of linguistics, its three dimensions of language structure: the sound system (phonetics and phonology), vocabulary (morphology), and grammar (syntax), and the way linguistic structure and context give rise to meaning (semantics and pragmatics). In addition the course considers how social practices are shaped by and shape language use, as well as how language is acquired and learned. The course provides a grounding in linguistics as a field of study, basic analytic skills for viewing and discussing language from a variety of perspectives, and greater awareness of the relevance of language across and within cultures.

This course provides a detailed introduction to global media systems around the world, examining the main economic and cultural dimensions of the international media environment. Key theoretical approaches to international and global communication will be examined. Consideration will be given to the key issues, main actors, and significant developments in global media.

This course introduces the field of environmental ethics with an emphasis on global environmental problems and global citizenship. The conceptual foundations of environmental attitudes and values are examined through an historical survey of philosophies of nature and human/nature relations. Ethical theories are presented and used to analyze contemporary environmental problems, e.g. mistreatment of animals, pollution, climate change, species extinction, natural resource depletion, environmental racism etc. The ethical assumptions underlying various national and international responses to environmental problems will be analyzed and evaluated.

This course examines environmental politics. The political, economic, and social origins of environmental change and degradation are examined, as well as democratic, bureaucratic and market-based solutions to environmental problems advocated by environmental movements, interest groups and political parties. Arguments for best public policy responses to a range of environmental problems will be assessed and debated. The course offers a practical problem-solving approach focusing primarily on the relations between a range of contemporary political values and on what it means to take political responsibility for reducing the human impact on the earth.

This course will focus on the theory and application of psychological principles as they relate to the causes of, and potential solutions to, current global environmental problems. Modern ecological issues (such as global climate change, habitat-loss, etc.) have their historical origin in human behavior; this class will focus both on relevant causal behaviors, and on the mental mechanisms that give rise to such behavior. An evolutionary perspective will be employed to identify the pathways by which the clash of a “universal human nature” and the modern environment results in an “evolutionary mismatch.” Evolutionary models such as the “tragedy of the commons” will be elucidated with relevant and real world examples. In addition, the course will explore potential avenues to effectively reshape human kind’s social, technological and economic relationship with its environment. As such, a systems approach will be taken that considers the human as a part of, as well as an influence on, ecosystems. Cutting edge research will be integrated from different domains of psychology (cognitive, social, developmental and evolutionary, etc.) as well as related fields (genetics, behavioral economics, game-theory, anthropology, etc.) to comprehensively study the human-environment interaction.

This course introduces the study of society and human social interaction. Both macro and micro sociological theory are discussed, as well as methods of sociological inquiry, culture, socialization, deviance, social change and social stratification--particularly in the areas of social class, race and ethnicity, and gender. Students are highly encouraged to complete Sociology 1 prior to enrolling in other sociology courses.

By relying heavily on the instructional method of service-learning, this course introduces the study of society and human social interaction. Both macro and micro sociological theory are discussed, as well as methods of sociological inquiry, cultural development, the process of socialization, social structure, social stratification--particularly in the areas of social class, race and ethnicity, and gender--and social change. Students are highly encouraged to complete Sociology 1 or 1s prior to enrolling in other sociology courses. This course requires students to engage in learning outside the classroom in conjunction with various community-based organizations.

This course introduces students to the multi-disciplinary study of urban society and space. Cities are examined both as complex social-economic groupings of people, and as material landscapes of buildings, pathways, and public and private spaces. Attention is paid to what cities are and have been (the evolving urban experience of the past and present) as well as to ever-changing ideas about what cities should be (urban planning and design for the future). While the overall perspective of the course is global, its primary focus is on the cities of North America and, in particular, the Los Angeles metropolitan area. This emphasis is evident both in the classroom and in field trips or other assignments that ask students to apply classroom ideas to our local urban setting.

This course introduces and utilizes feminist theories to examine salient issues that women confront around the world and the variant movements of resistance and social change spurred by these issues. The course includes an examination of both historical and contemporary women's activism around the globe, including feminist movements that focus on political, economic, cultural, and environmental change, as well as an assessment of the impact of globalization on women's lives. Particular attention may be given to Third World women, poor women, women of color, immigrant women, incarcerated women, women and war, women with disabilities, and queer people.

An examination of the causes of war and violence in world history and the various organized efforts to maintain peace and end wars. Nonviolent resistance movements will be emphasized.

In this inter-disciplinary course students examine fundamental ideas about politics in the writings of major Western philosophers from the ancient to the contemporary period, and use those ideas to consider and debate current political issues. NOTE: Students may receive credit for either Philosophy 51 or Political Science 51, but not both.

This interdisciplinary course in philosophy and political science examines arguments and discourses developed within contemporary political thought. How those discourses critique and/or are rooted in modern ideologies, such as liberalism and socialism will be considered. The theoretical perspectives presented in the course will be used to critically examine important issues in contemporary politics. Students will situate themselves as citizens and political agents in relation to those issues.

This course surveys the scope and methods of comparative political analysis. It examines democratic, authoritarian, and transitional political systems to illustrate the central theories and ideas in comparative politics. It compares the political structures, processes, and cultures of countries at different levels of economic and social development in several world regions (e.g. Central and Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Central, South and East Asia, and Western and Central Europe).

Course focuses on the nature and study of politics, from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Students explore the methods and approaches used in the field of Political Science to analyze a variety of political concepts and problems, including the nature and distribution of power, justice, citizenship, sustainability, leadership and agency.

This course examines the structure and operation of the international system. Emphasis is placed on the nature and sources of conflict and cooperation and issues of war and peace among states in the international system.

This course examines global conflict and cooperation since World War II, with special emphasis on The United Nations and related organizations. Arms proliferation and control, regional conflicts, world social and economic cooperation, and governmental and non-governmental efforts to promote peace and security are examined.

This seminar in international politics features analysis and discussion of the international system. Patterns of cooperation and conflict between states, alliance systems, security issues and the international economy are among the topics on which students will write papers. Seminar sessions are characterized by discussion, oral reports and critical analysis of papers, articles and books. Consultation with the instructor is encouraged before enrolling.

In this inter-disciplinary course students examine fundamental ideas about politics in the writings of major Western philosophers from the ancient to the contemporary period, and use those ideas to consider and debate current political issues. NOTE: Students may receive credit for either Philosophy 51 or Political Science 51, but not both.

This interdisciplinary course in philosophy and political science examines arguments and discourses developed within contemporary political thought. How those discourses critique and/or are rooted in modern ideologies, such as liberalism and socialism will be considered. The theoretical perspectives presented in the course will be used to critically examine important issues in contemporary politics. Students will situate themselves as citizens and political agents in relation to those issues.

This course focuses on general business problems, theories, techniques and strategies necessary in the development of business activities in the global market place. The course is designed to promote an understanding of the impact that a country’s culture and its political and economic environments have on a firm’s international operations. The course covers the global perspective of business fundamentals as they relate to international management, communication, marketing, finance, ethics, etc.

This course provides the basic foundations of international marketing and then explain how companies can grow by going abroad or sourcing ideas/expanding into other countries or industries. Students explore all aspects of marketing from a global perspective to better respond to international opportunities and competitive situations. This course is designed to promote an understanding of the impact that a country's culture and environment have on the marketing mix as well as the problems of competing in markets having different cultures.

This course presents an overview of importing and exporting as drivers of globalization. It is designed to help students explore the benefits, costs, and risks of importing and exporting as well as the trade regulations involved, the documentation and licensing required, and the public and private sources of financing and other assistance available. It stresses cross-cultural comparisons of foreign business, legal and political practices, trade patterns, and markets as a means of implementing successful import/export plans. Currency exchange, sources and methods of market research, terms of payment, broker services, insurance, letters of credit, transportation and barriers to entry will also be covered.

This course focuses on issues faced in international management. Techniques and strategies for leading business activities in the world marketplace are examined. The course is designed to promote an understanding of global trends and the decision-making process involved in all aspects of the multinational organization, such as planning, organizing, and human resource management.

This course provides an overview of Southern California's economy, its people, and its emerging role in the ocean economy. Using a variety of tools, students will be introduced to the vital commercial, financial, and personal connections that make Southern California one of the most diverse and globally connected places in the world. Special attention is devoted to key ocean economy regional engagement opportunities and to enlighten students on how the Blue/Ocean economy (‘sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem.”) is shaping the future of local, state, and global economies.

This course introduces students to the supply and demand model, the concept of elasticity, productivity and cost structures. Within the Supply and Demand framework, the class studies the impact of government intervention on markets. The class evaluates alternative market structures in terms of prices, efficiency, and the role of the government.

This course introduces students to measurement of economic aggregates, economic models, and economic policy. Measures of economic aggregates include: GDP, the unemployment rate, the GDP Deflator, and the Consumer Price Index. The Great Depression is used as an introduction to macroeconomic policy. The course covers the tools of fiscal and monetary policy and their impact on aggregate demand, prices, income and interest rates. Additionally, the course introduces students to following models: Classical, Keynesian, Monetarist, and Supply Side with their corresponding policy implications and recommendations.

A focused survey of the chronological development of art and architecture from Impressionism to the present day. This course will cover the major movements of modern and contemporary art while examining their historical, cultural and philosophical context. Specific attention will be given to art theory and its part in shaping conversations about art history and the contemporary.

This course surveys the art, architecture, and visual culture of Latin America from pre-history up until European contact. Art objects and monuments from select ancient civilizations of Mexico, Central America, and South America will be placed within their historical, cultural, social, and political contexts.

This course is an introductory survey of the art, architecture, and visual culture of Latin America from the colonial to the contemporary period. The course examines the introduction and adaption of European artistic models in the Americas as well as the transformation of American art as a result of the conquest, analyzing a variety of materials and media including urban planning, religious and secular architecture, painting, sculpture, manuscript drawings and prints from the colonial period (1492-1820). Students examine the role of Latin American artists in building independent nations in the 19th c. and engaging with issues of race, gender, new technologies, politics, and globalization in the 20th and 21st centuries.

An introduction to artistic practices by exploring the myriad manifestations of visual culture in our world through a cross-cultural thematic approach. This course examines themes in art like Religion, Power, Reproduction and Sexuality, and traces them across cultures and time periods. Emphasis will be placed on learning the language of visual culture both in terms of the formal elements of design as well as the content of style and subject matter and finding connections and differences. Students will explore the various media of art from drawing, sculpture, fresco, oil, photography, motion pictures, architecture to contemporary advertising and design and investigate how various cultures have used specific media and themes. This course is designed to introduce Fine Art and Art History simultaneously providing a unique opportunity to explore these fields as well as to prepare students for a course of study in Fine Art and Art History.

This course covers the historical development of Mexican art from its Pre-Colombian past to the present with a review of painting, sculpture, architecture, and their social, political, religious, and economic relevance.

This course is a survey of the chronological development of Asian art from earliest times to present times with emphasis on the cultural, political, and social factors which influenced this evolution. The course includes the art of India, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

History and appreciation of the arts of Africa and The African Diaspora. Examines the continent of Africa within historical, cultural, religious, socio-political, and aesthetic contexts, the impact of African art in Europe and the Americas, and contemporary African art.

Through the use of lectures, slides, and field trips, students will study architecture from the mid-19th Century social and industrial conditions to current sensibilities represented by various creative individuals, movements and buildings. Cross references will be made to ideas of other arts, sociopolitical theory, and society in general.

Dance 5 offers an overview of dance in historical, cultural, political, and social contexts. This course covers the historical development of dance as a performing art through the periods of history from the pre-historic era through the 21st Century. This class investigates the origin, tradition, and development of theatrical dance styles, including ballet, modern, postmodern, jazz, tap, hip-hop, world dance forms and contemporary. Examining dance as a performing art as well as a medium of social, cultural, and individual expression is emphasized through the comprehensive study of dance works and dance artists.

Students will learn world dance styles and techniques. The study of the music, art, costumes, customs, and origins of each style is also included.

This course introduces students to the theatrical, social, and religious traditions of Asian/Pacific Dance in its cultural context. The movement techniques of Sundanese, Javanese, Hawaiian, and Tahitian dance will be studied as well as the relationship of the dances to music, myth, and character.

This course is an intermediate level of Mexican dance with an emphasis on traditional dance styles not covered in Dance 22 (Beginning Mexican Dance). Students will learn intermediate level body placement, footwork, rhythm patterns, and choreography. The course also provides historical context, including European and African cultural influences on Mexican dance, as well as the influence of religion, music, art, and popular styles on traditional Mexican dance forms. Dance techniques learned may serve as preparation for the World Dance Performance Courses (Dance 57A and 57B).

This course introduces students to the movement and music of Flamenco Dance and its cultural, historic, and geographic origins. The basic dance technique, complex musical structure and extensive terminology is studied along with the basic elements of movement including body placement and strength building exercises.

This course is an introduction to the study of African dance with an emphasis on West African traditional and contemporary dances. Emphasis is on techniques of Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Dunham Technique.

This course surveys Brazilian dance with an emphasis on Afro-Brazilian technique and styles. Course content will include dances of the Candomble Orixas, folkloric forms such as Maculele and Maracatu, Samba, and contemporary Brazilian choreographies. Instruction will also include lectures on the vital relationship between dance, drumming, song, costume, and legends of these living traditions. The impact of these dance forms on Brazilian society will also be presented in both lecture and movement technique.

This course introduces students to the movement, music, and costumes of Middle Eastern/North African Dance. In this course students will examine historic culture and modern developments in this dance genre. Students will study the origins of Middle Eastern/North African dance techniques, rhythms, and terminology.

This course examines the works of African writers of the essay, the novel and shorter fiction, drama and poetry, with emphasis on the interpersonal, cultural, and political tensions of modern and post-modern Africa as expressed in its literature and history. It explores the universality of this literature while at the same time recognizing its sources in the conflicts of modern history and society.

Major works of Asian literature will provide a window to the rich cultures of a fascinating part of the world. Students will study literature of at least four Asian countries. The course is designed to introduce students to the important values of the society, the major beliefs and traditions of the culture, and prominent motifs of the arts of these countries.

This introductory course will study contemporary Asian literature and film as reflections of the cultural values and important social and political movements in some Asian countries. Students will study selected films and literature from at least three Asian countries each semester in order to highlight and explore the relationship between images and words, between the verbal text and the visual text.

This course studies the major characters and tales from the mythologies of several Asian societies. A sort of ur-knowledge or ur-science, mythology in Asian societies is both an attempt to understand the nature of the cosmos and a human being's place in it as well as a means of organizing relationships among people to form a cohesive, functioning society. The course takes a thematic approach to myths and legends from a variety of sources, especially literature and the visual arts, to examine humanity's attempt to explain the unknown and the meaning of life: the beginning of the world, creation of living creatures, explanation of natural phenomena, relationships between gods and mortals, deeds of super heroes, duties of an individual in a society, death, and afterlife. The resonance of these mythological motifs and characters in modern Asian cultures will also be studied.

As a study of the 20th Century novel, this course includes the English novel and the European novel in translation.

This course surveys Mexican literature. It deals with pre-Columbian Aztec and Mayan writing, poetry from the colonial and independence periods, and nineteenth century romanticism, but will emphasize twentieth century literature as it evolves through Modernismo (1888-1912), Poshnodemismo (1912-1918), and Postvanguardismo (1940s and 1970s): Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz, Nervo, Velarde, Reyes, Pellicer, Paz, Castellanos, Sabines, and Pacheco among other poets. The prose fiction section will begin with Azuela's 1915 novel of the revolution, but will focus on post-1940s writers: Rulfo, Arreola, Fuentes, and Paz. Contemporary poets and writers (1970's-present) will complete the course.

This course surveys global environmental history from early human evolution to the present, focusing on the complex and consequential ways people have perceived, relied on, interacted with and been impacted by the natural world. Topics include the diverse patterns of interaction with land, water, plants, animals, and energy sources, as well as their economic, political, social, cultural, and technological aspects in the local, regional, and global context.

This course surveys the transformations of Western Civilization from the 16th century into the 21st century. It addresses social, economic, political, intellectual, and artistic transformations that relate to the development of nation-states, industrialization, imperialism, and international conflicts and migration.

This course surveys the development of British Civilization from the Restoration of 1660 into the early twenty-first century. It addresses the significant social, economic, political, intellectual, and artistic transformations that shaped British and Irish history, including the development of a constitutional monarchy, the industrial revolution, establishment of a global empire, Irish independence, involvement in world wars, the emergence of Thatcher conservatism, and beyond.

This course surveys modern Latin American history from independence to the present. Using a thematic and chronological approach, it addresses post-colonial developments in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, including such topics as the social and cultural challenges of nation-building and economic growth through periods of political conflict to contemporary globalization.

This course surveys Mexican history from pre-Columbian civilizations to the present. It addresses such major political, economic, social, and cultural developments as the Spanish conquest and colonial era; nineteenth-century struggles for independence; and political and economic transitions of the twentieth- and twenty-first centuries.

This course surveys the history of Russia from the 10th Century to the Present. Students will learn about the significant political, social, economic, and cultural transformations that shaped Russian historical development including its embrace of Christianity in the 10th Century, the rise of the Romanov Dynasty and the establishment of Russia as a powerful multi-ethnic state and empire. Moving chronologically, students will learn about the the rise of Soviet-style Communism, the totalitarian state created by Josef Stalin, the USSR's during the Cold War including its engagement with Eurasian, African, and Latin American states, and they will gain a meaningful understanding of Russian history in the global era and thereby its role in contemporary international affairs.

This course surveys the history of the Middle East, from the ancient civilizations of the Tigris-Euphrates river valley to the present. Major topics include the religious, ethnic, social and political differences that developed prior to and since the emergence of Islam; the establishment of new states following the world wars, and the 21st-century engagement with globalizing trends.

This course surveys the development of China, Japan, and Korea from 1600 through their linked yet distinct modern transformations. It addresses such topics as early encounters with imperialism; divergent paths of 20th-century social, political, economic and intellectual change; world war, civil wars, and revolution; and their economic growth and social transformation in recent decades.

This course surveys Southeast Asian history up to the present. It examines topics such as religion and cultural change; women and gender; colonialism, decolonization, and the Cold War; economic and environmental change, within a regional and global context.

This course examines the domestic and global politics of and between European states since 1914, exploring such topics as nationalism, imperialism, totalitarianism, decolonization, migrations, and European integration. The course will analyze these topics in relation to major events of the time period, including the World Wars, formation and collapse of the Soviet Union and its satellite system, creation of the European Union, and disputes and cooperation between European states in the contemporary era of globalization.

This course surveys the Jewish people and their history from biblical times to the present. The focus is on the development of major institutions, ideas, religious and cultural movements as well as the interaction between Jews and those amongst whom they have lived, from ancient Israel through the global diaspora.

This course surveys global environmental history from early human evolution to the present, focusing on the complex and consequential ways people have perceived, relied on, interacted with and been impacted by the natural world. Topics include the diverse patterns of interaction with land, water, plants, animals, and energy sources, as well as their economic, political, social, cultural, and technological aspects in the local, regional, and global context.

This course surveys world history from 1500 to the present, addressing major developments that contributed to global change. A thematic and chronological approach will be used to examine the economic, social, intellectual, cultural, and political transformations associated with development of and resistance to colonialism and imperialism, technological and industrial change in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, through the twentieth-century wars and global transitions that shape the contemporary world.

This course surveys African history from the eve of 1900 to the present, addressing such topics as African resistance to conquest; experiences with colonialism; settler colonialism in southern Africa; the rise of national liberation movements and achievement of independence, and the challenges of post-colonial nation building. It examines contemporary Africa through a review of economic, urban, rural, gender, and environmental concerns; kinship, and religion.

This course surveys Native-American history from earliest settlement to the present, addressing such topics as colonial-era interactions with Europeans, the development of U.S. Indian policy, and the effort to reclaim sovereign rights. Focusing primarily on native peoples of the United States, this course pays particular attention to the development of internal and external definitions of freedom and equality and to the influence of Native Americans on the social, economic, political, and cultural development of America.

This course surveys major themes and trends in the history of religion from prehistoric times to the present. Analyzing the essential principles and global historical context of such religions as Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and tribal and contemporary religions, it addresses the cultural, political, social and other roles religion has played throughout history.

This course explores popular and traditional cultures and civilizations of South Asia through an interdisciplinary perspective. The course examines the characteristic qualities of the region with a focus on its religious and linguistic traditions, music, art forms, and literatures.

This course offers an introduction to the social, cultural, economic, and political patterns of life in today's People's Republic of China. Study tours to local centers of Chinese culture or to the People's Republic; plays; seminar discussions; readings; and other cultural opportunities will be utilized to understand contemporary China.

This course explores Japanese culture and civilization. Employing an interdisciplinary perspective, the course examines the fundamentals of Japanese culture and tradition including Japanese philosophy, religions, art forms, literature, cuisine, and language. The course will be taught in English. No knowledge of Japanese is required.

This course offers an exploration of Global cultures through music. Students will study musical instruments, musical elements in composition, styles, and performance practices of different regions of the world. This course also explores artistic, social and historical contexts that lead to the development of different/cultural forms of music.

This course is a survey of music in Western Civilization from the Rococo Period (about 1720) to the present. Emphasis is placed upon the principal composers and their works related to the history and philosophy of each stylistic period and interrelationships with the arts and humanities in general. The stylistic periods covered include Rococo, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist, and the diverse directions of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The course is designed for the music major but open to all.

This study of the principal philosophical developments since the Renaissance emphasizes the relation of philosophy to the growth of science and social and cultural changes in the modern period.

The cultural settings and basic concepts of the major philosophical and religious systems of India, China, and Japan are studied. Rituals and literature are used to compare and contrast Asian and non-Asian belief systems.

This is an introduction to several traditional philosophical problems connected with religious belief. Among the issues to be discussed are the existence and nature of God, the problem of evil, mysticism, the rationality of religious belief, and the relationship between reason and revelation.

A comparative study of the government and politics of the Middle Eastern states. Emphasis will be placed on study of the relationship between political development, political organization and social structure.

This course introduces students to the development of Latin American culture from pre-Columbian times to the present. It will explore history, literature, art music, geography, archeology, culture, customs and traditions of Spanish America. This course will be taught in Spanish.