America's founding principles of equality and equal opportunity have long been the subject of interpretation, debate, national angst, and widespread (oftentimes violent) conflict. No more is this the case than when we talk about the issue of race. While biological notions of race have lost their scientific validity, race remains a salient issue in American life as a social and political reality sustained through a wide variety of media forms. The broad purpose of this course is to better understand how notions of race have been defined and shaped in and through these mediated forms. Specific attention may be given o the ways that race is articulated in forms of mass media and popular culture.
In the last years of World War II, Albert Camus wrote his novel, The Plague, as a way to illuminate the deep personal and societal ills around him. The book has again become popular as people struggle to understand the ramifications of the COVID-19 plague. Students and faculty use Camus's work to explore what humans are experiencing and how they are reacting to this 21st century plague and its impact on frontline workers, marginalized communities, elections, and universities. Students write an extended review of The Plague to add their reflections to the conversation.
Course #
HSED-UE 1035
Credits
2
Department
Applied Statistics, Social Science, and Humanities
Introduction to the physical aspects of sound, psychoacoustics, basic electricity, principles and practice of magnetic recording and an overview of the recording studio, including an introduction to multi-track recording techniques. Students perform various duties just as they would in a professional recording session with live musicians in the recording studio. Open to students without previous experience in recording technology.
The purpose of this course on religion and public education in an international context is for us to engage together in a critical analysis of what continues to be an important contemporary issue. The seminar is designed especially for students preparing for careers in teaching - in both public and private/religious schools, educational administration, educational research, or other professions which will involve them in the ongoing public debates about the uneasy relationship of religion and public education in the United States and other countries. The course will examine these issues historically and in terms of current policy debates and students will be asked to make connections to their own educational practice. Liberal Arts Core/CORE Equivalent - satisfies the requirement for Context and Cultures.
Course #
PHED-UE 1016
Credits
4
Department
Applied Statistics, Social Science, and Humanities
This course examines the ways in which conventional and non-conventional media recreate religious experience. Increasingly, religion is experienced not one in sacred spaces, and through ritual and scripture, but is also communicated through radio, TV, and the Internet, as well as in consumer culture and political campaigns. This course examines the significance of religion in modern life from historical and contemporary perspectives, paying attention to questions of religious and national difference, as well as material and symbolic practices.
Overview of diverse research designs & essential components of research methods, including: formulation of questions & hypotheses, identification of variables & operational definitions, sampling, data collection, & basic statistical & psychometric techniques. Students learn the basic elements & logic of social science research & develop a conceptual understanding of statistical & psychometric techniques.
Course focuses on how research informs policy for children and families in the US and the UK. The course will include topics such as poverty, welfare reform, child care, assessment, literacy instruction, education for language minorities, and intervention programs. What is the history of policy in the US and UK? What research findings are relevant in formulating or evaluating the policy? When does research shape policy? What further research is needed to inform future policies addressing these issues?
Examines both theoretical and applied aspects of research design, data analysis, and interpretation. Through readings, class discussion, guest lectures and written assignments, student will gain a thorough understanding of and practice in the components of good food-focused research. Topics include: articulating a research question, locating and using primary and secondary source information, conducting original research, and structuring and executing a research project.
In-depth look at specific quantitative & qualitative methodologies in the social sciences discussed & application of methodological understanding gained in previous research methods course, including: developing skills in coding & analyzing data, assessing & improving reliability of measures, & presenting results. Students also learn about special problems of design & measurement when research extends beyond the individual.
A deep sense of a descending dystopian future has become more pronounced with the global pandemic, economic shutdowns, and the rise of extremism and authoritarianism. Scholars, novelists, journalists, filmmakers, and activists around the world have been writing and speaking about political systems and leadership classes incapable of addressing such issues for decades. Students explore dystopia through literature, film, and scholarly works, and examine strategies for resisting dystopia. Students participate in a social action project and create video projects.
Public relations means different things to different things to different people but it has one undeniable element: communication. This course is concerned with arranging, handling, and evaluating public relations programs. Students work with actual case histories and deal with contemporary topics such as the use of the computer in public relations.
