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A total of 24 courses have been found.
Language minorities and linguistic human rights in the United States and worldwide; language and identity, culture, power; case studies of language rights deprivation.

Imagine any of the following:

You start school as a child and are not taught in your home language, the only one you speak well.

You are arrested by the police, but you don’t understand the language they speak.

You go to the Department of Motor Vehicles or another government office, and the people speak to you in an unfamiliar language.

You talk to your friends in public but can’t use the language you use with them in private.

Your parents give you one name, but the government insists you be called something else.

How would your life be affected by this?

All around the world these very things happen.

In this course we examine issues of linguistic human rights: the fundamental right to use one's language and the efforts made to secure those rights and deny them. We explore how language rights are integral to human rights in general and an individual's definition of personal and cultural identity through studying a variety of case studies of the abrogation of language rights locally, nationally, and internationally. Course requirements include one midterm exam, three 1-2 page observation papers, a 7-10 page final paper on a case of language rights.

International and Global Issues

The original tree huggers were rural Indian women who in the 1970s wrapped themselves around tree trunks to keep loggers at bay. It is this class of women who today trek long distances in search of firewood to cook dinner on wood stoves now deemed harmful to their own health, local forests, and the earth’s climate. From policy to individual livelihoods and aspirations, this course introduces you to the politics of environment in India from the colonial period (19th century) to today. Gender, class, caste, and indigeneity are key to understanding ‘environmentalism from below’ in India, where tiger protection, forest conservation, mega dams, industrial agriculture, the global patent regime and family planning initiatives have sparked public protest, everyday resistance, and social change. While the course will focus primarily on India, occasional comparative case studies offer insight into the Indian situation. We will reflect on these questions: How is your life connected to environmental and social processes unfolding on the other side of the planet? How do the questions we ask shape the knowledge we produce?  How can we bring together knowledge from different fields to address complex human problems?  Assignments include quizzes, exams, essays, and a final research project. This course assumes no prior knowledge of India or South Asia and meets a General Education requirement in the area of International and Global Issues. It is also an approved course for the Sustainability Certificate. For GWSS majors, it will fill the Global/Comparative Focus distribution requirement. For SJUS majors, it qualifies for two Social Justice Emphasis Areas: The Environment and Ecological Justice and Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies.

International and Global Issues

Global health as a study of the dynamic relationship between human health and social, biological, and environmental factors that drive the spread of disease; core areas of global health research that may include health inequalities, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, nutrition, environmental health, and health interventions.

This class offers a comprehensive introduction to the field of Global Health Studies.

Within global health, it is imperative to situate health and disease within historical and geographical contexts. We will do this by exploring how sociocultural, economic, environmental, and political systems impact medicine, disease, and health in profound ways. As we become more interconnected, global health fundamentally asks us to consider why health inequities continue to persist (and even worsen) both between countries and within countries, and what we can do about it.  Global health scholars are also invested in understanding the tensions within practicing clinical medicine across cultures and the many systems of healing and medicine beyond Western biomedical approaches.

Course subthemes include the interplay between health and race, gender, ethnicity, class, sexuality, as well the political and economic forces that shape global health policies and practices. Course topics include, but are not limited to health inequalities, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, nutrition, environmental health, and health interventions.

Major course assignments include attendance & participation; weekly reading questions; weekly quizzes; critical reflection paper; short research analysis.

 

 

International and Global Issues
Selected world problems from an anthropological perspective; current dilemmas and those faced by diverse human groups in recent times and distant past.

This course examines how anthropological approaches can help us understand and address significant social problems facing populations across the world. A key objective is that students develop the ability to apply key anthropological concepts to analyses of both endemic social problems and current events.  Special attention will be paid to ways that race, gender, and social and economic inequality shape world problems, and social responses to them, at levels from local to global.

International and Global Issues Social Sciences
Cross-cultural approach to urban anthropology; urbanizing processes, migration and adaptation, aspects of class and ethnicity in urban settings, urban economic relations.

From the favelas of Brazil to the townships of South Africa, the social dynamics of urban places has served as a long-standing area of interest in the discipline of anthropology. Today more than half of the world’s population lives in cities, with this number projected to grow further. In order to address the growth and importance of urban social formations, the course will take different approaches to understanding the culture of cities. Class readings will derive from anthropology, history, geography and urban studies in order to offer a multidisciplinary perspective on urban space and society. Further, case studies will be drawn from the United States, Africa, Latin America and elsewhere in order to offer a cross-cultural perspective.

As we move into the twenty-first century, it has become common to think of social life as increasingly connected across formerly separate domains of existence. In keeping with this shift, this course will take an approach to understanding culture and society that takes seriously the interconnected social, political, economic and cultural dynamics associated with the contemporary phase of globalization. For the analysis of urban space and society, much work has focused on the rise of neoliberal models of socio-economic organization and their effects on everyday people. This point of focus will serve as a common thread in the course, which will give students the requisite knowledge to answer the following questions over the course of the semester:

  • How do urban environments and the experience of urban space influence the behavior of people?
  • What social and institutional mechanisms do groups of people develop in order to meet their material and cultural needs in urban spaces?
  • How does social inequality manifest in urban settings?
  • How have groups of people gone about changing challenging social conditions they face in their everyday lives? This course will take a cross-cultural approach in introducing students to the ways that anthropologists and social scientists have understood the cultural complexity of urban areas around the world. Within this broad focus, the emphasis will be on how people living in urban areas navigate their lives within a set of historically particular political, economic, institutional and cultural conditions.
International and Global Issues Social Sciences
Long-term patterns of human-environment interactions surveyed through archaeological case studies; varied scales of human impacts, including animal extinction, habitat destruction, agricultural practices, urban growth, state-level societies. International and Global Issues Social Sciences
Introductory survey of Chinese history and civilization from its origins to 1800; exploration of traditions in politics, social organization, thought, religion, and culture. Historical Perspectives International and Global Issues
Introduction to Korean history and culture; how meanings of "Korea" and "Koreans" changed from ancient times to present; relevant issues of politics, society, and culture; events that shaped ancient Korean states—Koryo state (918-1392), the Choson dynasty (1392-1910), Japanese colonization (1910-1945), and the two Koreas (1945-present); how present perspectives on Korea have influenced understandings of its past. Historical Perspectives International and Global Issues
Overview of the relationship between sports and national cultures in countries around the world; focus on how athletic competitions play a role in the formation of collective identities; includes the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, hockey in Canada, cycling in France, traditional wrestling in Senegal, cricket in England and India, and soccer in Europe, Africa, and Latin America. International and Global Issues
Key moments in the history of relations between the United States and France, from similarities underlying democratic principles to recent divergent worldviews. Taught in English.

 

This course explores the long and complex relationship between the United States and France, particularly as revealed through cultural encounters and experiences.  We will focus on differing customs, lifestyles, ways of thinking, attitudes towards art, architecture, food, wine, travel, tourism, mass media, language differences and stereotypes.

International and Global Issues
Global environmental challenges; ecological, economical, cultural, and geographical causes and effects; underlying science and potential solutions to global issues of sustainability. GE: Sustainability.

The demands on earth’s resources have never been greater, leading to a wide array of environmental impacts on a grand scale. This introductory course profiles the leading global environmental issues of our time, particularly those associated with land use, population change, pollution, energy, and climate change.  The class adopts an interdisciplinary perspective that emphasizes their causes, consequences, and solutions. The major goals of the course are to: 1) explore the most urgent global environmental issues and their relationships with physical, social, biological, and economic processes; and 2) introduce you to basic geographic concepts in the context of current environmental challenges.

International and Global Issues Social Sciences
World regions including their physical environment, culture, economy, politics, and relationships with other regions; students learn about conflicts within and between regions.

Examination of contemporary global society, focusing on world regions, including physical environment, culture, economy, and politics of each region and relationships between regions; analysis of current conflicts within and between regions, including social, religious, political, and economic issues.

International and Global Issues Social Sciences

Examination of contemporary economic geography; types of national economies, uneven development, role of government in shaping economy, multinational corporations; foundation for understanding national economies and economic statistics; contemporary issues including economic globalization, commodification of nature, de-industrialization.

Why are various economic activities located in different places? How are these locations changing? What is globalization and how does it affect local economies? This course, designed for students in all majors, examines the economic geography of the world. During the first 12 weeks, we focus on important factors that affect the location and distribution of economic activities across the globe. Major topics include population distributions, variation in regional economies, natural resource distribution, industrial location, foreign investment, and international trade. The remaining weeks are devoted to examining the position of selected nations and groups of nations in the international economy. Here, the key topics are world economic development, regional economic structures, and regional growth and decline. Class meetings include lectures and discussions. Final grades are based on four assignments, two midterms, the final exam, and participation. One or more sections may be assigned to a TILE classroom.

International and Global Issues Social Sciences
Government and political structure, economy, mass media, education, social and cultural life of Germany, Austria, Switzerland from the end of World War II to present. Taught in German. Offered spring semesters of odd years. Contemporary German Civilization introduces students to post-unification culture and politics in the Federal Republic of Germany. Lectures focus on topics ranging from the university system to the Berlin Wall. Readings are assigned from German media available on-line. In addition to a midterm and final, students will be expected to submnit two 3-page papers and give a 10-minute oral presentation on a subject of their choice.
Prerequisites: GRMN:3501 or GRMN:3103 or GRMN:3104
International and Global Issues
Women in the Islamic community and in non-Muslim Middle Eastern cultures; early rise of Islam to modern times; references to women in the Qur'an and Sunnah, stories from Islamic history; women and gender issues.
More information on Prof. Souaiaia's website.
 
Women in Islam and the Middle East is a course about women within and without the Muslim community. It focuses on women from the early time periods of the rise of Islam until modern times. We will consider the textual references to women in the primary religious texts (Qur’ân and the Sunnah) and references and stories of prominent women as told in the Islamic history books. In order to provide a comprehensive exploration of the status of women and gender issues, the course will also rely on interviews, guest lectures, images, documentaries, and films produced from a variety of perspectives and through the lenses of a number of disciplines.In this course, we aim to explore the role and status of women in the modern and pre-modern Middle East with respect to institutions such as the law, religious practices, work, politics, family, and education. Additionally, we will examine themes of social protocols, sexuality, gender roles, and authenticity as contested norms.The course will also discuss contemporary Muslim women, the factors informing constructions of gender in Islam and the Middle East. We will focus on contemporary Muslim women in a number of different cultural contexts in order to highlight a variety of significant issues including, veiling and seclusion, kinship structures, violence, health, feminist activism, literary expression, body and mind, and other themes.
 
 
International and Global Issues Values and Culture Values, Society, and Diversity
How does history help to explain our interconnected world? Introduction to international and global thinking through a variety of topics.

How does history help to explain our interconnected world? Introduction to international and global thinking through a variety of topics.

Historical Perspectives International and Global Issues
Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of international studies; globalization, migration, and inequality.

This course is designed to help you improve your international literacy. The objectives of this course are to help you develop a functional understanding of global institutions and patterns, to engage you with a variety of international issues and problems, and above all to challenge you to think about the world in new and creative ways that should prove useful in pursuit of career goals with international dimensions. The course is structured around three global challenges: membership in the global community, migration and inequality.

Complex problems require multifaceted solutions which transcend international boundaries and reach multiple populations across the globe all at once. By applying an International Studies approach to these three global challenges, you will begin to appreciate how taking an interdisciplinary approach is becoming not only increasingly relevant, but indispensable. This class consists of two weekly lectures and a discussion session; you are expected to have read the required readings before each session. You are expected to attend all lecture and discussion sessions; exams may include questions drawn from the content of these sessions not found in the reading materials. This class fulfils the CLAS Core International and Global Issues general education (GE) requirement.

International and Global Issues
Human rights in religious and secular discourse, seventh century to present; Islamic law, human rights law, religion, politics.

More information on Prof. Souaiaia's website.

In this course, we will examine the origins and contexts of the human rights discourse. We will adopt historical and analytical approaches to explore the social forces, legal regimes, and cultural norms that shaped the debate on human rights in a global context and within Islamic societies. We will analyze historical accounts, legal documents, and past and current events to introduce students to human rights beyond its international law framework. Instructor: Ahmed E. Souaiaia

International and Global Issues
Exploration of the myth of the Mafia and mobsters and examination of its function through a selection of Italian films; students investigate the multifaceted nature of Italian organized crime, and consider its historical, geographical, social, and economical dimensions. Taught in English.

Men of honor, loyalty, and respect: Hollywood has an enduring fascination with mobsters. Over the last fifty years, successful movies by Francis Ford Coppola, Brian De Palma, and Martin Scorsese have contributed to shape the myth of the Mafia and keep it alive in the American imaginary. This course will explore this myth and re-discuss its function through a selection of American and Italian films. It will investigate the multifaceted nature of Italian organized crime considering its social and economic impact and its local, national, and international dimensions. It will analyze how 21st century Italian cinema portrays the Mafia and pays tribute to the anti-mafia resistance. This journey from commonplace images to a more complex picture of the Mafia phenomenon will help students examine the role of media in shaping the collective imaginary and acquire a deeper, broader, and more critical understanding of global issues. Requirements include class attendance and participation, writing exercises, a group project, a midterm and a final exam.

International and Global Issues

Politics worldwide, including all regions and levels of development; wide-ranging themes, including regime types, political change, political culture, public opinion, government structures, state-society relationship, electoral systems, public policy issues.

Comparative politics examines political realities in countries all over the world. It looks at the many ways governments operate and the ways people behave in political life. This course serves as an introduction to comparative politics, presenting the major themes and issues of comparative politics, helping students to understand how the political theories and concepts of comparative politics work in the real world.

 
International and Global Issues Social Sciences
Political dynamics in postcommunist countries of east-central Europe and Eurasia; imperial legacies, ideology and practice of communist politics, patterns of democracy and authoritarianism.

We first examine the Soviet Union: its founding, political evolution, and what life was like for its citizens. The Soviet period continues to exert a strong influence on politics in the 15 countries that were once part of the Soviet Union as well as on the Soviet satellite countries. Knowing the Soviet legacy is vital for understanding the current issues in all these countries, stretching from the Baltic republics to Central Asia and Mongolia. The course then turns to the politics of the largest Soviet successor country, Russia. Students will master Russia’s formal political institutions and its informal political processes, the country’s political economy, how Russian citizens interact with the political system, and how Russia deals with other countries. Russia’s political system is a leading example of one type of authoritarianism, making Russia a valuable point of comparison with other countries. Russia is also a regional great power and a significant emerging economy. It represents a major world culture, with contributions to literature, science, music and athletics rivaled by few other countries. Knowledge of Russian politics can therefore benefit all future citizens and should be particularly valuable for those who will go into government service, the non-profit sector, journalism, the military, or international business.

 

This course fulfills a general education requirement in:

  • International and Global Issues

 

It also fulfills a requirement for the following degrees or programs:

  • Political Science
  • International Relations (Regional Politics and Relations)
  • International Studies (Development; or Russian, East European and Eurasian)
  • International Business Certificate

 

This course will be offered online with both synchronous and asynchronous elements. Online class meetings (via Zoom) will be held from 11:00A - 12:15P on Tuesday, January 26, on Thursday, January 28, and on each subsequent Thursday only. Course modules will combine pre-recorded lecture videos, readings, films, discussions and group activities. Grades will be based on 8 quizzes; three short writing assignments; and class participation.

International and Global Issues Social Sciences

Survey of key issues in international relations, including causes of wars, different types of theories of international relations, international organizations, and global environmental problems.

The goals of this course are threefold: 1) to introduce students to the basic facts and characteristics of world politics, 2) to explore the multitude of tools and theories used by scholars in order to understand world politics, and 3) to encourage students to begin to try their own hands at making sense out of a complex and interesting subject. Topics include the international system, leaders, theories of decision-making, the role of public opinion, international conflict, arms control, deterrence, international regimes and institutions, cooperation, alliances, democratic peace, and trade and interdependence.

International and Global Issues Social Sciences
Foreign policies: goals, basic themes and general patterns, problems encountered by policy makers, means employed in dealing with other nations and international organizations, processes by which policies are formulated, factors that influence structure of policies.

Since its founding, the U.S. has grown from a relatively small power to the most powerful nation in the world. How did the U.S. go from a small power to the world’s leader? How are American foreign policy decisions made? What are current foreign policy issues facing the United States? This course examines all of these questions by looking at the history of American foreign policy, examining how different branches of government attempt to influence foreign policy, and discussing current foreign policy debates facing policy-makers. Topics covered include the causes and consequences of major wars like World War 2 and Vietnam, American Exceptionalism, and U.S. policy towards terrorism and the Middle East.  Students are evaluated based on two non-cumulative exams, quizzes, a short paper, a presentation, and participation in section. This course is appropriate for any student. No prior knowledge or skills are required. This class fulfills requirements for the Political Science, International Relations, and the Ethics and Public Policy major.

International and Global Issues Social Sciences

Russia Today 3 s.h.

Contemporary Russia, with focus on prevailing social, political, economic, ethnic, environmental conditions; attention to historical evolution of problems, current factors; what these factors might portend for the future. Taught in English.

"I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia.  It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma."  (Winston Churchill, 1941)   Despite the official break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, this famous quote perhaps rings more true today than ever – even to the vast majority of so-called Russian experts and academics. It is my hope that throughout the course of this semester students will come away with an improved understanding of the unique historical, political, socio-economic, cultural, and literary events of the past 100 years that continue to guide and influence Russia in 2019 as one of the world’s most unique, powerful, yet perpetually misunderstood countries. Course materials will include literary works by Russian authors, biographers, and historians (in English), documentary and artistic films (by both Russian and US directors),  government and NGO presentations on the changing health care system post-1991, and a several specialist guest speakers on Russian law, education, economics, the former Soviet Republics, and youth culture today in Russia.

International and Global Issues Values and Culture Values, Society, and Diversity