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Hookup culture, body positivity, sex wars, desire, love, pleasure. Sex is fundamental to the cultural, economic, political, and social organization of the United States.  In this class, students explore struggles to define and control sex through laws, policy, social rituals and the media. Throughout, we examine an apparent contradiction: that acts and desires commonly regarded as personal and private – “sex lives” – have been consistently made available to a mass public through popular culture.

With an emphasis on the 21^st century, course material engages a range of topics, including the history of the date, media (mis)representation, Black Girl Magic, LGBTQ+ liberation, sex education, and enthusiastic consent.

Course assignments include an analysis of an artifact from popular culture; a book review; a midterm exam (with a study-guide); a final project; and thoughtful participation. 

This course is designed for students pursuing any major and fulfills the values and culture requirement in CLAS. Students have the opportunity to develop final projects related to their own interests and potential career pathways. Past projects have included proposals for improving sex education; sex on film and intimacy coordinators; purity balls and virginity culture; sex and public health; and market analyses of digital dating. Time to work on these projects with support from the instructors is built into the course schedule.

Approaches to American Studies will provide practice learning about America through a variety of historic and contemporary sources such as autobiography, literature, photography, painting, film, music, fashions, environments, and events of everyday life. While this is a required course for American studies majors, it should interest anyone who is curious about the commonality, complexity, and diversity of cultures in the U.S. 

How and why do human communities develop their ways of living, change these over time, and differ from one another? How is this cultural diversity impacted by globalization, and why does such diversity continue to matter in the 21^st century?  Cultural anthropology asks and answers these questions through a comparative lens that includes widely diverse peoples, places and times. The field is known for “making the strange familiar, and the familiar strange,” meaning that it sparks reflection not only about cultural differences but also about what we all often take for granted in our own daily experiences. Through readings, lectures, films and other media, we will explore anthropology’s findings about key lifeways, cultural similarities and differences among peoples across the globe, and consider key questions about how anthropologists produce this knowledge.  

Buddhism is a living religion that for several thousand years has shaped the societies and lives of people in most Asian countries. Today, it continues as a major influence on how people in Asia understand human existence, and it has also become an influence on the lives of a significant number of people in the Western world -through mindfulness practices and in many other ways. This course gives an introduction to the main ideas, practices and institutions of Buddhism with special attention to those that are meaningful to most people, and specifically to women and minority groups in society. We will trace the historical development of Buddhism in India and its further spread throughout Asia, and examine important aspects of how Buddhism is understood and practiced in different Asian societies, as well as discuss its recent transmission to the West. The course will seek to highlight the colonialist, racist, and gendered history of the study of Buddhism, and examine how this still affects the field today. We will work with images, videos, historical documents, interviews, religious/philosophical texts, and scholarly articles. No prior study of Buddhism is required or expected. Grades are based on course participation, a midterm exam, a writing assignment, peer review of other students’ writing assignments, and a final exam.

Introduction to historical development of Chinese script; Chinese character formation; fundamentals of Chinese character writing (stroke sequence, character structure); Chinese calligraphy theories and representative calligraphers; appreciation of Chinese calligraphy as an art form; hands-on practice on writing Chinese script styles including seal style, clerical style, regular style, running style, and cursive style by using a Chinese writing brush. The course is taught in English. No prerequisites are required.

Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament; examination of the collected writings that comprise it within their historical and cultural contexts; analysis of how the literary contents of the Pentateuch, historical, prophetic, and poetic books reflect, reject, or otherwise interact with cultural and historical circumstances of their writing and reception.

The text of the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Old Testament, is not only the foundation of the Jewish faith, but is fundamental to both Christianity and Islam. This collection of texts, ranging from the Pentateuch, to the historical texts, to the prophetic texts, to the writings, comprise the collective wisdom and identity of ancient Israel and what would become the Jewish people. Because the Hebrew Bible served as “Scripture” to the early church, and because many of its prophecies were interpreted by early Christians as pertaining to its leader, Jesus, the Hebrew Bible came to be 70% of the Christian Bible as well. Written in both Hebrew and Aramaic, the Hebrew Bible preserves the early stories of ancient Israel, its plight as a people, beliefs, laws, the words of its prophets bringing words of warning and relief, its poetry, wisdom texts, laments, and songs of worship. This course provides a survey of the literature of the Hebrew Bible, providing relevant archaeological, literary, and historical context to illuminate the text when possible.

Hercules, Odysseus, Achilles and Oedipus all share one major characteristic: they are all heroes whose adventures and stories are chronicled in timeless Greek and Roman sacred stories, or myths. This course looks at these heroes (and more!), in addition to the gods and goddesses whom these peoples believed ruled their world. The study of Greco-Roman mythology offers an excellent window into the past by providing us with a unique opportunity to examine how the Greeks and Romans attempted to answer questions about the nature of the universe and mankind’s place in it.  The myths of any people betray attitudes concerning life, death, life after death, love, hate, morality, the role of women in society, etc.; we will pay particular attention to how Greco-Roman mythology addresses these important issues.
This course is designed to offer a general introduction to the myths of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Because ancient myths have come down to us in various works of literary and physical art, this course will also introduce you to some of the most influential works produced in ancient Greece and Rome. Moreover, because the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome have exercised such an influence in the shaping of the modern western world, we will equip ourselves with the background necessary to make modern literature, philosophy, religion, and art intelligible and meaningful. By examining and scrutinizing the myths of the ancient Greeks and Romans, we will learn not only a great deal about their cultures, but we will also put ourselves in a position from which to question, criticize, and (hopefully) better understand the foundations of the world in which we find ourselves.
This course meets the Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts general education requirement, as well as the Values and Culture requirement, through its use of ancient works of art (literary and visual) and focus on the ways in which ancient Greek and Romans managed the human experience.

What did ancient sex toys look like? How scandalous could Roman love poets be before getting banished by the emperor? Why do the heroes in the Iliad and the Odyssey cry so much? In this class we will learn about systems of gender and sexuality in the classical world through a survey of literary, visual, and archaeological evidence. We will pay particular attention to how ancient views of sex and gender differed from our own and what this means for our conceptions of our own cultural categories. Requirements: completion of GE CLAS Core Rhetoric and sophomore standing.

The course is designed to provide students an opportunity to explore interdisciplinary and foundational learning in the area of the world dance through interactions with explorations of two of the main aspects of the Brazilian popular culture (Samba and Carnival).  Through extensive literature, video presentations and practice of popular dances of Brazil, students will be exposed to one of the most important and influential expression of popular culture in the world, according to place, time and event.  This includes all aspects present in the Brazilian Carnival: dance, music, historical and social contents; production; critical theories of performance; religious backgrounds; and theatre making in the Carnival Parades – from current to centuries-old tradition. 

This course explores the role of the performing arts in the human experience, and examines the nature of the creative impulse in different performance media, cultures, societies and historical contexts.  Much of the class work is based on attendance at live performances of theatre, music, and dance on campus and in the community.  Readings, films and videos will augment live performances. Emphasis is on analyzing performance and the experience of the audience through writing and in-depth class discussions. 

Students learn the skills and practices that will develop the resilience necessary to engage in challenging civic dialogues about organizational, community, and/or societal change. Students develop leadership skills, cultivate personal stamina, and reflect on how they can be part of a civic society through taking daily actions that engage across differences.

Class will meet via virtual classroom from 5:00-7:45 PM weekly on Tuesday and in a synchronous format.

The focus of this course, which is required for teacher certification, is on social factors such as discrimination, diversity, equity, racism, sexism, and ethnic and socioeconomic pluralism and their influence on American schools and classrooms. The class is limited to persons who plan to obtain a teaching certificate or who are required to have the course because they will be working in schools. The class is organized with a lecture/discussion section format. The lectures are given by faculty and guest speakers; the discussion sections are taught by TAs and faculty members. Papers, individual and group projects and presentations, reports, and tests are among the class activities and assignments. There is a final exam on the lectures in addition to the exams for each discussion section. Several texts and a book of readings are required.

This course examines health, illness, and healing through the perspectives of the humanities: history, literature, art, and culture. The goal of health humanities is to better understand the multiple meanings and impacts of illness and healing; health beliefs and practices in different communities; and health care disparities. Interdisciplinary inquiry through close reading of literature, interpretation of visual images, learning to ask good questions and listen deeply, as well as reflective and analytic writing, all encourage acceptance of ambiguity, adaptability and critical thinking. An orientation to appreciation of human factors such as sex, gender identity, race and class in personal and professional healthcare decision making will be a central theme.

The course will benefit students interested in the relationships between health, medicine and culture, both those who intend to pursue careers in the health professions and public health, and those interested in artistic, literary, and social scientific inquiries into health, illness and health care disparities. After taking this course, students will be able to

1. Recognize and articulate the human factors in health, illness and healing.
2. Integrate experiences in art, music, and social media, and their therapeutic dimensions, to deepen understanding of medical and health issues
3. Explore and expand their own moral imagination and empathy through hearing stories of stigma, oppression and shame as they relate to health care decisions
4. Demonstrate increased understanding of health disparities and how they shape peoples’ experiences of health, illness and health care.

Assessment will take place through project-based learning. Students will explore different strategies for understanding and representing health and illness through reflective writing, music, art, and storytelling. There will be several brief assignments and a term project which specifically addresses health disparities.

This course introduces students to the film and literature of the Holocaust. We will analyze the origins and development of historical and religious anti-Semitism, the role of Nazi propaganda, the state-sponsored attack on Jewish businesses, homes and bodies in 1938 (Reichspogromnacht), the establishment of ghettos and the concentration camp system across Europe and the role of ‘ordinary Germans’ in the Holocaust. We will examine documentary films—from the liberation of the camps (Nazi concentration camps) to later interview films (Lanzmann, Shoah) —as well as European and American feature films (Spielberg, Schindler’s List) and pay special attention to the function of testimony and witnessing (Renais, Night and Fog; Doron & Sinai, Numbered). We will also discuss representations of Auschwitz, the Auschwitz Sonderkommando revolt in literature and film (Nemes, Sons of Saul), survivor accounts and testimonials (e.g., Jean Améry, Primo Levi), Yiddish poetry written during the Holocaust (e.g., Abraham Sutzkever) and Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel MAUS.  We will also examine how Germany remembers the Holocaust by analyzing recent constructions of memorials and museums.

This course is designed to give you an introduction to the sociological analysis of gender in American society. As part of its focus, sociology investigates and exposes aspects of social life that are usually taken for granted. In this course, we will critically examine the multiple ways that gender organizes and structures the social world in which we live. To this end, we will be investigating such topics as the predominant theoretical stances related to the study of gender, femininities and masculinities, how gender structures everyday social interaction, and how social institutions (e.g., education, work, family, the media) create gendered meanings and structures. Finally, we will conclude by considering ways to intervene in many of the processes that perpetuate gender-based inequality.

Relying primarily on film and fiction, the course will explore a variety of issues in African history and modern Africa.  These will range from the history of Atlantic slave trade to the causes of underdevelopment and the HIV/AIDS pandemic in modern Africa.  Readings that are not required to be purchased will be found on the course ICON site.

The course will introduce students to Italian food culture and will be comprised of two parts. The first part of the course will explore how the Italian culinary tradition was born and evolved over time, often reflecting historical and economic developments in the country. Students will explore the different geographical regions of Italy and examine how each region established its own food culture, while at the same time being part of a national one. The first part of the course will also examine current culinary trends in Italian foodways, and how they are influenced by current social changes in Italy. The second part of the course will look at how Italian food has become a defining element of Italiannes in the world. This part will focus on the birth of Italian-American foodways and Italian American food culture through the analysis of images of food in literature and films. 

Requirements include class attendance and participation, 4 short writing exercises, a group project, a midterm and a final project.

In this course we will examine sport and media's intimate relationship. Sports’ rich meanings cannot be separated from media. In fact, sports are most commonly experienced and consumed through some form of media (newspapers, televisions, radios, computers, phones, etc.). Rather than merely “showing” us sports and sporting events, media create many of the values, beliefs, feelings, and problems commonly connected to sports. Sports cannot be properly understood, then, without taking into account their relationship to media - from early 20th century newsreels to Twitch. As such, consumption of sports via media are unavoidable in today’s world. More Americans annually watch the Super Bowl than celebrate Thanksgiving, and the World Cup generally breaks its own records for global viewership every four years. But why is sport so profoundly popular and what roles do media play in building its meanings, uses, and problems?

 
This course will explore these questions across different media and over time. We will consider how elite sport is encoded in television, film, journalism, video games, and advertising. We will learn about the forces shaping sport media production and consider the meanings audiences make of them. This course considers both scholarly and popular readings, with the goal of improving your ability to read and interpret scholarly arguments about sport and media. The assignments in this class are designed to help you think through these issues in a critical way. They aim to sharpen your critical thinking, as well as your skills in research, writing, and multimedia expression. To assist this process, students will actively participate in regular class discussions, complete various in and out of class assignments, and complete a group research project. 

Most of us use social media every day. Some of us use it a lot. But there is a difference between being on social media and being an informed, critical social media user who understands how to navigate social media platforms intelligently and ethically. This course is designed to help you become such a user. Throughout the semester, we will discuss a variety of topics (e.g., identity, privacy, speech, politics, branding, etc.) that are essential features of our digital society.

This is a survey course with no prerequisites, intended for students of any major and interest. This course offers an overview of our current understanding of a wide range of social media phenomena from the point of view of researchers, professionals, and critics. We will begin with a brief history of communication technologies, including the first instances of social engagement on the Web. Next, we will discuss key conceptual and theoretical developments that ground informed discussions of social media. We then will examine what the rise of social media means for contemporary culture and society, focusing on a range of topics including. Finally, we will consider future possibilities for digital and social media.

In this course we will examine how the media, public relations practitioners, scientists, and decision makers in governments, corporations and other organizations talk about environmental and sustainability issues and how that influences public understanding of these issues. We will analyze strategies to get scientific knowledge to the public arena in ways that inform, educate and empower the public. We will also examine how individuals and organizations can communicate in ways that might mislead or confuse the public.

This course is an introduction to 1300 years of Japanese literature and culture with special attention paid to the relationship of classical texts to contemporary novels, short stories, manga, anime, music, and film.  Throughout this course we will consider the relationships of textual and visual cultures, of high art and low art, of moments of crisis and the everyday, of the sacred and the profane, and of men and women.  All readings for this class will be in English translation; no knowledge of Japanese is necessary.  This course includes screenings of film and anime with English subtitles.   

Introduction to growing literary production of varied Latinx communities (e.g., Chicano, Puerto Rican American/Nuyorican, Cuban American) that have a strong presence in the United States; recent literary production from borderland transcultural spaces with physical, cultural, economic, political, and mythical elements; visions of the United States from contemporary Latin American writers who recently have become U.S. residents. Class will consist of short lectures, class discussions, various class and group activities, reading responses to the assigned readings, two short analysis papers, and a final individual project. Taught in English.

This course counts toward the Latina/o/x Studies minor. See the Latina/o/x Studies website for more information about the minor.

Gender is a central human characteristic that influences many facets of our experience including daily language use. The course explores the connection between language and gender using current interdisciplinary approaches influenced by research in linguistics, sociology, anthropology and psychology. Some specific questions include: How is gender encoded in human languages? Why do some languages develop gender-centered vocabulary (e.g. gender-specific terms) and some don't? What language patterns do we observe in various gender-based communities (e.g. male, female, LGBT, mixed-gender, etc.)? The course requirements include weekly short assignments, self-check quizzes, three mini-research projects/papers and two exams. This course should be of interest to students from a variety of majors, including (but not limited to) humanities, human relations, marketing, business, law, and many others. No previous background in linguistics is assumed.

Since World War II, jazz has spread to every corner of the globe producing unique interpretations and practices as it interacts with local traditions. Similarly, jazz musicians in America have found musical sources for their compositions outside of the traditional jazz mainstream. This course will investigate a number of ways that jazz music is interpreted with particular attention to the contexts in which music is created, transmitted and received. Each year the class compares the American jazz tradition to a unique international region that has a strong jazz scene. 

This course is a survey of Major 20th-century styles, artists, seminal works, and recordings; developments between 1900 and today. Course materials include a written text, ICON listening list, films and live performances. Requirements include online quizzes, two exams and writing assignments.

Contemporary ethical controversies with life and death implications; topics may include famine, brain death, animal ethics, abortion, torture, terrorism, capital punishment.

In this course, we will evaluate some of the most difficult moral problems facing individuals and society today.  We begin by examining theoretical questions about morality: What constitutes a good or valuable life for a human being?  What is it for an action to be right or wrong? Is morality relative to culture? Does it depend on God’s authority or command?  Is the rightness/wrongness of actions determined solely by the consequences of actions?  What role, if any, do agents’ motives or intentions play in determining the rightness or wrongness of actions?  We then turn to applied ethics, examining the following topics: poverty, immigration and refugees, gun control, animal ethics, and abortion.

Varied topics; may include personal identity, existence of God, philosophical skepticism, nature of mind and reality, time travel, and the good life; readings, films.

Have you ever wondered who you are? Whether you are a physical body or an immaterial mind? Have you ever asked yourself what makes you the same person you were ten years ago? Have you sometimes worried that you cannot know anything with certainty? Have you ever wished that someone would provide a decisive argument for the existence of god? Have you ever been concerned with how you ought to act towards others? In this course, we will explore these and other important philosophical questions through a selection of classical and contemporary readings. We will engage in lively class discussions and writing; we will learn to analyze others’ philosophical arguments and build our own; and we will gain a better understanding of our own philosophical outlook and the philosophical questions that matter most to us. 

Analytical and historical introduction to ethical theories; issues such as the nature of the goodness, distinction between right and wrong.

We argue with each other about what kinds of things are good and bad, what kinds of actions are right or wrong, permissible or obligatory. But in philosophy we also seek to become clearer about the very meaning of such judgments, the nature of ethical disagreement, and the means, if any, for the rational resolution of ethical disagreement. Are value judgments in some important sense subjective, or are such judgments objectively true or false? When we wonder what we ought to do are we really just wondering about which of the alternatives open to us would have the best consequences? Or, by contrast, should we agree with those who often seem to insist that the ends don’t justify the means? We’ll critically evaluate proposed answers to these and other questions, often by thinking about the implications of proposed views for contemporary controversies over how we ought to behave.

How American men, women, and children practice their beliefs in today's society.

Have you ever been curious about what and why people believe? Do you wonder about why people eat certain things at certain times of the year, why people pray, why they raise their families in certain ways? If you wonder about any of these things THEN THIS IS THE CLASS FOR YOU!

We will explore together commonalities as well as differences among religious and spiritual groups in the United States today including evangelical Protestant Christians and Roman Catholics; Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews; and Muslims.  We will also learn about less well known groups and adherents such as the Amish, Zen Buddhists, Scientologists, Jehovah Witnesses, and snakehandling Holiness-Pentecostals, as well as the beliefs of agnosticism and atheism.

Class Format: 

The format for this class is facilitated learning. We will have in-class discussions in which we share our views and learn together. Because this is a General Education class, you will take away some important skills that will help you in other classes and in life. Reading and writing skills, short in-class presentations, and group work are some of the things we will address in this class. Dr. Kristy is a passionate teacher who invites you to share her interest in understanding the world in which we live and each other’s religious, spiritual, and cultural backgrounds.

Class Assignments:

Assignments include: Four short analysis papers on class readings; a family spiritual-religious heritage paper; short quizzes; a final “Religion in Iowa City” report and 3-minute in-class presentation. All of the course readings will be available on course ICON site.

The framework for this course is made up of three ancient works: The Epic of Gilgamesh and, from the Bible, the first nine chapters of the Book of Genesis and the Book of Jonah. The differing ways in which these three texts deal with the issue of the inevitability of death is the focal point of the course. How this point is exploited is examined in Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych," Clarke's Childhood's End, the Book of Ecclesiastes, the E'numa E'lish, and Stanley Kubrick's film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Upon completing this course, students should be able to (a) reflect on how various quests for meaning in life as expressed in literature relate to the human condition, with particular attention to matters relating to the table, the bedroom, and the grave; (b) specify the dangers in making generalizations about biblical texts and the individuals and groups that hold them to be sacred; (c) indicate how fundamental human questions such as "Where do we come from?", "Where are we going?", and "How long do we have?" are expressed from the contrasting viewpoints of the pagan and biblical visions.

In addition to reading materials and interactive tools, online content includes audio slideshows and video (recorded class lectures of Professor Jay Holstein); evaluation consists of one 2-page writing assignment and online assessments by way of multiple-choice practice quizzes (which do not factor into the course grade), and  midterm and final exams, all of which are accessed in the ICON course management system. While this online venue is designed in such a way that it will replicate as much as possible the classroom experience, it also aims to capitalize on the element of flexibility made possible by the online experience.                                                                  

Delivery features:

• Since course video and audio components include close captioning and transcripts, the course is accessible for hearing impaired and for students who are not native English speakers, although English competency is assumed for all students.
• This course seeks to achieve a positive synergy between a design that is both (a) synchronous, that is, diligently working within certain necessary deadlines for a semester-based course, and (b) asynchronous, namely, creatively exploiting the freedom for students too move at their own pace. Within a framework of set deadlines, there is a considerable amount of flexibility for students to pace themselves if they so choose.

This course requires two online proctored examinations and an online proctored essay. Access to a computer with a webcam and microphone in a quiet/private location is required for using an online proctoring service to complete exams.

Through a captivating array of case studies sourced from religious texts, literature, art, and cultural practices, we will embark on a journey to unravel the intricate intersections where religion and gender converge.

From the ancient struggles of Hagar in the Abrahamic traditions to the chilling dystopia of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, from the sacred realms of female mysticism and shamanism to the timeless allure of the Venus of Willendorf, and even the enigmatic Marian apparitions – each case study promises to ignite your curiosity and challenge your perceptions.

Drawing upon a blend of interdisciplinary perspectives from religious studies, feminist theory, anthropology, and cultural studies, we will investigate women's roles, representations, and experiences within religious contexts. Through dynamic close readings, engaging discussions, and critical analysis of primary and secondary sources, you'll delve deep into themes such as patriarchy, agency, embodiment, spirituality, and resistance.

How terrible was Ivan the Terrible? How great was Catherine the Great? And who the heck was that Rasputin dude? We will try to find answers to these and other slightly more pressing questions in the course of this sweeping overview of pre-revolutionary Russian history, literature, and culture. 2013 marked the 400th anniversary of the first Romanov tsar on the Russian throne and 2017 marked the 100th anniversary of the collapse of the dynasty. We will look at Russian culture through the eyes of writers (Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov), painters (Repin, Kramskoi, Perov, Vasnetsov, Ge, Vrubel), composers (Mussorgsky, Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov), and film directors (Sergei Eisenstein, Alexander Nevsky (1938), Sergei Bondarchuk, War and Peace (1965-67), Andrei Tarkovsky, Andrei Rublev (1969), Alexander Sokurov, Russian Ark (2002). Students are evaluated on the basis of attendance and class participation (30%), two exams (15% each), two papers (15% each), and a presentation (10%). Knowledge of Russian is not required. Course taught in English. 

Russian Folklore is an introduction to the culture, history, and art of Russian people.

It is amazing oral art full of the myths about powerful gods, brave warriors, clever and beautiful maidens, vampires, witches, fire birds, black magic, evil eye, and superstitions based on ancient pagan beliefs. During this course, the students will learn different genres of Russian Folklore: fairy tales, myths, legends, songs, cries, sayings, and riddles. Students will regularly get the short questionnaires to check attendance and readiness to pass 4 quizzes and 3 tests with a good grade. No background knowledge required. All readings and discussions are in English.  

Critically examine historical and current practices to address social injustices including poverty, discrimination, and other threats to human rights and well-being; evaluation of personal and professional values within the context of one’s culture; exploration of roles and responsibilities to enhance society for future generations; dialogue with professionals working in topic areas. Topic areas may include poverty, homelessness, mental and physical health, criminal justice, education, aging, and interpersonal violence.

In this course, we will study American families from a sociological perspective. First, we will look at how American families have changed over time. Second, we will develop an understanding of the theories and methods employed by sociologists to examine issues related to the family. Third, we will examine specific aspects of family life including cohabitation, marriage, divorce, parenthood, and work-family conflict. In the process, we will learn to think objectively and open-mindedly about many controversial aspects of the family and family change, an ability that will enable you to critically evaluate popular portrayals of family-related issues.

In this course we will examine the major forms of social inequalities in the contemporary United States and the global community. We will explore the characteristics, causes, and consequences of how wealth, power, and other resources are unequally distributed across social groups. We will also analyze the role of public policy and the dominant cultural ideology on maintaining and/or reducing these inequalities.

Students from different disciplines would benefit from being able to answer some questions regarding contemporary society such as: Why is economic inequality getting more evident? How much do race, ethnicity, or gender affect individuals’ chances for getting ahead in life? Is globalization generally good or bad for workers? What is the role of the state, as well as major social institutions such as the media, corporations, and education in all this?

We will achieve the course goals through our readings, writing, active participation, discussions, and using critical thinking in this class.

Introduces the current state of sports participation and physical activity and how increasing both will lead to positive economic, human, and environmental outcomes. Learn the social-ecological model as a framework for understanding sports participation and physical activity; address strategies relevant to coaches and organizational administrators to create and deliver positive sport and physical activity environments.

The course informs students of the current state of sports participation and physical activity and how increasing both will lead to positive economic, human, and environmental outcomes. Students will learn the social-ecological model as a framework for understanding sports participation and physical activity. Furthermore, students will learn strategies relevant to coaches and organizational administrators (such as national sport governing bodies) to create and deliver positive sport and physical activity environments. As a result, students are equipped to contribute to sport participation framework roles such as coach, administrator, community member, and/or policy maker, leading to sustainable communities.

Unit 1 discusses the current state of sport and physical activity in the U.S., benefits of sport and physical activity, and the financial barriers many people encounter. Unit 2 discusses Long-Term Development for Sport and Physical Activity and emphasizes the importance of Physical Literacy. Unit 3 discusses effective coaching frameworks as encouraged by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Sport-Based Youth Development. Unit 4 discusses opportunities at multiple levels of the framework for effective sport participation and physical activity to reduce the environmental impact of the sport industry and improve mental health outcomes of athletes and participants.

Examines leisure behavior and play's impact on the human experience from social, psychological, cultural, and economic perspectives. Uses historical and contemporary literature and research to study the influence of leisure on a person's health and well-being, connections to society, and life satisfaction. Encourages learners to examine their own values and connections to leisure from a systems approach to culture and community. Economic topics include work ethic, overwork, and retirement.

This course examines leisure and play from a social science perspective. Psychology, sociology, economic, and political science literature is used to inform the phenomenon of leisure behavior. Psychological readings emphasize individual motivation for play. Sociological literature informs how social groups use leisure and play as part of culture. Economic topics include the work ethic, overwork, and retirement. Political aspects of leisure behavior are examined through consideration of the prospects for a better society.