Liberal Studies

Courses of study

Liberal Studies


Available on the Master of Liberal Arts degree. Administered by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.

Master of Liberal Arts

The Master of Liberal Arts program is designed to offer graduate level education in the broad areas of liberal studies. It is a multidisciplinary, non-career oriented program that seeks to offer a wide range of educational opportunities to students of diverse educational backgrounds. The intent of the program is to make available to all college graduates an opportunity to satisfy their intellectual curiosity and to broaden their knowledge.

Prerequisites.
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required for admission. Applications for admission are available in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.

Program.
The M.L.A. degree requires successful completion of 30 hours of course work, at least 21 of which must be taken on a letter grade basis. Twelve of the 30 hours must be in M.L.A. courses designated ÒPerspectives on Society.Ó Courses so designated will relate a liberal arts discipline to a) issues of contemporary American society, b) issues of culture or cultural diversity in America, c) other world cultures and societies.

On-Line Program
. The MLA Program offers courses that can be taken completely online.  These courses are open to all MLA students.  If students wish, they can complete the entire MLA Program exclusively online.  No distinction is made between regular courses and online courses in terms of degree requirements or in the actual granting of the degree.

Pass/No Credit.
At the election of the student, M.L.A. courses can be taken on a pass-no credit basis; however, no more than 9 hours taken on a pass/no credit basis will count toward the M.L.A. degree.

Independent Study.
In exceptional circumstances, students may desire to pursue particular topics in independent study (MALA 6970) under the supervision of an M.L.A. instructor. If a student should engage in such a study, certain guidelines must be followed. A copy of these guidelines is available in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. No more than six hours of independent study may count toward the degree

Transfer Credit.
Any request for transfer credit must be made on the appropriate form accompanied by a catalog course description. An official transcript of the graduate work must be mailed from the registrar's office directly to TCU. Credit may be requested only for courses broad enough in content to meet the philosophic intent of the M.L.A. program. All requests are subject to approval by the M.L.A. Advisory Committee. No more than six hours of transfer credit will be accepted. Courses, other than M.L.A., completed at TCU cannot be applied toward degree requirements.

M.L.A. Alumni.
Alumni of the program are encouraged to continue their involvement in the M.L.A. through additional coursework, including travel/study programs, under arrangement with the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. Interested alumni should contact the office for details.

Courses.
Courses in the M.L.A. program are offered on a rotating basis. Classes generally meet in the late afternoon and weekday evenings; occasionally, day and Saturday classes are offered. M.L.A. courses are also offered during the various summer terms. The Office of Graduate Studies and Research publishes course descriptions for the following semester. Although new courses are added each year, the following is a list of courses that have been taught in recent years. Courses preceded by an asterisk (*) have been designated as ÒPerspectives on Society core courses.
 
The following is a complete list of courses offered by this department. Go to Class Search to see which courses are being taught this semester.

Courses of Instruction

ON-LINE COURSES


61013
THEMES IN PREHISTORY: FOSSILS, DINOSAURS, AND HUMANS Dinosaurs have held the public imagination for almost 200 years now. Beyond an intrinsic interest in animals that lived in an unimaginably distant time, dinosaurs and dinosaur paleontology figured greatly in the development of concepts of geologic time and biology from the Renaissance on and are still centered in the public's appreciation of "science'. This course will take students through a tangled web of emergent concepts of time, organisms and ‘public relations' through the last 300 years or so, focusing on the tangible and intangible impressions that dinosaurs have made on modern civilizations.

61023 THEATER: HISTORY ALIVE
It is said that in times of prosperity, when a nation is at its peak of power, that the Theatre thrives. It is also understood that the Theatre is a reflection of life and society. The Theatre opens an active portal to ancient civilizations and allows one to experience a world now gone. This comprehensive Web-Based course will explore the theatre and drama of three historical periods; Ancient Greece, Elizabethan England and 20th Century America; along with the societal influences that shaped the art form, and compare them to our contemporary world.

*61033 DILEMMAS IN AMERICAN POLITICS: FREEDOM, ORDER, EQUALITY
This class will examine the perennial dilemmas between Freedom, Order and Equality especially as they pertain to political ideology and public policy. To understand the dilemmas, we will examine the basic structure of our government with special attention paid to the structural tensions that augment this dilemma. Next we will look at how the dilemmas surface in contemporary debate among liberals and conservatives and how the dilemmas impact the definition of policies in the United States. We will be discussing and debating a number of current issues that pit these three valued ideals against one another to better understand the positions presented by advocates on both sides of the policy debates and to illuminate our personal positions and views.

61043 JERKS, NITWITS, AND LOSERS: THE ANTI-HERO IN THE WESTERN TRADITION
This class explores changing ideas that make someone a jerk, nitwit, or loser from antiquity to the 20th century. How and why have these ideas changed? What cultural values-about individuality, about equality, about sympathy-do these ideas reveal? What are the social and political functions of labeling someone a jerk, nitwit, or loser? Under what conditions are these anti-heroes admirable, even heroic? Readings will possibly include: Homer's The Iliad (selections), Plautus's Miles Gloriosus, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (selections), Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Austin's Pride and Prejudice, Melville's Bartleby the Scriviner, Wodehouse's The Mating Game, and Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces.

61053 PARAPSYCHOLOGY: WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE
The field of parapsychology includes phenomenon such as telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, ghosts and hauntings, spirit communication, and near-death experiences. The claim by many parapsychologists is that these paranormal occurrences have been studied with rigorous research methods, and that there is considerable evidence to support their existence. This course will weigh the evidence for parapsychology by tracing the history of psychical research from the dawn of spiritualism to the present day use of the ganzfeld technique. We will discuss the careers of famous psychics as well as the contributions of many noted parapsychologists. The methods and results from para psychological studies will be evaluated in the context of the approaches used by researchers in the natural sciences. The objective of this course is to present perspectives from both "believers" and "skeptics" such that in the end each student can make up his/her own mind as to the strength of the evidence.

61063 LIGHT, COLOR, AND SPACE
Human beings receive over 80% of their information about the spatial environment through vision. The mechanism by which this visual environment is revealed to us is light. It is the quality of that light, in all of its manifestations, that has inspired mankind for thousands of years. Light has both inspired and guided our relationships with the world that surrounds us. This course seeks to explore and clarify the inter-relationship between man and light. Students will combine the advantages of distance education and concentrated explorations in the TCU Center for Lighting Education to create a unique learning environment. Individual/team investigations will concentrate on the use of light and color to create sophisticated themed environments. The TCU Center for Lighting Education will be used to support the actual demonstration of and investigations into the use of various types of electric lighting devices, ranging from simple track fixtures to computer controlled fixtures that can change color, lighting position, and pattern.

*61073 THE SUPREME COURT'S GREATEST HITS
"The Supreme Court's Greatest Hits" is an on line course featuring student/professor analyses of selections from the most important decisions of the United States Supreme Court in the last fifty years. The topics to be covered during the term include: 1) Freedom of expression, 2) Freedom of religion, 3) Reproductive Freedom, 4) Discrimination based on gender, 5) Discrimination based on sexual orientation, 6) Pornography and the legal test for obscenity, and 7) Highlights from the criminal justice system.

*61083 THE WILD WEST
Well…was it? When? To whom? What tamed it? This course will wrestle these questions by surveying the history of the trans-Mississippi West from contact to the present (possibly into the future) and considering the significance, or insignificance, of frontiers in American History. Students will read a textbook and analyze the West through extensive use of web sites and representations in popular culture, especially films.

61093 PROFILES OF COURAGE: CINEMATIC STUDIES OF GREATNESS
This MLA eCollege course capitalizes on great films to investigate the lives of people who achieve greatness. Films such as Amadeus, Braveheart, Glory, Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, and Shindler's List are used as a laboratory for studying the principles of greatness as played out in the lives of creators, heroes, and leaders. The course consists of three, five-week units, each devoted to one perspective on greatness: 1) The Hero Cycle, 2) the Creative Quest, 3) Personality, Persuasion, and Power

61283 A WORLD OF WEATHER: FUNDAMENTALS OF METEOROLOGY
Do you have a fascination with the Weather Channel? Are you interested in a non-mathematical treatment of the principles of meteorology and climatology? In this course, you will be introduced to the excitement of weather as it happens, by working with current weather data delivered via the Internet. The course objectives are to develop a working understanding of general meteorological and climatological processes, develop an understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of these processes, and begin to understand how these factors influence the climate of a region. The course covers the composition and structure of the atmosphere, the flows of energy to, from, and through the atmosphere, and the resulting motions produced from small to planetary scales. The physical principles of atmospheric phenomena are stressed in the understanding of weather's impact on humans, particularly with severe weather, as well as climate change.

*61323 THE NEW SOUTH, 1877 - PRESENT
In this course, the political, social and economic factors in the New South are examined with attention given to comparative regional history. Particular emphasis will be placed on historical interpretations, showing both the professional and lay image of the South in today's society. The economic modernization of the South will also be a major theme of the course

*61373 THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIME AND VICTIMIZATION
This course introduces students to the central ideas in the field of social psychology and the significance of these ideas in providing explanations for criminal behavior and related phenomena. Additionally, social psychological theory and research are examined and utilized to understand offenders, victims and criminogenic environments. The course emphasizes the integration and application of course content to understand such contemporary criminological issues as punishing and controlling juvenile offenders, treatment and control of sex offenders, victim recovery, the media violence connection, serial and mass murder, and the validity of repressed memory.

61523 THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS IN OUR WORLD
Aspects of plants that make them useful to people from an economic and social perspective. The structure, chemistry, genetics, and ecology of plants are examined. Products derived from flowers, seeds, fruits, stems, leaves and roots are analyzed in light of past, present, and future needs of the world community.

*71843 THE ETHICS OF COMMUNICATION
An examination of contrasting models and standards of communication ethics. Students apply these perspectives to specific situations in politics, advertising, interpersonal communication and writing.

TRADITIONAL COURSES

60023 WRITING AUTO/BIOGRAPHY
This is a course in Òlife-writingÓ about the student's own or other persons' lives. Required reading includes several autobiographies of the student's own choice selected from a bibliography of autobiographies. Students will report on the autobiographies they select. The emphasis in the course, however, is on the students' own writing within a workshop atmosphere.

*60033 OUTBREAK: INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND WORLD HISTORY
A broad, integrated view of infectious disease in humans within the context of society and history. Development of medical science and technology, effects of disease in society, and conduct and limitations of historical inquiry will be examined.

*60043 MASS MEDIA AND SOCIETY
A critical analysis and overview of the mass media in its cultural context provides an understanding of mass communication and society with an emphasis on processes and effects of media technology, on media as agents of power and on media and the consumer in a global community.

*60053 THE ASIAN ENIGMA: MODERN CHINA AND JAPAN
An analysis of the civilization, culture and values of contemporary China and Japan with a view to explaining why each nation reacted so differently to Western impact and what each portends for America and the rest of the western world. The course stresses traditional Chinese and Japanese values, how they are manifested in everyday life as well as national and economic decision-making, and how these values are different from those held by most Americans.

*60063 LITERATURE OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST

The course will investigate the idea of a "sense of place" by working toward a definition of the "American Southwest." We will examine how authors evoke a distinctive sense of place by reading and discussing nonfiction books of travel (e.g., John Grave's Goodbye to a River or Richard Shelton's Going Back to Bisbee) and a range of fictional works representing several literary modes, ethnicities, and Southwestern perspectives.

*60073 THE IMPACT OF COMPUTERS ON SOCIETY
This is a non-technical introduction to what a computer is, how it functions, and how they are used in todayÔs society. In addition to learning about the impact of computers, students will learn to use a browser to access the Internet.

*60083 THE AFRICAN PRESENCE IN LATIN AMERICA
Using contemporary literature as a point of departure, this inter-disciplinary course will examine the African influence in Latin America. The course will explore the history and culture of Latin Americans of African heritage including their role in the work force, the struggle for independence and freedom, and the preservation of their culture. It will also include an analysis of Afro-Latin American contributions to music, dance, visual arts, cuisine, language, and religious expression.

*60103 WORKING CLASS LIFE IN LITERATURE AND FILM
An examination of working-class life and culture traditionally ignored by the academy. By examining fiction, poetry, and films by and about the working-class, we will seek to understand the fluidity of working-class life and culture as well as the way social class intersects such other identities as race, gender, and sexual orientation.

*60113 MYTHS AND LEGENDS: NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN THOUGHT
Luther Standing Bear declares: "The Indian, by the very sense of duty, should become his own historian, giving his account of the race--fairer and fewer accounts of the wars and more of statecraft, legends, languages, oratory, and philosophical conceptions." This course is a survey of the legends and myths and the cultural-agricultural practices of the north American Indian tribes and nations with a focus on the nature of the self (person; tribe), the world (nature; cosmos), and their interrelationship(s). These concepts are discussed and comparisons with Western philosophy are made when appropriate.

*60123 GLOBAL PERSUASIVE CAMPAIGNS, THEIR INFLUENCE AND IMPACT
An examination of the influence and impact of global persuasive campaigns through an analysis of the structure of the campaign process and the use of images to create familiarity and experience. Global communications have created an international community exposed to persuasive campaigns, some advertising and some informational. The influence and impact of these campaigns varies with the different media in which they appear and as they are interpreted in the context of different cultures.

*60133 THE SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR
This course examines deviance as a social phenomenon. The goal is to introduce students to substantive topics and scholarly work within the sociology of deviance while providing an opportunity for discussion and critique. Special emphasis will be placed on the interactional dynamics involved in defining and managing deviance and the development of deviant careers.

*60143 ECONOMICS OF CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
Basic concepts and tools used by economists and applications of those tools to the analysis of contemporary economic and social issues. Included among the issues to be examined will be drug prohibition, tax reform, Social Security, the minimum wage, and environmental protection.

*60153 CULTURE AND AMERICAN CINEMA
An exploration of cinema as a form of American social expression. As cultural artifacts, films are produced in specific historical contexts by and for cultural groups. Films produced for American audience reflect American values, myths, and behavior and thus constitute an important form of social expression. After examining the cultural roots of American cinema, social/cultural events in American cultural history such as the Great Depression, World War II, Vietnam, the 60s, the inner-city struggle, the Civil Rights movement, the Reagan conservatism, and the films of the 90s will be investigated.

*60183 "AFTER DICTATORSHIP: CAN LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS ACHIEVE DEMOCRACY?"
The course challenges the facile assumption that because guerrilla wars have ended and the generals have turned power over to civilians, Latin America will necessarily "go democratic." The course focuses on the peace processes in selected Latin American countries in order to explore the serious challenges that confront nations seeking to democratize when they are saddled with deep legacies of authoritarianism.

*60193 HIGH CIVILIZATIONS OF THE AMERICAS: THE AZTECS, THE INCAS, AND THE MAYA
An examination of the beginning, development, and decline of the three major aboriginal cultures of the Western Hemisphere. The total culture of each civilization will be explored including religious, social, economic, and military factors. Post-conquest developments will also be examined.

*60203 MEXICAN CULTURAL HISTORY
A course on Mexico's political history, with particular attention to the nation's culture and folklore. The course will include an eight-day trip at spring break to Mexico, with visits to major historical sites and museums connected with Mexico's colonial and independence periods.

*60213 CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS LITERATURE OF MEXICO
A study of literary works by outstanding, contemporary writers hailing from a variety of Mexican Indigenous ("Indian") ethnic groups: Nahuatl, Zapoteco, Yucatec Mayan, Mazateco, Trotzil, among others. The pre-Hispanic roots of this new literature will be examined, as will recurring themes and other ancient motifs which persist in today's writers. Short stories, poetry, and drama will be studied within their specific ethnic contexts, and also within a broader literary analytical framework. Recent English translations by Dr. Frischmann and his personal research experiences will make this course accessible to all MLA students.

60223 THE WATERGATE LEGACY
Where were you when the Watergate break-in occurred? Students in this course will revisit the historical Watergate episode in American politics, beginning with an examination of the events as they unfolded and focusing on key decisions that determined the outcome of Watergate. In the first part of the course, we will watch a documentary summarizing the event now known simply as "Watergate." In the second part of the course, we will examine the political reforms that came out of the Watergate period and their impact on current American politics, including the Clinton Impeachment hearings. Students will discuss election reforms, executive privilege, congressional-presidential relations, and the special prosecutor's role in the impeachment process. Furthermore, the class will examine the new environment in presidential-media relations fostered by Watergate, including a critical viewing of the movie All the President's Men. Finally, we will attempt to assess Richard Nixon as a political leader in the mid-twentieth century.

*60243 CURRENT ISSUES IN ECONOMICS: THE FINANCIAL MARKETS
The basic structure of the American economy as it relates to the financial markets will be examined. Time will be spent on financial market history in order to gain perspective on current market conditions. The problem of inflation will be the point of departure for this historic segment. Technical analysis of current and past markets will also be given some consideration.

60253 KING ARTHUR MEETS QUEEN VICTORIA: ARTHURIAN LITERATURE IN THE VICTORIAN AGE
An examination of the roots of current American interest in Arthurian legend in Queen Victoria'' reign. Students will read important literary works, including Alfred Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King, William Morris's "Defense of Guenevere," and Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and explore the historical and political conditions surrounding the 19th-century medieval revival. The course concludes with a screening of Excalibur (1981) and discussion of its indebtedness to the Victorian era.

*60263 THE US ECONOMY: ANALYSIS AND OUTLOOK
The study of economics involves the learning of abstract theories about the workings of the economic system and the study of various policy tools that may be used to guide the economy toward specified targets. The course will focus on the historical development of the theories developed to explain our major economic issues, on the controversies surrounding these theories, and on the different policy conclusions that arise from the different theories. The major economic issues on which the course will focus include inflation, unemployment, business cycles, economic growth and development, international trade deficits and surpluses, federal government budget deficits and surpluses, income distribution, and globalization.

*60273 ECONOMIC POLICY AND ITS IMPACT: A SIMULATION APPROACH
Computer simulation models will be used to learn important economic concepts and to analyze current economic problems. Students will assume the role of economic policymakers and as such will initiate policy changes and examine their effects on various aspects of the economy, such as the national output level, the inflation rate, the unemployment rate, and the distribution of income. No prior computer experience is necessary.

60283 A WORLD OF WEATHER: FUNDAMENTALS OF METEOROLOGY
A non-mathematical treatment of the principles of meteorology and climatology. The objectives of the course are: 1. to develop a working understanding of general meteorological and climatological processes; 2. to develop an understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of these processes; and 3. to understand how these factors influence the climate of a region. The earth/energy system is discussed first, followed by an examination of simple dynamic relationships, synoptic circulation, global climate and climate change.

*60293 MATISSE, PICASSO AND THE TRIUMPH OF MODERN ART
An exploration of the contributions of Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso to the establishment of 20th-century modern art. The course examines works of art by the two in detail, the contexts in which their work was created, and the impact their art had on modern culture. This course is offered in conjunction with a special exhibition at the Kimbell Art Museum, where the class will meet several times.

60313
A NEW AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY? What foreign policy issues are on the horizon for U.S. policy makers? What should our foreign policy be as we enter the next century? How should that foreign policy be made, and by whom? The domestic political environment facing U.S. foreign policy makers changed after the Vietnam War, and with the demise of the Cold War, the external political environment changed as well. This course will look forward to contemporary U.S. foreign policy on both the domestic and external levels. Domestically, the course addresses the various governmental and non-governmental actors who combine to produce foreign policy. Externally, it examines problems that revolve around specific issues (promotion of democracy, trade, terrorism) or around particular countries (Russia, China, Mexico, Cuba).

*60323
THE NEW SOUTH, 1877 - PRESENT In this course, the political, social and economic factors in the New South are examined with attention given to comparative regional history. Particular emphasis will be placed on historical interpretations, showing both the professional and lay image of the South in today's society. The economic modernization of the South will also be a major theme of the course.

*60373 THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIME AND VICTIMIZATION
This course introduces students to the central ideas in the field of social psychology and the significance of these ideas in providing explanations for criminal behavior and related phenomena. Additionally, classic social psychological theory and research are examined and utilized to understand offenders, victims and criminogenic environments. The course emphasizes the integration and application of course content to understand contemporary criminological issues such as the use of the death penalty for juveniles, treatment and control of sex offenders, criminalizing drug offenders, and the validity of repressed memory.

60383 STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
An examination, from psychological and physiological perspectives, of various states of human consciousness including wakefulness, deep sleep, hypnosis, meditation and drug-induced states. The relationship between consciousness and our scientific and personal views of ÒrealityÓ is also discussed. In particular, the course explores the boundaries of group consciousness (based on social validation of experience) and individual consciousness (based on our unique perceptions of reality). It offers a balanced perspective on consciousness that combines scientific information, Eastern philosophy, and experiential data.

*60403 GLOBAL GEOPOLITICS
In a world subject to war, ethnic conflict, and economic disruption, to what extent does geography explain the unfolding of global events? How do access to waterways, the level of economic development, the blessings of natural defenses, and proximity to other nations determine the stance a country presents to the outside world? Geographer Dr. Jeffrey Roet will introduce geopolitical concepts that help explain conflict and change and show how geography is indeed the stage upon which history is set. He will reveal centuries-old patterns behind the dynamics of war, economic competition, and other current global concerns.

*60423 MODERN MEXICO: A NATION IN CRISIS
The emergence of Mexico from colonial status to hemispheric leader and major force among Òthird-worldÓ countries. Considerable attention is devoted to the Revolution of 1910 and the ongoing revolutionary process it initiated. The role of the United States in the emergence of modern Mexico is discussed in detail. The course concludes with an extensive examination of Mexico's role as a major oil producer and the current financial and economic crisis with which the country is contending.

*60443 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN HUMAN HEALTH
From the human genome project and cloning to hormone replacement therapy and antibiotic resistance, new issues involving human health as science discovers more about the causes and treatment of human diseases increasingly confront us. Our ability to manage our health depends on our understanding and appreciation of the biological concepts underlying these issues. This course will examine some of these contemporary issues and the underlying biological concepts through readings from a variety of Web resources.

*60453 THE FORMER ÒSOVIET UNION:Ó AN HISTORICAL ANALYSIS
An examination of the major personalities, institutional developments, foreign policy, literature, and general historical trends in the former Soviet Union. Emphasis is given to the evolution of both the Communist Party and the Soviet government and the personalities instrumental in formulating Soviet ideology and institutions - Lenin, Stalin, Kruschev, and others - as well as the post-Soviet period and the prospects for Russia's future.

*60473 LIFE DURING WARTIME: ENGLISH SOCIETY AND CULTURE 1900 - 1945
This course will examine the social and psychological effects of living through and in the shadow of war for a prolonged period. The focus will be on British writing of the first half of this century (novels, poetry, memoirs) as well as more recent attempts to reflect back on that period from the (relative) tranquility of the 1980s and ‘90s. We will also consider why there has been such a fascination with wars at the end of this century.

60483 CIVIL WAR: PROBLEMS OF THE CONFEDERATE HIGH COMMAND
This course will examine the issues and problems involved within the Confederate government in selecting and using generals and in developing and implementing national strategy during the Civil War. Topics include the personal role of Jefferson Davis, the influence of Robert E. Lee, and the problematic service of Braxton Bragg, P.G.T. Beauregard, and Joseph E. Johnson, among others. We will explore the controversies among Confederate leaders between offensive and defensive strategy and between Virginia the western theater of the war.

*60513 COWBOY PHILOSOPHY: CHARACTER, VICE AND VIRTUE IN THE WESTERN
This course examines the morality practiced in Westerns in terms of recent philosophical work on character, vices and virtues. By "Western" is meant primarily films, but the genre is expanded to include novels, cowboy poetry and songs, and rodeos.

60523 ECONOMIC BOTANY
Aspects of plants that make them useful to people from an economic and social perspective. The structure, chemistry, genetics and ecology of plants are examined. Products derived from flowers, seeds, fruits, stems, leaves and roots are analyzed in light of past, present and future needs of the world community.

60533 THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: A BLESSING OR A CURSE
Today's headlines report the failure of revolutions with their civil wars, ethnic massacres, and palace coups. What constitutes a successful revolution? What lessons are there in the American experience? General Washington's startling words in 1783 express his anxiety for the problems of American state-building and give the title to a course that will examine the origins of those problems in the protest to British Imperialism, the War for Independence, and the post-war challenges leading to the creation of the Federal structure under the Constitution.

60653 THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE: AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
A history of the issues, conflicts and personalities in the development of the American presidency. An examination of twelve selected presidential administrations from George Washington to the modern presidency will be conducted.

*60693 THE SATIRIC VISION: FROM JONAH TO DOONESBURY
Study of the literary art of satire, including forms of satire, angles of satiric vision and examination of chief satirists' works and techniques.

60713 THE HISTORY OF WAR
In this survey we will seek to understand the influence of war in human history from ancient times to the present. This course will trace the causes and effects of war, the evolution of military technology, and the role played by leadership. To highlight these, we will discuss decisive military battles throughout history. Hopefully, by examining this process we will be able to understand ourselves and our world a little better.

*60733 CREATIVITY AND THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE
All of the human enterprises, including science, literature, art, and music, pour forth from the wellspring of human creativity. Society rewards outstanding instances of creativity with prizes ranging from the Pulitzer, to the Van Cliburn, to the Nobel. Yet creative persons of less dramatic achievements can be rewarded just the same with fruitful and fulfilling lives. But what is creativity? How can we identify it? How can we foster it? How did it emerge in homo sapiens? How can each of us lead more creative lives? This course will seek to answer these questions.

*60773 IMAGES OF JESUS IN FAITH AND CULTURE
Jesus of Nazareth, by any account, is one of the most significant figures in human history. Yet the person, role, and images associated with Jesus have been understood in an enormous variety of ways, both within the Christian tradition and outside it. This course introduces the student, in a descriptive manner, to the spectrum of views of Jesus' person and work found in the Bible, in extra-canonical Christian literature (such as the Gospel of Thomas and recently rediscovered Gnostic writings), in the various streams of Christian history, and in secular culture. The primary focus is on the meaning of the interpretations of Jesus, but some attention will be given to the methods scholars use in assessing these interpretations and in reconstructing the ÒhistoricalÓ Jesus, as well as portrayals of Jesus in painting, novel, and film.

*60803 PAX AMERICANA: UNITED STATES FOREIGN RELATIONS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Now that the Cold War is over and the twentieth century is coming to a close, how well did the United States fulfill its destiny of making the past hundred years the ÒAmerican CenturyÓ that so many Americans predicted in the 1890s? This course offers some perspectives as answers by tracing the development of a global American foreign policy from the period following the Spanish-American War until the end of the Cold War. It also examines the forces - both foreign and domestic - that influenced those policies as the United States tried to formulate new diplomacies to meet each of the ever changing challenges in world affairs of this most dynamic century.

60813 RECENT AMERICAN-JEWISH FICTION
This course will examine the distinctive contributions to recent American fiction made by American-Jewish fictionists. The course focuses on similarities and differences between concerns and visions of such authors as Elie Wiesel, Bernard Malamud, Philip Roth, Isaac B. Singer and Saul Bellow.

*60903 BRITISH HUMOR FROM THE GOONS TO THE YOUNG ONES
"British Humor," as exemplified in popular culture by Monty Python's Flying Circus has gained acceptance in the U.S., but is actually based on a long tradition that has its roots in the special love of wit, puns, paradoxes, and epigrams the English have manifested since the Viking invasions. Even though sensing the laughable and absurd is a universal trait, humor is expressed according to cultural differences and values of class, education, or special interest. Students in this course will look at British Humor on radio, TV, and film and attempt to define its unique attributes.

60943 PHILOSOPHY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: ON LIFE AND LIVING
William James' reflections on life and living (1895/1899) prompt the central question, what are the conditions to lead the life of a person? The question is addressed by the following literature: Robert Nozick, The Examined Life: Philosophical Meditations (1989), John Kekes, The Examined Life (1992), and Richard Wollheim, The Thread of Life (1984).

60953 MODERN ASTRONOMY: FROM THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE TO BLACK HOLES
An introduction to recent developments in astronomy and astrophysics: how the Universe began and how will it end, the age of the cosmos, the origin of galaxies, the birth, life, and death of stars, stellar and galactic black holes, millisecond pulsars, supernovae, comets and quasars, and the worlds of the solar system. Questions to be pondered include: Where and what is the missing mass? Are we alone in the Universe? Are we in danger from a comet colliding with earth? Where and how did life originate? The latest discoveries by the Hubble Space Telescope, Cassini, and other space missions are also discussed.

*70013 MEN, WOMEN AND SOCIETY: NEW DEFINITION OF ROLES
An examination of new ideas, data and theories to interpret changing roles of men and women in contemporary society.

*70023 EXPRESSIONS OF RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL VALUES IN THE ARTS
An analysis of the visual arts, architecture, and music as expressions of religious and cultural values. Development of these art forms in Western culture as well as the formation and roles of symbols and iconic forms of communication are investigated.

70073 ENERGY RESOURCES, ALTERNATIVES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
A study of the distribution of the world's energy resources and a look at alternative sources of energy such as wind, tides, geothermal, synfuels, solar, and nuclear power. Environmental issues including air and water pollution, solid waste, pesticides, toxic substances, etc., will be addressed as will new techniques for finding and evaluating earth resources utilizing satellite data and the Internet.

70083 THE BRITISH COMIC NOVEL
This course examines the comic tradition in the British novel from the eighteenth century to the present. It uses representative major works of narrative prose fiction to illustrate various types and techniques of comedy. Another purpose is to study the nature of the novel and its role in the history of British literature.

70113 NATIVE PEOPLES OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
An overview of the native Americans of the region from pre-contact times to the present. Relations and differences among native groups are emphasized as well as interactions with non-Indian groups. Efforts to ÒwhitenÓ the native population ranging from Spanish missionary activities in the 16th century to the federal government's Òtermination policyÓ in the 1950s are analyzed.

70173 AMERICAN ENGLISH: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE
A study of the English language in America from colonial times to the present. Within this historical framework, numerous contemporary questions are addressed: Where do our different dialects come from? How is our language changing? Is linguistic change good or bad? What does the future hold? Students are given the opportunity to investigate current language controversies.

*70183 MASS MEDIA AND PERCEPTIONS OF REALITY
The complexity of our society makes it necessary for us to draw what we know, or think we know, from information about events, trends, and even people from the mass media. Yet few people are trained as consumers of information produced by the media. This course examines the various perceptions of reality that the mass media create, exploring some of the reasons why these perceptions occur.

*70213 UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOR: A LOOK AT FOUR CULTURES
An introduction to the concepts and methods of ethnography. This theoretical approach will be made practical through the study of four culture areas: sub-Saharan Africa, lowland South America, highland South America, and North America. Consequently, four different types of society will be studied: hunting and gathering, horticultural, agricultural and industrial.

*70233 THE RISE OF AMERICAN BUSINESS
The evolution of the American business system is examined with emphasis on four basic themes: the impact of technological and managerial change, the interaction between business and society, the position of the businessman and businesswoman in society, and the constantly-changing relationships between business and government. Special attention is devoted to the contemporary business scene.

*70253 WAR TO PEACE: POLITICAL CHANGE IN CUBA AND CENTRAL AMERICA IN THE 1990S
An examination of the dramatic (but low profile) political transition taking place in countries that only recently were torn by revolution and by counterinsurgency wars. The original causes of those revolutions, including the Cold War ideological divisions that formed the international environment in which they took place will be discussed. We will examine the tentative, fragile steps that are presently being taken to overcome the authoritarian and violent political legacies of the past and to build a more inclusive, democratic political future.

*70273 PSYCHOANALYTIC PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIETY
Over the last thirty years of his life Sigmund Freud went beyond his clinical concerns and constructed social theories. During this period, Freud produced a series of works analyzing human societies and such social phenomena as religion, the family, social groups, and social change. This course presents Freud's social thought as reflected in these later writings, assessing both his contributions and limitations as a social thinker.

*70373 MODERN AMERICAN SOCIETY: GLOBAL POWER SINCE WORLD WAR II
This ÒperiodÓ course in American history reviews major political, economic, social, cultural and diplomatic events: World War II, the Truman administration and post-war America, the Eisenhower administration and the consensus of the 1950's, the Kennedy administration, Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society, the civil rights movement, the Republican ascendancy, and the rise of southern power.

70443 WILLIAM FAULKNER: STORYTELLER OF THE SOUTH
An examination of five major novels from the Yoknapatawpha cycle: Light in August (1932), Sanctuary (1931), The Sound and the Fury (1929), Absalom, Absalom! (1936) and Go Down, Moses (1942). The course focuses on the art of Faulkner's fiction as well as upon his ideas, themes, characters, and meanings.

*70533 CIVIL WAR AND RIGHTEOUS REFORMERS: CONFLICT IN STUART ENGLAND
This course introduces 17th century English ideas of politics and religion and how their clash brought the British Monarchy to a state of collapse in 1649. It analyzes how the English Civil War (1642-49) and the Interregnum (1649-60) altered the power between the Parliament and the Crown. This produced the balance of the modern British Constitution and its government. The course concludes with an examination of the cultural, social, and economic ideals of Englishmen as they were transferred to the American colonies.

70543 FOSSILS AND MAN: THE IMPACT OF THE FOSSIL RECORD
Students will become acquainted with the impact that fossils and paleontology have had on the history of the earth. It was the fact that fossils were finally accepted as a record of ancient life that began to change the way that 17th century naturalists looked at the world. The fundamental notions of change and evolution of natural systems has forever affected man's view of the world and fossils, which, in particular, document Ôworlds before man'. The history of interpretation of fossils in the argument for evolution, and the use of fossils in modern biology and geology will be examines.

*70553 THE AMERICAN DRUG EXPERIENCE
An examination of the 19th century origins of widespread drug use in America, the present types of drugs and drug users, and the psychological and social aspects of contemporary drug use. Various public health models for dealing with treatment, control and prevention of drug use in the U.S. are discussed.

*70573 THE PRESS AND THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
The role the press plays in presidential campaigns and election processes; analysis of the impact of the press on public opinion, debate and consensus; the relationship between the press and politics; the press and political participation; news values and the democratic process.

*70653 THE SECOND WORLD WAR: ITS IMPACT ON THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
A focus on the impact of World War II as the seminal event of the 20th century that gave rise to or influenced most major contemporary global issues. By examining the war in a broader perspective, issues such as the East-West balance of power, the end of traditional imperialism, the upheavals in the third world, and the proliferation of technology, the effect of the war fifty years later can be better understood and interpreted.

*70703 AMERICAN MUSIC AND CULTURE: FROM JAZZ TO TIN PAN ALLEY
A study of the historical evolution of jazz styles in the United States from the 1890s through the contemporary scene, including American popular music (Tin Pan Alley), protest music, and motion picture/television music. Included is an examination of the correlation of musical styles and cultural changes in America.

70713 PHYSICAL FITNESS AS A LIFESTYLE
The physiological changes that take place in the body as a result of acute and chronic exercise. Specifically, the concepts of physical fitness, conditioning programs, wellness, body composition, nutrition, risk factor reduction and the influence of exercise on disease and aging are investigated.

70723 THE RISE AND FALL OF POSITIVISTIC PHILOSOPHY
The development of logical positivism of empiricism from the 18th century (with George Berkeley) to the 20th century (with A.J. Ayer). (Positivism is the doctrine that all experience can be subsumed under the principles of natural science; positivism equates philosophy with science.) The major focus of the course is Ayer's infamous book, Language, Truth and Logic (1936) and the reactions it generated in Anglo-American and Continental philosophy. Many of these reactions are discussed in A.J. Ayer: Memorial Essays (1991) and C.E.M. Joad's A Critique of Logical Positivism (1950).

*70733 SCIENCE, SCIENTISTS AND SOCIETY
This course explores the workings of science and scientists by studying recurring themes and selected episodes of scientific change and the social and intellectual milieu in which they occurred. The focus is on the interaction between science and society from the Renaissance through the Enlightenment and the Victorian Era and into the Modern Age. How science differs from or is similar to other areas of human endeavor such as art, religion, philosophy, or politics are examined. Related topics range from man's (and God's) place in the universe to sociobiology, sexism, and evolutionary ethics.

*70763 GEOPOLITICS AND WORLD COMMUNICATIONS
The study of global communications in the context of world politics. Overview of world mass media characteristics, impact of British colonialism, role of the United Nations, the New World Information Order, ownership of communication technology, issues in monopoly of knowledge, analysis of information flow and world economy and role of image-makers.

70813 THE COLD WAR AT HOME AND ABROAD
From the end of the Second World War in 1945 until the collapse of the Soviet Union forty-five years later, the Cold War dominated the domestic and foreign affairs of the United States. This course examines the origins of the Cold War and some of the consequences, including the development and application of the containment policy, McCarthyism, the wars in Korea and Vietnam, various other interventions, the debates over diplomatic issues, and the various strategies employed by different presidential administrations. Students will have a chance to do some reading on these subjects and to discuss them. Also they will view episodes from CNN's production, "The Cold War". The requirements consist of short weekly papers based on the readings and also a kind of term project, a five-seven page critique of John Lewis Gaddis' book, We Now Know. The other readings are T.G. Paterson and J.G. Clifford, America Ascendant: U.S. Foreign Relations since 1939 and R.J. McMahon and T.G. Paterson, The Origins of the Cold War, 4th ed.

*70843 THE ETHICS OF COMMUNICATION
An examination of contrasting models and standards of communication ethics. Students apply these perspectives to specific situations in politics, advertising, interpersonal communication and writing.

*70853 PLACE, DISPLACEMENT, NOSTALGIA AND MEMORY IN RECENT AMERICAN CULTURE
A study of place and place consciousness, and an examination of how, when, why, or whether marked personal and public dislocations are accompanied by nostalgia, failures or rearrangements of private and public memory, and conflicts among competing rhetorics, with attendant apprehensiveness regarding loss of personal and public value and identity.

*70863 BIOETHICAL ISSUES OF MODERN SOCIETY
Three main aspects of the work of a hospital ethics committee are: self-education through reading the literature in the discipline, drafting hospital policies on matters raising ethical issues, and doing case analyses. Members of the class will be formed into a committee to do all three things. Issues will include withdrawal of life-support, use of reproductive technologies including cloning, physician-assisted dying, and more ordinary topics such as informed consent and confidentiality.

*70903 THE GLOBAL VILLAGE: ISSUES IN WORLD POLITICS IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA
The last two decades of the 20th century have ushered in tumultuous changes in the political landscape, changes that would have an indelible impact on the emerging society of the 21st century. This course is designed to provide a forum for analysis and discussion of some of the most significant issues of global politics in the post-cold war and post-modern era. While the attempt is to dissect these issues primarily on their own terms, we also discuss the challenges they pose to U.S. foreign policy as we enter the 21st century.

*70913 CULTURAL HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA
An examination of the history of Latin American politics, economics, and society from independence to the present by focusing on efforts to create national cultures in the region. These efforts are aimed at constructing unique national communities as the result of independence, modernizing economic programs, and social evolution.

*70923 ISLAM AND POLITICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Since there is no separation between state and church in Islam, no study of Middle Eastern politics is complete without analyzing the pervasive role of Islam in cultural and political life. This course however, does not concentrate on Islamic theology, rather the focus is on politics of Islam and how it molds political discourse and agenda. After the study of origins and historical development of Islamic political theory, the focus shifts to explaining the use of post-World War II Islamic revival. In this connection, the problematics of democratization in the Muslim World and the prospects for Islamic governments are discussed.

*70933 FOOD AND PHILOSOPHY
Philosophical examinations of moral, aesthetic, ontological, and epistemological issues concerning food are topics studied and discussed in this course. Such issues as vegetarianism; ethical issues regarding food additives, food politics and feminism; food as art; food as a metaphor of life; cultures (e.g., Mayan and Japanese) characterized by their cuisine; and recipes as a model of justified rational procedures are covered during the semester. One of the key concepts developed to handle these issues effectively is foodmaking as a thoughtful practice, where ÒpracticeÓ is understood by the American pragmatists, Peirce and Dewey.

70943 ANCIENT MYSTERIES: REAL AND IMAGINED
In addition to providing an overview of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern History from the Paleolithic age to the fall of Rome, this course explores in some detail various controversial topics that have generated popular interest and often engendered misinformation. These topics are analyzed in a scholarly manner in order to solve the ÒmysteryÓ or expose common mis-perceptions and pseudo-scholarship. Typical topics include the following: the fall of Rome, the historical Jesus, other Biblical topics, the pyramids, the Neanderthal problem, and the search for the Trojan War.

*70953 MAYAN RITUAL AND DRAMA: PRE-HISPANIC TIMES TO THE PRESENT
This course will examine the frequently intertwined traditions of ritual and drama among Mayan peoples of Southern Mexico and Central America, from pre-Hispanic times to the present. The course will combine a historical perspective beginning with pre-Columbian documents and Spanish colonial chronicles. Twentieth-century manifestations will be particularly highlighted, based on the instructor's first-hand research; special emphasis will be given to the work of performance groups based in Yucatan and Chiapas, Mexico. Extensive video material will complement textual analyses.

*70963 OF VIRGINS AND GODDESSES, FROM MESOAMERICA TO MODERN MEXICO
The latest research and historical impact of ancient Mesoamerican female deities and their modern-day counterpart ÑOur Lady of GuadalupeÑ on contemporary culture and society in modern Mexico are examined. The course attempts to show archaeological and anthropological similarities with mythic-symbolic images of pre-history from around the world that show the importance of woman's role in all ancient cultures, including Mexico's.

*70973 LAW AND SOCIETY
The examination of the relationship between legal institutions and social processes. Course readings and discussion will focus on the social and political nature of law; the creation and organization of law in modern societies; social functions of law; the limits of law as an instrument of social change; the legislation of morality; democracy, individualism and law; criminal behavior and individual rights; and the use of scientific information in law.

*70983 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE ANDES
A study of the indigenous inhabitants of the Andes, especially Peru and Bolivia, through archaeological and ethnographic data. Focus is on the development of agriculture and early population centers, particularly the Incas. The course ends with a study of contemporary Quechua and Aymara peoples, and discussion of current political and economic issues.

*70993 CRITICAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The major controversies that exist in law and criminal justice today are discussed with emphasis on the development of critical thought concerning these issues. Both empirical evidence and grounded theory is discussed in such a manner as to help the student formulate thoughtful opinion concerning the selected topics. Topics include but are not limited to: The Death Penalty, Gun Control, The Insanity Defense, Drug Legalization, Prison Privatization, Drunk Driving Laws, Myths of Organized Crime, Crime and the Media, Fetal Endangerment Statues, and The Jury System.