Historical Perspectives

ART 190 - History of Photography (3)
This course provides an international survey of the history of photography from its beginnings to the advent of digital photography, with an emphasis on the history of women in photography. This course also satisfies an LO2 Women’s Voices and LO3 Global Learning.

ART 241 Art History Survey I (3)
A survey of the historical development of Western and non-­Western art and architecture beginning with the Neolithic period and leading up to the thirteenth century. We will study works of art in their cultural contexts in order to gain an understanding of the purpose, meaning, and significance of works of art to those who made and used them. Emphasis will be placed on the exchange of knowledge, ideas, forms, and iconography across cultures over time, and the subsequent change in the meaning and significance of these when put to new uses in new contexts. We will discuss current issues and debates in art history, such as responsible collection practices and repatriation of art objects. We will relate the aesthetic experiences and values of cultures from our period of study to contemporary culture. Over the course of the semester, students will develop their own analysis of the purpose, meaning, and significance of a single art object that they have viewed in a museum, and which dates from the chronological period the course covers. This course also satisfies an LO2 Women’s Voices and LO3 Global Learning.

COMM 257W - Introduction to Journalism (4)
This course will introduce journalism theory and principles by exploring where they came from. It will focus on journalism practitioners from the 1840s on, and in the process, students will begin to acquire techniques for gathering information, news writing, and copy editing as they become more educated consumers of journalism, with an appreciation of the importance of the “4th estate” to a functioning democracy.  This course also provides students the opportunity to earn the W.

ENVS 161 Introduction to Environmental Studies (3)
An interdisciplinary course on the systemic interaction of human beings with their environments. It identifies interests informing environmental decisions and introduces practices of environmental advocacy. This course also satisfies LO3 Global Learning and LO3 Social Responsibility.

GWS 207 Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies (3)
This interdisciplinary course introduces students to the field of gender and women’s studies. The course will enable students to understand how gender impacts their everyday lives, social institutions, and cultural practices both locally and globally. Additionally, students will examine the significance and meaning of one’s gender identity in different historical periods, the history of feminist movements, and transnational perspectives on feminism. Students will also discuss how gender intersects with other identity categories such as socioeconomic class, race, ethnicity, sexuality, age, geography, and generational location. Lastly, students will examine and critique cultural representations and claims about women and gender identities. This course also satisfies an LO2 Women’s Voices, LO3 Global Learning and LO3 Social Responsibility.

HUST 197W (In)famous Women: History, Myth and Legend (4)
Truth or fiction? This course explores different ways of seeing (in)famous women from Eve to Cleopatra, Mary to Joan of Arc. Through class discussions, interdisciplinary readings (fiction and nonfiction, literature and history), art, lectures, and film, we will study what myths and legends—both ancient and modern—tell us about the past and about ourselves. This course also satisfies LO2 Critical Thinking Seminar, an LO2 Women’s Voices, LO3 Global Learning, LO3 Social Responsibility and provides students the opportunity to earn the W.

ICS 201 Introduction to Intercultural Studies (3)
This course provides an introduction to understanding the cultural construction of individual and collective identities such as race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion. We will begin by establishing a theoretical understanding of what culture is and how it operates, both globally and locally. And then we will examine how colonization and imperialism impact cultural conflict in the US and around the world. Key issues covered include how race has been constructed historically and culturally; how power and privilege perpetuate interpersonal, systemic, and institutional racism; and how to challenge racism and other forms of oppression. By the end of the semester, students will have a foundation for understanding and addressing inequality in our interconnected world. This course also satisfies LO3 Intercultural Competence.

MUS 241 Passport to Music (3)
Survey and study of forms and styles of music literature from early music to the 21st century; listening is emphasized. This course also satisfies an LO2 Women’s Voices.

MUS 243 Latin American and Latino Popular Music (3)
The term Popular Music in Latin-America describes several dozen different musical styles originated or related to Latin America, the Caribbean and the Latino Population in the US. This course is an introduction to Latin American popular music through a survey that will provide a broad and comprehensive panorama on these styles. We will talk about the main composers and performers, geographical location, history as well as cultural and sociopolitical backgrounds of each style. In addition to that we will address lyrics and musical characteristics such as instrumentation and rhythmic patterns of selected musical examples to shape our understanding of the music. Students from all disciplines may take the course. No prior knowledge of music, Spanish or Portuguese is required.  This course also satisfies LO3 Global Learning and LO3 Intercultural Competence.