ADDENDUM TO THE SKIDMORE COLLEGE CATALOG - Fall 2008

AH-251N 001 Arts of Southeast Asia
This course examines the court and village traditions of Southeast Asia with special reference to Indonesia , Malaysia , and the Philippines . Architectural and sculptural works in various media such as stone, wood, and precious metals; body ornamentation and clothing are studied as visual expressions of secular and religious beliefs. Analysis of pre- and post-colonial forms expands our understanding of historical phenomena in their material manifestations. No pre-requisites.  F.H. Capistrano-Baker

AH-351C 001  On Site: Production, Reception and Discursive Structures in Recent Art
In recent years, the practice of contemporary art has frequently shifted decisively from the individual object to the actual experience, conditions, and situation of viewing. Regardless of whether artists are making two-dimensional work, three-dimensional objects, performances, videos, or installation work, now more than ever they are likely to focus on the situation of the gallery, museum, or alternative site within which viewers will encounter their work. More and more, artists seek to control conditions of reception by creating works which offer themselves not as traditional, discrete objects, but as environments, extended discourses, architectural spaces, and time-based immersive experiences. This course will focus on how and why art is conceptualized and practiced today as artists focus more than ever on the moment of reception. John Weber

AH-375F 001   Seminar African Textiles and Dress
The theme of this seminar is African textiles and dress. Viewed within an historical framework from the earliest archaeological remains to the most contemporary, it explores a range of topics including everything from aesthetics and production; cloth as social and religious order, as text, and as markers of identity; to the effects of colonialism, trade and globalization; issues of appropriation; and textiles and fashion in the contemporary world. The course will draw on several museum and private collections, including Aronson's own, with an eye to a possible exhibition of the material. Lisa Aronson

AM-103 001 Intro to American Studies 
This course will introduce students to different forms of cultural criticism and examine some recurrent American cultural values and themes, such as the tension between community and individualism, and the disparity between American ideals and social realities. It will do so by employing an interdisciplinary approach that melds history, sociology, journalism, autobiography, fiction, film (feature and documentary), and other forms of knowledge—and by using basketball as its focal point.

Why basketball? Because it provides rich opportunities to consider the politics of race, class, and gender formation, identity, and relations. Because it is a site where meaningful, complicated cultural exchange takes place—on playgrounds, in schools, on television, on-line. Because its popularity, commercial success, and metaphoric possibilities should not be ignored.

No previous knowledge of or experience playing basketball is required. A word of warning: this is not a class about basketball; rather, it is a class that uses basketball to think critically about American culture and deploys an interdisciplinary approach to studying it.

AM-260 001 The Influence of the Law in American Culture
This seminar considers the historical influence of the law on, and examines the role of law in, modern American society in order to understand why and how we use law, courts, and the language of “rights.” The law will be studied on an issue and case basis, and from the perspective our lives in an American legal culture: how does the law influence and shape modern American culture, and how does modern American culture influence the development of the law? What is the role of modern society in the legal system and vice-versa? What do the important legal cases of this generation tell us about society?
In this course, we will examine the foundations of law in American society, including historical and contemporary uses of law, and the conflict between individual freedom and government power. We will explore the nature of law and rules, to what extent their application compromises the legal system, the relation of law and morality, the role of courts and legislatures in the shaping of public policy and opinion, the jury system, and the use of law to control human behavior. We will draw on a variety of sources including film and literature, court cases, newspaper & current media, and social science materials. In this discussion-based seminar, students will develop advocacy skills in classroom debate, while individual in-class presentations and final research papers will allow students to explore particular topics in greater depth. Scott Mulligan, Esq.

AN-251D 001 Biological Bases of Human Behavior
This course provides an overview of the current ideas on the origin and development of human behavior from an anthropological perspective. We will examine human behavior in the context of the behavior and biology of non-human primates, which are our closest living relatives. We will explore the "nature versus nurture" debate in detail and what impact each factor has on present-day human behavior. Topics covered in this course include basic evolutionary theory and human origins, sociobiology, intelligence, cognition, infancy, adolescence, aggression, and concepts of race and sexuality. Controversy may surround many of these "hot topics" and will provide interesting insights into human biology, behavior, and culture and the interactions between these three factors. We will also focus on how scientific and pseudo-scientific research gets incorporated into popular knowledge and the public consciousness.  This course will be writing intensive.

AN-252C 001 East Asia in Motion: Peoples, Cultures, and Identities
East Asia has a long history of diasporic populations, unstable identities, and constantly shifting borders. Seeking to go beyond the idea of the bounded national cultures of China , Japan , and Korea , this course looks at East Asian as a region to examine how cultural forms and people have changed as a result of contemporary and historical forces of globalization. The Course examines not only transformations within East Asia, but also East Asia 's place within the world. Focusing on the circulations of people, ideas, and things, topics such as war, colonialism, race, gender, religion, the body, and global kinships are covered. R. Kenji Tierney

AN-252C 002 Topics in Contemporary Native America
This course  will introduce students to subjects of pressing concern to many Indian people living in the U.S. The issues we will explore include sovereignty, identity, health, economic development, and education. We will focus our investigation within the ethnographic context of history, language, and culture. Upon completion of the course, students will gain a greater understanding of contemporary Native cultures of the U.S. They will also be able to identify and discuss discrete topics in contemporary Native America, orally and in writing, with demonstrated appreciation for Indian cultures on their own terms. Barry Pritzker

AN-351C 001 Primate Conservation
Most non-human primate species live in the tropics and in developing countries which suffer from high population growth rates and dwindling natural resources. This has caused most primates to be classified as endangered to some degree. This course will focus on the long-standing relationships between human and non-human primates, how they have interacted, and how this has lead to the endangered status of some or may help to preserve other primate species. The course will focus on different strategies for protecting primates such as special reserves, national parks, research programs, education, and environmental tourism.

AR-351J 001  Space and Time, Words and Music
Many artists have an ambivalent relation with their time and place. Some cultivate detachment from society; others embrace their culture. A lingering cliché imagines the artist laboring in obscurity in a garret, but a few achieve the kind of celebrity more typically associated with rock stars. This course will look at the question of authenticity in art; ways in which contemporary artists' roles reflect their times; how their art defines and critiques those times. We'll read journals, biographies, fiction, and critical works by and about significant 20th century and contemporary figures in literature, music, and the visual arts. We'll try to get inside the creative process, looking at the artist's life and creative process not through theory, but through their work and their lives. And we'll examine the making of art from the outside, as critics, art dealers, and cultural observers see it.

Simultaneously we'll be involved on the studio side, developing art that attempts to engage the formal and intellectual issues and styles that have proliferated - from cubism, futurism and surrealism to installation, performance and the metaphysical consumerism of the current scene.

Some of the issues that might come up as we read and as we work in the studio: the nature and definition of art, its relationships and responsibilities to society: art and morality; art and politics; art and sexuality; art and money; art and sanity.

BI-351E 001Biological Invasions
What are the ecological and evolutionary implications of the introduction of exotic (non-native) species into recipient communities?   We will explore what traits effective invaders share, what characteristics influence a community's vulnerability to invasion, what successful invasions tell us about the assembly of biological communities, and how these invasions provide opportunities to study evolution in novel environments.  Students will focus equally on plant, animal and fungal invaders, and will address questions at local, regional and global scales.  Prerequisites:  BI106 and any two, 200-level courses in Biology

BI-351M 001 Advanced Light microscopy
Sixty percent of all labs in the life sciences use microscopy as their main analytical tool, and major advancements in light and laser-based microscopy have contributed to a re-evaluation of cellular structure and processes. In this course, students will be introduced to the theory and practice of traditional light, fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. In addition, this course will highlight new methods of fixation, microinjection and labeling of cells including the use of fluorochromes, antibodies and GFP. The course entails both lecture and hands-on laboratory experience with various light microscopes.   Prerequisites : BI106 and any two, 200-level courses in Biology

BI-351M 002 Microbial Physiology
An advanced exploration of the seemingly unlimited variety of microbial metabolic activity and its possible applications. In lecture students will study metabolic processes in bacteria and how our understanding of these processes can be applied in microbial biotechnology. Linking physiology to basic genetics and microbial diversity, we will discuss the use of microbes in areas like bioremediation, bio-fuel production, food processing as well as vaccine and antibiotic synthesis. In the laboratory students will produce and identify economical relevant products of bacterial metabolism and discuss methods to increase productivity. Prerequisites: BI106 and 246, CH221 recommended

BI-351M 003 Vertebrate Histology
An introduction to microanatomy and function of animal cells and tissues based on observable morphology using the light microscope. Course topics include demonstration of tissue preparation techniques, practical microscopy, cell structure, and tissue organization of all systems of the vertebrate body with a concentration on the human.   Prerequisites : BI106 and any two, 200-level courses in Biology

CH 103: Fundamentals of Chemistry
New course title, replacing “Fundamentals of Chemistry With Lab” New Course Description:An introductory course for students with little or no background in chemistry. Fundamental chemical concepts such as atomic structure, bonding, chemical reactions, and the properties of solids, liquids, and gases are presented. Emphasis is placed on learning the “language of chemistry,” achieving the ability to visualize and understand processes on an atomic and molecular level, and developing problem solving skills. Laboratory exercises and experiments serve to illustrate concepts presented in lecture. While this course is primarily intended for those who wish to go on in science, it is also appropriate for students who seek a one semester survey of the subject. Prerequisite: QR 1. (Fulfills QR2 and natural sciences requirements)

EC-343 001 Environmental and Natural Resource Econ
This course is designed to provide an understanding of the relationships between economic systems and the natural world, and how various economic concepts and tools are used to address them. The field of environmental and natural resource economics is rapidly changing. While the mainstream approach to environmental amenities, contemporary approaches tend to recognize that the economy is inserted in a much broader and complex system – the biosphere – on which they depend. New analytical frameworks and tools are being developed, which may complement or contradict the conventional approach. We will use both approaches to address environmental issues such as global warming, biodiversity loss, and oil depletion. It is my intention that you develop critical thinking about these topics and policy options available to address them, and in the process, help you identify topics for further study and research. R. Julia

EC-361 002 International Finance
This course focuses on the causes and effects of international financial flows. The objective is to introduce students to the operations of international financial markets as well as to the major analytical and policy issues raised by international monetary relations. With this aim, the course analyzes the two-way relation between international transactions and macro policy concentrating on recent and current events. J. Bibow

ED-261C 001 Science Literacy
There is a broad consensus in our society that scientific communities have developed knowledge and practices that are potentially valuable to members of the general public in their roles as workers, consumers, family members, and citizens.  “Science literacy” is broadly accepted as a term to describe the science-related knowledge, practices, and values that we hope all students will acquire in school. This course introduces those interested in science education, such as prospective teachers, to differing ideas about what scientific literacy is, why it is important and how it can be achieved, such as teaching from an interdisciplinary perspective . We will explore current practices in science classrooms, how they are sustained, and how they affect learners of different personal, social, and cultural resources that they bring with them from their homes and communities and the barriers that they must overcome to achieve science literacy.  From our analyses, we will explore how teachers could and should teach science.

English Department Courses:
For EN 105 and other EN course descriptions, view the English Department's Prospectus - http://cms.skidmore.edu/english/courses/upload/ProspectusF08UpdateJune2.pdf

ES-351A 001 Restoration Ecology
Ecological restoration is an intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its health, integrity and sustainability. This course explores the newly emerging science of restoration ecology through its theoretical foundations and applications. We will review the conceptual bases of restoration ecology (succession, recruitment, landscape scale phenomena). In addition, we will address complex problems in restoration (genetics, physical barriers, exotic species, hydrologic regimes). Course work will focus on student centered presentations and analyses of case studies and recent literature. In addition, the course will involve a service-learning project at a local park. Prerequisite: BI 240 and GE 207

ES-374 001 Environmental Studies: Methods and Approaches
A seminar required of all Environmental Studies majors taken during the fall of their senior year in preparation for their senior capstone project.  Students will discuss topics in Environmental Studies and identify potential senior research projects.   In addition, students will develop their skills in research and oral and written communication as related to Environmental Studies.   The course includes presentations and discussions by students and guest lecturers, field trips, and a community service project.   Students will present proposals for their senior capstone projects at the end of the seminar.
Prerequisites:  Declared Environmental Studies major and special permission of the instructor.

GE-251 001 Glacial Geology
A course investigating glacial dynamics, erosion, deposition, and interaction with the landscape.  Study will include analysis and interpretation of glacial sediments, sequences, and landforms.  Aggregate resources, aquifer formation and vulnerability, as well as land use issues will be discussed.  Emphasis will be placed on the glaciation of New York State and the Great Lakes region during the Quaternary.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Required field trip. Brian Bird

GO 103: Introduction to Comparative and International Politics
New course title, replacing “Critical Issues in World Politics” New Course Description: A survey of the key concepts and principles of comparative politics and international relations. Issues covered include state-building and state failure; the functioning of democratic and non-democratic regimes and the ideologies that support them; the changing nature of the international system; the causes of war and search for peace; and problems of national and transnational security, such as terrorism, globalization, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and environmental challenges. (Fulfills social requirement).

GO 251D 001 The Scottish Enlightenment
We will examine the writings of David Hume and Adam Smith, with an eye toward such themes as sympathy, moral judgment, human affections, commercial life, and the ground of political association. These thinkers are noteworthy for their distinctive contributions to modern political philosophy, offering a critique of some aspects of the teachings of early modern thinkers such as Hobbes and Locke. We will also explore the contributions of Hume and Smith to modern conservatism and classical liberalism. Prerequisite: GO 103

GO-351B 001 The French Liberal Tradition
After the elaboration of the foundations of liberal democracy in the 17 th century by thinkers such as Hobbes and Locke, there would seem to be two dominant paths in political philosophy. On one hand, thinkers like Voltaire or Adam Smith appear committed to the furthering of these principles. On the other, thinkers like Rousseau and Nietzsche undertake thorough-going critiques of liberal democratic life. Less noticed is a train of thinkers including Montesquieu, Benjamin Constant, and Tocqueville, who, while remaining sympathetic to ideas like constitutional democracy, also bring out some problematic elements of modern political life. This is a truly unique strain of thought in 19 th century France , where the dominant intellectual forces were two: those promoting a more radical, proto-socialist agenda, and those seeking a restoration of the ancient regime. In addition to the well-known triad of Montesquieu, Constant, and Tocqueville, we will examine three contemporary French thinkers who kept this tradition of friendly critique alive in an atmosphere dominated by Marxism and post modernism: Bertrand de Jouvenel, Raymond Aron, and Pierre Manent. Prerequisite: GO 103. GO 303 and 304 recommended but not necessary

GO-376 001 Campaign Management
This course will begin by addressing basic campaign strategy – message development, media relations, fundraising, organization, polling, etc.  Guest speakers will be joining the course to cover some of these topics.    

To facilitate these discussions, at the beginning of the class, each student will be assigned a top US Senate or Gubernatorial campaign to track.  This will involve researching past voting trends, reporting on the press coverage, tracking the advertising by the campaigns and various groups, and reviewing the public polling.  After the overview of campaign 101, class material will be drawn from the various races students are covering – dissecting the decisions being made by the campaigns, the messages they are trying to convey and the tactics they are employing.  During each class meeting, each student will repor on the “happenings” in his or her race and be prepared to answer questions from myself and their peers on the race.  Post-election, we will review the election results and exit polling data, and each student will write, present and defend a critique of their campaign.  They will assess the overall strategy, the message, role of third party groups, etc.  Hopefully, students will be able to conduce some interviews with key players to help with this final project. Students will be evaluated on their weekly work following campaigns, their presentation of that work weekly in class, and their final paper.  Patrick Lanne

HF-100 001 Color
The Honors Forum Workshop provides further exploration of topics and concepts introduced in the studio art course AR 134 Color. Slide presentations, readings and discussion provide a foundation for independent research. Students will create culminating research projects. Students must be enrolled in AR 134 Color before they can enroll in HF-100 001 (i.e. AR 134 is a co-requisite).

HF-200 001 Hindu Art and Religion in India 1 credit
Students will study disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives on Indian Hinduism--an evolving, contemporary religion with a rich history--and the patterns of artistic production associated with it.  Students will explore architectural and stone sculpture artifacts, giving special attention to the religious underpinnings of the traditions as well as popular manifestations.  This course is an intensive, on-site experience that will emphasize integrating experiential, sensory data with academic information and theories. HF-200 001 is a pre-requisite for the 3 credit travel seminar of the same name to be taught in India in January, 2009, by Rob Linrothe and Joel Smith. Only students accepted for the travel seminar may take this course. Both the on-campus seminar and the travel seminar (TX-200C) will combine for a total of 4 credit hours and will be applied to your Fall 2008 semester. Permission of instructor required.

HI-217 001 The Russian Revolution
Examines the causes and consequences of the overthrow of the tsarist empire and the establishment of the Soviet regime following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The course focuses on the Revolution as a transformative event for the history of Russia in the twentieth century--the source of the ideology behind Soviet totalitarianism, radical transformations in society, and the establishment of an alternative "Russia in exile."

HI-217 002 Vietnam War
This course will examine the political, military, and cultural aspects of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1975, as well as the war's legacy since. The course will feature a wide variety of perspectives, including scholarly histories, memoirs, novels, government documents, investigative journalism, and film.

HI-217 003 Intro to Islamic Civilization
Survey of the cultural, political, and religious diversity in the Islamic world. For first- and second-year students.

HI-217 004 Islamic History and Society
A thematic approach to aspects of Islamic culture and civilization with a focus on a specific country, topic, or period. For sophomores and juniors. No pre-requisite.

HI-298 001 Nations and Nationalism in Arab Societies
Recent events in the Middle East have renewed scholarly interest in a fascinating and troubling political-cultural phenomenon - Nationalism. We shall explore the origins of nations and nationalist movements in Arab societies, their connection with colonialism and modernity. Special attention will be given to the relevancy of the cultural traits associated with nationalism in Arab societies (language, religion, history, and national struggles), and their flexibility to include/exclude others. Under this context we will study the conditions which exacerbate nationalist sentiments, with emphasize on dissemination of the nation through extensive use of cultural works and ‘New Media'. Class will discuss how popular music, cinema, literature, and fine arts have been mobilized in nation building. Throughout the course, emphasis will be on different approaches that integrate political history with cultural studies, and other theoretical approaches.

HI-363 001 Modern European Ideas
This course will survey important ideas in modern European history, including the writings of Jean Jacques Rousseau, Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Michel Foucault. Mark Walker

HI-363 003 Paris and New York in the Twentieth Century
This course explores the changing roles and influence of two centers of Western culture and civilization in the twentieth century through both primary documents--memoirs, letters, novels, music, and film--and secondary sources. We will first focus on Paris as capital of the arts and beacon of Europe ' s authority, then on New York as an  " imperial metropolis " to which the center of gravity changed after the Second World War.

HI-363 004 Culture, Politics, and History of the Islamic World
Seminar in Islamic civilization with consideration of particular aspects of Islamic history and culture. For juniors and seniors. No pre-requisite.

ID-202 001  FYE (or Scribner Seminar) PEER MENTORING EXPERIENCE    2, 3
Scribner Seminar Peer Mentors earn academic credits for fulfilling the responsibilities associated with the position:  attending all seminar classes, completing all reading assignments, participating in class discussions (when appropriate), helping the faculty with fourth-credit hour programming, completing other duties assigned by the instructor, and mentoring first-year students.  Mentoring first-year students includes supporting them as they make the academic and social transition to college, meeting students outside of class, and cultivating a robust living-learning community.  Faculty may choose to require a modest writing assignment or some other project in the two-credit model.    In addition to the general expectations associated with the peer mentoring position described above, the expectations for the three-credit option are more rigorous, such as completing a significant research paper or project, additional readings, and/or other academic activities.

IA-251C 001 Special Topics in IA: The Human Experience of Exile
Throughout history the experience of exile has been an intricate (inseparable) part of the human experience itself, culminating in human suffering on a global scale in our (recent) 20th century. Exile can assume many different forms and expressions. It encompasses humans' existential losses, suffering and victimization, and in contrast, also their capacity for adaptation, renewal and spiritual survival. As such, exile experience contains both elements of death and rebirth, two of life's deepest, opposing and extreme forces.

The impact of society and culture as a means for establishing one's identity and belonging, and in contrast, the understanding of exile as humans' exclusion/banishment from home and society, will be illustrated through selected case studies. This course will explore five areas which each relate in an exemplary way to exile experience. Using the Jewish suffering during the Holocaust as a point of departure to exemplify the impact of severe, multi-layered exile, we will examine ongoing global manifestations of forced exile such as the recent genocides in Rwanda (1995) and, presently, in Sudan . Further, we will look at the US as both a country of refuge and one of forced exile and alienation within its expansion, and on parts of its own population (African Americans, Native Americans, the recent Katrina tragedy). Exiling experiences in a broad sense will be explored in relation to modern existentialist philosophy (Sartre) and humans' "normal" life cycles, especially the formation of one's identity in youth and adolescence as outlined in developmental psychology (Erik Erikson). Connections between exile and creativity will be examined in each section. This course, in its multifaceted approach, suggests that exile experience, in its different manifestations, has significance in our everyday lives, even if we may not be aware of it.  Counts as an IA course in Knowledge Cluster III, “The Cultural World”. Prerequisite: IA 101. Undine Giguere

ID-351B 001     Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies: Global Media
An analysis of the patterns of global media ownership and media production, their impact on politics and political participation, and their potential for producing transnational cultural values. After examining concepts and theories of globalization, students will explore the relatively recent rise of global media, with attention to the technological advances supporting these media and the rapid growth and increasing consolidation and deregulation of media power. We will then focus on case studies of the political and cultural impacts of the new global media in both rich nations and less developed countries around the world. Prerequisite: ID220.    J. Devine

MB-351 001 Current Issues in Global Business
This is a limited-enrollment seminar in current issues facing global business using “The Economist” as the textbook, to which each student will be required to subscribe for the Fall Term.  The conduct of the course will include discussion, investigation, and analytical reports by students on contemporary political, economic, cultural, & environmental issues confronting international business managers.  Class participation will count for approximately half the grade.  The specific topics covered will be based on the current events and issues as they are reported in the weekly publication of “The Economist”.  In addition to classroom participation, e ach student will be assigned appropriate analytical reports during the term, including a full-term assignment to track & report on the performance, expectations, and problems in a specific country. Juniors and Seniors only.

MB-351 002 Topics in African Business
This upper-level elective is designed for students who are interested in international business and the structure of emerging markets, with a focus on Africa . Historically speaking, African countries have had “extraverted” economies, dating from the slave trade if not before. The colonial powers established states which promoted very particular types of private sector investment (chartered companies, for one example), and particular types in international investment. In the independence era, many older patterns have continued, though economic reforms in the dating from the 1980s have created new opportunities for investment and markets to emerge in the coming decades. In this course, we will emphasize how public sector decision making creates opportunities for businesses, and how businesses have taken and can take advantage of those.

Topics to be investigated include:
Mining, especially gold, copper and diamonds
Agribusiness, especially coffee, cocoa, tea, olive and palm oil
Patterns of domestic business activity
Foreign investment in African growth sectors, especially oil
African companies investing in the rest of the world

Companies which we will study may include Cadbury, Nestle, Anglogold Ashanti , DeBeers, Woolworth South Africa , Unilever, SAB Miller, ExxonMobil and other oil companies. Prerequisite: MB 306

MU-205 001 Study of Taiko: Taiko and the Asian American Experience
In this course we will examine the origins of Taiko drumming in Japan and consider how the tradition has developed in North America over the past four decades.  We will discuss the role of Taiko drumming in the Asian American Movement, explore different styles of contemporary Taiko in Asian America, and gain basic drumming competency through regular performance practice.  Through the integration of academic and performance study we will consider Taiko drumming as a prominent and dynamic Asian American performing art.

PS-212 001 Clinical Psychopharmacology
This course will examine the clinical use and therapeutic effects of drugs used to treat a variety of psychiatric disorders. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamental aspects of psychopharmacology (how medications work in the brain and body), as well as experimental methods used to develop and test pharmaceuticals. In addition, through the use of current research articles as well as case examples, this course will discuss the hallmark clinical and biochemical features of specific mental illnesses and the current medication strategies used to treat these disorders. All major classes of psychotropic medications will be discussed including: anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and other drugs used to treat psychiatric illnesses.

PS-212 002 Developmental Disabilities and Autism: Perspectives, Assessment, and Intervention Across the Lifespan.
This course provides a clinical overview of the most common developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. Students will gain an understanding of each disorder: its etiology, behavioral presentation, and appropriate interventions. There will be an emphasis on how both historical perspectives and current research play a role in the assessment and treatment for various behavioral issues related to developmental disabilities. Students will develop skills in functional assessment and behavior support planning through the use of case studies and their own observations.

PS-212 003 Drugs and Addiction
This course will address the neurobiology of abused substances in both the drug-naïve and addicted brain. Students will first be taught basic principles of neuropharmacology within the framework of commonly abused drugs and drug classes, including psychostimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine), opiates (heroin), cannabinoids (marijuana), alcohol and nicotine. We will discuss the specific mechanisms of action of each drug within the brain's reward circuitry. In the latter part of the course, our focus will transition from the basic pharmacology of particular abused drugs to the neurobiological changes associated with the development of distinct stages of drug addiction. We will investigate the changes in brain biology and functioning that occur in the addicted state. In addition to our discussions of drug use and abuse in humans, we will also consider the use and validity of animal models of drug taking and drug addiction.

RE-230 001 World Mythologies
We have commonly defined myths as symbolic tales of the distant past that concern cosmogony and cosmology (the origin and nature of the universe), which may be connected to belief systems or rituals, and may serve to direct or encapsulate social action and values. Typically, we find them in other cultures or in earlier times; and typically, we consider that Western society no longer has myths or no longer exhibits a "mythic" consciousness.

Is this true? Have we outgrown the mythological in the Western world? Are "myths" really only symbolic tales of the distant past or concerned only with cosmogony and cosmology? In this course we ask these and related questions, and to aid us in answering them we do two things: On the one hand we examine the foremost Western theories, past and present, about mythology. On the other, we consider the "myths" of a spectrum of cultures, from Classical Greek, through African, indigenous North American, indigenous South American, and Far Eastern among others. As a final exercise we consider contemporary Western narratives and try to answer the question: do we in the West have myths, or is it only other cultures that have them?
Course materials include source readings, readings in theory of myth, feature films, and music videos among other multi-media.

RE-330 002 World's End: Millennialism in the Modern World 
End-time preachers, apparitions of the Virgin Mary, cargo cultists, would-be messiahs, wagers of racial holy war, and people waiting for UFOs to land or for the Temple to be rebuilt : these are millennialists, expecting an imminent apocalypse which will usher in a Golden Age of peace, material plenty and spiritual pursuits. This course examines how such movements emerge and how they continue even after the End fails to come. Gregory Spinner

SO-251 001 Juvenile Delinquency
An overview of sociological theory and research concerning juvenile delinquency, youth crime, and youth culture. The course analyzes the causes of juvenile delinquency. It evaluates current strategies to control delinquency, such as incarceration, treatment, and rehabilitation, as well as the historic role and effectiveness of the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems in this pursuit. In addition, the course considers the strategies young people have historically employed to counter situations of deprivation and feelings of alienation. Prerequisite: SO 101 or LW 200. Timothy Stablein

SO-251 002 Gender, Aging, and Health
An analysis of how gender and age-based ideologies, practices, and contexts intersect with lives, bodies, and health care realities. Drawing on readings from a variety of disciplines, including history, sociology, psychology, and literature, this course explores age as a primary marker of identity and social inequality in the twenty-first century. What does it mean for society-at-large that, according to the Census Bureau, the number of people over the age of 65 in the United States is expected to double by 2030? That more people are living to age 100 than ever before? That a significant proportion of elders in the United States are women? This course considers how individuals, communities, and institutions are adapting or are not adapting to the aging of the US population. Prerequisite: SO 101 or WS 101.

SO-351B 001 Racial Identity Theory & Praxis
An integration of sociological theory and praxis. What factors hinder meaningful discourse about race? What skills promote interracial communication? How can we learn to engage more effectively in dialogue about race, power, and privilege in the United States? By bridging racial identity theory, experiential learning, and dialogic communication skills, this course prepares students to facilitate dialogues on controversial race-related topics, including affirmative action, immigration reform, and interracial relationships. Sarah Goodwin & Kristie Ford

SW-224 001 Mental Health & Social Work
This course is designed to provide an introduction to basic issues in mental health, and is intended to assist students in developing a broader understanding of the occurrence and impact of mental illness in society from a social work perspective. Students will be introduced to the history of mental health illness, psychopathology, evidence based treatment, and the impact of mental health disorders on family members. Mental health issues across race, class, and gender, will be examined in this course.

TH-304 001 Special Studies in Acting
An advanced, intensive study of acting as applied to the writing of selected playwrights of the 20th century. This course will include viewpoints and compositions, reading and researching, and scene projects in tandem with the directors in TH375 Advanced Directing Practicum.

TH-334 001 Community-Based Theater:  Understanding When, Where & How to Enter
Who does this work and why? Who is community? We should be beyond using community settings as merely laboratories and training grounds. What are the options for practicing community-based theater from a position of equity and integrity?  Students will leave this course with an understanding of when, where and how to enter this often underrated arena. Lisa Grady-Willis

TX-201B 001 Puerto Rico and the United States : Culture and Colonialism
Puerto Rico has been a United States “territory” for over 100 years. For many it is a US colony, for others a captive country, and for still others an island denied the right to be a US state. This Caribbean island is a part of Latin America inside the US whose existence challenges us to rethink our definitions of nation, colonialism, race, and imperialism. This course explores the social, political, cultural, and economic impact of the U.S. on Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican responses to it. Topics include the political history of Puerto Rico's status, social construction of race and gender and Puerto Rican identity formation, the role that music and literature play in the promotion of such an identity; the emergence of social and political movements including labor, feminist, pro-statehood and pro-independence movements, and migration of Puerto Ricans to and from the United States. A day trip to visit “El Barrio,” the Puerto Rican area of New York City , is planned as part of this course.

TX-202 001 LAS Faculty-Led Travel Seminar to Puerto Rico
A ten-day travel seminar to Puerto Rico during winter break 2008-2009, focuses on the social, political, cultural, and economic impact of the U.S. on Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican responses to it. Students will test in museums, guided tours, and meetings, the ideas developed in classroom discussion on topics such as Puerto Rican historical development, cultural production including music, art and literature in identity-formation; political positioning (such as pro-statehood and pro-independence movements) and migration of Puerto Ricans between the island and the United States.
Applications for this course are available from the faculty or from the Office of Off Campus Study & Exchanges. Meets Cultural Diversity requirement.