Humanities & Social Sciences
Asignaturas:
Visual Art and Cultural Values II: Early Fourteenth Century to the Present
Catalog Description
Examines the production of art from the 15th through the 20th centuries. Explores art from a variety of cultures and geographic regions. Introduces students to the conventional designations of stylistic periods, treats major works and artists of these eras, and acquaints the student with the traditional methods of art history.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Relate an understanding of basic concepts of Art History to a wider understanding of the world and its cultures.
- Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and analyze selected artworks of great artists.
- Confront individual styles and techniques of artists by comparing multiple artworks from different periods.
- Examine themes and techniques of different Visual Arts by seeing the way artists do with the representation of certain genres of universal value.
International Justice
Catalog Description
This course addresses international justice for atrocities, human rights violations, and other international crimes. Students are introduced to key concepts about atrocity crimes and international criminal law and learn about the nature of victims and perpetrators of international crimes. The course focuses on the different types of institutions and policies used to provide justice, such as international courts and truth commissions, and explores contemporary “impunity gaps” in international justice, such as major power, corporate, and cyber crimes. This course situates international justice in contemporary security studies and international and domestic politics.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of concepts and institutions of international justice, as well as the nature of contemporary international crimes in conflict situations.
- Identify the policy implications of international justice ideas, theories, and debates.
- Explain how issues of justice and security are interrelated in theory and practice.
- Exhibit critical analysis skills in their written assignments and participation.
- Engage effectively and meaningfully with social media forums.
- Contribute to discussion on contemporary international justice issues in a manner that is intelligent and productive.
Environmental Issues
Catalog Description
Environmental changes and consequences that accompany anthropogenic development and industrialization are discussed. Students actively participate in a chronological and systematic investigation of the connections and relationships between ecological systems, energy, raw materials, Western industrialization, environmental degradation, and third-world population. The content of the course ultimately serves to establish an historical reference point that allows for analysis of current environmental status and national policy.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Identify, understand, and properly apply the terminology associated with environmental issues.
- Explain the basic science behind environmental issues, and how changes in science lead to discovery of environmental problems and development of remediation strategies.
- Discuss the major environmental challenges of the 21st Century from historical, political, and scientific perspectives. The course does not claim any advocacy on environmental issues, and therefore, places an expectation on the student to develop their own position through a rigorous examination of the data and sources specific to the topic.
- Articulate a position on an environmental subject/problem through research and synthesis and express this position in a written context (exams and term papers).
History & Appreciation of Wine
Catalog Description
In this course, students are introduced to New World and Old World wines and grape-growing regions. The wine-making process, viticulture, and marketing trends are discussed. The sensory evaluation of wine is a component of this course; therefore, students must be of legal drinking age to enroll in the class.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the history of wine and its contribution to civilization.
- Analyze the elements of climate, geography, and agriculture on the viticulture process.
- Categorize the various production techniques of winemaking.
- Classify wines through actual context of language, local traditions/laws, and style influence.
- Appraise the importance of taste, texture and flavor intensity in pairing wine and food for navigating restaurant wine lists and consumer purchasing.
- Assess wine quality based upon organoleptic responses including aural, visual, olfactory and tactile.
Introduction to International Studies
Catalog Description
This introductory, interdisciplinary course exposes students to critical global issues through the lens of the arts, humanities, social, and physical sciences. The course makes connections between seemingly disparate events and contextualizes those events in an historical period. Each discussion considers temporal, political, socio-economic, and geographic as well as cultural issues in the given context.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Describe various aspects of globalization: economic, cultural, political, etc.
- Formulate the major causes of conflict and unrest in the contemporary world
- Define the role of the West in changing international order
- Make connections between international affairs and domestic developments
- Contemplate the concept of interdependence between the West and the “Other world”.
- Explore the non-western paradigms of thinking about the world
- Develop geographical literacy, both cartographic and human
- Develop an understanding of global human migration and cultures
- Describe the negative and positive outcomes of imperialism and colonization
- Be aware of the solutions for global controversies and dilemmas
- Demonstrate the ability to critically examine international affairs
Human Rights in Society
Catalog Description
Based on the conceptual and practical framework of the 1948 Human Rights United Nations Universal Declaration, this course is multi-faceted and global; hence, the class uses the experiences of human rights defenders from around the world to educate students and others about human rights and urge them to take action when faced with a range of such ethical issues as slavery, human trafficking, environmental activism, religious self-determination, and political participation.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of human rights, its philosophy and history.
- Formulate connections between everyday activities and larger global issues, such as the right to education and fair working conditions.
- Develop awareness of the importance of advocating for fellow citizens both local and global.
- Adequately and meaningfully articulate the facts surrounding each topic, as well as with the overall objective of fostering the development of educated, mindful, engaged and responsible, global citizens.
- Strategize approaches for creating a global citizenry dedicated to the highest standards of justice and equality.
- Analyze reports, current news, and specific cases involving human rights defenders.
- Apply critical thinking skills to key human rights issues.
- Participate in and encourage civil, respectful debate.
World Geography
Catalog Description
A comprehensive study of regional world geography. The focus is on both physiographic characteristics of each region as well as their human culture traits such as population, economics, language, religion, and urban space. Emphasis is placed on the interaction between the culture and environment of various regions.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate geographic literacy and imagination.
- Understand the interconnections of human and physical geography.
- Understand the relationship between regional and systematic/topical geography and other disciplines.
- Understand basics of cartography and geographic information systems
- Demonstrate an understanding of global human migration, exploration, and colonization.
- Consider non-western paradigms of thinking about the world.
- Understand the roots and development of contemporary geopolitics and economics.
- Describe various aspects of globalization: economic, cultural, political, environmental, etc.
The New Europe
Catalog Description
An overview of the historical development of European political and cultural identity from 1947 to the present day. One of the major elements of the course will be the study of common economic policies as well as the introduction of the euro and its impact on global relations. In addition, this course will examine the future challenges presented by the growth of the European Union, its stability, and the question of European constitutional and institutional reforms.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Describe the origins, history and the logic of European integration in the post-war period
- Analyze contending approaches to the process of European integration
- Describe the organization and decision-making mechanism of the EU
- Examine effectiveness of economic governance and regulations in contemporary Europe
- Familiarize themselves with the basic trends in Europe’s monetary policy
- Understand the key issues of European security, including military and energy components.
- Apply the knowledge of European political organization, social structures, cultural developments to the case study of a particular European country
- Evaluate the role of Europe in the process of globalization and the establishment of a New World Order
- Formulate the state of Transatlantic relations and the major opportunities and challenges in the US-EU relations
International Conflicts
Catalog Description
Examines the theoretical and practical aspects of international conflicts in the global era. By applying the method of comparative analysis and the case study approach, the course will examine how conflicts arise and evolve and how technological, institutional, and cultural effects of globalization make international conflict more complex and less manageable. A special focus is on conflict prevention and settlement and peace-making processes. The course also compares international negotiation styles and practices, including negotiations with terrorists.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic vocabulary used in conflict and peace studies.
- Categorize different types of international conflicts and explain conflict escalation and de-escalation processes in the concrete context of international politics.
- Understand political, economic, ideological, religious, ethnic, racial, national, and territorial causes of conflicts in the contemporary world.
- Apply the main theoretical and practical approaches toward social conflict in the basic analysis of international conflict. Students will familiarize themselves with the elements of conflict modeling and analysis, based on the dynamic, structural, and game-theoretical approach to conflict.
- Explain the relationship between domestic and interstate conflict in the globalization era. Students will learn how to assess the causes, effects, and international implications of ethnic, religious, cultural, and other forms of communal conflict.
- Evaluate the means of conflict management, including preventive diplomacy, sanctions, peacekeeping and peacemaking operations, humanitarian intervention, mediating, and the legal settlement of conflicts.
- Understand and critically evaluate UN and US peacemaking strategies in the recent conflicts.
General Psychology
Catalog Description
A survey of the biological and philosophical theories that form the foundation for understanding human behavior, including the brain and nervous system, sensation and perception, motivation, learning, developmental issues, personality theories, abnormal behavior, psychotherapy, and social psychology.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Explain the process of psychological research, differentiate between correlation and causality, and differentiate between experimental and non-experimental research
- Explain the interplay of nature and nurture in psychology
- Explain the impact of biological and social factors on human development
- Explain how cognition, emotion, and behavior interact with one another
- Appropriately apply increased academic knowledge of psychological theories
- Reflect upon one’s own development
- Better appreciate the diversity and complexity of the global community
- Identify ethical issues in psychological research and practice.
World Religions
Catalog Description
A survey of major world faiths, focusing on beliefs and teachings concerning God, humanity, the world, and concepts of salvation and destiny. The course also explores worship and cultural contribution of the various religions, as well as their influences in the world today.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of 5 major world religions by learning the history and development of each of these religions.
- Recognize a sampling of primary texts from these five major religions.
- Demonstrate an ability to think reflectively and critically about the world religions and the human religious impulse.
- Explain the similarities and differences of the different world religions, and intelligently consider the ways in which they may exist in interrelation.
Spain: Past and Present
Catalog Description
This course addresses the diverse reality of contemporary Spain by paying special attention to how current reality has been shaped by historical processes and is reflected in the art, architecture, and cultural practices of the country. Both the reality today and the history behind it are brought to life through field trips, visits to museums, cultural explorations of the city of Madrid, in-class presentations, readings, the viewing of films, and lectures.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Identify the major phases of Spanish history and the most salient aspects of Spanish culture.
- Be acquainted with the geography of Spain.
- Recognize and understand the historical roots of Spain’s regional and national identity issues as well as the most pressing current issues regarding the regions.
- Know the prime contributions of past civilizations to Spain’s cultural heritage.
- Understand Spain’s rapidly changing social and political reality today.
- Analyze the multiple challenges (economic, political, and social) facing Spain in the current context of XXI century globalization and contrast Spain’s responses to these challenges to those of the US and other European nations.
- Practice the preparation and execution of cultural itineraries.
Global Risk: Assessing and Managing Transnational Threats
Catalog Description
This course will address contemporary global security risks to states, societies, and individuals and associated risk management strategies. Students will be introduced to key concepts and theory and methods of risk management. The various threats will be analyzed for their causes, nature, and implications for the international community. Students will learn about the various domestic and international bodies responsible for responding to security threats. The risk management strategies associated with each type of security threat will be critically assessed for their comprehensiveness, feasibility, and practical application.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Understand the nature of global risks and their implications for states, societies, and individuals.
- Identify and critically assess various current and proposed risk assessment strategies, models, and tools.
- Understand the importance of global risk for international security and Homeland Security.
- Develop research and writing skills to devise threat assessment summaries and develop an associated risk management strategy.
- Develop communication skills through presentations on research findings and group discussions