Academics

Senior Colloquium - Spring 2010

"Conformity and Rebellion"
TTH 2-3:15 p.m.
SRC 399 EE
Mark Freyberg
Associate Professor of Sociology
We rarely think about it, but every day we make decisions to conform or rebel. We often conform without thinking, or rebel without thinking clearly. This course will ask you to think deeply about conformity and rebellion. Just how conforming are we? How does authority respond to rebellion? Is each of these behaviors necessary to a free society? If so, when should we conform, and when should we rebel? Our course units include The Power of Social Norms, Crimes of Obedience, Rebellion in the 1960s, Rebellion in the New Millenium, and Communitarianism. Assignments include a major reading journal, class facilitation, and a final exam. 

 "Women in Society"
MWF 8 - 8:50 a.m.
SRC 399 G
Nancy St. Clair
Professor of English
This course examines how biology, culture, history and politics shape the identity of women. We'll also look at how identity shapes women's behavior and experience, and how new identity leads to personal and social change. Students are asked to provide initiative in a variety of ways throughout the term. Among the issues we'll explore are gender socialization, adolescence, sexuality, motherhood, race and class influences, feminism, and the true meaning of freedom.

"American Culture: The Origins and Limits of Resources"
2 sections
T  6 - 9 p.m.
SRC 399 E
Coryanne Harrigan
Associate Professor of English

MWF 10 - 10:50a.m.
SRC 399 A
Tricia Calkins
Professor of German
American Society consumes a large percentage of the world's resources. In this class we will seek out the origins of the resources for energy, food, homes, luxuries, clothes, and many other consumer items. We will then carefully analyze the limits of the resources in relation to the demand. During the entire course we will read texts on what this massive demand for resources says about American culture and its relation to the rest of the world.

"Destined for Deviance: Perspectives of Sport Behaviors"
MWF 12 - 12:50p.m.
SRC 399 B
Bob Nutgrass
Professor of Physical Education
Coakley (2005) explains that people examine sport in our culture through perspectives of how they judge the society as a whole. How does sport affect you? How do you behave towards sport and its foundations? What affect will sport have on you and your family in the future? This course will research major cultural issues within the sport subculture, while examining cultural issues that sociologists believe shape our society. Sport will be examined from various perspectives and levels while students will develop personal perspectives of professional and youth sport as well as behaviors derived from sport in our culture. Other areas to be examined will be gender role issues, race and ethnic biases within sport, media's role in the sporting subculture with an emphasis in deviant sport behavior tolerance within our society.
 
"People and Plagues"
2 sections
TTH 9:30 - 10:45a.m.
SRC 399 D
Amy Doling
Associate Professor of Biology

TTH 9:30 - 10:45a.m.
SRC 399 F
Jeff Parmelee
Associate Professor of Biology
There aren't many events as frightening as a disease epidemic. This becomes especially true as we survey history. Epidemics of "black death," cholera, influenza, and so on that wiped out huge numbers of people and devastated societies tend to frighten us as we read about them. It is clear that disease epidemics can tell us a great deal about the nature of the societies and cultures that dealt with them. The manner in which they dealt with epidemics, economically-politically-socially-medically-religiously- and philosophically, tell us many and diverse things about those societies. This is true up to the present day, with the advent of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In this class we are going to trace many themes and ideas from the history of disease epidemics that will reveal much about the history of western culture.

Many people believe that the history of epidemic disease and the gradual or sudden decline of many epidemic diseases is a history of the triumph of science and medical technology. This class will challenge that notion. We can challenge it right now by pointing to the numerous epidemic diseases that are making their rounds currently. From old foes like malaria and cholera to new and emerging diseases such as avian influenza and HIV, we can safely say that the "war" against disease is an ongoing human struggle. We hope to show you how this struggle has highlighted all sorts of tensions and truths within the development and advancement of western culture.

 "The Progress Paradox: Fear and Happiness in America"
TTH 11:00a.m. - 12:15p.m.
SRC 399 C
Kedron Bardwell
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Take a look at American society over the last fifty years and a paradox appears. Despite the fact that wages are higher, houses are bigger, the air is cleaner, and we enjoy many conveniences that used to be luxuries, today's Americans are less happy and more fearful than previous generations. This seminar explores how mass media, culture, and the economy shape our perceptions of fear and crisis, as well as how we evaluate happiness or contentment. Can we solve the "progress paradox," or do we need to rethink how we define the good life?

 

 

 

Last Updated: 2/4/09