Interdisciplinary Programs
Programs
Faculty
Associate Professors
Margaret Woodhull, PhD, University of Texas, Austin
Omar Swartz, JD, PhD, Purdue University
Assistant Professors
Lorna Hutchison, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Humanities (HUMN)
HUMN 1012 - The Humanistic Tradition: Modes of Expression (3 Credits)
Familiarizes students with humanistic modes of expression through the study of history, literature, philosophy, music, and the visual and dramatic arts.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
HUMN 1111 - First Year Seminar (3 Credits)
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Freshman level students
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
HUMN 4100 - Social Justice Today (3 Credits)
This course aims to provide an interdisciplinary basis in social justice. Students will develop interdisciplinary knowledge of the systems that contribute to a number of today’s social disparities. Centering on young adults and children as both activists and a population that merits attention socio-politically and economically, we’ll frame our study with contemporary social justice theory and a practical exploration of some of the most creative and effective justice initiatives of our day. Equity and rights-based questions on diverse communities, social access, disability studies, and the environment form the context of our inquiry into today’s voices on equity and resistance. In a planning-intensive manner, students work on the final project in stages while also cultivating wellness awareness. Cross-listed with IDST 4100, IDST 5100, SJUS 4100, SJUS 5100, HUMN 5100, SSCI 4100, SSCI 5100.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
HUMN 4251 - Introduction to Legal Studies (3 Credits)
A survey of the United States legal system, including lawmaking powers, jurisdiction, court procedures, professional ethics and major principles of business law, contracts, estates and probate, family law, property and torts. Cross-listed with HUMN 5251/SSCI 4251/SSCI 5251.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
HUMN 4325 - First Amendment: Theory and Context (3 Credits)
First Amendment jurisprudence including free speech/responsibility, sedition/seditious libel/dissent, prior restraints, time/place/manner restrictions, hate/intimidating speech, defamation, privacy/security tensions, intellectual property/public good, advertising, corporate speech, sexual expression, and public status of religion. Cross-listed with HUMN 5325, SSCI 4325, SSCI 5325, PSCI 4325 and PSCI 5325.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
HUMN 4660 - Visual Arts: Its Past, Present, and Interpretations (3 Credits)
Provides graduate-level interdisciplinary study in the historiography, methodologies, and theories used to understand how visual arts, including painting, sculpture, photography, film and performance art influence the making of culture. Students gain critical skills for analyzing a variety of visual and aesthetic products of culture. Cross-listed with HUMN 5660, IDST 4660, IDST 5660.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
HUMN 4720 - Sex, Gender, and Visual Representation (3 Credits)
Studies sexuality, gender and identity representation from classical antiquity through the present in the visual arts. Uses the literature of visuality, feminism, race and queer theory. Explores representations of femininity, masculinity and androgyny and their reinforcement and challenge to gender-identity norms. Cross-listed with HUMN 5720, IDST 4720, IDST 5720, WGST 4720, WGST 5720.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
HUMN 4770 - Viewing Empire: The Art of Imperial and Colonial Propaganda (3 Credits)
Western empires disseminate political, social, economic & cultural practices through complex interplay of cultural practices. Visual production is a complex site for meaning making within imperialism. Examines how visual discourses operated to create meaning for audiences, through focus on postcolonial critique. Cross-listed with HUMN 5770, IDST 4770, IDST 5770, SSCI 4770, SSCI 5770, WGST 5770, WGST 4770, SJUS 4770, SJUS 5770.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
HUMN 4880 - Directed Research (1-6 Credits)
Students will engage in original research projects supervised and mentored by faculty. Students must work with faculty prior to registration to develop a proposal for their project and receive permission to take this course. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
HUMN 4984 - Topics: Interdisciplinary Humanities (1-3 Credits)
Concerned with specialized aspects of the humanities from various theoretical and research perspectives. These courses are interdisciplinary and serve as a forum for discussion of individual projects and theses. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Individually Designed Major (IDMA)
IDMA 1500 - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Learning (3 Credits)
This course introduces the theories, methodologies, and practices of interdisciplinary studies through a specific theme that will focus on how to learn in an online environment and how interdisciplinary scholars combine the theories and methods of a variety of fields. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 1500 will not earn credit for IDMA 1500.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
IDMA 2840 - Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 2840 will not earn credit for IDMA 2840. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.
IDMA 3000 - Special Topics (1-3 Credits)
Special classes for faculty-directed experiences examining issues and problems not generally covered in the curriculum. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 3000 will not earn credit for IDMA 3000.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
IDMA 3100 - Learning Across Disciplines (3 Credits)
Examining a compelling issue, students will learn what kinds of questions require thinking beyond a single discipline, how interdisciplinary scholars combine a variety of fields, and how to approach the challenges of interdisciplinary writing. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 3100 will not earn credit for IDMA 3100.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
IDMA 3500 - Interdisciplinary Experiential Learning (3 Credits)
In this course, students will the knowledge from their chosen clusters to bear on an experiential opportunity. Choosing an internship, community-based project, or job extension, students will collaborate with peers to design projects in this highly student-driven course. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 3500 will not earn credit for IDMA 3500.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Prereq: IDMA 1500 with a C- or higher
IDMA 3840 - Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 3840 will not earn credit for IDMA 3840. Department consent required. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
IDMA 3939 - Internship (1-3 Credits)
Designed experiences involving application of specific, relevant concepts and skills in supervised employment situations. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 3939 will not earn credit for IDMA 3939. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
Prereq: Junior standing or higher and at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
IDMA 4500 - Interdisciplinary Learning Capstone (3 Credits)
This course brings together students who have been working on individualized majors to share a capstone experience. The goal is for students to integrate knowledge from their cluster and apply it to a project relevant to their field of interest. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 4500 will not earn credit for IDMA 4500.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Prereq: IDMA 3500 with a C- or higher.
IDMA 4840 - Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 4840 will not earn credit for IDMA 4840. Department consent required. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.
IDMA 4880 - Directed Research (1-6 Credits)
Students will engage in original research projects supervised and mentored by faculty. Students must work with faculty prior to registration to develop a proposal for their project and receive permission to take this course. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 4880 will not earn credit for IDMA 4880. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
IDMA 4900 - Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone (3 Credits)
Students will be guided through the research process as they complete interdisciplinary capstone projects. They will receive feedback during each stage of the project's development and consultation from discipline specific faculty advisors. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 4900 will not earn credit for IDMA 4900.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Interdisciplinary Studies (IDST)
IDST 4000 - Special Topics (1-3 Credits)
Cross-listed with IDST 5000. Note: May be taken more than once for credit when topics vary. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
IDST 4010 - Foundations of STEM Communication (3 Credits)
This course will provide students with an introduction to STEM communication and offer opportunities for developing STEM content for a variety of audiences across multiple formats. These formats span written, oral, digital, and social media communication. Through classroom exercises and assignments, students will understand the role of communication in shaping perceptions, knowledge, decisions and ultimately realities vis-a-vis STEM. They will also learn to provide critical analysis of popular mainstream STEM communication and be able to identify basic expectations and constraints of STEM communication across audience and context. The class will explore approaches to communicating concepts in STEM disciplines to a variety of audiences through practice. Ultimately, the students will develop the skills and resources necessary to enable effective communication of complex STEM ideas to a wide range of audiences. Note: Students may not earn credit if they have already received credit for IDST topics courses with a similar title. Suggested background: Students are recommended to have completed at least one undergraduate sequence in a STEM discipline before enrolling in this course. Cross-listed with IDST 5010.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
IDST 4100 - Social Justice Today (3 Credits)
This course aims to provide an interdisciplinary basis in social justice. Students will develop interdisciplinary knowledge of the systems that contribute to a number of today’s social disparities. Centering on young adults and children as both activists and a population that merits attention socio-politically and economically, we’ll frame our study with contemporary social justice theory and a practical exploration of some of the most creative and effective justice initiatives of our day. Equity and rights-based questions on diverse communities, social access, disability studies, and the environment form the context of our inquiry into today’s voices on equity and resistance. In a planning-intensive manner, students work on the final project in stages while also cultivating wellness awareness. Cross-listed with IDST 5100, SJUS 4100, SJUS 5100, HUMN 4100, HUMN 5100, SSCI 4100, SSCI 5100.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
IDST 4660 - Visual Arts: Its Past, Present, and Interpretations (3 Credits)
Provides graduate-level interdisciplinary study in the historiography, methodologies, and theories used to understand how visual arts, including painting, sculpture, photography, film and performance art influence the making of culture. Students gain critical skills for analyzing a variety of visual and aesthetic products of culture. Cross-listed with HUMN 5660, HUMN 4660, IDST 5660.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
IDST 4720 - Sex, Gender, and Visual Representation (3 Credits)
Studies sexuality, gender and identity representation from classical antiquity through the present in the visual arts. Uses the literature of visuality, feminism, race and queer theory. Explores representations of femininity, masculinity and androgyny and their reinforcement and challenge to gender-identity norms. Cross-listed with HUMN 5720, HUMN 4720, IDST 5720, WGST 4720, WGST 5720.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
IDST 4770 - Viewing Empire: The Art of Imperial and Colonial Propaganda (3 Credits)
Western empires disseminate political, social, economic & cultural practices through complex interplay of cultural practices. Visual production is a complex site for meaning making within imperialism. Examines how visual discourses operated to create meaning for audiences, through focus on postcolonial critique. Cross-listed with SJUS 4770, SJUS 5770, HUMN 4770, HUMN 5770, IDST 5770, SSCI 4770, SSCI 5770, WGST 5770, WGST 4770.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Religious Studies (RLST)
RLST 1610 - Introduction to Religious Studies (3 Credits)
Religion is a complex phenomenon which involves social norms, beliefs and fears, and overarching world view. Religious experiences are among the most profound an individual can have. The course examines religious phenomena from various perspectives, including philosophical, historical, psychological, anthropological, political, sociological, the symbolic and ritual. GT: Course is approved by the Colorado Dept of Higher Education for statewide guaranteed transfer, GT-AH3
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Additional Information: Denver Core Requirement, Humanities; GT courses GT Pathways, GT-AH3, Arts Hum: Ways of Thinking.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
RLST 2660 - World Religions (3 Credits)
Provides an introduction to the basic beliefs and concepts of the world's great religious traditions. Covers the history, development, belief patterns, and institutional forms of the world's religions, including Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Shintoism. GT: Course is approved by the Colorado Dept of Higher Education for statewide guaranteed transfer, GT-AH3
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Additional Information: Denver Core Requirement, Humanities; GT courses GT Pathways, GT-AH3, Arts Hum: Ways of Thinking.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
RLST 2680 - The American Indian Experience (3 Credits)
Surveys the relationships between Indian and non-Indian peoples, particularly in the context of the unique interaction between tribes and the federal government. Cross-listed with ETST 2606.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 2700 - The Bible as Literature (3 Credits)
Introduces students to biblical literature. Selections from the various genres of writing in Hebrew (history, wisdom, prophecy, literature) are read and discussed, as well as representative sections from the New Testament, including the gospels and the writings of Paul. Cross-listed with ENGL 2520.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 3000 - Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Affinity and Difference (3 Credits)
Judaism, Christianity and Islam have much in common, beginning with their common patriarch Abraham. But there are also elements in each that are unrecognizable from the perspectives of the other two. This course will trace the relationships among the Children of Abraham across history and in today's turbulent world.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 3003 - From Buddha to #BlackLivesMatter: The Past and Future of Nonviolence (3 Credits)
Why is "Nonviolence" central to many of the religious traditions of South Asia? What has nonviolence looked like historically and how has its meaning and practice changed in the modern world? In traditions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, the practice of nonviolence relates to ethics through concepts of "karma" in our actions. This course begins with an investigation of the theories of karma and the roles they play in these traditions' ideas about the self, the other, and the world. We will take a focused look at the way each tradition regards the idea and practice of ahimsa, nonviolence, as both an ethical and personal good. That is, how does each tradition consider what is proper social action and how do they relate it to the attainment of salvation (i.e. moksha, nirvana)? The course puts Indian thought in conversation with western philosophies to question how we might develop a critical vocabulary for the comparative study of ethics. Turning to the modern era, we will examine Gandhi's philosophy and practice of nonviolent action in the anti-colonial struggle for India's independence, as well as how Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King adapted Gandhi's ideas to the struggle for civil rights in the US. Finally, we will examine recent critiques of nonviolence from American philosophers, activists, and communities of color to see ways that nonviolence continues to play a role in rethinking major issues for fostering equality and equity in the US and global contexts, including policing and religious and ethnic nationalism. Cross-listed with ETST 3003, HIST 3003, INTS 3003, PHIL 3003, HIST 5003
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
RLST 3060 - History of Early Christianity (3 Credits)
History of the rise of Christianity and the decline of paganism in the Roman Empire from the birth of Jesus of Nazareth to ca. 500 C.E. Special emphasis on social, historical, legal, and cultural context of Christianity's rise and paganism's decline.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 3100 - Islamic Politics and Culture (3 Credits)
Comprehensive, in-depth study of Islam and Muslims. Islam is viewed as a "way of life" with social, economic, psychological, spiritual, and political implications. Among topics to be examined are: women in Islam, Jihad, fundamentalism, Islamic movements, Islam and the West. Cross-listed with PSCI 4165.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
RLST 3120 - Islamic Traditions (3 Credits)
Examines birth and history of Islam, its evolution from beginning to current trends and issues. Covers core beliefs, practices, differences between Sunni and Shi'a sects, and relationship to other Western religions.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Additional Information: Denver Core Requirement, International Perspectives.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
RLST 3300 - Shamanic Traditions (3 Credits)
Explores shamanic religious traditions across the world. This form of religion, involving spiritism, animism, trance states, and "mind power," is the oldest and most widespread religion in world history. Cross-listed with ETST 3300.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 3410 - Asian Philosophies and Religions (3 Credits)
We in the Western world encounter a vastly different world, a radically different "universe of meaning," when we examine the traditions of the East. Even what we tacitly assume to be "real" is claimed by the Hindus and Buddhists of India to be a grand illusion. The world of China is, again, very different from India. An examination of Tibetan and Japanese religious forms will conclude our study of Asian thought. Cross-listed with PHIL 3410.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Additional Information: Denver Core Requirement, International Perspectives.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
RLST 3486 - Renaissance and Reformation (3 Credits)
Explores the late 13th through middle 17th centuries when European art and culture changed dramatically, and when Europe was torn by explosive ideological conflicts and religious upheaval. Cross-listed with HIST 3486.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
RLST 3500 - Religions of India (3 Credits)
Examines the transcendentalist philosophy of India, which rests at the foundation of the great Eastern religious traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. The Indian ideas of God, the soul, time, the nature of the universe, and its ultimate goal are examined.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
RLST 3660 - Chinese Philosophy and Culture (3 Credits)
China is a fascinating world with its own characteristic orientation to philosophical questions. Chinese thinkers produced the "Flowering of a Hundred Schools of Thought" in the Axial Age, the same period of time in which philosophy was coming to birth in ancient Greece. Covers some of the Chinese schools, including Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, Legalism, Chinese "Logic," and the later schools of Neo-Confucianism, Neo-Taoism, and Chinese Buddhism. Cross-listed with PHIL 3981, PHIL 5981
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 3720 - Religious Narratives (3 Credits)
Investigates the language and structure of religious discourse in Western literature. Welcomes interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives with a focus on cultural constructions of the sacred. Cross-listed with ENGL 3520.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 3740 - Biblical Traditions: Old Testament (3 Credits)
Investigates the history and nature of the Biblical text. Follows the tradition of critical scholarship beginning in the Enlightenment era and continued down to the present day, sometimes entitled "Secular Humanism." Topics include theories of authorship of the Torah, its general nature and content; the historical books of the Bible, the Prophets, and the Wisdom Literature.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 3760 - Biblical Studies: New Testament (3 Credits)
Examines the books of the New Testament from a scholarly, historical-critical perspective, which views it as a historically and culturally conditioned text, reflecting the beliefs and attitudes of the authors who produced it. The course covers the canonical gospels, letters, and other writings of the New Testament.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 3770 - Archaeological Discoveries Relating to the Bible (3 Credits)
Examines the revolutionary impact of archaeology on Biblical Studies. Among these discoveries are Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Canaanite texts, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Gnostic texts. Through these investigations, the Bible will be placed in its appropriate historical, literary and cultural context.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 3800 - Spirituality and Ecology in Global Societies (3 Credits)
This course will examine the historical and contemporary attitudes and actions of religion in responding to the societal impacts of environmental concerns. We will investigate four worldviews in particular: indigenous traditions, Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism, and also consider how these traditions interact with public policy debates and their position on social justice and environmental issues. Religions both create and mitigate conflict. This course will consider ethical and moral approaches, philosophical principles and social movements including ecofeminism and ethics to provide tools for dialogue and critical thinking around ecological challenges.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Additional Information: Denver Core Requirement, Social Sciences.
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 4000 - Religion and Cultural Diversity (3 Credits)
Religion is one of the key elements which creates multiculturalism. This course explores issues in religion and religious identity in contemporary America, including Native American spiritual traditions, Jewish-American traditions, Muslim-American traditions, Asian-American traditions, the African-American Pentecostal movement, and the growth of the Black Muslim movement. Attention is also given to the question of gender issues, as the traditional model for gender roles was formulated, in part, from a religious basis.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Additional Information: Denver Core Requirement, Cultural Diversity.
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 4002 - Race, Gender and Religious Nationalisms in Asia and the US (3 Credits)
This course investigates ideologies and practices of race, caste, ethnicity, and gender at the foundations of several contemporary religious nationalist movements in Asia and the US. The course focuses first on the ways that religious ideologies and practices of gender help to define and police the borders of race, caste, and ethnicity as social identities. We will examine how these ideologies emerge in religious texts and how they have been challenged in literature and practice, both historically and in the modern era, while privileging the works, voices, and perspectives of women and queer caste-oppressed and racialized philosophers, activists, and thinkers. The course then seeks to give students conceptual and theoretical foundations to understand the relationship between race/caste/ethnicity and gender in religious nationalisms, while presenting case studies from Asia and the US to reflect on and challenge these models. Students will have the opportunity to conduct further research into these issues in Asia, the US, and other parts of the world. Cross-listed with HIST 4002, CHIN 4002, ETST 4002, INTS 4002, and HIST 5002.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
RLST 4010 - Comparative Religious Systems (3 Credits)
A cross-cultural analysis of religious belief and behavior. Emphasis is placed on religions found among non-Western cultural groups and includes consideration of how major religions of the world are manifested on local levels. Cross-listed with ANTH 4130, 5130, RLST 5010.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 4020 - Sociology of Religion (3 Credits)
This course introduces students to the nature and functions of religion in society, emphasizing western religions in the U.S. Students will develop and apply an understanding of classic and modern sociological theories of religion to current events and disciplinary developments. Cross-listed with SOCY 4610, SOCY 5610, RLST 5020.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Prereq: junior standing or higher
Typically Offered: Fall.
RLST 4030 - Race, Religion and Belonging in the United States (3 Credits)
Race/ethnicity and religion are conconstitutive social and cultural formations that have played a fundamental part in determining the boundaries of belonging of the United States. In this course, students will interrogate when, why and how race/ethnicity and religion have been used to delineate borders, determine citizenship, navigate legal classifications, dictate social mobility, and regulate economic possibilities. We will analyze both primary sources ‐such as sermons, reality TV shows, court cases and graphic images‐as well as scholarly writing to explore how formations of race and religion have shaped notions of belonging in the US nation‐state, thereby constructing the boundaries of the state itself. Cross-listed with ETST 4030, ETST 5030, RLST 5030, HIST 4209 and HIST 5029.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 4040 - Psychology of Religion (3 Credits)
Examines the theories developed by some of the great names in the field of psychology and their approaches to religion. Questions addressed include why people become religious, how religion functions in their lives, religious experience and assessment of the validity of religious claims. Key theorists studied include: William James, Sigmund Freud, Carl G. Jung, Abraham Maslow and Erich Fromm. Cross-listed with RLST 5040.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 4060 - Questioning Religious Belief and Practice: Introduction to Philosophy of Religion (3 Credits)
Does God exist? Can the existence of God be proved? When is believing on faith acceptable? How or why is there a “problem of evil”? What are the attributes of a "god" and how can they be known, if at all? What is the relation of God to the world we experience? How does morality relate to religious belief and practice? The goal of the course is to broaden and deepen our understanding of key philosophical debates within religious traditions as we study prominent thinkers in the history of philosophy. Cross-listed with HUMN 5600, PHIL 4600, PHIL 5600, RLST 5060, and SSCI 5600.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Summer.
RLST 4070 - Western Religious Thought (3 Credits)
Focuses on philosophers and theologians who have contributed to the evolution of the three great religious traditions of the West: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Targets thinkers from three periods: the ancient or formative era, the medieval era, and the contemporary era. Note: Specific philosophers chosen may vary in different semesters. Cross-listed with PHIL 4710.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 4080 - Eastern Religious Thought (3 Credits)
Parallels the course in Western religious thought. The great religious traditions of the East, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, are examined as they are presented in the writings of key philosophical representatives of each tradition. Cross-listed with PHIL 4720.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 4100 - Special Topics in Religion (3 Credits)
This special topics course allows for a variety of subjects to be explored in different semesters, including such issues as the nature of religious experience, communication with the divine, specific historical themes and events in religion. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 4152 - Religion & Communication (3 Credits)
This course focuses on the dynamics between religion, culture, and communication and how these have led to intercultural peace, centuries of war, and/or different visions of belonging. This class addresses these dynamics to improve intercultural dialogue and conflict resolution processes, foregrounding the search for justice. Cross-listed with INTS 4152, COMM 4152, COMM 5152, INTS 5152, and RLST 5152.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 4160 - Mysticism (3 Credits)
Explores the mystical strains within the world's great religious traditions. Jewish, Christian, and Islamic mystics did not always express the same beliefs and attitudes as mainstream adherents. When mystics are placed side-by-side, amazing similarities appear. One cannot always tell whether a given mystical statement is Hindu, Jewish, Sufi, or Christian. This class examines these mystical traditions, East and West. Cross-listed with RLST 5160.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 4300 - Myth and Symbol (3 Credits)
Approaches the field of classical Greek mythology and religion from the perspective of Jungian archetypal theory. The deities of the ancient Greeks are presented as archetypal patterns with universal correlates elsewhere in world religions. A foundation in C. G. Jung's archetypal theory will be offered to ground the course material. Cross-listed with RLST 5300.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 4320 - Spirituality in the Modern World (3 Credits)
Examines the issue of spiritual currents in the modern world. Joseph Campbell claimed that Western culture long ago lost an active sense of the sacred and that the traditional religions have not been the spiritual center for the vast majority of moderns for centuries. This class looks at the modern spiritual awakening in Shamanism, Eastern thought, the New Age movement, the men's movement, paganism and Goddess religion, and the revival of traditional religious forms in recent decades.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 4340 - The Hero's Journey (3 Credits)
The myth of the hero's journey serves as a metaphor for the vicissitudes life puts each of us through. The hero or hera represents the ego-self who undertakes the journey--a grand adventure into the realm of the unknown--to seek the treasure. He or she is greatly transformed by the process, ultimately into the great self, who wins the boon to share with all humanity. Versions of the story are found all over the world, such as in the sagas of Gilgamesh, Odysseus, Psyche, King Arthur, Dorothy of Oz, and Luke Skywalker from a galaxy far, far, away.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 4360 - Freudian and Jungian Perspectives in Dream Analysis (3 Credits)
Focuses on the phenomenon of dreams in a way that differs distinctly from the traditional approach to the subject in the field of psychology. "Spiritual" approaches to dreams are examined, as well as some major theorists on dreams, especially the work of Sigmund Freud and C. G. Jung. Cross-listed with RLST 5360.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
RLST 4400 - Differing Concepts of God (3 Credits)
God, Gods, and Goddesses have been imagined in many different modes, forms, aspects, and guises throughout human history. This course investigates Paleolithic models of God, the Great Goddess of the Neolithic era, the Gods of mythological traditions, Biblical God, the abstract God of the philosophers, the God of the pantheists, the deists, and the God of the mystics. Cross-listed with RLST 5400, PHIL 4650 and 5655.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
RLST 4420 - Goddess Traditions (3 Credits)
Explores the many forms which Goddesses have assumed through history, including the Neolithic Great Mother and her heiresses in the ancient Mediterranean cultures, such as: Isis, Ishtar, Demeter, Hecate, Aphrodite, Artemis, Athena and others, and their parallels in India. Goddess traditions have encompassed a full spectrum from virgins to Great Mothers to dark underworld Goddesses of death and destruction. Cross-listed with RLST 5420 and WGST 4420/5420.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 4440 - Concepts of the Soul (3 Credits)
Asks the questions: What is the nature of the human being? What makes us "human?" Do humans have a "soul?" What is its nature? Is it different from the "spirit?" What is its ultimate fate? Examines the various theories put forward by philosophers of both Eastern and Western traditions. Cross-listed with RLST 5440 and PHIL 4470, 5470.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 4460 - Death and Concepts of Afterlife (3 Credits)
Examines how the major religious traditions approach the issue of death. Where the Egyptians were fascinated by death, their Mesopotamian and Hebrew neighbors saw no kind of experience continuing after death. Concepts of the Final Judgment Day and the end of the world follow in Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam, while Indian religions developed a sophisticated theory of reincarnation and the "art of dying." Finally, we will turn to Chinese belief in ancestral spirits. Cross-listed with RLST 5460.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
RLST 4462 - Islam in Modern History (3 Credits)
RLST 4480 - Perspectives on Good and Evil (3 Credits)
Examines the "problem of evil" as formulated in the philosophical tradition. Presents classical formulation of the problem, traditional solutions & classical critiques of each answer. Considers perspectives of various religious orientations, which deal differently with the question of suffering. Cross-listed with PHIL 4480, RLST 5480
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
RLST 4500 - Religion and Politics (3 Credits)
Exploration of: (1) theoretical perspectives on the relationship between religion and politics; (2) causes of and justifications for the historical development of the Western separation of "church and state;" (3) contemporary responses to and analyses of this separation; and (4) several current debates about public policy in America that reveal tensions between these two spheres. Cross-listed with PSCI 4057, 5057 and RLST 5500.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 4710 - Women and Religion (3 Credits)
A sociological exploration of the contemporary roles of women in religion. Course examines American and world religious groups with an eye to women's involvement. Considers how women have changed these traditions as they take on leadership roles and discusses the tensions that arise within these traditions as a result of their expanded participation. Cross-listed with HUMN 5710, SSCI 4710/5710, WGST 4710/5710, RLST 5710.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 4730 - Whores and Saints: Medieval Women (3 Credits)
Studies how women are presented in texts, as well as works by women. Investigates the roles open to women and societal attitudes toward women, who were considered seductresses, saints, scholars and warriors in the middle ages. This course assumes that students have completed at least 9 hours of literature coursework. Cross-listed with ENGL 4510/5510, RLST 5730 and WGST 4510/5510.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
RLST 4840 - Independent Study: RLST (1-3 Credits)
Various topics in religious studies pursued in independent research. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
RLST 4850 - Family Systems Therapy, Religion and Spirituality (3 Credits)
This course examines how the intersection between different religious and spiritual frameworks affects family systems. A strengths-based ecological perspective, family therapy theories and family systems theories will be used to understand religious and spiritual frameworks in working with families in schools and communities. Cross-listed with HDFR 4850.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
RLST 4880 - Directed Research (1-6 Credits)
Students will engage in original research projects supervised and mentored by faculty. Students must work with faculty prior to registration to develop a proposal for their project and receive permission to take this course. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Social Justice (SJUS)
SJUS 2000 - Foundations in Social Justice (3 Credits)
Examines how well the United States, Colorado and Denver are doing in addressing issues of social justice, such as inequality and environmental degradation. Explores various modes of democratic participation -- electoral politics, community activism, and lifestyle changes -- in advancing social justice. GT: Course is approved by the Colorado Dept of Higher Education for statewide guaranteed transfer, GT-SS1
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Additional Information: Denver Core Requirement, Social Sciences; GT courses GT Pathways, GT-SS1, Soc Behav Sci:Econ or Pol.
Typically Offered: Fall.
SJUS 2010 - Social Justice: Theories, Narratives, and Technologies (3 Credits)
How can citizens of a democracy address social justice issues? This course examines theoretical perspectives relevant to social justice, the narratives which express and question social order, and the technologies which alternately shape and reflect local, regional, and global cultures.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
SJUS 3050 - Special Topics: Social Justice (1-3 Credits)
Special Topics in Social Justice will be covered. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
SJUS 3939 - Internship (1-12 Credits)
Internship/experiential learning involving work in the community that is centered upon social justice and which includes a reflective component and some type of public dissemination.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.
Prereq: Junior standing or higher and at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
SJUS 4000 - Social Justice Capstone (3 Credits)
Students design and carry out research projects that address important civic issues in collaboration with community partners and present their findings to the partners and academic community. This course also involves reflection on social justice means and goals. Note: Students may not receive credit for SJUS 4000 if they have already received credit for SJUS 4001 and may not receive credit for SJUS 4001 if they have already received credit for SJUS 4000.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Additional Information: Upper Division; Credit.
SJUS 4001 - Social Justice Senior Project (3 Credits)
Students design and carry out research projects that address important civic issues in collaboration with community partners and present their findings to the partners and academic community. This course also involves reflection on social justice means and goals. This is an individually structured version of SJUS 4000 so students may not receive credit for SJUS 4001 if they have already received credit for SJUS 4000 and may not receive credit for SJUS 4000 if they have already received credit for SJUS 4001. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
SJUS 4050 - Special Topics: Social Justice (3 Credits)
Special Topics in Social Justice will be covered. Cross-listed with SJUS 5050. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.
SJUS 4100 - Social Justice Today (3 Credits)
This course aims to provide an interdisciplinary basis in social justice. Students will develop interdisciplinary knowledge of the systems that contribute to a number of today’s social disparities. Centering on young adults and children as both activists and a population that merits attention socio-politically and economically, we’ll frame our study with contemporary social justice theory and a practical exploration of some of the most creative and effective justice initiatives of our day. Equity and rights-based questions on diverse communities, social access, disability studies, and the environment form the context of our inquiry into today’s voices on equity and resistance. In a planning-intensive manner, students work on the final project in stages while also cultivating wellness awareness. Cross-listed with IDST 4100, IDST 5100, SJUS 5100, HUMN 4100, HUMN 5100, SSCI 4100, SSCI 5100.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
SJUS 4770 - Viewing Empire: The Art of Imperial and Colonial Propaganda (3 Credits)
Western empires disseminate political, social, economic & cultural practices through complex interplay of cultural practices. Visual production is a complex site for meaning making within imperialism. Examines how visual discourses operated to create meaning for audiences, through focus on postcolonial critique. Cross-listed with HUMN 4770, SSCI 4770, WGST 4770, HUMN 5770, SJUS 5770, SSCI 5770, WGST 5770, IDST 4770, IDST 5770.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
SJUS 4840 - Independent Study (3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
SJUS 4880 - Directed Research (1-6 Credits)
Students will engage in original research projects supervised and mentored by faculty. Students must work with faculty prior to registration to develop a proposal for their project and receive permission to take this course. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Social Sciences (SSCI)
SSCI 3939 - Internship (1-12 Credits)
Designed experiences involving application of specific, relevant concepts and skills in supervised employment situations. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.
Prereq: Junior standing or higher and at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
SSCI 4025 - Legal Advocacy/Engagement (3 Credits)
This course is an introduction to litigation practice skills in the context of cutting-edge litigation to create social change. Students will participate in mock litigation activities including conducting legal research, writing briefs, deposing witnesses, and making oral argument. The course will assist students in understanding basic legal advocacy while exploring the ways in which the legal system facilitates or stymies social change. The class is designed to be highly interactive, with a strong emphasis on learningby-doing and collaborative problem-solving. It is intended for students with a strong interest in attending law school who are committed to preparing themselves for that experience by working with material that maybe initially unfamiliar or daunting. If students undertake that challenge, they can expect to leave the class better prepared for law school and knowledgeable about how law is used to achieve social change. Note: Law Studies students should take this course as one of the last courses for the minor.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
SSCI 4050 - Special Topics in Law Studies (3-6 Credits)
These topics courses are concerned with specialized aspects of the study of law within the social sciences from various theoretical and research perspectives. These courses are interdisciplinary and serve as a forum for discussion specific to students interested in law studies. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
SSCI 4060 - Topics in Law Studies: Constitutional Thought (3-6 Credits)
These topics courses are concerned with specialized aspects of the study of constitutional thought as related to law studies. These courses are interdisciplinary and serve as a forum for discussion specific to students interested in law studies. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
SSCI 4070 - Topics in Law Studies: Social Context of Law (3-6 Credits)
These topics courses are concerned with specialized aspects of the study of the social context of law. These courses are interdisciplinary and serve as a forum for discussion specific to students interested in law studies. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
SSCI 4100 - Social Justice Today (3 Credits)
This course aims to provide an interdisciplinary basis in social justice. Students will develop interdisciplinary knowledge of the systems that contribute to a number of today’s social disparities. Centering on young adults and children as both activists and a population that merits attention socio-politically and economically, we’ll frame our study with contemporary social justice theory and a practical exploration of some of the most creative and effective justice initiatives of our day. Equity and rights-based questions on diverse communities, social access, disability studies, and the environment form the context of our inquiry into today’s voices on equity and resistance. In a planning-intensive manner, students work on the final project in stages while also cultivating wellness awareness. Cross-listed with IDST 4100, IDST 5100, SJUS 4100, SJUS 5100, HUMN 4100, HUMN 5100, SSCI 5100.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
SSCI 4251 - Introduction to Legal Studies (3 Credits)
A survey of the United States legal system, including lawmaking powers, jurisdiction, court procedures, professional ethics and major principles of business law, contracts, estates and probate, family law, property and torts. Cross-listed with HUMN 4251/HUMN 5251/SSCI 5251.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
SSCI 4325 - First Amendment: Theory and Context (3 Credits)
First Amendment jurisprudence including free speech/responsibility, sedition/seditious libel/dissent, prior restraints, time/place/manner restrictions, hate/intimidating speech, defamation, privacy/security tensions, intellectual property/public good, advertising, corporate speech, sexual expression, and public status of religion. Cross-listed with HUMN 4325, HUMN 5325, SSCI 5325, PSCI 4325 and PSCI 5325.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
SSCI 4770 - Viewing Empire: The Art of Imperial and Colonial Propaganda (3 Credits)
Western empires disseminate political, social, economic & cultural practices through complex interplay of cultural practices. Visual production is a complex site for meaning making within imperialism. Examines how visual discourses operated to create meaning for audiences, through focus on postcolonial critique. Cross-listed with HUMN 4770, HUMN 5770, IDST 5770, IDST 4770, SSCI 5770, WGST 5770, WGST 4770, SJUS 4770, SJUS 5770.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
SSCI 4840 - Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Directed study based on a specific subfield of social sciences. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
SSCI 4880 - Directed Research (1-6 Credits)
Students will engage in original research projects supervised and mentored by faculty. Students must work with faculty prior to registration to develop a proposal for their project and receive permission to take this course. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Sustainability (SUST)
SUST 3010 - Sustainability: Past, Present, and Future (3 Credits)
This course draws on theoretical perspectives to critically analyze contemporary environmental issues across ecological, sociocultural, historical, political and economic contexts.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
SUST 3011 - Toward a Sustainable Future (3 Credits)
This is the second of a two-course sequence that examines the interrelations among the historical, political, cultural, ecological, and economic aspects of contemporary environmental issues. SUST II provides students with theoretical perspectives on sustainability through a series of current, problem-oriented case studies. Note: this course assumes that students have completed 1 Natural Science Core course and 1 Social Science Core course.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
SUST 3840 - Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
SUST 3939 - Internship (1-3 Credits)
This course will provide internships with agencies, businesses and programs involved in initiatives aimed at promoting a sustainable future. Internships could include work with concerns involved in addressing specific environmental issues or with projects aimed at raising awareness of issues related to sustainability. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.
Prereq: Junior standing or higher and at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
SUST 4840 - Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
SUST 4880 - Directed Research (1-6 Credits)
Students will engage in original research projects supervised and mentored by faculty. Students must work with faculty prior to registration to develop a proposal for their project and receive permission to take this course. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
SUST 4960 - Capstone in Sustainability (3 Credits)
As the culmination of the Sustainability Minor, this course examines current research practices in sustainability and sustainability-related fields. Students work in teams to complete a sustainability/sustainability-related research paper and poster and present it to the campus community. Note: Topics variable depending on region under study, student interest, and faculty specialty.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Prereq: SUST 3011
Typically Offered: Fall.
SUST 4995 - Global Study Topics (1-9 Credits)
This course is reserved for CU Denver faculty-led study abroad experiences. The course topic will vary based on the location and course content. Students register through the Office of Global Education. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
Women's and Gender Studies (WGST)
WGST 1050 - Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies (3 Credits)
This course provides an introduction to key concepts, themes and approaches to the interdisciplinary field of women's and gender studies.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 1111 - First Year Seminar (3 Credits)
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Freshman level students
WGST 2900 - Smart Girl Leadership Training and Practicum (3 Credits)
Provides leadership and mentoring training, and a practicum in which UCD students mentor teenagers in their community or school settings. Following completion of the training, students work as near-peer mentors and coaches with groups of teenage girls in the Denver community and apply the skills learned in their training. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
WGST 3010 - Sociology of Human Sexuality (3 Credits)
Increases the understanding of differences in views of sexuality, specifically the link between sex and reproduction and its role as the motivation for gender roles and sex acts. Explores the history of sexuality, cross-cultural studies and primate modeling. Cross-listed with SOCY 3010.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 3020 - Gender, Sexuality and Race in American Popular Culture (3 Credits)
This course explores the impact of popular culture on the lived experience of diverse women and men in America. Students will examine how cultural media (including film, television, print ads, music & digital games) can both reproduce and challenge existing structural inequalities.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Additional Information: Denver Core Requirement, Cultural Diversity.
WGST 3080 - Sex and Gender (3 Credits)
Causes and consequences of sex role differentiation at the individual, group and societal levels. Current issues related to changing norms and values concerning gender in modern society are examined. Cross-listed with SOCY 3080.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 3343 - Women & Gender in US History (3 Credits)
This course will explore women and gender as drivers of US history. From politics to popular culture, jobs to sexual empowerment, civil rights to economic restructuring, we will use gender as a lens to re-envision familiar stories about American history. Cross-listed with WGST 5343, HIST 3343, and HIST 5343.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 3450 - Contemporary Women Writers (3 Credits)
Examines how women write about a specific theme, such as home, work, family, the "other," as well as how women's writing may differ from men's. Theme and genre vary. Cross-listed with ENGL 3450.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Sophomore standing or higher.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
WGST 3700 - Families and Society (3 Credits)
This course explores multiple dimensions of family as a social institution. Using a critical approach, we examine historical, cultural, and political views about families. We consider multiple forms of contemporary families, discuss the many issues facing families, and study how families and family life have become politicized. Cross-listed with SOCY 3700.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 3840 - Independent Study: WGST (1-3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
WGST 3939 - Internship (1-3 Credits)
Designed experiences involving application of specific, relevant concepts and skills in supervised employment situations. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
Prereq: Junior standing or higher and at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA
WGST 4010 - Special Topics in Women's and Gender Studies (1-3 Credits)
Examines current topics in the field of Women’s studies and Gender studies. Topics vary from term to term. May be repeated as long as the topic is distinct and different from courses student has already received credit for. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
WGST 4150 - Gender Politics in the Middle East: Beyond Orientalism & Islamism (3 Credits)
This course is about Middle Eastern women’s subjectivity and various forms of agency. It explores the nexus of domestic, regional and international forces that shapes the lives of Middle Eastern women, in particular in the Algerian, Egyptian, Iranian, Israeli and Palestinian contexts. Far from being silent observers of the contests among these forces, as is often assumed, Middle Eastern women have been active actors in the public arena since the 19th century colonial encounter and the importation of the modern state to the region using an array of means to make their voices heard. Theirs were often more militant than those of their countrymen.
The course is divided into two parts. The first part provides an overview of the theoretical notions discussed such as Orientalism, agency, colonialism and post-colonialism. Related to this theoretical section is a historical overview that is necessary to the understanding of the contemporary conditions of Middle Eastern women and the continuities and changes
between past and present. The second part covers pressing topics in the lives of Middle Eastern women in the post-independence era such as the rise of Political Islam, the global trend of democratization, war and occupation. The emphasis in this section is on women as active participants in the debates surrounding these issues, rather than as objects of them.
The readings assigned include both texts written by scholars from the region and by others from without. They provide analyses of the contexts within which Middle Eastern women’s struggles take place. In addition, students will be exposed to materials produced by Middle Eastern women activists that express their own opinions and views in order to avoid misrepresentation and to reflect the diversity among them. Cross-listed with PSCI 4150.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4215 - Women's Rights, Human Rights: Global Perspectives (3 Credits)
Explores the global feminist movement's campaign to "engender" human rights. Examination of women's human-rights issues and the critique of this campaign as representing cultural imperialism. Cross-listed with PSCI 4215.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4225 - Urban America (3 Credits)
This course will explore how Americans experienced their rapidly growing and changing cities during the past two hundred years. This course will cover a wide range of urban themes, including segregation and gentrification, self-invention and policing, ethnic gangs and race riots, skyscrapers and suburbia, and commercial sex and Hollywood. The course will ultimately chart how a range of Americans - including immigrants, teenagers, laborers, women, LGBTQ+ people, and people of color – all fought for their own "right to the city". Cross-listed with HIST 4225, HIST 5225, WGST 5225, GEOG 4625.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4230 - Women in the West (3 Credits)
Focuses on ways in which women, from the mid-19th century through the mid-20th century, of different races, classes, and ethnic background, have interacted and been active participants in the development of the western states. Cross-listed with HIST 4230, HIST 5230 and WGST 5230.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4248 - Gender, Development and Globalization (3 Credits)
Examining the cost and impact of globalization; not only on women and gender but economic equality, human movement and displacement, sustainable development and the environment. Highlighting the complexities of a highly interconnected world and intersectional nature of a globalized world, answering the question: Who Wins? Who Loses? Cross-listed with PSCI 4248, PSCI 5245 and WGST 5248.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4270 - Social Meanings of Reproduction (3 Credits)
Reproduction involves more than biological processes, assuming symbolic, political, and ideological meanings. This course examines contested meanings of reproduction, including how people experience reproduction, controversies over who should reproduce (and under what circumstances), and how public policy mediates these conflicts. Cross-listed with SOCY 4270, SOCY 5270 and WGST 5270.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Prereq: junior standing or higher
WGST 4303 - Sex and Gender in Modern Britain (3 Credits)
Examines modern British history by focusing on sex and gender as central aspects in people's lives. Considers the ways gender shapes the realms of politics, economics, society and culture in Britain from the 18th century to the present. Cross-listed with HIST 4303/5303 and WGST 5303.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4305 - Women of Color Feminisms (3 Credits)
This course is an overview of women of color feminist theorizing (thinking) and praxis (practice) in the U.S. We will explore these feminisms through the writing, art, and organizing efforts of women and trans, femme, and non-binary people of color with a focus on key themes and concepts including identity, difference, oppression, intersectionality, representation, violence, resistance, empowerment, solidarity, and coalition. Texts for the course highlight key issues in the feminist theorizing and praxis of Black, Latina/x, Chicana/x, Asian (American), Pacific Islander, Indigenous, and Arab (American) women and trans, femme, and non-binary people of color, especially the politics of identity and representation; structural oppressions and violences; and practices of survival, resistance, and activism. Not only will we examine how these feminists have critiqued oppression(s) based on race, class, gender, sexuality, nationality, and religion, (as well as how these systems of domination intersect), but what kinds of approaches, strategies, and changes these thinkers and activists have organized for and promoted. Cross-listed with WGST 5305, ETST 4305 and ETST 5305.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
WGST 4306 - Survey of Feminist Thought (3 Credits)
Examines changes and continuities in feminist thought from the 18th century to the present, using historical and literary materials. Explores the ways that women's characteristics, experiences, and capabilities have been understood and challenged. Cross-listed with ENGL 4306, 5306, HIST 4306, 5306, WGST 5306.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4307 - History of Sexuality (3 Credits)
Explores the relationships between gender and norms, sexual practice, and ideas about sexuality in Europe and the United States. Examines how sex and sexuality have changed over time and how those changes relate to social, cultural, political and economic history. Cross-listed with HIST 4307/5307 and WGST 5307.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4308 - Contemporary Feminist Thought (3 Credits)
This course explores contemporary feminist thought in philosophy and literature in the 20th and 21st centuries. Topics include lesbianism, black feminism, Chicana feminism, transgender identity, women and work and others. Cross-listed with ENGL 4308, ENGL 5308, PHIL 4308, PHIL 5308, WGST 5308.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
WGST 4345 - Gender, Science, and Medicine: 1600 to the Present (3 Credits)
Examines the ways science and medicine have both shaped and been shaped by ideas about gender. Pays particular attention to the relationship between scientific/medical ideas about the sexes and the social organization of gender. Cross-listed with HIST 4345/5345 and WGST 5345.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4420 - Goddess Traditions (3 Credits)
Explores the many forms which Goddesses have assumed through history, including the Neolithic Great Mother and her heiresses in the ancient Mediterranean cultures, such as: Isis, Ishtar, Demeter, Hecate, Aphrodite, Artemis, Athena and others, and their parallels in India. Goddess traditions have encompassed a full spectrum from virgins to Great Mothers to dark underworld Goddesses of death and destruction. Cross-listed with RLST 4420/5420 and WGST 5420.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
WGST 4494 - Red and Blue America: U.S. History, 1973-Present (3 Credits)
This course explores American history during a period of immense cultural and political polarization. After 1973, the United States experienced the rise of the New Right, changing attitudes towards sexual "permissiveness," and rapid advancements in technology. Both "law-and-order" politics and the rights campaigns led by immigrants, women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ peoples all reshaped democracy. These developments in the United States, meanwhile, influenced and were shaped by the nation's "hot" and "cold" conflicts in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the rest of the globe. Cross-listed with WGST 5494, HIST 4494, and HIST 5494.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
WGST 4500 - Feminist Philosophy (3 Credits)
Seminar on key debates & figures in historical & contemporary feminist philosophy. Topics may include: rights, embodiment, gender, sexuality, race, reason, & violence. Figures may include: Wollstonecraft, Stanton, Beauvoir, Judith Butler, and bell hooks. Cross-listed with WGST 5500, PHIL 4500 & 5500.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4510 - Whores and Saints: Medieval Women (3 Credits)
Studies how women are presented in texts, as well as works by women. Investigates the roles open to women and societal attitudes toward women, who were considered seductresses, saints, scholars and warriors in the middle ages. Cross-listed with ENGL 4510/5510, RLST 4730/5730 and WGST 5510.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
WGST 4511 - French Women Writers (3 Credits)
Designed to explore writings by French and Francophone women from the Middle Ages to the present. Addresses the question of what it means to be a woman and want to write. The selections include a wide variety of genres: autobiographical writings, stories, poems, manifestos, letters, political and historical documents. Note: This course assumes that students have passed FREN 3112 or 3122 or an equivalent course, plus one other 3000 level course in French. Cross-listed with FREN 4510/5510 and WGST 5511.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4540 - Race, Class, and Gender in Spanish Golden Age Literature (3 Credits)
Explores works of various genres in relation to their social and political contexts in 16th and 17th century Spain, emphasizing the cultural attitudes toward race, class, and gender that inform them. Cross-listed with SPAN 4340/5340 and WGST 5540.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Prereq or Coreq: SPAN 3101
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
WGST 4555 - International Women's Resistance (3 Credits)
WGST 4564 - Gender and Politics (3 Credits)
Analysis of the political experience of women and of strategies for change. Emphasis on the U.S. Cross-listed with PSCI 4564.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4610 - Communication, Media, and Sex (3 Credits)
This class develops the tools to think critically about representations of sexuality and to understand the social construction of sexuality, the role of sexual representations in mass media and society, and the complex relationships between sexual acts, identities, and desires. Cross-listed with COMM 4610.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Prereq: junior standing or higher
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
WGST 4660 - Queer Media Studies (3 Credits)
Queer Media Studies, a discussion-based seminar, investigates the history of a variety of LGBTQ+ media — including news, film, television, comics, games, music, and the Internet. Students engage in a variety of media projects to explore LGBTQ+ histories, queer aspects of media production, reception, and media messages. Cross-listed with COMM 4660, COMM 5660, WGST 5660.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Prereq: junior standing or higher
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
WGST 4710 - Women and Religion (3 Credits)
A sociological exploration of the contemporary roles of women in religion. Course examines American and world religious groups with an eye to women's involvement. Considers how women have changed these traditions as they take on leadership roles and discusses the tensions that arise within these traditions as a result of their expanded participation. Cross-listed with HUMN 5710, SSCI 4710/5710, WGST 5710, RLST 4710/5710.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4720 - Sex, Gender, and Visual Representation (3 Credits)
Studies sexuality, gender and identity representation from classical antiquity through the present in the visual arts. Uses the literature of visuality, feminism, race and queer theory. Explores representations of femininity, masculinity and androgyny and their reinforcement and challenge to gender-identity norms. Cross-listed with HUMN 5720, HUMN 4720, IDST 5720, IDST 4720, WGST 5720.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4770 - Viewing Empire: The Art of Imperial and Colonial Propaganda (3 Credits)
Western empires disseminate political, social, economic & cultural practices through complex interplay of cultural practices. Visual production is a complex site for meaning making within imperialism. Examines how visual discourses operated to create meaning for audiences, through focus on postcolonial critique. Cross-listed with HUMN 4770, HUMN 5770, IDST 5770, IDST 4770, SSCI 5770, SSCI 4770, WGST 5770, SJUS 4770, SJUS 5770.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
WGST 4780 - Violence in Relationships (3 Credits)
Course focuses on the study of violence among individuals involved in intimate relationships; factors in society such as norms, laws and institutions that are related to creating violence among intimates; and social policies, prevention, intervention and treatment programs. Cross-listed with SOCY 4780, SOCY 5780 and WGST 5780.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Prereq: junior standing or higher
WGST 4827 - Women and the Law (3 Credits)
Examines the role of the courts in the development of public policy toward women; how the legal system affects the economic power, family roles, safety and political participation of women. Cross-listed with PSCI 4827 and ETST 4827.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
WGST 4840 - Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.
WGST 4880 - Directed Research (1-6 Credits)
Students will engage in original research projects supervised and mentored by faculty. Students must work with faculty prior to registration to develop a proposal for their project and receive permission to take this course. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Repeatable.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
WGST 4933 - Philosophy of Eros (3 Credits)
What does it mean to understand philosophy as an erotic activity? This question will be examined, first by studying Plato's dialogues-such as Lysis, Symposium and Republic-and then by reading texts from Sigmund Freud, Michael Foucault and others. Cross-listed with PHIL 4933/5933, WGST 5933, SSCI 5933 and HUMN 5933.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade