Students may select an optional minor subject of specialization to complement their major field. Both the major and the minor will be recorded on the student’s transcript at graduation. At least three of the upper-division courses required for a minor must be taken at Richmond. For students beginning their studies in Fall 2010 or later, a maximum of three courses only may overlap between a student’s major and any minor.
Minors Planning Form
Minor in Art, Design and Media (18 credits)
two ADM core courses plus four from the ADM menu of which at least three must be of 300 or 400 levels.
Minor in Art History (18 credits)
ARH 103 (3 CREDITS)
Introduction to Art Across Cultures
Focuses on key "moments" of Western and Non-Western art, and interaction between and across cultures. Includes examination of art in antiquity, cultural rediscoveries and cultural interaction (such as the Renaissance); colonialism and the exploration of "new worlds", the impact of European travelers on indigenous artistic practices, constructs of tradition, the primitive and the orient; and the ways in which contact with non-European cultures affected the development of modern European art. The course includes museum visits to introduce students to a wide range of art from antiquity to the present.
COM 231 (3 CREDITS)
Introduction to Visual Culture
This course explores images and representations across cultural and historical contexts: the way meaning and ideologies can be decoded from such cultural artifacts as advertising, photography, cinema, modern art, sculpture, architecture, propaganda and comic books. Through varied examples, it takes an introductory route through some of the most important cultural theories and concepts of the last 100 years. The class is based around lectures and group exercises, coupled with at least one major field trip to a London cultural institution (entrance fee may be required) and guest presentations on specific topics.
Prerequisite: Sophomore status and ENG 215.
ARH 352 (3 CREDITS)
Art in Context
An introduction to major art historical themes, methods, and approaches. Weekly visits to museums, galleries, and exhibitions, with their rich intercultural collections, provide an opportunity for students to test theories put forward in class in front of original art works.
plus three upper-division art history courses (including those offered at the Florence and Rome Study Centres). These courses can include ADM 438 Contemporary Visual Culture I and ADM 448 Contemporary Visual Culture II (9 credits)
Minor in Communications (18 credits)
COM 203 (3 CREDITS)
Introduction to Intercultural Communications
Reflecting strongly the mission of the University, this course provides a theoretical and practical foundation for the degree in Communications. It provides students with a strong sense of their own complex cultural identities before moving on to teach them the theories underlying the study of International Communication. There will be opportunities for practical applications of these theories in case studies, simulations, and project work.
Prerequisite: ENG 215.
COM 316 (3 CREDITS)
Mass Communications and Society
In this course, "mass communications" is taken in its broadest sense to include cinema, television, newspapers, magazines, comics, and the Internet, as well as fahsion and merchandising. "Society" involves the people who engage with those texts, from critical theorists to fans, censors to consumers. The course examines the relationship between texts and the people at various points during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, from various cultural and national perspectives. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to test and debate established theories by bringing them to bear on everyday popular texts.
Prerequisites: COM 203 and COM 231 or equivalent.
COM 401 (3 CREDITS)
Senior Project
A practice-oriented course in which students work together as a group to develop a portfolio for a client outside the University. Students are required to use both their individual technical skills; photographic, journalistic, graphic and their interpersonal communication skills in this capstone course for the communications major.
Prerequisite: Open to senior year students only or by permission of instructor. Study abroad students with a communications background may also enroll.
plus three courses from the Theoretical
and Practical Modules of the Communications Major (9 credits)
Minor in Creative Writing (18 credits)
ENG 270 (3 CREDITS)
Writing from the Creative Impulse
During interactive class sessions, student creative writing is investigated, developed and refined. As part of this process, similarities and differences that exist between academic and creative writing are identified. Through class work that explores the creative impulse and fosters engagement with a variety of texts as a springboard, students are steered through multiple drafts of their work towards the attainment of a professional level of written presentation. Each student creates a portfolio of work during the semester, and this is assessed at the end of the course.
Pre- or co-requisite ENG 115.
ENG 370 (3 CREDITS)
Creative Writing: Towards a Collection
In this writer's workshop students submit examples of their work for critical consideration by the instructor and other members of the class. Impetus is given to the writing tasks through the close reading and discussion of a selection of writing from different genres and cultures. Students identify aspects of poets’ and fictionists’ craft and develop an awareness of narrative structure with which to shape their own projects through a feedback-driven revision process. By the end of the semester, each student will have produced a collection of finished poems and pieces of short fiction.
Pre-requisite ENG 215
plus four of the following courses:
COM 305 (3 CREDITS)
Writing for Media/Journalism
Concentrates on the different styles and registers used in journalism and other media. Particular attention is given to the development of styles for news, features, advertising, and editorial writing and upon the intended audience. Students carry out detailed analysis of newspapers and broadcasts.
Prerequisite: COM 304 or equivalent.
COM 307 (3 CREDITS)
Scriptwriting
Students are guided through the creative processes of writing scenes for the stage, TV, and film. The building of character and plot is examined as well as the industry standard formats for writing in these media. Group and team work is encouraged as well as discussions, critique, and analysis of the narrative techniques used in existing stage plays and films.
Prerequisite: ENG 112.
LIT 322 (3 CREDITS)
The Modern Movement
Studies the major English, Irish and American Modernist Writers and their inter-relationships. The course will study the fictional and poetic techniques of Modernism and their artistic rationale. Among the authors studied will be Yeats, Pound, Eliot, Joyce, Lawrence and Virginia Woolf.
Prerequisite: ENG 215.
LIT 324 (3 CREDITS)
Travel Writing
Exposes students to the scope and the power of modern travel writing. It will endeavor to provide an intellectual framework for the understanding and analysis of this genre and will introduce students to many of the critical texts which will be drawn from Bryson, Raban and Naipaul, among others.
Prerequisite: ENG 215.
LIT 341 (3 CREDITS)
Postcolonial Women’s Writing
Focuses on writing by women from the developing regions who use the richness of the English language from their different cultural vantage points to illuminate a variety of cross-cultural experiences in contemporary societies. The class explores the limitations of Western feminist literary criticism and attempts to establish criteria for analyzing women’s literature from Africa, India and the Caribbean.
Prerequisite: ENG 215.
LIT 343 (3 CREDITS)
Culture, Identity, and Literature
This course exposes students to a variety of literary texts that explore issues relating to cultural identities, hybridity and marginalization. The growing body of cross-cultural and transnational writing, shaped by different ethnic and gendered perspectives, will be studied within theoretical frameworks related to postcolonialism and globalization.
Prerequisite: ENG 215.
LIT 353 (3 CREDITS)
The Reading and Writing of Short Stories
Explores various types of narrative structures and storytelling techniques that are involved in the active reading of fiction. Students will examine different kinds of narratives and consider the theoretical debates produced by them. Although most examples will be drawn from the modern and contemporary short story genre, the use of narratives in other genres, including film, will be included. Students will have the opportunity to write their own story.
Prerequisite: ENG 215.
LIT 356 (3 CREDITS)
The Reading and Writing of Poetry
Investigates various types of sequence of expectation and satisfaction that are involved in the active reading of poetry. Some of the different ways these sequences have been described and theorized will be investigated. Examples will be drawn from poetry in English since the Renaissance. Students will have the opportunity to write poetry.
Prerequisite: ENG 215.
COM 362 (3 CREDITS)
Adaptations: Literature and Cinema
Deals with adaptations from literary texts, in the broad sense – novels, plays and comic books – to cinema and television. It engages with issues around the transition from one medium to another, debating questions of authorship and the relative advantages of different forms. Adaptations are discussed in terms of their historical and cultural contexts, and ‘faithful’ versions contrasted with ‘free’ adaptations which retain the tone and spirit of the original while deviating from the letter of the text.
Prerequisite: At least one Communications course or one Literature course at 200-level or higher.
LIT/HST 425 (3 CREDITS)
Atrocity and Modernism: The Literature and History of 20th Century Europe
Explores the relationship between material change, literary form, politics and ideas. Writers studied include Kafka, Conrad, Eliot, Babel, Akhmatov, Brecht, Camus, Solzhenitsyn and Celan. Topics include technology, anarchism, World War I, Bolshevism, and the Nazi Holocaust. There will also be some consideration of modernism in other art-forms, including video presentations of Starvinsky and Nijinsky's "The Rite of Spring" and Eisenstein's "Battleship Potemkin."
Prerequisite: Senior status.
Minor in Economics (18 credits)
ECN 210 (3 CREDITS)
Introduction to Microeconomics
An introduction to basic economic methodology. Within a framework of supply and demand analysis, the behavior of producers and consumers is examined in the context of the efficient allocation of scarce resources in society.
Prerequisite: MTH 105 or a Math Placement Test result exempting the student from completing MTH 105.
ECN 211 (3 CREDITS)
Introduction to Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics deals with global issues and includes a theoretical study of the national income and its component parts. This basic model is used to examine policy issues and contemporary problems relating to income and employment, inflation, growth and international trade and finance.
plus four economics electives at the
300 level or higher (12 credits)
Minor in Film Studies (18 credits)
COM 231 (3 CREDITS)
Introduction to Visual Culture
This course explores images and representations across cultural and historical contexts: the way meaning and ideologies can be decoded from such cultural artifacts as advertising, photography, cinema, modern art, sculpture, architecture, propaganda and comic books. Through varied examples, it takes an introductory route through some of the most important cultural theories and concepts of the last 100 years. The class is based around lectures and group exercises, coupled with at least one major field trip to a London cultural institution (entrance fee may be required) and guest presentations on specific topics.
Prerequisite: Sophomore status and ENG 215.
ADM 326 (3 CREDITS)
Video Production
A ‘hands-on’ course for students new to video, involving most aspects of production from camera work and sound recording to editing and audio dubbing. The theory and practice of video technology are taught through a series of group exercises and out-of- class assignments. Students also study a range of classic videos and film as a means of understanding the language of the medium.
A studio fee is levied on this course.
ADM 447 (3 CREDITS)
From Script to Screen
Intended for students who have experience of video production and want to expand their knowledge and skills. Students will create and produce a video, starting from the inception of the idea through to the realization of the idea as a finished film to be screened at the end of the course. Focusing on the journey from having an idea for a film through to writing a high spec script, students will learn how drama is represented in the written form, analyze and explore scripts from existing films and other forms of drama, and learn more about the film and TV industry and the place of screenwriting in it. In doing so, students have the opportunity to try the different 'parts' of film-making, from the creative and theoretical - writing, story boarding, workshopping, casting, and directing - to the technical - camera operation, sound recording, and video editing.
Prerequisite: ADM 326 or submission on video or DVD of a video/film made by the applicant. Can be in any genre, but must demonstrate the ability to use a video camera and basic skills in sound recording and editing. A studio fee is levied on this course.
plus any three of the following
ADM 378 (3 CREDITS)
Compositions in Interactive Media
This course is intended for Art, Design and Media majors, Communications students and others interested in interaction. Students will produce a menu driven CD-ROM or DVD that includes elements of audio, video, animation and picture slideshow as media content. Students are encouraged to produce conceptual media that is either commercial or abstract. This may take shape in the form of an interactive portfolio that brings together their different creative disciplines.
Prerequisite: ADM 362.
COM 307 (3 CREDITS)
Scriptwriting
Students are guided through the creative processes of writing scenes for the stage, TV, and film. The building of character and plot is examined as well as the industry standard formats for writing in these media. Group and team work is encouraged as well as discussions, critique, and analysis of the narrative techniques used in existing stage plays and films.
Prerequisite: ENG 112.
COM 308 (3 CREDITS)
Writing for the Media/Journalism in Italy
Concentrates on the different styles and tones of voice used in journalism. It focuses on print, although there will be analysis of other media, such as radio and television. Particular attention will be given to the development of writing styles for new, features, interviews, and reviews. Students also carry out detailed analyses of information and styles from a range of media. In Italy students will be required to collaborate with a local newspaper, publishing articles and working with local press offices.
Prerequisite: COM 304 or permission of instructor.
PSY 358 (3 CREDITS)
Psychology and Cinema
This course examines psychological approaches to understanding films. Beginning with classical psychoanalytic interpretations of contemporary films, the course will evaluate the relevance of Freud’s work on the uncanny, voyeurism, repetition compulsion and trauma. Students will also be introduced to Barthes’ influential semiotic work on narrative codes and their use in the film industry, as well as Laura Mulvey’s seminal feminist critique of Hollywood. Of special interest is the cinema’s potential, as an art form, to capture contemporary psychological processes such as individuation, the fear of fragmentation and the search for a narrative identity. There is a special emphasis on Jungian approaches to film, the Symbolic cinema, critical analyses of narrative structures, and the application of existential-phenomenological categories of thought to reading films. The course is run as a seminar, and so students are expected to read widely and participate with interest.
Prerequisite: PSY 150 or permission of instructor.
COM 470 (3 CREDITS)
International Cinema
This course examines global cinema while considering the extent to which cultural, political, and historical contexts have influenced the form and grammar of film during the last century. The overall focus of the course is broad, ranging across more than eight decades and many different countries; it aims to study a variety of approaches to and theories of narrative cinema. During the semester, many international film "movements" are covered, which can include the French New Wave, the Chinese Sixth Generation, and Italian Neo-Realism. In addition, the representations of non-Western cultures from an “insider” and a “Hollywood” perspective are compared.
Prerequisite: COM 231 and either COM 316 or SCL 321. Study Abroad students may take this course with the permission of the instructor.
COM 478 (3 CREDITS)
Mainstream Cinema: Studies in Genre
This course investigates the development of genre films over a historical period. Students examine issues critical to genre studies, which can include iconography, key themes, authorship, and stardom. Specifically, through a study of film criticism and theory, students consider the evolution of a few popular genres from the 1920s to the present. The course also explores the idea that genre films necessarily retain basic similarities while changing over time to reflect cultural concerns and to keep audience interest. In addition, the course provides an opportunity for students to examine and compare the perspectives of Hollywood and non-Hollywood genre films.
Prerequisites: COM 231 and either COM 316 or COM 321. Study Abroad Students may take this course with the permission of the instructor.
Minor in Finance (18 credits)
ACC 201 (3 CREDITS)
Financial Accounting
An introduction to the accounting model, the measurement and classification of data and terminology essential to effective interpretation and use of financial statements, balance sheets and income statements. Underlying concepts are stressed and they are made concrete with illustrations. While mechanical and procedural details are explored, measurement and communication of data to external parties are emphasized.
Prerequisite: MTH 212.
ACC 202 (3 CREDITS)
Managerial Accounting
This course introduces students to the generation of cost data for the preparation of proper, representative financial statements, and for optimal planning and control of routine operations and long range organizational goals. It focuses on the uses of formal cost accounting systems and quantitative techniques to make managerial decisions. Topics include: direct absorption income statements, job and process costing, allocation and proration, proforma and capital budgeting.
Prerequisite: ACC 201.
FNN 301 (3 CREDITS)
Corporate Finance
Examines the financial needs of corporations and the range of mechanisms available to meet them. The concept of the time value of money is studied and applied to several decision models in capital budgeting and investment valuation. Other basic theories of finance examined include risk and return and financial statement analysis. Different financial requirements are examined with an emphasis on a comparison of internal and external sources of funds and their relative availability and cost. Covers topics such as capital budgeting, cost of capital, dividend policy, capital structure, current asset management and portfolio theory.
Prerequisite: ACC 201, ACC 202 and MGT 205.
plus any three upper-division finance courses, one of which may include ECN 361 (9 credits)
Minor in Gender Studies (18 credits)
SCL 210 (3 CREDITS)
Gender and Culture
An introductory course that investigates how male and female differences can be interpreted across a range of cultural variables. The rich resources of international literature and film will be used to illuminate how individual voices reflect these differences on both a local and a global level.
SCL 360 (3 CREDITS)
Masculinities and Feminisms
The course familiarizes students with current debates in cultural and media studies related to the social construction and enactment of gendered identities. The first part of the course explores the impact of feminist politics and postfeminist culture on the spectrum of masculinities. The second part adopts a cross-cultural perspective and considers the influence of global media on consumption practices and social change.
Prerequisites: SCL 210 or COM 231 or permission of instructor.
plus four gender courses at least two
at 300 level or higher (12 credits)
Minor in History (18 credits)
Two lower division History courses,
at least one of which is:
HST 101 (3 CREDITS)
World Cultural History I
The course serves as a broad introduction to world cultures from the beginnings of humankind in Africa through to the end of Western Roman Empire in AD476. The peoples and cultures covered include: Neolithic society, Sumeria, Egypt, the Hittites, Assyria, Persia, the Greek world (including Alexander the Great and the successor kingdoms of the East), Han China, Rome, Islam, and the Byzantine Empire. The course aims to give the student a general understanding and appreciation of some of the art, architecture, philosophy, literature, religion, and politics of the cultures being studied. It also draws attention to diversity as well as similarities within and between regions and countries, emphasising the considerable interaction that occurred between different places and peoples. Specific attention will be paid to how historians study the past, including different forms of evidence and historiographical debates.
or
HST 102 (3 CREDITS)
World Cultural History II
This course is designed to study in broad outline the origins of global interdependence, from 1500-1800. The politics, religion, art and architecture of European, Islamic, African and East Asian cultures will be studied. In world terms, the period is most noteworthy for the impact of European expansionism, sustained by scientific invention and commercial acquisitiveness, underpinned by religion. While the class work focuses on the discussion of broad themes supported by close reading of relevant primary texts, students will practice presenting specific topics in group oral presentations. Class visits are scheduled to relevant exhibitions in London.
plus four history courses in the upper division, chosen from the core list for the history major (12 credits)
Minor in International Business (18 credits) (N.B. not open to majors in business administration)
FNN 301 (3 CREDITS)
Corporate Finance
Examines the financial needs of corporations and the range of mechanisms available to meet them. The concept of the time value of money is studied and applied to several decision models in capital budgeting and investment valuation. Other basic theories of finance examined include risk and return and financial statement analysis. Different financial requirements are examined with an emphasis on a comparison of internal and external sources of funds and their relative availability and cost. Covers topics such as capital budgeting, cost of capital, dividend policy, capital structure, current asset management and portfolio theory.
Prerequisite: ACC 201, ACC 202 and MGT 205.
MKT 301 (3 CREDITS)
Principles of Marketing
Introduces students to the principles and operations of marketing. Course work includes an in-depth analysis of the strategic role marketing plays in contemporary business from new product development, marketing research and target marketing to consumer behaviour analysis, advertising and promotion and personal selling activities. Each variable of the marketing mix will be covered in detail and the macro and micro business environment will be assessed for their impact on marketing planning. Lectures, discussion topics, case studies, videos and practical exercises are used to cover the course material.
Prerequisites: For Business Administration majors: Completion of the Richmond core, MGT 205, MTH 212, and MGT 220 or MGT 304. For Communication majors: MGT 100 with a minimum grade achieved of C, and COM 304 (COM 304 may be a corequisite)
INB 302 (3 CREDITS)
Foreign Trade Policy
Familiarizes students with the most important practical and legal aspects of the foreign trading operation. Financing, insurance, documentation, goods handling and transportation are discussed within the context of an export contract and also under counter trade arrangements. Field trips to commodity exchanges and a research project form a part of this course.
Prerequisite: ECN 210, ECN 211, and MTH 118 or MTH 122 or MTHSCL 129.
INB 304 (3 CREDITS)
Country Risk Analysis
Provides students with an overview of the history, methods, strengths, and limitations of economic and political risk forecasting. Economics and political risk forecasting is defined as a package of social science concepts and methods used by governments and multinational businesses to analyze the future economic and political environments in which they operate. A seminar format with extensive student participation is used.
Prerequisite: ECN 211.
INB 306 (3 CREDITS)
European Business Environment
Focuses on the economic, political and social environment for business in Europe. Within this field, it examines the institutional interplay with the European Union, the contrasting structure of the European economy compared to its major competitors, the single market, the Euro, Foreign Direct Investment, the role of multinationals and the developing EU/Central- Eastern Europe relationship. When offered in Florence there are several course-related visits.
Prerequisite: MGT 100, MTH 115, and ECN 211.
ECN 450 (3 CREDITS)
International Economics
Considers international specialization, the development of world trade, commercial policy, balance of payments, foreign exchange rates and payment mechanisms.
Prerequisite: ECN 301 or ECN 308.
Minor in International Relations (18 credits)
INR 203 (3 CREDITS)
Introduction to International Relations
Examines the fundamental history and concepts that aid understanding of international relations. The course surveys the emergence of the modern states system and studies main features of the international system since 1945. It covers relations between rich and poor countries, factors that influence foreign policy making and the impact of non-state actors on world politics. Theories about international relations and the increasing globalization of world affairs are explored.
INR 210 (3 CREDITS)
The Evolution of International Systems
This course is designed to be a study of the evolution, and gradual development, of the European ‘states’ system. It will provide a comparative cultural, economic, historical, and political analysis of how international systems have evolved and functioned, illustrating the ways in which ‘states’ interact with one another within systems. It will begin with the fall of the Roman Empire in Western Europe, move through to the early European systems of the medieval period, on to the wars of religion of the sixteenth century, the defeat of Napoleon in 1813, and end with the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. This course will analyse the development of European international systems, the methods via which they were spread, and examine the elaborate rules and practices that regulate them.
Prerequisite: HST 101 or HST 102.
plus four upper-division INR courses, one of which must be at 400-level
Minor in Literature (18 credits)
LIT 280 (3 CREDITS)
Literary Studies
Introduces a variety of ways of thinking with and about literature. It studies six texts from different periods and cultures. They are chosen to “speak to each other” in a variety of ways, to encourage a variety of critical approaches and to promote awareness of the many overlapping contexts in which they can be situated. The course aims to increase the student’s capacity for pleasure and independent judgement and to prepare literature majors for Upper Division work.
Prerequisite: ENG 215.
plus One of the following:
LIT/THR 337 (3 CREDITS)
Shakespeare and His World I
Aimed at both the novice and the experienced reader of Shakespeare, this course provides a historical context to Shakespeare’s writing and closely analyses the poetic and dramatic aspects in his drama. Shakespeare in performance is an integral part of the course and students are expected to see productions of most texts studied.
Prerequisite: ENG 215 or Equivalent.
LIT/THR 338 (3 CREDITS)
Shakespeare and His World II
Aimed at both the novice and the experienced reader of Shakespeare, this course provides a historical context to Shakespeare’s writing and closely analyses the poetic and dramatic aspects in his drama. Shakespeare in performance is an integral part of the course and students are expected to see productions of most texts studied.
Prerequisite: ENG 215 or Equivalent.
plus four upper division literature
courses (12 credits)
Minor in Marketing (18 credits) (N.B. not open to majors in business administration)
ECN 210 (3 CREDITS)
Introduction to Microeconomics
An introduction to basic economic methodology. Within a framework of supply and demand analysis, the behavior of producers and consumers is examined in the context of the efficient allocation of scarce resources in society.
Prerequisite: MTH 105 or a Math Placement Test result exempting the student from completing MTH 105.
MKT 301 (3 CREDITS)
Principles of Marketing
Introduces students to the principles and operations of marketing. Course work includes an in-depth analysis of the strategic role marketing plays in contemporary business from new product development, marketing research and target marketing to consumer behaviour analysis, advertising and promotion and personal selling activities. Each variable of the marketing mix will be covered in detail and the macro and micro business environment will be assessed for their impact on marketing planning. Lectures, discussion topics, case studies, videos and practical exercises are used to cover the course material.
Prerequisites: For Business Administration majors: Completion of the Richmond core, MGT 205, MTH 212, and MGT 220 or MGT 304. For Communication majors: MGT 100 with a minimum grade achieved of C, and COM 304 (COM 304 may be a corequisite)
MKT 302 (3 CREDITS)
Consumer Behavior
This course will focus on the study of what it means to be a consumer in a global, information-oriented (technologyoriented, market-oriented) culture. Examines behavioral science concepts, processes and approaches that inform marketing strategy as to what, how, when, where and why people consume. Provides a managerial oriented understanding of the ubiquity of consumption in post-modern life. Examines the influences upon and the behavior of consumers, both in groups and as individuals.
Prerequisite: MKT 301.
MKT 304 (3 CREDITS)
Marketing Research
This course is designed to provide an overview of marketing research and its use in making more effective marketing decisions. The primary emphasis is on providing the students with the skills to effectively utilize marketing research findings and understand how they aid in the development of sound marketing strategy. The course is also intended to familiarize students with the development of effective measuring instruments (i.e., questionnaires) and using them to collect and analyze data.
Prerequisites: MTH 212, MGT 220, and MKT 301.
MKT 306 (3 CREDITS)
Advertising Management
The course provides an in-depth study and application of advertising and its role in marketing plans. Study includes identification of relevant data to analyze the marketing situation, development of product positioning, marketing and advertising objectives, creative strategy, media planning, and evaluation.
Prerequisites: MKT 301.
plus one other Marketing course (3 credits)
Minor in Political Science (18 credits)
PLT 150 (3 CREDITS)
Introduction to Politics and Government
Introduces students to political science by defining, exploring and evaluating the basic concepts of politics, political systems, government, state, nation and ideology. It outlines some of the central issues in politics: politics as art and/or science; power and authority in the state; political obligation; the rights and duties of the citizen; liberty and equality; economic systems and modes of production, political economy; liberalism, fascism, Marxism, conservatism, feminism and environmentalism.
plus One 200-level political science course (3 credits)
PLT 301 (3 CREDITS)
British Politics: Inside Parliament
This course will introduce students to the main political institutions in the United Kingdom (the monarchy, the executive, parliament, political parties and electoral systems) and to important debates in contemporary British society, such as constitutional reform, Britain’s relations with Europe, the power of the media, gender debates and multiculturalism. The class combines theoretical and empirical approaches. Classes are supplemented by 10 sessions in the House of Commons with a Member of Parliament.
Prerequisite: PLT 150 or equivalent or permission of instructor.
PLT 401 (3 CREDITS)
Political Theory and Concepts
Investigates the central concerns of Political Theory - such as liberty, equality and social justice, and considers particular recent developments including feminism, ecologism and multiculturalism. The course places particular emphasis on the development of ideas and debates in the 20th and 21st centuries. Writers whose work is of interest here include Isaiah Berlin, John Rawls, Robert Nozick, Michael Walzer, David Miller, Anne Phillips and Will Kymlicka.
Prerequisites: PLT 150 and PLT 222 and senior status.
plus Two 300- or 400-level political science courses
Minor in Psychology (18 credits)
PSY 150 (3 CREDITS)
Introduction to Psychology
Introduces students to the major areas within the psychology discipline through current empirical research and theoretical debate. Topics include: scientific methodology, brain functioning, sensation and perception, evolutionary theory, consciousness, development, personality, social psychology, psychopathology, language, and learning. Students discover how psychological research is conducted and how research findings can be applied to understanding human behaviour.
plus one of the following:
PSY 205 (3 CREDITS)
Social Psychology
Focuses on the experiences and behavior of the individual in the social world of relationships, media influences, group pressures and prejudices and cultural and gender stereotypes. Students are introduced to major research findings in each area and are encouraged to discuss a range of explanations for social issues of personal and topical interest.
PSY 221 (3 CREDITS)
Developmental Psychology
Explores the child’s experience of the world. Major theories and issues in development from conception to adolescence are examined with a particular emphasis on the nature-nurture issue and cross-cultural studies. Topics covered include: fetal development, physical development, cognitive development, social development and personality development. Students are encouraged to actively participate in class discussion and use their own experiences to help understand theoretical issues.
Prerequisite: PSY 150.
plus four additional Psychology courses (12 credits) at least three at 300 level or higher
Minor in Sociology (18 credits)
One of the following courses:
SCL 150 (3 CREDITS)
Introduction to Sociology
An introduction to the study of society. Topics covered include the origins and nature of sociology and the social sciences; society and culture; social institutions such as family, education and work; socialization; social stratification, power and social change; industrialization; and urbanization.
SSC 100 (3 CREDITS)
Self, Culture and Society: An Introduction to the Social Sciences
Introduces students to the shared basic ideas which inform and animate debate in the Social Sciences. It also looks at the historical development of political science and international relations, psychology, sociology and anthropology, exploring the different perspectives and methodologies. The course title refers to different levels of study, each branch of the social sciences being traditionally associated with one of these levels. The focus of each of these branches and their different perspectives adding to our knowledge of human life are examined. The methods of each of these fields are used to examine contemporary themes.
Plus any one 200-level SCL course which can include:
MSC 252 (3 CREDITS)
Worlds of Music
This course aims to introduce students to the study of contemporary non-western popular music. This music, often derived from traditional ‘folk’ forms and originating in cities such as Kingston, Havana, Sao Paulo or Kinshasa, is just as likely to be heard today on the streets and in the clubs of ‘global cities’ such as London and New York. This course investigates these urban, culturally hybridized forms of popular music as representative manifestations of 21st century cultural globalization.
PSY 205 (3 CREDITS)
Social Psychology
Focuses on the experiences and behavior of the individual in the social world of relationships, media influences, group pressures and prejudices and cultural and gender stereotypes. Students are introduced to major research findings in each area and are encouraged to discuss a range of explanations for social issues of personal and topical interest.
Plus any four upper-division SCL courses which can include two of the following:
COM 316 (3 CREDITS)
Mass Communications and Society
In this course, "mass communications" is taken in its broadest sense to include cinema, television, newspapers, magazines, comics, and the Internet, as well as fahsion and merchandising. "Society" involves the people who engage with those texts, from critical theorists to fans, censors to consumers. The course examines the relationship between texts and the people at various points during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, from various cultural and national perspectives. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to test and debate established theories by bringing them to bear on everyday popular texts.
Prerequisites: COM 203 and COM 231 or equivalent.
INR 310 (3 CREDITS)
Globalization: Power, Networks, and Identity in the New World Order
Combining perspectives from anthropology, sociology, business studies, and international relations, this interdisciplinary course addresses the vitally important and complex phenomenon of contemporary globalization. Topics for discussion include the worldwide diffusion of political, economic, and cultural practices and relations across continents and the organization of social life on a global scale. The course will feature guest lectures and pesentations by recognized experts in various aspects of the globalization process.
PLT 308 (3 CREDITS)
Political Sociology
At the heart of political sociology is a concern with the relationship between the state and society, a relationship that, as citizens, affects us all. This course explores the link between the people and the state in three interrelated respects: the concept of power, the theory and practice of revolution and the way politics affects the social fabric of daily life in technologically advanced, multi-media societies. In addition, a discussion takes place regarding the global significance of political and social change.
Prerequisite: Any 100- or 200-level sociology, political science or international relations course.
PLT 312 (3 CREDITS)
Global Development Politics
Examines the global politics of development and of developing states, and various social, economic and environmental themes surrounding post-war attempts to promote development. The course will consider both development theory and practice in the context of globalization, and provide an overview of the history of global development from economic miracles to failed states. A range of contemporary development debates and issues are addressed.
Prerequisites: Any 100- or 200-level politics or international relations course or a sociology of development course.
PLT 320 (3 CREDITS)
Politics of Environmentalism
Examines the political, economic, ideological, and social dilemmas associated with environmental issues. The first section of the course addresses the historical roots of environmentalism, its key concepts, and a range of key thinkers and paradigms for understanding environmentalism as an ideology. The second section of the course explores the role of key actors engaged in environmental policy making, and important issues in contemporary environmental politics. Topics addressed include environmental movements and parties, global environmental regimes, the impact of the media on environmental issues, and prospects for green technologies and employment.
Prerequisite: Any 200-level course in international relations, politics, or sociology..
PLT 331 (3 CREDITS)
Ethnicity and Identity
Examines the questions of whether ethnicity is a universal phenomenon, and if ethnic conflict is inevitable. Investigates why ethnicity has become such an important tool of political organization in the 20th century. This course examines ethnicity, and to a lesser extent nationalism, as bases of social and political belonging and differentiation and sources of both creativity and conflict. Starting with the premise that identity is socially constructed, the ways in which ethnic identity has been formed and used in different societies will be examined. Different theories of ethnicity will be explored during the course, as well as specific case studies.
Prerequisite: Any lower division social science course.
PLT 364 (3 CREDITS)
Religion, Identity and Power
The recent emergence of a number of religious movements in many parts of the world has raised important questions about the role of religion in political and social life. This course explores the relationship between religion, political identity and its expression between and across nation-state borders. By focusing on a number of religious movements, such as various Islamic revivals and the new Christian right, this course will examine the various ways in which religious traditions are used as identity-building vehicles, particularly at times of cultural transition and social change. It examines how the internet and other communication networks serve as mediums for Religious identity formation.
PSY 385 (3 CREDITS)
Childhood, Socialization and Culture
Explores the impact of ‘culture’ on aspects of child development. Traditional theories will be evaluated with reference to cultural influences. Areas of child development covered include cognitive, gender and personality development. Discussion topics include the effects of different child rearing practices, social structure and individualism vs. collectivism. Readings will be taken from both anthropological and psychological sources. Students will be expected to reflect on their own knowledge and experiences. Familiarity with the psychology of child development will be an advantage.
Prerequisite: PSY 221.
Minor in Theatre Arts (18 credits)
THR 105 (3 CREDITS)
Fundamentals of the Performing Arts
For those interested in the performing arts, but with no experience, this class introduces students to the fundamentals of being in front of an audience. Games, storytelling, role-playing, playwriting and improvisation are used to explore the basic tenets of performance whether for a presentation, a business meeting or in a theatrical production.
THR 206 (3 CREDITS)
Beginning Directing
Introduces students to the principles of directing and visual interpretation for the stage. The fundamentals of stage focus are closely examined, along with the natural areas of visual strength in blocking/staging. Communication techniques for audiences through stage pictures and composition are evaluated, and the underlying principles of the relationship between actor and director and the relationships between characters are examined. The course is practical with students working on exercises and progressing to practical directing sessions of short assigned scenes, then on to a final chosen scene to be presented to an audience.
plus any four upper additional theatre courses at 300 level or higher (12 credits)
Certificate in British Studies (15 credits)
Five courses in British civilization. (15 credits)
The certificate is evidence of having completed a systematic and intensive study of British culture.
Upon completion of the five courses with a GPA of at least 2.0, the student’s transcript will indicate the certificate has been conferred.
Choose five from the following:
ARH 349 (3 CREDITS)
British Art and Architecture
Considers British painting, sculpture, architecture, and interior design, in their cultural, social and political contexts. Students make regular visits to museums, galleries and building, with their rich intercultural collections, to discuss works on site.
ARH 351 (3 CREDITS)
Museums and Galleries of London
Considers the nature of museums and art galleries and their role and function in our society and culture. Students visit many of the great London galleries and museums with their rich intercultural collections, as part of this course. A university-level survey of the history of international art is strongly recommended as a prerequisite.
HST 301 (3 CREDITS)
History of London
From the creation of Londinium by the Romans to the great modern metropolis, this course traces the growth and the changing functions, institutions and architecture of London. Readings from contemporary writers, describing the London they knew and visits to selected monuments are an integral part of this course.
Note: Visits require some travel and entrance costs.
HST 347 (3 CREDITS)
Island to Empire: British History since 1800
Surveys the history of modern Britain during its formative period of industrialization and empire building. An agrarian society ruled by a powerful aristocracy made way, not without moments of crisis, for an industrial society with a democratic franchise and organized political parties. The interaction between the old order and the new provides this course with its basic theme.
HST 339 (3 CREDITS)
US and UK Comparative History
Focuses on shared themes from the 1880’s to the present day, using a variety of approaches to enable students from different disciplines to participate in the course. Issues around popular culture, gender and ethnicity will be looked at, as well as peoples’ responses to major events like the Depression and wars. Concepts from economic history will be used to analyze the booms and slumps that have occurred and the changes to the US/UK that have taken place as a result. The decline of Britain as a world power and the parallel rise of the US will be studied, and this will help put into context the current debates on the post Cold War world order and globalization.
LIT/THR 337 (3 CREDITS)
Shakespeare and His World I
Aimed at both the novice and the experienced reader of Shakespeare, this course provides a historical context to Shakespeare’s writing and closely analyses the poetic and dramatic aspects in his drama. Shakespeare in performance is an integral part of the course and students are expected to see productions of most texts studied.
Prerequisite: ENG 215 or Equivalent.
LIT/THR 338 (3 CREDITS)
Shakespeare and His World II
Aimed at both the novice and the experienced reader of Shakespeare, this course provides a historical context to Shakespeare’s writing and closely analyses the poetic and dramatic aspects in his drama. Shakespeare in performance is an integral part of the course and students are expected to see productions of most texts studied.
Prerequisite: ENG 215 or Equivalent.
PLT 301 (3 CREDITS)
British Politics: Inside Parliament
This course will introduce students to the main political institutions in the United Kingdom (the monarchy, the executive, parliament, political parties and electoral systems) and to important debates in contemporary British society, such as constitutional reform, Britain’s relations with Europe, the power of the media, gender debates and multiculturalism. The class combines theoretical and empirical approaches. Classes are supplemented by 10 sessions in the House of Commons with a Member of Parliament.
Prerequisite: PLT 150 or equivalent or permission of instructor.
SCL 301 (3 CREDITS)
Modern Britain: A Social Analysis
A general presentation of British society for students who arrive in the country and are keen to know about its way of life, patterns of thought and socio-cultural background. Topics covered include the growth of urban and industrial Britain, British class structure and social mobility, the welfare state, race, politics and the position of women. This course also examines Britain’s changing status in the world and the effect this has had on socio-political attitudes and behavior.
THR 358 (3 CREDITS)
Classical British Theatre: Shakespeare's Friends and Rivals
Examines, the classical traditions in the British theatre as they are perceived today. A range of plays from the Renaissance tragedies of Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare and the work of John Webster to the 20th century tragedies of dramatists such as T.S. Eliot are studied. Lectures concentrate on textual analysis and criticism, a number of visits to see plays (usually five) are undertaken; where possible these are productions of plays taught in this course.
Prerequisites: FYS 103, THR 206, or equivalent.
THR 359 (3 CREDITS)
Contemporary British Theatre
A survey of the major developments in the British theatre since the 1950s. The writers’ theatre movement at the Royal Court Theatre and the work of John Osborne and Harold Pinter are studied, as well as the work of major dramatists such as Peter Shaffer and Tom Stoppard. Students see a number of experimental and controversial productions and discuss current playwriting and acting techniques.
Prerequisites: FYS 103, THR 206, or equivalent.
