College of Liberal Arts

AAS 2310. Introduction to African American Studies.

Course provides an overview of black culture in America from an interdisciplinary approach, employing scholarship from history, literature, music, visual and performing arts, folklore, religion, sociology, psychology, philosophy, economics, and political science. It introduces epistemological considerations, theories, and methods that form the field of African American and African Diaspora Studies. (MULT).

AAS 3310A. Blacks, Film, and Society.

This course examines Black American cinema between 1919 and the present and how film can help society better understand black history, black culture, and the black experience in America. The course also explores what each film teaches Blacks about Blacks and what film teaches Whites and other groups about Blacks.

AAS 3350. Black Queer Experience.

This course will introduce students to the historical study of Black LGBTQ peoples. We will use primary sources such as letters, diaries, newspaper articles, and blues songs, along with historical and interdisciplinary scholarship and films, to learn about the experiences of same-sex loving and gender-transgressing Black people. (WI).

AAS 3399. Negotiating the Color Line.

This course examines how Black Americans have negotiated the Black-White color line from the 1800s to the present day.

AAS 4320. Global Perspectives on the African Diaspora.

Course connects the transatlantic slave trade, contemporary migrations, their legacies, and speaks to the broader issues of the African diaspora in relation to previous and ongoing struggles of black people for rebirth, progress, justice, and racial uplift. Examines African Diasporic women’s definition of feminism while suggesting no universal black feminism. (MULT).

AAS 4377. Intersections of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexualities.

This course critically examines how race, class, gender, and sexuality intersect to shape the lived experiences of a wide array of communities in the United States. Students cannot receive credit for both WS 4377 and AAS 4377. (WI) Prerequisite: AAS 2310 with a grade of "D" or better.

AAS 4388. Independent Research in African American Studies.

Independent study course open to advanced students on an individual or small group basis. The research area in African American Studies, bibliography, and study paper outline are to be approved by the instructor.

DVST 3301. Introduction to Diversity Studies.

The course is a general, multi-disciplinary and comparative survey of U.S diversity issues. It highlights the traditional minorities, such as African, Latino/a American, Native, and Asian Americas, as well as European American ethnic groups. It also explores issues related to religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and physical ability/disability. (MULT).

DVST 3320. Introduction to Global Diversity Issues.

This course provides an understanding of relationship between U.S and other nations in terms of economics, politics, and culture. Students will examine how colonialism shaped developed and underdeveloped nations, investigate grassroots activism in response to globalization and will examine how policies formulation by one country has consequences for other countries. (MULT).

DVST 3325. Social Difference of Groups in Society.

This course introduces students to theories of social difference, such as race, class, gender, sexuality, age, and disability/ability using a case study analysis of social interactions within complex social, cultural, economic, or political systems. The focus is to explore the role of social institutions and organizations in constructing social difference and to study its impact on people's opportunities. Prerequisite: DVST 3301 with a grade of a "B" or better.

DVST 4375. Directed Study in Diversity Studies.

This course is an advanced level course for an individual or group research project on a particular subject area in diversity studies. Permission and project approval must be obtained from the instructor prior to registration. This course may be repeated once for credit with permission of instructor.

DVST 5310. Diversity Studies: Theories & Issues.

Focusing on the four major ethnic groups (Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Asian Americans), this interdisciplinary course introduces critical theories and issues relating to race, class, ethnicity, culture, and other areas of diversity in the United States. The literature component of the course will supplement the theoretical texts. (MULT).

DVST 5320. Global Issues in Diversity.

Course provides framework for analyzing diversity globally. Examines how globalization acts to shape and re-shape ethnic identity and ethnic antagonism. Course investigates how the shaping and re-shaping of ethnic identity influences immigration policy, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, and healthcare delivery. (MULT).

DVST 5388. Independent Study in Diversity Studies.

This course, which is part of an interdisciplinary minor, is open to graduate students on an individual basis by arrangement with the faculty member concerned. The course allows students to conduct research on diversity related topics in various academic fields. (MULT) Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

WS 3376. Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

This course introduces students to the key concepts of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies with a focus on the diversity of cultural experiences within the United States. (WI) (MULT).

WS 3377. Gender, Sex, and Power.

This course examines the relationship between gender, sex, and power in cross cultural contexts to investigate key debates and current research within the field of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Gender roles in societies outside the U.S. will be examined. (WI) (MULT).

WS 4377. Intersections of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexualities.

This course critically examines how race, class, gender, and sexuality intersect to shape the lived experiences of a wide array of communities in the United States. Students cannot receive credit for both WS 4377 and AAS 4377. (WI) Prerequisite: WS 3376 with a grade of "D" or better.

WS 4388. Independent Research in Women’s Studies.

Independent study course open to advanced students on an individual or small group basis. The research area in Women’s Studies, bibliography, and study paper outline are to be approved by the instructor. (WI) (MULT).

WS 5376. Images of Women.

This course, one of two multidisciplinary team-taught women’s studies courses, is a survey of the changing images of women in the U.S. since 1800 through the eyes of historians, writers, artists, orators, the media, and educators. (MULT).

WS 5377. Realities of Women.

This course, one of two multidisciplinary team-taught women’s studies courses, is a study of the realities faced by women in the U.S. today-including biological and psychological differences in males and females, politics and law, the work force, and the home. Gender roles in societies outside the U.S. will also be examined. (MULT).

WS 5388. Independent Research in Women and Gender Studies.

Independent research course open to students on an individual or small group basis. The research area in Women and Gender Studies, bibliography, and study paper outline are to be approved by the instructor. (MULT) Prerequisite: Instructor approval.