2009-2010 Interdisciplinary Study Themes

Interdisciplinary Study Themes: Offerings for 2009/10

African Studies - Human Rights and Human Dignity - Nature and Culture in the Prairie Region - Peace Studies

Interdisciplinary Study Themes identify groups of courses that address in a significant way a particular theme, issue, or problem that students and faculty members wish to explore together. They are distinguished by the collaboration of participating faculty members and may have connections to college programming such as a symposium or an exhibition, internships, or to a significant outside event. Courses addressing a common theme and offered within a (renewable) 2-4 year period can be identified in the Schedule of Courses as a Theme. Four Interdisciplinary Study Themes are available for the 2009/10 academic year: "African Studies," "Human Rights and Human Dignity," "Nature and Culture in the Prairie Region," and "Peace Studies."

African Studies

These courses and co-curricular connections promote the study of both North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa by helping current students in their course planning in African Studies and to connect their curricular design to off-campus study and post-graduate service, and by giving faculty members opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. "African Studies" is by definition a diffuse designation, so this Interdisciplinary Study Theme is intended to provide a broad framework in which students and faculty members can develop mutual interests around issues such as statehood, democracy, development, environment, evolution, society, globalization, labor, poverty, human rights, conflict resolution, performance, identity, post colonial issues, and visual culture.

Participating Faculty Members
Vicki Bentley-Condit, David Campbell, Bob Grey, Jan Gross, Susan Ireland, Peter Jacobson, Kathy Kamp, Shuchi Kapila, Elizabeth Prevost, Monty Roper, Roger Vetter, Eliza Willis

Courses offered 2009/10-2011/12

Related Resources
Off-campus study programs (Contact: Richard Bright)

BOTSWANA: Culture and Society in Africa (ACM) (Spring)

Adviser: Bob Grey

EGYPT: American University in Cairo

Advisers: Kathy Kamp, Elizabeth Prevost

GHANA: Development Studies Program: University of Legon (CIEE)

Adviser: Richard Bright

MOROCCO: AMIDEAST Program in Rabat

Advisers: Sue Ireland, Kathy Kamp, Richard Bright

SENEGAL: Minnesota Studies in International Development

Advisers: Sue Ireland, Richard Bright

SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Town Program (Lexia International)

Adviser: Elizabeth Prevost

SOUTH AFRICA: Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS)

Adviser: Kathy Jacobson

TANZANIA: Human Evolution & Ecology (ACM) (fall)

Adviser: Bob Grey

Postgraduate opportunities (Contact: Doug Cutchins)
Grinnell Corps (Namibia and Lesotho)
Peace Corps
Fulbright
Watson
Wall Service Awards

Human Rights and Human Dignity

These courses examine the relationship of Human Rights and Human Dignity to issues of justice, development, politics, and technology. Several offerings encourage students to consider the definitions "Human Rights" and "Human Dignity" in relation to the environment, health and illness, poverty, artistic expression, and reproduction. Students will be encouraged to examine a variety of theoretical perspectives but also to engage with case-studies of international Human Rights violations and efforts to protect Human Rights. Politics, economics, development, social movements, peace-keeping efforts, and violence also form areas of interest in Human Rights courses.

Participating Faculty Members
Sarah Purcell, Wayne Moyer, Victoria Brown, David Cook-Martin, Brigittine French, Richard Fyffe, David Harrison, Kathy Kamp, Cecilia Knight, Kent McClelland, Johanna Meehan, Elizabeth Prevost, Liz Queathem, Monty Roper, Marci Sortor, Maria Tapias, Justin Thomas, Val Vetter, David Western, Eric Carter, Chris Hunter, Yvette Aparicio, Mervat Youssef, Kathleen Skerrett

Related Events
The Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights will sponsor events addressing Human Rights throughout 2009/10, beginning with a symposium Sept. 2-3. Rosenfield programming throughout the year will link to first-year tutorials and other Human Rights courses. Other Rosenfield symposia will cover topics including "The Environment and Rights" (co-sponsored with the Luce Program), "The Media: Changes and Challenges," and "Poverty" (co-sponsored with the Center for International Studies).Participating faculty members have met regularly through 2008-2009 to prepare for the theme courses, engaged in a reading group (supported by the Mellon Grant), and a summer workshop led by Wayne Moyer and Sarah Purcell.

Courses offered on this Theme 2009/10

Nature and Culture in the Prairie Region

In the last 150 years, human action has dramatically transformed the ecology of the prairie region of the central United States, creating a set of monumental environmental challenges: loss of biodiversity, pollution of surface water, impairment of ground water, and erosion and degradation of topsoil. These courses provide diverse perspectives on the historical, cultural, and scientific dimensions of the interaction of humans with this environment.

Participating Faculty Members
Jonathan Andelson, Jonathan Brown, Eric Carter, Donald Doe, Michael Guenther, Vince Eckhart, Peter Jacobson

Related Events
A Faulconer Gallery exhibit on "Below the Surface: A Twenty-first Century Look at the Prairie" is scheduled for the summer and early fall of 2010 (June 12-Sept. 6, 2010).

Courses offered 2009/10
Fall 2009

Spring 2010

Peace and Conflict Studies

Understanding conflict and transformative possibilities for addressing conflict are peace building skills that are applicable across disciplines-in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Peace and Conflict Studies provides a lens for understanding social change and upheaval, violence against humanity such as genocide, violations of human dignity, the impact of environmental, economic, political, and social decisions, and the critical role of identity and trauma in human interaction. The Peace and Conflict Studies Interdisciplinary Study Theme facilitates incorporation of this lens into courses and guide students in applying these concepts to particular cases which could be on an interpersonal, community, or global level.

Participating Faculty Members
Todd Armstrong, Brigittine French, Peter Jacobson, Kathy Kamp, Kent McClelland, Jennifer Michaels, I. Tinker Powell, Elizabeth Prevost, Monty Roper, David Western, Wayne Moyer, Justin Thomas

Related Events
Peace Studies hosts speakers, workshops, and internships on issues related to peace and conflict. A Peace Studies Student Conference is planned for March 2010 as a forum for students to present academic papers focused on peace and conflict issues.

Courses offered 2009/10
Fall 2009

Spring 2010