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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
| COURSE | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
|---|
| ANT 104 Introduction to Anthropology | F & S | F & S | F & S |
| ANT 205 Human Evolution (V. Bentley-Condit) | | F or S | |
| ANT 221 Primate Behavior (V. Bentley-Condit) | F | | F or S |
| ANT 238 Cultural & Political Ecology (M. Roper) | F or S | | F or S |
| ANT 246 Anthropology of Middle East & North Africa (K. Kamp) | F or S | | |
| ANT 325 Biological Basis of Human Society (V. Bentley-Condit) | | F or S | |
| BIO 339 Biogeochemistry (P. Jacobson) | S | | F or S |
| ECN 230 Economic Development (Staff) | F or S | F or S | F or S |
| ECN 372 Seminar in Economic Development (Staff) | F or S | | F or S |
| ENG 225 Introduction to Postcolonial Literatures (S. Kapila) | | F | F |
| ENG 360 Seminar in Postcolonial Literatures (S. Kapila) | | S | S |
| ENV 145 Nations & the Global Environment (D. Campbell) | F | F | F |
| ENV/GDS 251 Water, Development and the Environment (P. Jacobson) | F | | F |
| ENV 295 Climate, Development and the Environment (P. Jacobson) | | F or S | |
| ENV 495 Senior Seminar: Africa (D. Campbell) | | S | |
| FRN 305 Contemporary Francophone Cultures (J. Gross) | S | S | S |
| FRN 331 Modern Francophone Theatre (J. Gross) | | | S |
| FRN 342 Orientalism Revisited (S. Ireland) | | S | |
| GDS 111 Intro to Global Development Studies (M. Roper, E. Carter) | F & S | F & S | |
| GDS 346: Sustainable Development in the Modern World System (M. Roper) | | F or S | |
| HIS 261 Southern Africa (E. Prevost) | S | F | |
| HIS 262 Modern Africa from the Sahara to Zambezi (E. Prevost) | F | | |
| HIS 333 The Civilizing Mission and its Discontents (E. Prevost) | | F | |
| MUS 203 Regional Studies in World Music: Africa (R. Vetter) | S | | F |
| POL 251 International Political Economy (E. Willis) | | S | |
| POL 262 African Politics (R. Grey) | | F | F or S |
| POL 354 Political Economy of Developing Countries (E.Willis) | S | | |
| POL 357 Diffusion of Democracy (R. Grey) | | S | F or S |
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
| Shared Theme Tutorials |
| ANT | 104 | Introduction to Anthropology (B. French) Spring |
| ANT | 295 | Anthropology, Violence, and Human Rights (B. French) Fall |
| ANT | 395 | Social Foundations of Illness and Suffering (M. Tapias) not offered 09-10 |
| GDS | 111 | Introduction to Global Development Studies (M. Roper, E. Carter) |
| HIS | 100 | 1968 (V. Brown) not offered 09-10 |
| HST | 100 | The U.S. in the Age of Transatlantic Revolution (S. Purcell) Fall |
| HIS | 228 | The Promised Land: U.S. Immigration History (V. Brown)not offered 09-10 |
| HIS | 262 | Modern Africa from the Sahara to the Zambezi (E. Prevost) Fall |
| POL | 195 | Special Topic: Human Rights and Democracy (Amarasinghe) Fall |
| POL | 295 | Special Topic: Rights: Natual, Political, Human, Animal (D. Western) Fall |
| POL | 295 | Special Topic: Human Rights: Foundations, Challenges, Choices
(W. Moyer/K. Skerrett) Spring |
| SOC | 350 | NGOs: Organizing To Do Good (Hunter) Fall |
| SST/SCI/HUM | 350 | The Control of Reproduction (Feng/ K. McClelland/Queathem)not offered 09-10 |
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
| ART | 295 | Aesthetics of Place: Prairie Art and Culture (D. Doe) |
| BIO | 150 | Effects of Climate Change on Organisms (K. Jacobson) |
| BIO | 305 | Evolution of the Iowa Flora (V. Eckhart) |
| GDS/ENV | 251 | Water, Development and the Environment (P. Jacobson) |
| BIO | 150 | Introduction to Biological Inquiry: Prairie Restoration (J. Brown) |
Spring 2010
| ANT | 252 | Culture and Agriculture (J. Andelson) |
| BIO | 339 | Biogeochemistry (P. Jacobson) |
| BIO | 395 | Advanced Special Topic: Spatial Ecology (V. Eckhart) |
| HIS | 312 | Environmental History of the Great Plains & Upper Midwest (E. Carter and M. Guenther) |
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
| ANT | 246 | Anthropology of the Middle East and North Africa (K. Kamp) |
| ANT | 295 | Anthropology, Violence, and Human Rights (B. French) |
| ECN | 372.01 | Seminar in Economic Development (I. Powell) |
| ENV/GDS | 251 | Water, Development and the Environment (P. Jacobson) |
| RES/GLS | 291.01 | Perspectives in 20th Century Central and European Literature (T. Armstrong) |
| HIS | 100.01 | Making History: Europe After the Great War (E. Prevost) |
| HIS | 262 | Modern Africa: Sahara to Zambezi (E. Prevost) |
| PHI | 265 | Psychoanalysis & the Subject (J. Meehan) |
| POL | 295 | Rights: Natural, Political, Human, Animal (D. Western) |
| POL | 352 | Advanced Seminar on the U.S. Foreign Policymaking Process (W. Moyer) |
| POL/PST | 395 | Applied Policy Analysis - Climate Change (W. Moyer and E. Marzluff) |
| SOC | 240 | Social Movements (C. Upright) |
| SOC | 242 | Deviance and Social Control (C. Hunter) |
Spring 2010
| ANT | 238 | Cultural and Political Ecology (M. Roper) |
| ANT | 395 | War, Revolution, and Ecology in the American Southwest (K. Kamp/J. Whittaker) |
| GDS | 111 | Introduction to Global Development Studies (M. Roper) |
| HIS | 261 | Southern Africa (E. Prevost) |
| PHI | 394 | Adv. Std/Theory of Value: Habermas (J. Meehan) |
| POL | 250 | Politics of International Relations (W. Moyer) |
| POL | 295.04 | Human Rights, Foundations, Challenges, and Choices (W. Moyer/K. Skerrett) |
| POL | 295.05 | Violence, Nonviolence and Cultures of Peace (D. Western) |
| POL | 354 | Political Economy of Developing Countries (E. Willis) |
| SOC | 295.01 | Environmental Sociology and Globalization (K. Bywater) |
| SOC | 270 | Political Sociology of Citizenship (D. Cook-Martin) |
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