This course examines urban Africa as sites of culture, politics and economics from the pre-colonial period to recent times. It interrogates African urbanism as a product of local, transnational and global processes. The themes of the course include social formation, ethnicity, urban politics, citizenship, social movements, popular culture, religion, informal and illicit economy, technological adaptation and social change. The course draws on the interdisciplinary literature in African and global urban studies.
One of the defining features of life in the 21st century is the speed and intensity with which people, capital, commodities, ideas, and information mov—or flow—across the globe. These global flows however, impact people and communities in profoundly unequal ways. This course explores these uneven impacts from an anthropological perspective, by looking at how people in different parts of the world experience and live with “globalization.” Drawing primarily on ethnographic readings, this class asks: how do global flows shape our daily lives—not only economically and politically, but socially and culturally as well? How do they change both our sense of who we are and our experience of the world?
This course examines themes of Italian culture and society (such as art, architecture, music, food, folklore, migration) through texts from various media. Taught in Italian.
This course examines circumstances that facilitate or hinder the political, social, and economic incorporation of immigrants. In addition to reviewing early twentieth-century sociological theories of immigration, the course analyzes contemporary research on immigration from the standpoint of political science and related disciplines. While focused primarily on explaining patterns by which immigrants are incorporated in the United States and Europe, it also compares cases from Latin America, Eurasia, the Middle East, and other regions in relation to shared or dissimilar immigration policies, levels of economic development, and demographic compositions.
This course examines circumstances that facilitate or hinder the political, social, and economic incorporation of immigrants. In addition to reviewing early twentieth-century sociological theories of immigration, the course analyzes contemporary research on immigration from the standpoint of political science and related disciplines. While focused primarily on explaining patterns by which immigrants are incorporated in the United States and Europe, it also compares cases from Latin America, Eurasia, the Middle East, and other regions in relation to shared or dissimilar immigration policies, levels of economic development, and demographic compositions.
The course investigates South African politics using the lenses of race, class, gender, and nationality. It focuses on politics in post-apartheid South Africa (post 1994), although anti-apartheid mobilization is examined. Using perspectives from South African activists, political leaders, and scholars, it examines governance, citizenship, social justice, and community mobilization from feminist, class-based, and racial identity perspectives. Students question their own perspectives in light of these South African voices. A simulation to construct South Africa’s postapartheid constitution elucidates how economic, social, and political identities affect institutional outcomes.
Recent U.N. studies document the continuing systematic inequality that exists between men and women around the world. Approaching the study of sex-based inequality from a cross-cultural perspective reflects the reality that it is a universal phenomenon, but with complex and varied roots. The course will include an analysis of the ways in which this inequality impacts political decision-making, political representation, and public policy relevant to women and families. The course will also include the study of how factors such as race, class, religion, sexual orientation, and ethnicity, and social forces such as global capitalism, militarism, and nationalism interact with gender and affect the economic and political status of women and men around the world.
The sources, subjects, and major principles of international law. The function of law in the international community.
An historical, cultural, and linguistic survey of Russian civilization and culture from its ancient proto-Slavic beginnings to the present. The course is taught in English.
A study of 20th- and 21st-century Russian prose and media, including podcasts, television, and written news, emphasizing advanced linguistic and cultural proficiency. Authors studied may include (but are not limited to) Evgenii Grishkovets, Alisa Ganieva, and some excerpts from Tatiana Tolstaya and Viktor Pelevin.
An introduction to the culture of Spain emphasizing literature, the arts, and history from 1700 to the present. This course, along with SPAN 301, SPAN 303, and SPAN 304, constitutes the core of the major in Spanish. Students are strongly encouraged to take all four of these courses before undertaking more advanced study.
An introduction to the study of Latin America emphasizing literature, history, and the arts from the independence period to the present. This course, along with SPAN 301, SPAN 302, and SPAN 303, constitutes the core of the major in Spanish. Students are strongly encouraged to take all four of these courses before undertaking more advanced study.
An introduction to the study of Latin America emphasizing literature, history, and the arts from the independence period to the present. This course, along with SPAN 301, SPAN 302, and SPAN 303, constitutes the core of the major in Spanish. Students are strongly encouraged to take all four of these courses before undertaking more advanced study.
Shared readings on key topics and concepts related to the Hispanic world. Each student also engages in research on a topic of interest, culminating in a critical research paper and an oral presentation. This seminar serves to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement within the major.
Italian
An intensive, introductory course with emphasis on the fundamentals of grammar (both written and spoken) and extensive practice in listening comprehension and reading. Four class hours per week.
This course examines themes of Italian culture and society (such as art, architecture, music, food, folklore, migration) through texts from various media. Taught in Italian.
Latin
An intensive, introductory course in Latin emphasizing forms and syntax and with extensive readings. Four class hours per week.
Reading of selected satires of Horace and Juvenal.
This course examines the philosophical prose writings of Cicero and Seneca. Special attention is given to Stoicism.
Library Resources
This course introduces students to formulating a research topic, thinking critically about the ideas surrounding it, conducting research with academic library resources, and writing papers that marshal support from primary and secondary sources. Students read, analyze, and interpret information sources, developing research papers on topics in their academic disciplines.