*Spring 2024 Racial Justice Courses
| Department/
Course #/Title
|
Course Description | Attributes | Instructor | Format | Days/Times/Location |
| History & World Perspectives
AAS 100 The Black Experience |
This is an interdisciplinary course that examines major historical and contemporary conditions that have contributed to shaping the experiences of black people in America. The course utilizes a variety of original source material in history, literature, art, music, film, sociology, and politics in order to understand the thinking of and reaction to African Americans over nearly 400 years. | Amer Studies Expansion Course | Danielle N. King | IN-PERSON | M
5:30 – 8:00 PM |
| Social Sciences
ANT 352 Women & Gender in the Middle East |
This course will explore the complex processes and institutions that shape gender norms, gendered inequality, and gender identity in the Middle East. We will focus on the contemporary Middle East, with attention to both historical context and the impact of global transformations. This class seeks to complicate students’ understanding of the roles men and women play in the Middle East, and to offer insights into the ways in which women’s and men’s identities are defined, negotiated and expressed through various social institutions including work, consumption, education, the family, religion, politics, and war. Prerequisite: ANT 100, SOC 100 or WS 200. | Intercultural | Christine Marie Hegel-Cantarella | IN-PERSON
******* SYNCH |
M
3:30 PM – 4:45 PM ******* R 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM |
| English
ENG 214 African American Literature |
This course is a survey of African American literature. Students will study a range of genres, including fiction, poetry, drama, autobiography, and non-fiction, by African American authors and be acquainted with their contributions to American literature in general. Students will explore significant historical periods in African American history, such as slavery, the Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Civil Rights movement. This course will situate literary works within their historic and cultural contexts, but will also emphasize close readings of the texts. Prerequisites: Successful completion of WRT 101 or permission of the instructor. | Critical Thinking Intercultural | Donald P. Gagnon | IN-PERSON | M, R
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM |
| English
ENG 376 Caribbean Literature |
This course studies literatures of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and/or postcolonial literature. The course may focus on a single region, nation, or culture, or it may use a comparative approach. This course may be repeated for credit provided that the subject matter is different. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in WRT 101 or appropriate placement. | Hum Gen Ed – Literature International Stud Minor ENG/CTA/PHI, English Dept Lit Course, 300-Level Eng Dept Lit Course, SBS Gen Ed -Hist & World Perspectives | David Buchanan | IN-PERSON | T
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM |
| History & World Perspectives
HIS 115 Latin American & Caribbean Civilization |
This course examines the development of Latin America and the Caribbean as overlapping, though distinct regions, from before the Spanish Conquest of America to the present day. Many of the units consider a specific historical episode or era, while also posing a broader question concerning how these regions are understood in the United States. Major themes include the Conquest, Afro-Brazilian culture, popular politics in the 20th Century, revolutions and revolutionary iconography, art and literature. Classroom discussion centers on the political, social and cultural elements that characterize Latin America and the Caribbean. | Hum Gen Ed – Western History, Non-Europe Non-American History, Intercultural Competence (IC), SBS Gen Ed -History & World Perspectives | Joshua M. Rosenthal | ASYNCH | ONLINE TBA |
| History & World Perspectives
HIS 375 War, Peace, Memory: Latin America |
This course considers the politics of internal wars and post-war society in Latin America after 1960. The focus is on why these episodes of domestic conflict took place, peaceful transitions to post-war eras, Truth & Reconciliation commissions, and the growth of public memory projects. The course draws on historical examples from across Latin America: the military dictatorships and peaceful democratic transitions of the Southern Cone; the struggle between the Peruvian State and the Shining Path Guerrilla; the Cold War Violence and ethnic genocide in Guatemala; and the peace negotiations in twenty-first-century Colombia. Prerequisite: WRT 101 or appropriate placement. | Non-Europe Non-American History, Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2) | Joshua M. Rosenthal | IN-PERSON
******* HYBRID ASYNCH |
W
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM ******* ONLINE TBA |
| History & World Perspectives
HIS 416 Race & Power in U.S. History |
This course examines how race has functioned historically in relation to conceptions of “Americanness.” This course considers theoretical approaches to race and explores how various groups continue to navigate racial hierarchies in the United States. Prerequisite: HIs 148 or HIS 149. | Critical Thinking, American History, Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2) | Jennifer Nugent Duffy | IN-PERSON
******* HYBRID ASYNCH |
T
3:30 – 4:45 PM ******* ONLINE TBA
|
| Social Sciences
Honors 298 Human Rights |
Overview of the study of human rights as defined by international law. Includes a focus on the conception of human rights, the development of international law to codify human rights, the determinants of human rights violations, and the approaches to limiting human rights abuses. The course also includes general discussions of human rights conditions around the world and uses case studies of specific rights and issues in both domestic and international contexts. The course relies on quantitative and qualitative research within political science. MOI – T, HS. | TR Instructional Method | Jessica Schofield | IN-PERSON | T, R
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM |
| Social Work
SW 220 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion |
This course provides students with a theoretical understanding of culture, ethnicity, oppression, gender and race that informs clinical assessment and intervention. Focus is on the psychosocial dimensions of disempowerment and social work practice building on client strengths. Students will explore the differences in types of prejudice and their etiologies as well as the similarities in the consequences for those experiencing prejudice and discrimination. Emphasizing the Connecticut region, this course will analyze the significant racial, ethnic and other differences affecting professional social work practice. Comparison to other countries’ diversity issues will be made. Theoretical approaches, case studies and experiential exercises will be used to deepen the understanding of self and others. Prerequisite: C+ in SOC 100, or permission of the Department Chair. Priority given to SW and HPX majors. | Amer Studies Expansion Course, Intercultural | Deneen M. Harris
******* TBA |
IN-PERSON
******* IN-PERSON |
M, R
11:00 am – 12:15 PM ******* M 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Social Sciences
SOC 200 Concepts of Race & Racism |
A socio-historical and contemporary look at race and racism, focusing mainly on the United States. This course explores how global social transformations, stemming from Western European conquest and colonization, led to the formation of “race relations.” The course examines the resulting political economy and culture of racism. The invention of and meanings attached to various racialized identities, both white and non-white, are considered as they transform over time. The course also investigates white and non-white resistance movements and, more generally, follows the evolution of perspectives and theories of race and racism. Every semester. Prerequisite: ANT 100 or SOC 100 or SOC 101. | Amer Studies Expansion Course, CTA, Interpers/Group Category, SBS Gen Ed – Social Science | Carina A. Bandhauer | IN-PERSON | M, R
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM |
| Theatre Arts
THR 105 Social Issues & Justice in Theatre Arts |
In this course, students will engage with complex issues to strengthen communities and promote change. This course will use a cross-cultural approach to survey the dynamic and effective strategies of theatre artists engaged in social justice work. This class investigates topics such as systemic violence, power, and privilege, alongside community-building, ethics, and identity. Analyzing artistic processes from multiple perspectives provides frameworks to understand how students can pursue their theatrical aspirations while also working toward equity and justice for marginalized groups and communities. | Donna B. Bradby | IN-PERSON
HYBRID SYNCH |
F 10:00 AM – 11:40 AM 1:00 PM – 2:40 PM ******* ONLINE TBA |
|
| Social Sciences
WP 109 Equatorial African Cultures |
A multidisciplinary approach examining the geographical, historical and sociopolitical aspects of contemporary equatorial Africa (including East and West Africa). Topics discussed include early state formation, colonial policies, “traditional” vs. “modern” societies, and political and economic development problems. Spring semester. | Robert D. Whittemore | IN-PERSON | M, F
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM |
|