First-Year Course List

Course Descriptions

AFST 100. Introduction to Africana Studies (1 course, SS or PPD)
Designed as the gateway to Africana Studies, this course is an interdisciplinary exploration of the collective experience of blacks in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States. The course seeks to provide students an intellectual framework for engagement in a process of self-discovery and for achieving a more global understanding of the unique ways in which Africans and peoples of African descent have constituted our world. The course, which introduces important theoretical approaches and builds critical and analytical skills, provides an overview of the historical, socio-economic and cultural dynamics of black life.

AFST 240. Women Writers of the African Diaspora (1 course, AH or GL)
In this course, we will focus on contemporary women writers of African descent, particularly their postcolonial experiences in the Caribbean, Latin America, the U.S., and the U.K. Our readings will cover a variety of genres, including fiction, memoir, drama, and poetry. Some of the authors we study may include Jamaica Kincaid, Edwige Danticat, Safiyah Sinclair, Helen Oyeyemi, Bernardine Evaristo, and recent performance poets. This is an interdisciplinary course that will require active reading and participation.

ANTH 151. Human Cultures (1 course, SS or PPD)
An introduction to the perspectives, methods and ideas of cultural anthropology. Analysis of human diversity and similarities among people throughout the world, both Western and non-Western, through cross-cultural comparison. Topics include: culture and society; ethnographic research; ethnocentrism vs. cultural relativism; how societies adapt to their environment; different forms of marriage and social relationships; male, female and other forms of gender; the social functions of religion; and processes of socio-cultural change. May not be taken pass/fail.

ANTH 153. Human Origins (1 course, SM)
An introduction to physical anthropology and archaeology, showing how biology and culture enable humankind to survive in many different environments. Topics discussed include primate behavior, fossil humans, tools and society, and the relationships between biology and human behavior. May not be taken pass/fail.

ARTD 120. Introduction to Design Studies (1 course, AH)
In this studio course, students will learn how to control shape, value, space, form, and visual relationship to create effective design and communication. Projects focus on design and problem solving process and result in a portfolio of studies and completed works. This course introduces students to histories and theories of design, and positions students to develop as designers in various fields.

ARTH 132. Later Art Histories: After 1400 C.E. (1 course, AH)
A global survey of the histories of art after 1400 C.E. Selected works of art will be studied thematically and/or chronologically with an emphasis on their role in both localized and global socio-cultural developments. Thus, students will practice and discuss the analysis of visual forms and materiality within the context of political, social, economic, philosophical, and religious concerns. Basic approaches to art historical inquiry that are most effectively applied to art after 1400 C.E. will also be introduced.

ARTH290B. Latin American Early Modern Art (1 course, AH)
An in-depth study of a particular topic in the history of art. It may be an examination of a specific artist, group or movement or an exploration of a particular theme or issue in art.

ARTS 152. Drawing: Learning to See (1 course, AH)
Drawing is one of the most immediate and responsive forms of art-making. This class will introduce concepts that will carry over into other visual practices and develop our ability to recognize and create good drawings.

ARTS 153. Introduction to Painting (1 course, AH)
Designed for the student with little or no prior oil painting experience. This introduction includes development of a basic understanding of oil painting, color principles, line, form and composition. Principles are taught in conjunction with slide presentations and discussions of the painting ideology of past as well as contemporary masters. Generally it is recommended that students take Drawing I before Painting I. Not offered pass/fail.

ARTS 163. Introduction to Photography (1 course, AH)
An introduction to the art of black-and-white photography, this course provides opportunities for learning personal expression, critical thinking, and the aesthetics of photography through darkroom experiences and camera assignments. A 35-millimeter camera with a manual control is required. Some cameras are available for student checkout. Please see the instructor. Not offered pass/fail.

ARTS 170. Intro to Sculpture (1 course, AH)
An introduction to the concepts and technical skills associated with three dimensional media. The class explores the principles of 3D design, such as structure, organic/inorganic forms and spatial relationships. The curriculum introduces these concepts through a series of projects which develop basic technical skills with a through a variety of materials including clay, plaster, steel, paper and wood.

ARTS 175. Introduction to Ceramics (1 course, AH)
This course is an introduction to art studio focusing on the use of ceramic materials and techniques. The class covers basic art and design principles, idea development through sketching, experimentation and critique, and a range of ceramic techniques including hand building, press molds, wheel forming and surface development. Not offered pass/fail.

ASIA 290A. Cities in Asia, 1500-Present (1 course, SS or GL)
This is a course on urban history in Asia, c. 1500-present. We will examine how cities are founded and designed; the politics of cities; trade and economy; and complex issues like epidemics, protest, diversity, and provisioning. We will also explore how people experienced and navigated urban life. Students will gain a critical understanding of urban issues and urban experience in Asia, learn to understand and analyze complex historical relationships in a globalized framework, and develop a self-reflective sensibility towards cultural difference in the area of urban issues and experience.

BIO 101. Molecules, Genes and Cells (1 course, class and lab, SM)
Includes laboratory. An introduction to genetics, cell biology and molecular biology. Students will examine topics in biological chemistry, cellular structure and function, metabolism and energy flow in cellular systems, Mendelian genetics, and the cell cycle. Note: This course is commonly required for medical school and other health care professions. It does not matter what order you take BIO 101 and BIO 102 in. You may start out in Biology with either course. May not be taken pass/fail. This course is a prerequisite for most 200-400 level courses in Biology.

BIO 102. Evolution, Organisms and Ecology (1 course, class and lab, SM)
Includes laboratory. An introduction to the principles and practice of evolutionary biology, population genetics, and ecology. Students will examine topics in natural selection, the modern synthesis, speciation, phylogeny, primary productivity and ecological efficiency. Note: This course is commonly required for medical school and other health care professions. It does not matter what order you take BIO 101 and BIO 102 in. You may start out in Biology with either course. May not be taken pass/fail. This course is a prerequisite for most 200-400 level courses in Biology.

BIO 190. Human Biology (1 course, class and lab, SM)
In science, and in our world, context is integral to understanding. In this course you will learn a lot about humans, but also about how human interactions with the environment deeply affect our human experience. Learning the basics about systems of the human body (e.g. skeletal, neural) is only one aspect of the course. Importantly we will explore topics that are currently relevant and applicable to our daily lives. We will examine issues related to human health, and discuss technological developments in biology and medicine, including moral and ethical concerns raised by such technologies. A major goal of this class is that you are able to learn and practice the scientific skills necessary for making decisions in everyday life. Laboratory sessions are included as part of the course to further enhance your understanding of human health and function.

BUS 110. Gateway to Business Analytics (1 course, SS, Q-course)
A first course in applied business analytics that assumes no prior experience in the field. Explores uses of business analytics and ways to successfully use analytics in business decisions, including ethical aspects of data analysis. Focuses on gathering, organizing, and describing information. May include introductory topics such as data visualization and interpretation through use of simulation, case studies, and guest speakers. The course will include content from each of the four specializations in the Business Analytics major at DePauw: mathematics, computer science, financial analytics, and business & economics. Prerequisites: None.

BUS 240. Principles of Risk Management and Insurance (1 course, SS)
The course surveys fundamental principles of risk, the risk management process, and insurance as a systematic approach to transfer and finance risk. It examines how insurance offers protection against major risks that firms and individuals face, how the insurance market is structured, and how and why the industry is regulated. This course also delves into theories and philosophies that provide insights into how the risk management industry functions in the larger society. Emphasis is placed on understanding that insurance is just one of the techniques to be relied upon in planning a comprehensive risk management program.

CHEM 120. Structure and Properties of Organic Molecules (1 course, class and lab, SM)
This course introduces the basics of chemical bonding, structure and behavior in the context of organic molecules. Emphasis is placed on the nature of bonding, how chemists determine structure, the three-dimensional aspects of structure and how molecular structure determines chemical behavior. Lab activities are designed to reinforce class topics while introducing common organic lab techniques, such as liquid-liquid extraction, NMR, IR, GC/MS, and molecular modeling. Prerequisite: high school chemistry or CHEM 100. May not be taken pass/fail. This course is commonly required by schools in the health professions, including medicine. It does not matter what order you take CHEM 120 and CHEM 130 in. You may start out in Chemistry with either course.

CHEM 130. Structure and Properties of Inorganic Compounds (1 course, class and lab, SM)
An introduction to structure, bonding, properties and simple reactions of inorganic compounds. Topics covered include basic quantum theory, bonding theories, molecular and solid state structure and periodic properties of the elements and their compounds. Application of these topics to biological, environmental and geological systems will be stressed. The lab will focus on the synthesis, structure, properties, and reactivity of inorganic substances, including simple ionic substances and coordination complexes. Characterization using infrared and visible spectroscopy is also introduced. This course is commonly required by schools in the health professions, including medicine. It does not matter what order you take CHEM 120 and CHEM 130 in. You may start out in chemistry with either course.

CHEM 170. Stoichiometric Calculations (.25 course)
A review of the quantitative treatment of chemistry and chemical reactions. Topics include ways to express the absolute and relative amount of chemicals (grams, moles and concentration), balancing chemical reactions, mole-to-mole relationships, limiting reagents and theoretical yields. The course is composed of a series of self-paced modules. There are no class meetings. Prerequisite: high school chemistry or CHEM 100. May not be taken pass/fail. This review course is required for advanced courses in Chemistry.

CHIN 161. Elementary Chinese I (1 course, LA)
The goals for this course are for students to master the pinyin Romanization system and to acquire basic communication skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing Mandarin Chinese. CHIN 161 is open only to beginners in Chinese or those with two years or less of high school Chinese.

CHIN 261. Intermediate Chinese I (1 course, LA)
Course work helps students to develop four linguistic skills (speaking, writing, listening and reading) in Chinese at a more advanced level. Course work emphasizes drills, conversation and grammar. The goals are for students to acquire the following skills: to pronounce modern standard Chinese, to write words using both characters and pinyin Romanization system, to converse in more complicated sentences based on grammatical structures introduced in this course and to write essays. Prerequisite: CHIN 162 or qualifying score on the placement test.

CLST 100. Greek and Roman Mythology (1 course, AH)
The principal myths and legends of the ancient world, with consideration of the nature of myth, the social origin and evolution of myths, their relation to religion and philosophy and their use in literature and art.

CLST 153. Ancient Greek World (1 course, AH)
This course provides a broad survey of Greek history, society, and literature from the mythological origins until the Age of Alexander the Great. Students read widely from Greek primary sources such as Homer, Plato, Herodotus, and Thucydides. Not open to students with credit in CLST 253.

CLST 161. Introduction to Mediterranean Archaeology (1 course, SS)
This courses introduces students to the history, theory, and practice of Mediterranean archaeology. The course covers three areas: the rediscovery of Classical antiquity and its effect on European cultural and intellectual development; the basics of field methodology, including the use of technology; and the ethical role of the archaeologists in the interpretation and preservation of cultural remains. Offered in alternate fall semesters. Priority given to first-year students and sophomores.

COMM 111. Acting I (1 course, AH)
Grounding in American acting technique, paying particular attention to objective, obstacle, playable action, character analysis, improvisation, and understanding and development of the vocal and physical instruments.

COMM 118. Costume, Lighting, and Scenery Design (1 course, class and lab, Q-course)
The theory and practice of technical design for live performance, including: scenery construction, lighting, properties, costume construction and make-up. Laboratory work on University productions.

COMM 123. Public Speaking (1 course)
This course examines the attitudes, methods, and techniques used in effective public speaking. Effective performance required in a variety of speaking situations.

CSC 120. Computer Science for All (1 course, SM, Q-course)
Computers (in their various kinds and sizes) appear in our hands, cars, and other parts of our daily lives. They are essential tools in business, healthcare, education, and industry. Computers play a crucial research role in technical fields, humanities, and social sciences. This course serves students who want to learn elementary principles of computer science and some basic data analysis skills using the popular computer language Python. Offered each semester. Not offered pass/fail. Does not count toward CS major, CS minor, or Data Science minor. Does not count toward CS GPA.

CSC 121. Computer Science I (1 course, SM, Q-course)
This is an introductory course in which problem solving and algorithm development are studied by considering computer science topics, such as computer graphics, graphical user interfaces, modeling and simulation, artificial intelligence and information management systems. Interesting and relevant programming assignments related to these topics are written in a high-level programming language that supports objects. Additional assignments utilize writing and data analysis to reinforce central course concepts and to address related areas of computing, such as ethics, history and the meaning of intelligence. The course meets three hours in class and two hours in laboratory (3-2). Offered each semester. Not offered pass/fail.

CSC 125. Principles of Software Development (1 course)
A study of fundamental techniques and tools for managing software development projects, together with relevant professional and ethical issues. Topics include methodologies such as UML diagrams for software specification and design, documentation standards, and tools for testing, code management, analysis, and debugging. Object oriented programming techniques such as inheritance and polymorphism are emphasized. Students will develop skills in individual and team software development through extensive practice designing and implementing object oriented software systems. In addition, students gain experience reading, documenting, presenting and critiquing such systems. Offered each semester. Not offered pass/fail. Prerequisite: CSC 121.

ECON 100. Introduction to Economics (1 course, SS, Q-course)
Survey of basic concepts and processes in microeconomics and macroeconomics: production, income, demand, supply, cost, price, market structures, money, government finance and international trade and finance.

EDUC 170. Foundations of Education (1 course, SS)
(includes field experience) Establishes a liberal arts foundation for teacher preparation with an emphasis on community/school relationships. Explores major philosophical, historical, and sociological points of view in contemporary American education and their influence on educational decisions and systems. Field experience is required, and students should register for lab time concurrently. May not be taken pass/fail.

ENG 120. College Writing I (1 course)
This course reviews good writing strategies to prepare students for the level of reading, writing and critical thinking done in College Writing II. By means of short essay assignments, students build fluency and confidence in writing. May not be counted toward a major in English.

ENG 141. Reading World Literature (1 course, AH or GL)
This course explores literature in translation across national and geographic boundaries. It focuses on fiction, drama, and poetry as a way of gaining a critical understanding of perspectives, voices, and aesthetics of people and places outside of the U.S. In engaging the reader's literary sensibilities, the course aims to develop students' self-reflection on cultural difference and their own globally-situated identities and responsibilities.

ENG 149. Introduction to Creative Writing (1 course, AH)
An introduction to writing and reading fiction and poetry in a workshop setting using the work of contemporary poets and writers as models. May include some creative non-fiction and/or dramatic writing.

ENG 171. Intercultural Perspectives (1 course, AH or PPD)
This course explores literature as a means of understanding difference across boundaries of race, nation, class, gender, or religion. It will feature literary works that foreground a variety of intercultural perspectives, including literature in translation and literature that thematizes difference.

ENG 191. Science, Nature, and Technology (1 course, AH)
This course explores literature as a response to scientific and technological change. It considers the ways that new scientific discoveries inspire new visions in literature and the ways, in turn, that imaginative writing inspires new approaches in science. It features literary works that contextualize past scientific and technological advances, interpret and critique changes happening in the present, and imagine the changes that might occur in the future.

ENG 232. News Writing and Editing (1 course)
An introduction to the art and craft of writing for newspapers, including story structure, research techniques, interviewing, note taking, ethics, libel and AP Style. Students will hone their writing and reporting skills by covering campus events, writing stories on deadline and following national and local media coverage.

ENG 264A. Women Writers of the African Diaspora (1 course, AH or GL)
In this course, we will focus on contemporary women writers of African descent, particularly their postcolonial experiences in the Caribbean, Latin America, the U.S., and the U.K. Our readings will cover a variety of genres, including fiction, memoir, drama, and poetry. Some of the authors we study may include Jamaica Kincaid, Edwige Danticat, Safiyah Sinclair, Helen Oyeyemi, Bernardine Evaristo, and recent performance poets. This is an interdisciplinary course that will require active reading and participation.

ENG 264B. US Women's Autobiography (1 course, AH)
This interdisciplinary course explores how American women narrate and represent their lives across media, including literature, film, and fine art. We will pay particular attention to women¿s autobiographical practices that employ both image and text to address the complexities of self-representation and the intersectionality of culture, memory, fiction, and history within these practices. Course themes include: definitions of national belonging; intertextuality and the construction of self; transformation and conversion narratives as social/political critique; and loss of innocence as a counter-hegemonic feminist strategy.

ENG 281. British Writers I: Pilgrim, Warrior, Lover, Knight (1 course, AH)
This course surveys works of representative British authors from Anglo-Saxon times through the Augustan period. It is designed for students wishing to acquaint themselves with this broad area of British letters. The range of readings in this course will emerge from a jingle that I've devised: "Pilgrim, Mystic, / Courtier, Critic, / Warrior, Lover, / Fool and Knight.

FLME 100. Introduction to Film and Media Arts (1 course, AH)
An introduction to the critical study of moving image media that focuses on textual analysis. The course emphasizes the development of cinema as an art form and cultural force and its relation to subsequent audiovisual media, such as television, video, or web series.

FLME 195. Intro to Digital Film Production (1 course, AH)
This course provides an introduction to camerawork, sound recording, lighting and editing in digital filmmaking, with short units on short film screenwriting and working with actors. Prior experience in film production not required.

FREN 101. Elementary French I (1 course, LA)
Introduction to the French language with emphasis on development of proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing. The essentials of French grammar. Emphasis on communication and Francophone cultures. FREN 101 is open only to beginners in French or those with two years or less of high school French.

FREN 110. Review of Elementary French (1 course, LA)
Practice in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Review of French grammar and study of Francophone cultures. For those students who have prior experience in French. Open to students who are placed into this level by test results or departmental direction. Not open to those who have credit for FREN 101 or 102.

FREN 206. Comedy Drama Television Series (1 course, LA or GL)
This intermediate level course explores a popular French comedy-drama series, helping students to understand its cultural meaning and enhance their communication skills in real-life language use through listening, speaking, and writing activities. May be repeated for credit with a different topic. Prerequisite: FREN 102 or 110 or qualifying score on the French placement test.

FREN 315. Eux et nous: Francophone Peripheral Voices (1 course, LA or GL)
A critical appreciation of the construction of individual and/or collective identities in Francophone literatures and cultures. Students examine the complex dynamics between "national identity" and cultural diversity through a variety of contemporary texts, each of which engages with questions of, among others, race, privilege, space(s), displacement of colonial ideology, representation, and freedom of religion. Prerequisite: FREN 201 or qualifying score on the French placement test.

GEOS 110. Earth and the Environment (1 course, class and lab, SM, Q-course)
Includes laboratory. An introduction to the materials that make up the earth and the interplay between constructive and destructive processes that shape the earth, including plate tectonics. Laboratories include mineral and rock identification, field trips, and topographic map interpretation.

GEOS 117. Weather, Climate & Climate Change (1 course, SM)
An introduction to the Earth's atmosphere through the study of weather, climate and climate change. Topics covered include atmospheric composition,structure and function, weather phenomena and climate, and natural and human-induced climate change. Global societal responses to rapid climate change are also discussed.

GEOS 125. Introduction to Environmental Science (1 course, SM)
An introduction to the study of environmental science. Topics include matter, energy, ecosystems, human populations, natural resources, and the impact of human activity on the natural environment. Special attention is given to current environmental problems including air and water pollution, acid rain, stratospheric ozone depletion, climate change, deforestation, and species extinctions.

GLH 101. Introduction to Global Health (1 course, GL)
Global health is an interdisciplinary field that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people using both population-based prevention and individual-level care. This course will introduce students to an interdisciplinary understanding of complex health issues. Topics will be discussed from a range of disciplinary perspectives while considering historical, social, environmental, cultural, political, and economic factors that shape physical, mental, and social health. Rather than a focus on one location, population, or period of time, this course will examine the different perspectives and approaches that impact health and health disparities that can be used to improve health both locally and globally.

GRK 101. Introduction to Ancient Greek I (1 course, LA)
This course prepares students to read such ancient Greek texts as Homer's Iliad, Sappho's poetry, Plato's Symposium, Herodotus' Histories, Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, and the New Testament in the original language. Introduction to the essentials of ancient Greek vocabulary and grammar with emphasis on development of proficiency in reading ancient Greek literature. First semester of a two-semester sequence of introductory ancient Greek language courses. Applies toward the Distribution Area requirement in Language. Applies toward Major or Minor in Greek or Classical Civilization. Prerequisite for GRK 102. Offered every Fall Semester.

GRK 205. Greek Prose and Poetry (1 course, LA)
Review of grammar and reading from representative Greek authors, usually including Homer or Plato. Prerequisite: GRK 101-102. May be repeated for credit.

GRMN 111. Elementary German I (1 course, LA)
An introductory program with a variety of learning approaches. Presentation and reinforcement of grammar, pronunciation and idiom through simple reading, guided writing and functional spoken German. An introduction to the German cultural tradition. GER 111 is open only to those without German language background or to those with two years or less of high school German.

GRMN 118. Germany Today (taught in English) (1 course, GL)
This course will introduce you to contemporary German culture and society. What does it mean to be a German? Is there such a thing as German culture? By closely examining a variety of texts and other media (film, music, contemporary art) we will try to understand what is means to live in today's Germany. How do Germans and recent immigrants perceive daily life in Germany? What are the societal issues Germans are confronted with (migration, gender roles, power structures, family life, environmental pollution, etc)? Are these issues specific to Germans and Germany or are these global issues that impact people around the world? How does life in Germany compare to life in the USA? By closely examining contemporary German culture and society, we will also gain new insights into our own culture and society. You will be introduced to a wide variety of topics, some of which you will study in more detail in upper-level courses. Course offered in English.

GRMN 211. Intermediate German I (1 course, LA)
General preparation in German for personal, academic and professional use. Exercise in speaking the language and in writing brief original compositions. Reading from modern literary and cultural sources; selected topics about contemporary German life and the German tradition. Prerequisite: GER 112 or qualifying score on the placement test.

GRMN 212. Intermediate German II (1 course, LA)
A continuation of GER 211. Prerequisite: GER 211 or qualifying score on the placement test.

GRMN 314. Die Weimarer Republik heute (1 course, LA, GL or SS)
Emphasis on aspects of popular, artistic, intellectual, religious and social tradition from selected periods. Prerequisite: GRMN 212 or permission of instructor.

Babylon Berlin: The German Netflix series shows us a portrait of Berlin in the 1920's as a society out of balance, teetering between the extremes of Communist and Nazi politics, featuring desperate poverty and dissolute parties, a culture, in the classic phrase, "dancing on the edge of a volcano." In our course, we will discuss the series in dialog with films, novels, and other texts from the period which will not only allow us to assess why many find the Weimar Republic (1919-1933) so fascinating, but also witness the incredibly experimental cultural vibrancy of the Roaring Twenties in Berlin in any number of areas: new forms of media, science, and technology, new notions sexuality, radical politics and social experimentation, new kinds of art and self-expression. We will look closely at the questions posed then about city life, mass culture, gender, democracy and its end, technology and at both bleak and utopian visions of the future, and compare them with our own, not so dissimilar, questions and visions. Weimar was a time with infinite possibilities, where the future was open for the taking -- it could have ended otherwise than in the Nazi regime which took over in 1933... What does this tell us about the dangers and possibilities before us today? Course readings, discussions, and homework in German.

HISP 131. Intro to the Spanish-Speaking World I (1 course, LA)
Introduction to the Spanish language with emphasis on the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Emphasis on Spanish-speaking cultures and communication in authentic contexts. HISP 131 is open only to beginners in Spanish or those with two years or less of high school Spanish.

HISP 140. Spanish-Speaking World: Intensive (1 course, LA)
Intensive study of the Spanish language with emphasis on the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Emphasis on Spanish-speaking cultures and communication in authentic contexts. This course is designed for those students who seek more immediate entry into higher levels.

HISP 231. Topics of the Spanish-Speaking World I (1 course, LA)
Further development of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills through focused topics of the Spanish-speaking world, such as identity and memory, borders and immigration, social movements and revolution, and multilingualism. Prerequisite: HISP 132 or HISP 140 or qualifying score on the placement test.

HISP 232. Topics of the Spanish-Speaking World II (1 course, LA)
A continuation of HISP 231.

HISP 332. Literacy in the Spanish-Speaking World (1 course, LA)
Advanced reading and writing strategies, including grammar review and composition, for entry into the advanced curriculum. Students read from a variety of representative texts of multiple registers from the Spanish-speaking world. Open to students from all language learning backgrounds.
NOTE: Students may not earn major/ minor credit for both HISP 332 and HISP 333. Prerequisite: HISP 232 or qualifying grade on the placement test.

HISP 333. Spanish as Heritage Language (1 course, LA)
Designed for students who grew up using Spanish with their families and/or communities, but who received the majority of K-12 education in English. Emphasis on advanced reading and writing strategies and differentiation between written and oral registers of Spanish through discussion of key issues affecting the Latinx community and civic engagement. A focus on Spanish as a national language in the U.S. and the deconstruction of myths based on power and privilege associated with being Latino in the U.S. Topics vary by semester, but may include immigration, identity construction, bilingualism, literature, or popular culture.
NOTE: Students may not earn major/ minor credit for both HISP 332 and HISP 333. Prerequisite: HISP 232 or qualifying grade on the placement test.

HIST 100A. Life and Death in Early Modern China (1 course, AH)
This course is an exploration of seventeenth-century Jiangnan, the heart of the Chinese Ming empire, one of the largest empires of the early modern world and the center of the emerging global economy. Today, the region of Jiangnan is best-known for modern cities like Shanghai and the traditional gardens of Suzhou. The early modern period (ca. 1500-1800) was a transformative and turbulent time in world history and, by focusing on Jiangnan during this time, this course opens a window on the challenges, dramas, and fascination of people's lives and social change during this period. Through the best-selling fiction and historical sources of the seventeenth century, discover seeds of the modern world in the environmental issues, family relationships, economic growth, political conflict, and cross-cultural interactions of this time and place. This course provides an introduction and foundation for further work in Asian studies, history, and the humanities and social sciences.

HIST 100B. God and Sex: Religion and Culture in Africa (1 course, AH)
Societies across the world attach different values, taboos, sacredness, and interpretations of sex, sexuality, and sexual relationships. In Africa, although societies saw sex as a routine exercise that every "adult" aspired to engage in, the act, however, was intersected with religion, culture, ritual, belief systems, and customs. The course investigates the historical, cultural, and social contexts of sexual diversity, identity, discrimination, and sexual violence in 20th and 21st-century Africa while paying close attention to the influence of cultural norms and religion. We will organize our inquiries around the themes of sexuality and sexual relations, religion, culture, family, and courtship. Some of the questions we will raise include: What counted as sex? What types of sex were considered socially acceptable in different societies in Africa? Who was allowed to engage in them? How did taboos, values, customs, and rituals on sexual relationships change over time and across histories and geographies? Also, the course covers ongoing issues such as HIV-AIDS and the current struggles for the rights of the LGBTQIA communities in Africa.

HIST 100C. Birth Control and Reproductive Justice (1 course, AH)
In this course, we will explore the global history of birth control and the rise of the reproductive rights movement. From Colonial Mexico to Postwar Japan, we will explore how the state, religious institutions, juridical system, healthcare practitioners, international organizations, and society have negotiated but also competed in their reproduction and birth control definitions. We will ask why doctors, governments, religious groups, left and right-wing politicians, feminists, intellectuals, and scientists had --and still have-- something to say about who should have children, who should not, and what means to prevent pregnancies are acceptable. Moreover, we will address how the appeal to control fertility had techno-material results, such as the development of new contraceptive technologies like the pill or the IUD in the second half of the 20th century, bringing new urgency to the discussions on women's health and bodily autonomy.

HIST 216. Power to the People: The Struggle for Democracy and Rights in 20th and 21st Century Latin America (1 course, AH or GL)
This class surveys the ongoing struggle for rights, equality, and democracy by everyday people--women, native people, Afro-Latin Americans, the poor, and the queer community--in twentieth and twenty-first century Latin America. Characterized by the rise of unions, working class involvement in politics, attempts at land reforms, and the advancement of women's suffrage, the first half of the twentieth-century saw an expansion in people's rights and political participation, thereby making Latin American nations more democratic and inclusive than ever before. However, as students will learn, the struggle for equal rights and stable democracies for all citizens did not proceed in a linear, unobstructed fashion in the region. Rather, progress was fitful at best and, at worst, often times took significant steps back. Threats, both domestic and international, posed significant challenges to the democratization of Latin America; US and CIA interventions during the Cold War, for example, led to dictators across the region who impoverished their own countries; terrorized their populations; ended democratic rule; and limited the rights of women, the queer community, and people of color. Thus, this class challenges the "myth of progress," highlighting that democracy, civil rights, and greater equality are not guarantees in our modern world. That being said, this course demonstrates that everyday people persistently negotiated and pushed back against structures of oppression, leading to indigenous rebellions, social revolutions, and feminist and gay liberation movements. Indeed, Latin Americans "from below" shaped and continue to shape Latin America. The class will end by considering the current state of democracy and women's, queer, and indigenous rights, as well as other major issues facing the regions' nations in the twenty-first century.

HIST 254. The Emergence of East Asia: Scholars, Warriors, and Empires (1 course, AH or GL)
This is a survey of the history of East Asia, c. 900 CE to 1800 CE, focusing on China and Japan, with some consideration of Korea and Vietnam. The course begins with the emergence in the 10th century of a multipolar region following the collapse of the Tang empire in China, and ends c. 1800 with the global repercussions of the industrial revolutions. The period is characterized by transformations in state and society broadly associated with Neo-Confucianism, commercialization, and steppe-based imperial formations. Topics explored in the course include: formation of elite status groups (scholar-officials, samurai), women & gender, empires, trade, environment.

HIST 278. U.S. Women's History:1890-Present (1 course, AH)
This course is a chronological survey of U.S. women's history over the long 20th century, focusing on women in politics and women as citizens. We approach modern U.S. history using gender as a lens of analysis, keeping in mind that women have never been a monolithic or unified group. Accordingly, we pay attention to nuances along lines such as race, class, region, political ideology, religion, and sexuality. Topics include the long and diverse suffrage movement, electoral politics, and social movements. In addition to learning what happened in the past, we consider how historians have conceived of the field of women's history, paying attention to how scholars use sources, periodize the past, and theorize women's experiences. Students have the opportunity not only to study history but to do history through archival research and primary-source analysis.

ITAL 171. Elementary Italian I (1 course, LA)
Introduction to the Italian language with emphasis on development of proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

ITAL 271. Intermediate Italian I (1 course, LA)
Second year Italian. First semester. This course emphasizes oral and written expression, listening comprehension and building vocabulary. It also provides an intensive review of grammar. Learning is facilitated by a careful selection of literary texts, such as plays, novels, short stories, celebrated lyrics from opera and contemporary music. A variety of real-life material is also employed, including newspaper and magazine articles, radio and television broadcasts. Students are required to participate and engage in conversation during class. Regular attendance is essential. Daily assignments are required. Pre-requisite: Italian 171 & 172 or permission of a professor of Italian in the Modern Language Department.

JAPN 151. Elementary Japanese I (1 course, LA)
Introduction to the Japanese language with emphasis on development of proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. JAPN 151 is open only to beginners in Japanese or those with two years or less of high school Japanese.

JAPN 251. Intermediate Japanese I (1 course, LA)
Further study of Japanese language and practice in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Prerequisite: JAPN 152 or qualifying score on the placement test.

JAPN 351. Advanced Japanese I (1 course, LA)
Readings and discussion of advanced Japanese materials. Exercise in speaking the language and in writing compositions. Prerequisite: JAPN 252 or qualifying score on the placement test.

KINS 100. Introduction to Kinesiology (1 course, class and lab, SM)
Includes laboratory. Designed to introduce students to the discipline of kinesiology including the major subdisciplines and approaches to studying movement. Laboratory activities are designed to allow for measurement of phenomenon discussed in class, to introduce common laboratory procedures and techniques, and to learn how to collect and analyze data to answer questions of interest in kinesiology.

LAT 123. Elementary Latin I (1 course, LA)
An introduction to Latin grammar with emphasis on the development of reading knowledge. Includes discussions of Roman life and culture.

LAT 223. Intermediate Latin (1 course, LA)
Combines a thorough review of elementary Latin and an introduction to continuous Latin texts from foundational authors such as Cicero, Caesar, Sallust, and Vergil. Teaches strategies for analyzing complex sentences and continuous passages. Includes some prose composition. Prerequisite: LAT 124 or two years of high school Latin (entering students should take the Latin placement exam during orientation) or permission of instructor.

MATH 123. Computational Discrete Mathematics (1 course, SM, Q-course)
An introduction to the concepts of discrete mathematics with an emphasis on problem solving and computation. Topics are selected from Boolean algebra, combinatorics, functions, graph theory, matrix algebra, number theory, probability, relations and set theory. This course may have a laboratory component.

MATH 135. Calculus with Review I (1 course)
Extensive review of topics from algebra, trigonometry, analytic geometry, graphing and theory of equations. A study of functions, limits, continuity and differentiability of algebraic and transcendental functions with applications. Note: Math 135 and Math 136 is a full year sequence which is the equivalent of the faster-paced Math 151.

MATH 141. Stats for Professionals (1 course, SM, Q-course)
This course introduces students to elementary probability and data analysis via visual presentation of data, descriptive statistics and statistical inference. Emphasis will be placed on applications with examples drawn from a wide range of disciplines in both physical and behavioral sciences and humanities. Topics of statistical inference include: confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression, correlation, contingency tales, goodness of fit and ANOVA. The course will also develop familiarity with the most commonly encountered tables for probability distributions: binomial, normal, chi-squared, student-t and F.

MATH 151. Calculus I (1 course, SM, Q-course)
A study of functions, limits, continuity, differentiation and integration of algebraic and transcendental functions with elementary applications.

MATH 152. Calculus II (1 course, SM, Q-course)
Techniques of integration, parametric equations, infinite series and an introduction to the calculus of several variables. Prerequisite: MATH 136 or MATH 151.

MSST 110. Contemporary Issues in Museum Studies (1 course, AH or PPD)
This course introduces and examines the institutional practices of museums (as well as other exhibition spaces) with emphasis on the ethical dimensions of these practices. How do the creators of exhibits find ways to translate complex ideas and contextual material into accessible, compelling displays? What methods do museum professionals employ to involve and assist visitors? Why do some exhibitions become sites of public controversies and battles over representation- whose voices are heard and whose are silenced? In what manner do discussions of power, privilege, and diversity come into play in museums? How do exhibition planners negotiate ethnic, racial, class, religious, gender, and sexual difference? This course has a two-fold goal: it will introduce students to museums and their operations, and it will explore critical issues of power, privilege, and diversity in contemporary museum studies. In meeting the first goal, we will consider museum missions, practices of collection, exhibition strategies and interpretation, and audience appeal. Then, the class will situate museum strategies and practices in a larger context, examining changing museum ideologies and institutional engagements with the politics of cultural representation, as well as the ethical debates over the 'ownership' of culture and cultural artifacts. Assignments and site visits will further strengthen students' reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

MUS 100. Thinking, Listening, Creating with Music (1 course, AH)
A basic course that enables the non-music major to understand the manner in which the elements of music are constructed and combined in order to form a coherent musical expression.

MUS 102. Exploring Music in History and Culture (1 course, AH)
This course is open to all CLA students who wish to develop a deeper love and understanding of music. The course introduces concepts and terms of music studies and teaches the skills to listen more deeply and to write and speak fluently about music. The course explores some of the historical and cultural factors that have influenced musical creation and performance and the roles that music has played in social life past and present. No previous musical experience or ability to read music notation is necessary for this course.

MUS 140. Music Theory and Musicianship I (1 course)
Music Theory and Musicianship I builds foundational skills for collegiate music study. Students discover broadly applicable musical concepts in the domains of pitch relationships, rhythm, timbre, and form, and build fluency with those concepts through skill-building activities. These activities include composition, improvisation, performance, transcription, sight-reading, aural identification, music analysis, music technology applications, and writing. This course also builds keyboard and vocal skills: concepts will be drilled at the piano, vocally (using moveable Do solfege), and on students' primary instruments, if different. Concepts and activities will be situated within current discourses in music studies.

MUS 171. Beginning Ballet I (1/2 course, AH)
Designed for the student who has had no previous dance training. Basic concepts and terminology will be considered as will aspects of history and appreciation. Additional fees are charged for dance classes, applied music (individual lessons) and applied music classes.

MUS 179. Ballroom Dancing (1/2 course, AH)
An introduction to the history and practice of ballroom dancing. Additional fees are charged for dance classes, applied music (individual lessons) and applied music classes.

MUS 180. Beginning Tap (1/2 course, AH)
This course is the study of tap dance technique from the basic rhythms and time steps to creating and performing tap routines. Emphasis on individual and group performance. Additional fees are charged for dance classes, applied music (individual lessons) and applied music classes.

MUS 181. Symphonic Band (1/4 course, AH)
The Symphonic Band provides playing experiences for College of Liberal Arts majors, and School of Music majors who want to improve their technique and skills on secondary woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. The mission of the Symphonic Band is to create maximum enjoyment with limited performance demands for students who wish to continue to perform in a large ensemble as part of their collegiate educational experience. Auditions are not required for participation. However, they are held for optional chair placements and part assignments.

MUS 274. Putnam County Festival Choir (1/4 course)
This community choir at DePauw is open to both students as well as community members (e. g. staff/faculty/residents of Greencastle, Putnam County and beyond) who meet in weekly two-hour rehearsals during each semester. The choir therefore is designed to bring together a diverse group of people through shared musical experiences. No audition or music reading skills are needed to join, the desire to sing together in a group is enough.

MUS 900. Beginning Class Piano (1/4 course, AH)
Open only to students with very limited or no prior experience in the study of piano. Additional fees are charged for dance classes, applied music (individual lessons) and applied music classes.

MUS 905. Beginning Class Voice (1/4 course, AH)
This course teaches vocal fundamentals in a group format through the study of the physiology and acoustics of the human singing voice. Classical and non-classical styles are studied. Additional fees are charged for dance classes, applied music (individual lessons) and applied music classes.

MUS 907. Beginning Folk Guitar I (1/4 course, AH)
Open only to students with very limited or no prior experience in the study of guitar. Additional fees are charged for dance classes, applied music (individual lessons) and applied music classes.

MUS 909. Beginning Class Percussion I (1/4 course, AH)
This course is designed for CLAS students with little or no percussion experience. Students earn 0.25 course credit for meeting twice a week, for a total of two hours per week during the semester. Students who have played percussion in large ensembles during high school should register for applied lessons or audition for the percussion ensemble. Additional fees are charged for dance classes, applied music (individual lessons) and applied music classes.

MUS Applied Lessons. (1/4 or 1/2 course, AH)
Individual lessons for intermediate or advanced students in Bass, Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Composition, Euphonium, Flute, Folk Guitar, Jazz Guitar, Horn, Harp, Oboe, Piano, Percussion, Saxophone, Tuba, Trombone, Trumpet, Viola, Violin, or Voice. Additional fees are charged for dance classes, applied music (individual lessons) and applied music classes.

MUS Ensembles. (1/4 or 1/2 course, AH)
Students can audition at the start of the semester for Band, Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, or Choir. Additional fees are charged for dance classes, applied music (individual lessons) and applied music classes.

PACS 100. Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies (1 course, SS or PPD)
This course surveys the process of conflict, including conflict management, from a multidisciplinary perspective. As such, it deals with the causes, dynamics, types, levels, management functions and outcomes of conflict. The implementation of the course involves, in part, case-study simulations and occasional guest lecturers from various disciplines on campus. This course is a prerequisite for upper-level courses in peace and conflict studies and required for the peace and conflict studies major and minor.

PHIL 101A. Introduction to Philosophy: Big Questions (1 course, AH)
Does God exist, and can we prove it? What can we know about the world outside our minds? Are we free? How should we live? We will read, discuss, and critique philosophical works on these questions from ancient times to the present. Requirements will include written responses to readings, short papers, exams, and participation.

PHIL 101B. Introduction to Philosophy: Big Questions (1 course, AH)
This course introduces students to some of the central topics and methods of philosophy. The course will focus on these questions: What should we do about injustice? How well do we know ourselves? Where does consciousness come from? Does God exist? The readings for the course are drawn from a bewildering variety of classic and contemporary sources. Requirements include tests, papers, and several unannounced quizzes.

PHIL 101C. Introduction to Philosophy: Get it, Girl (1 course, AH)
This course aims to introduce the field of philosophy in a way that's explicitly attuned to voices that have been missing or marginalized in the Western canon. This class is for students of any race, gender, culture, etc. who are curious about philosophy. You must be willing to study challenging texts - including but not limited to works considered part of the Western canon - and to think hard, discuss collegially, and write extensively about the difficult questions they raise concerning knowledge, reality, ethics, and society. The relevance of social identities, structures, and power relations to such questions will be a consistent theme.

PHYS 120. Principles of Physics I (1 course, class and lab, SM, Q-course)
Includes laboratory. An introductory calculus-based course covering fundamental concepts of physics including: momentum, energy, conservation laws, particle interactions, Newton's laws, oscillations, orbits and planetary motion. Laboratory sessions will provide a hands-on opportunity to explore the concepts of physics. This course is designed for students majoring in the sciences and mathematics and those in pre-professional programs in health sciences, medicine, engineering and teaching. Prerequisite or co-requisite: MATH 151. This course is commonly required by schools in the health professions, including medicine.

PHYS 130. Principles of Physics II (1 course, class and lab, SM, Q-course)
Includes laboratory. This course builds on PHYS 120 and covers fundamental concepts of physics including: electric and magnetic fields, circuits, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, waves, interference and diffraction. Laboratory sessions will provide a hands on opportunity to explore the concepts of physics. This course is designed for students majoring in the sciences and mathematics and those in pre-professional programs in health sciences, medicine, engineering and teaching. Prerequisite: PHYS 120 (students may receive credit for PHYS 120 through the AP Physics test and thus be eligible for PHYS 130. This course is commonly required by schools in the health professions, including medicine.

POLS 110. American Government (1 course, SS or PPD)
This course will serves as an introduction to the American political system. The three branches of the national government and the roles of political parties, elections, public opinion, interest groups, and other political actors will be addressed.

POLS 130. Introduction to Political Theory (1 course, SS)
This course offers an introduction to and exploration of selected topics in Political Theory. The word theory comes from the Greek root theoria, which translates loosely to vision. Theory, then, is a way of seeing or making sense of the world around us. At its best, political theory provides us with frameworks of understanding that illuminate the political world around us and allow us to grasp the dynamics that are at play in our institutions and practices. Theory provides powerful tools of critique that allow us to explore power and privilege in politics and envision a different path forward. Theory can be pragmatic and radical, narrowly realist in its thinking or sweepingly idealist in its imaginative scope. Theory does not always provide right or wrong answers about the best way to approach politics but rather trains us to reflect deeply about political life and ask better questions. Traditionally, Political Theory has been rooted in the Western tradition, in the canon of European thinkers, who have made tremendous contributions to how we think about freedom, leadership, citizenship, and sovereignty. Some of our most significant conceptual tools come to us from this tradition. Along with them, we inherit their myopia on questions of race, power, and privilege, and it is important to grapple deeply with their ideas but also to examine them with a critical eye and note their silences and make them speak to the problems of our time. This course begins with an introduction to these foundational concepts and then adds on to and broadens what it means to be canonical by including a range of critical perspectives. We will engage with profound thinkers on race and class, on anti-colonialism and radical resistance and conclude the semester by interrogating the thin line between democracy and totalitarianism. In this class, we will encounter texts by Machiavelli, Hobbes, Rousseau, and Marx, but also DuBois, Gandhi, Fanon, Arendt, and others, reading them in chronological order with an eye toward changes in concerns and concepts across time. We will explore the connections between theory and practice in our conversations and work to apply these complex concepts to contemporary issues in politics, society, and culture in our practice of theoria.

POLS 150. Comparative Politics and Government (1 course, SS or GL)
An examination of major theories of comparative politics applicable to liberal democratic, communist and developing Third World systems. Theories of modernization and development, functionalism, systems analysis, dependency and underdevelopment, political economy, state-society relations, corporatism and neo-corporatism in both Western and non-Western settings.

POLS 170. International Politics (1 course, SS)
An analysis of continuity and change in world politics, focusing on the units of analysis; patterns of conflict and competition, cooperation and order, and constraint; the structure of the international system; the international agenda and emerging trends and issues such as globalization and terrorism; and the current state of world order and its future.

POLS 253. China and India in the 21st Century (1 course, SS or GL)
Why do the two Asian giants, India and China, with more than 38 percent of the population of the world, matter to the rest of the world at the beginning of the 21st century? What are China's superpower prospects? Will nuclear India attain great power status? What is the future of communism and the prospect of political freedom and democracy in China? Is Indian democracy stable? What are the sources of instability of Indian government? The dynamics of ethnic minorities in China? The future of secularism in India? The nuclear dynamics in Sino-Indian relations? These questions and many others will be explored in this course.

PSY 100. Introductory Psychology (1 course, SM)
This course is a thorough survey of the major areas and approaches in psychology. As a discipline, psychology examines how humans and other organisms develop, function and adapt, including such topics as: how the brain and nervous system function; how we sense and perceive information from our environment; how we learn, remember, think about and interact with the world and each other; how we change during development from birth to old age; why we are motivated to act as we do; the factors that make each of us distinct individuals; what causes psychological disorders; and how those disorders are treated. The course places particular emphasis on scientific methodologies within the discipline. This course is a prerequisite for all other courses in the psychology department.

REL 130. Introduction to Religions (1 course, AH or GL)
A cross-cultural survey course of major religious traditions, with emphasis upon the theoretical and methodological issues at stake in the discipline of Religious Studies. The course provides a balanced treatment of Asian and Western/Abrahamic traditions in order to explore the concept of 'religion' within a comparative humanistic context. Most important will be a close reading and discussion of primary texts in English translation. By the end of the course students will have developed a vocabulary for understanding religious phenomena cross-culturally and a sensibility for engaging with religious others in our globalizing world.

REL 190. Introduction to the Bible (1 course)
Welcome to the strange and curious world of the study of biblical writings and readers! Whether or not you have any "religious" interest in biblical writings, an understanding of history, literature, music, film, conflicts, and politics (among many other things) virtually requires some basic knowledge of the Bible and its readers. This course is, therefore, fundamental to your overall liberal arts training. I'm excited to journey with you all as we encounter together the diverse ways that folk relate to an ancient (textual/cultural) past in the service of understanding their presents and imagining different futures. What are some of the categories used to appraise how we situate biblical texts in relation to their ancient (Israelite, Jewish, Greco-Roman and beyond) cultural backgrounds? What discourses and relations of power are at work in contemporary biblical and related scholarship? More broadly, how might we imagine the relationships we have with (any/all) texts, while growing in (self-)critical awareness of the ideological/contextual nature of engaging with the past? Come and discover!

REL 257. Hinduism (1 course, AH or GL)
In this course students examine religious experience and expression in Hindu India in all of their diversity and regional variation with special emphasis on the contemporary persistence of traditional values and practices. Relevant historical background information is surveyed in order to help assess continuity and change in learned and vernacular Hindu religious practices with particular attention paid to the values that both influence and are displayed by them.

REL 258. Buddhism (1 course, AH or GL)
Examines the development of Buddhist thought, scriptures, practices and institutions in India and the religion's spread to China and Japan.

SOC 100. Contemporary Society (1 course, SS or PPD)
An introduction to sociology: its questions, concepts and ways of analyzing social life. The focus is on how human societies organize themselves; how culture, socialization, norms, power relations, social institutions and group interaction affect the individual; and how, in turn, societies are transformed by human action. Of particular concern are problems facing contemporary societies. Not open to seniors or for Pass-Fail credit.

UNIV 135. Academic Excellence Seminar (.5 course)
This course is designed to support students in their development as learners through readings, reflective writing, and class discussion. Topics covered include active reading, taking good notes, preparing for exams, and time management. Students will be encouraged to explore their strengths as scholars, to address their weaknesses and to become more engaged in the learning process.

UNIV 180. Science Research Professional Development I (.25 course)
This course guides students in finding and contacting potential research mentors, learning how to search for and read primary sources, finding funding and internal and external research opportunities, writing research proposals, documenting effectively and managing their time on research projects, and other skills that students in all science and math disciplines can use to increase their opportunities for original research. Students will also receive feedback on written research proposals.

UNIV 190. Introduction to Human Rights (1 course)

UNIV EXP. Nonprofit Leadership (1 course)
This course is designed to help students understand the fundamental role of nonprofits, their structures and goals, and how they differ and are similar to for-profits. Each week will focus on a different theme (i.e., fundraising) and will include in-depth discussion about the ethical dimensions that confront nonprofit leaders in that area. Guest lecturers, real-world cases, and independent and group projects will round out their understanding of key leadership strategies and frameworks. The goal of the class is to help students better understand nonprofits and help prepare them for future interactions with them--whether it's as an employee, donor, or volunteer/board member.

WGSS 140. Introduction to WGSS (1 course, SS or PPD)
This course introduces some key issues in contemporary women's, gender, and sexuality studies (WGSS) and provides a starting vocabulary and background in the field. Because WGSS is an interdisciplinary field, readings come from a number of different areas, including literature, history, philosophy, psychology and sociology.

WGSS 290B. US Women's Autobiography (1 course, AH)
This interdisciplinary course explores how American women narrate and represent their lives across media, including literature, film, and fine art. We will pay particular attention to women's autobiographical practices that employ both image and text to address the complexities of self-representation and the intersectionality of culture, memory, fiction, and history within these practices. Course themes include: definitions of national belonging; intertextuality and the construction of self; transformation and conversion narratives as social/political critique; and loss of innocence as a counter-hegemonic feminist strategy.

WGSS 290C. Women Writers of the African Diaspora (1 course, AH or GL)
In this course, we will focus on contemporary women writers of African descent, particularly their postcolonial experiences in the Caribbean, Latin America, the U.S., and the U.K. Our readings will cover a variety of genres, including fiction, memoir, drama, and poetry. Some of the authors we study may include Jamaica Kincaid, Edwige Danticat, Safiyah Sinclair, Helen Oyeyemi, Bernardine Evaristo, and recent performance poets. This is an interdisciplinary course that will require active reading and participation.