SLU: Course Descriptions for Semester Specific Courses

Semester Specific Course Descriptions

FALL 2009

AFS	BIOCH	CHIN	CS	ENVS	GEOL	GOVT	MATH	ODST	PSYC
ANTH	BIOL	CLAS	ECON	FA	GER	HIST	MUS	PCA	REL
ARAB	CBL	CNS	EDUC	FILM	GNDR	JAPN	ND	PHIL	SOC
ASIAN	CHEM		ENG	FR	GS	LTRN	NRSCI	PHYS	AfAmSt

AFRICAN STUDIES

AFS 147 A: SPTP-Africa on Film (0.5 unit)

Blood Diamond, The Constant Gardner, Hotel Rwanda, The Last King of Scotland: recent box office hits have presented powerful images of African landscapes and people to international audiences, collecting Oscar nominations and wins on the way. But what other images and stories are out there? How else has Africa been seen on screen? This half unit course will be focused on viewing and discussing films representing and constructing Africa and Africans. We will look at a diverse range of films that you are unlikely to find showing at your local multiplex. These will range from ethnographic film and documentary, to narrative cinema produced by African and non-African filmmakers. We will take an interdisciplinary approach by looking at these films as historical and cultural documents as well as forms of storytelling and artistic productions. Course meets every other week.

AFS 225 A /ANTH 225 A: Peoples and Cultures of Africa

This course surveys contemporary cultures and societies in sub-Saharan Africa through the lens of five major themes. We will study the enduring importance and flexibility of African systems of social organization, and of African religious beliefs and practices. We will learn about patterns of production and consumption in African economies, and about power, authority, and conflict in African Politics. Finally, we will examine how mobility and migration-forced or voluntary, temporary or permanent-have shaped African identities and communities. Fulfills SSC distribution and Diversity requirement. Also offered as AFS 225.

AFS 247 E/ SOC 247 C: SPTP- Making of Modern Africa

Being at the center of the Atlantic complex, Africa was a central component of modernity. At the same time, Africa is also imagined as a perpetual late-arrival to modern conditions. As much as the two standpoints appear to be contradictory and mutually exclusive, it is important to see them as two sides of the same coin, each creating the other. Africa is inaugurated to historical capitalism as a permanent newcomer because the gradual maturity of modern history is imagined in contrast to the infantile disposition of Africa. The newborn archetype of Africa is obtained by the man-child yardstick. Thus, Africa has to undergo not only chronic recreation, but also has to dwell in arrested development.

AFS 347 A/ ANTH 347 A/ENVS 347B: Environmental Conservation in Africa

This course investigates a wide variety of environmental conservation projects in sub-Saharan Africa. We will examine efforts by colonial and post colonial states to preserve wilderness in national parks, and how local residents have responded. We will study projects developed by international organizations that link environmental conservations with economic benefits for local people. Finally, we will look at indigenous African efforts to conserve`e natural resources and to restore degraded lands. Throughout the course, we will compare and contrast the perspectives and interests of conservation biologists, government officials, and local residents, among others.

ANTHROPOLOGY

ANTH 225 A/AFS 225 A: Peoples and Cultures of Africa

This course surveys contemporary cultures and societies in sub-Saharan Africa through the lens of five major themes. We will study the enduring importance and flexibility of African systems of social organization, and of African religious beliefs and practices. We will learn about patterns of production and consumption in African economies, and about power, authority, and conflict in African politics. Finally, we will examine how mobility and migration-forced or voluntary, temporary or permanent-have shaped African identities and communities. Fulfills SSC distribution and Diversity requirement. Also offered as AFS 225.

ANTH 290 A: Bones of Contention

Did people in the past practice body modification? How do diseases affect the human skeleton? How were ancient surgical procedures performed? What can't the human skeleton tell us about past ways of life? How do anthropologists go about answering these questions? In this course, students learn about the bones of the human body; how to identify, reconstruct, and analyze human bones; and how to place the human skeleton in anthropological context, to analyze the interactions among biology, culture, and the environment through time. Fulfills NSC (without lab) distribution requirement.

ANTH 325 A: Evolution, Culture, and Diversity

Throughout evolutionary history, humans have been able to occupy virtually every region on the planet. In doing so, we have undergone a process of cultural and biological diversification. What are the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for such diversity? This course considers human evolution and diversification from a bio-cultural perspective. Students will learn about the relationship among biology, culture, and the environment, and discuss topics such as human differences in blood type, lactose intolerance, adaptation to hot and cold environments, adaptation to ultraviolet radiation, and eugenics.

ANTH 347 A/AFS 347 A/ENVS 347 B: Environmental Conservation in Africa

This course investigates a wide variety of environmental conservation projects in sub-Saharan Africa. We will examine efforts by colonial and post colonial states to preserve wilderness in national parks, and how local residents have responded. We will study projects developed by international organizations that link environmental conservations with economic benefits for local people. Finally, we will look at indigenous African efforts to conserve natural resources and to restore degraded lands. Throughout the course, we will compare and contrast the perspectives and interests of conservation biologists, government officials, and local residents, among others.

ARAB

no course descriptions this semester

ASIAN STUDIES

ASIA 290 C/ GOVT 290 C: SEM- Asian Politics

This seminar explores the seminal questions regarding the politics of East Asia, focusing primarily on China, Japan, and N. and S. Korea. The first part of the course examines domestic questions. What will happen when the North Korean leader dies? Why does the mafia and gift giving at weddings and funerals play an important role in Japanese politics? What are the consequences of the current economic world crisis on China's youth? The second part of the course examines the international relations of East Asia: How does the legacy of WWII continue to affect China's and S. Korea's relations with Japan? How does China's growing energy needs affect its neighbors as well as relations with the U.S.? By answering these and other questions, we can better assess the significance of East Asia in the world and in our own lives. Drawing upon social science research methods, students will design and execute a research project based on an E. Asian country of their choosing.

ASIA 232 A/ LTRN 232/HIST 232 A: Cultures of China

This course is designed to introduce the history and culture of China from its earliest beginnings to late 19th Century, covering Chinese institutions, philosophical trends, religions, literature, arts, and special topics such as gender and family, among others. A variety of materials will be used, including Confucian and Taoist classics, Buddhist scriptures, literary and artistic works, films, as well as modern scholarly publications. All readings are in English. No knowledge about China and Chinese language is required

BIOLOGY

BIOL 209 A/ENVS 209 A: Vertebrate Natural History w/Lab

Vertebrate Natural History will focus on the field ecology and behavior of vertebrate animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) in New York State. Classes on Wednesdays will often be spent entirely in the field, leaving at 10:50 am and returning to campus at 4:00 pm. On those days students will be required to bring a lunch (which can be arranged through Dana) and will be expected to have appropriate field gear (rain coat, boots, etc). One of the key aspects of this course will be on true natural history - students will keep field notebooks, make collections, and improve their skills in scientific observation of the natural world (plus, we'll all get muddy and wet). Prerequisites: BIOL 101 and 102 or permission of the instructor. Also offered at ENVS 209.

BIOL 247A: SPTP- Embryology w/Lab

In this course we examine the development of morphological complexity from fertilization to adult in animals, such as sea urchins, frogs, and humans. An emphasis is placed on the formation of organs and organs systems in humans. Additional topics include cellular differentiation, germ cell development and growth, and hormonal regulation of reproductive cycles. Laboratory projects involve the observation and manipulation living embryos as well as the examination of prepared slides. Three hours of lectures and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 101,102. Not open to students who have taken BIOL 312.

BIOL 247 C: Eco-Physiology w/Lab

The Weddell seal can dive for TWO HOURS without breathing! Sperm whales tolerate 161 atmospheres of pressure as they dive ONE MILE below the surface! Oryxes can survive scorchingt East African deserts without drinking ANY water--EVER (no kidding)! The Wood frog freezes SOLID over winter, and resumes a normal life after the spring thaw! Antarctic ice fish tolerate sub-freezing

temperatures WITHOUT freezing solid! The Bar-headed Goose flies at an altitude of 30,000 feet during annual migrations OVER Mt. Everest! The Sherpa people of eastern Nepal can climb Mt. Everest WITHOUT any supplementary oxygen! How do these and other organisms adapt physiologically to their sometimes 'extreme' environments? This course compares molecular, cellular, organismal, and behavioral mechanisms that diverse organisms use to regulate salt and water balance, body temperature, blood oxygen levels, and many other physiological parameters that are necessary to sustain life as we know it in diverse aquatic, aerial, terrestrial, and extraterrestrial ecosystems.

BIOL 333 A: Immunology with Lab

The immune system boasts powerful mechanisms that protect the body from invading pathogens. We will explore the development and function of a diverse repertoire of T and B lymphocytes, the range of powerful antibody-mediated responses, and the pre-programmed responses of phagocytic cells and natural killer cells. These basic concepts will then be integrated to analyze the immune system's function in disease states including cancer, organ transplant, autoimmunity, infectious disease, and immunodeficiency. Laboratory activities will highlight immune-based techniques fundamental to research in immunology as well as other biological fields.

BIOL 390 A: Research Methods in Electron Microscopy

This course will teach you the lab skills necessary to prepare and image specimens on the transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the scanning electron microscope (SEM). This course will also deal with cell structure (ultrastructure) and tissue structure as it relates to TEM. This course requires a good deal of independent work outside of regular class hours, and is NOT FOR PROCRASTINATORS! Methods to be mastered include specimen preparation (fixing, staining, embedding, critical point drying, sputter coating), glass knife making, ultramicrotomy, digital image acquisition, and care of use of the both electron microscopes.

BIOL 392 A; Research Methods in Fluorescence and Confocal Microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy is an invaluable and frequently used tool in biological research. Confocal microscopy is a more advanced research tool that makes use of fluorescent techniques, but allows for more precise imaging of samples in 3 dimensions (optical sectioning) at magnifications up to 1000x. Students learn the theory and practice of fluorescent microscopy first, followed by theory and practice of confocal microscopy. Topics to be covered include light and fluorescence, dichroic filters, optics, resolution and numerical aperture, photomultiplier tubes, laser safety, basic immunocytochemistry, specimen preparation, image acquisition, processing, and presentation. Students prepare samples and image them on both fluorescent and confocal microscopes. Students will present resulting images in class, comparing and contrasting the results.

BIOCHEMISTRY

no descriptions this semester.

CANADIAN STUDIES

no descriptions this semester.

CARIBBEAN LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES

no descriptions this semester.

CHEMISTRY

no descriptions this semester.

CHINESE

no descriptions this semester.

COMMUNITY BASED LEARNING
no descriptions this semester.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

CS 348 A: SPTP-Linux-Based Computing Architecture

In this project based course students will gain practical knowledge about the hardware and software components that make up a modern open-source computing environment. As part of the curriculum, students will assemble a multi-core desktop system starting from the hardware components and finishing with the configuration of the Linux operating system. Along the way, students will gain an understanding of the fundamental services offered by modern computing hardware, the operating system kernel, and the foundation of computer networking.

ECONOMICS

no descriptions this semester.

EDUCATION
EDUC 203D - Travel component for EDUC 203 C (0.5 credit)

EDUC 203C will focus not only on Issues in American Education, but also on issues related to education in Asian countries. Any student who completes EDUC 203C gets 1 unit of credit (whether or not you enroll in EDUC 203D). With the instructor's permission, up to seven students enrolled in EDUC 203C in Fall 2009 may also enroll in a 0.5 credit travel component (EDUC 203D) to explore international educational issues through travel to China and/or South Korea. Funded by the University's Freeman Grant for Asian Studies, the travel will take place from December 19, 2009 to

January 3, 2010. All travel-related expenses for the trip are covered by the grant. Specific information about the trip will be explained in detail by the course instructor during the Fall 2009 semester. Because the travel takes place after the Fall semester ends, students will receive incomplete (e) grades for EDUC 203D (the travel component). The e-grade will be changed to a real grade before March 1, 2010. Permission of the instructor is required is required for EDUC 203D.

ENGLISH

ENG 190A: Introduction to Fiction

This course seeks to develop a general critical approach that can be used to examine stories of all kinds. It uses as its framework narrative Homer's The Odyssey, the epic narrative of the ancient Greek world which for nearly three thousand years has been teaching the art of inventing interesting stories. Plato and Aristotle provide basic theoretical principles for analyzing fiction; these principles will be applied to two dozen stories by Chekhov, Hemingway, O'Connor, Welty, Baldwin, and Carver.

ENG 190 B: Graphic Novels

In the last ten years, the graphic novel has burst onto the literary scene as a genre to be reckoned with - no longer restricted to superhero comics, no longer just for kids. But what exactly is a graphic novel, and how does it work? What are its formal conventions? What traditions do graphic novelists work within or across? How do they represent the human impulses to tell and to listen to stories, as well as the various gaps and difficulties that intervene in that process? What do depictions of particular bodies and communities reveal about power relations in our society, and how do graphic novelists present or efface their own identities and viewpoints? Given that graphic novels are a medium new to academic study and poised on the brink between high and mass cultures, can they offer us special insight into the relationships among medium and message, representation and truth? Beginning with these questions, this course will attend closely to the interplay of words and pictures in (mostly) American graphic novels of the past 20 (or so) years and explore the pleasures and pitfalls of conducting research and criticism into a brand-new literary genre.

ENG 243 C: Introduction to Creative Non-Fiction

This course counts for AEX as well as DIV. The essays students study as models are written by authors from a wide range of backgrounds - racial, socio-economic, ethnic, and national identity - who engage directly with issues of racial identity, gender, power, privilege, and positionality. Students are encouraged to reflect explicitly on these issues in their own and their classmates' work.

ENG 247A: The English Renaissance

The Renaissance is too often seen as the backdrop for Shakespeare's plays, but Shakespeare did not write in a vacuum. He was only one part of an extraordinary outburst of cultural creativity, one that still exerts a profound effect on the way we think, love, worship, and define self-worth. This cultivation of the "self" is perhaps the greatest creation of Renaissance culture, from the extraordinary reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the daring lyric performances of Sir Philip Sidney and John Donne, to the extraordinary creations of Faustus and Satan in the work John Milton and Christopher Marlowe.

ENG 247 B: Research as Personal Narrative (0.5)

This half-unit course will consider research in the personal understanding of academic disciplines, and will consider research in how disciplines form an academic community. We will examine research in an academic context, in a social context, in a technological context, and how all of this intersects in the work done at a library at a liberal arts college.

ENG 257 B: Sophomore Seminar: "What's Important to Me?" Reading Willa Cather's The Professor's House. (0.5 unit)

Set in the middle of the "jazz age" made famous by F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, The Professor's House is a detailed meditation on personal values and the meaning of each person's life. How should I best spend my time? it asks. What questions, issues and things are most important to me? Should I be altruistic or narcissistic? What are the ultimate meanings I find in work, in family, in friends? Our seminar's purpose will be to read the novel carefully and completely, to contextualize it within Cather's career and within the history it delimits, and to wonder over and debate the questions of values it raises as they apply to each of us in our lives today.

ENG 257 C: Sophomore Seminar: Reading Franz Kafka- Chicken Soup for the Bewildered Soul (0.5 unit)

Will reading Franz Kafka cure what existentially ails you? Probably not. Will reading Franz Kafka answer all your questions about the meaning of life? Not likely. But no one captured the struggles of the everyday like Kafka, who was perpetually suspended in the paralyzing middle of things: between art and gainful employment as an attorney, between the clashing Jewish and German cultures of his native Prague, between bachelorhood and marriage, between loneliness and disillusionment with the herd of humanity. For those stuck who feel stuck academically or personally, Kafka speaks to the anxieties that inevitably confront the making of a meaningful life. But in his numerous short fictions and other writings, he also shows us how the in-between is a creative space, one where we can start, however provisionally, to live a life of purpose that eludes so many of his characters.

Texts: Franz Kafka, Collected Stories and Selected critical articles by various authors

ENG 347A/GNDR 347 A: SPTP-Desire, Drive & Self -The Psychoanalysis of Gender and Sexuality

Psychoanalytic thinkers shed light on the fragile and complex route humans take on the path toward becoming feminine and masculine and in the realization of their sexual desires. Beset by the demands of the unconscious, the intrigues of our libido, the repetition of past traumas, the complexity of identification and the imposition of social constraints, our lives and our choices are anything but simple. Psychoanalysis offers a window into the more subterranean aspects of the self that shape our everyday lives and our culture. We will explore the main tenets of psychoanalytic thought through a close reading of theoretical materials and through the analysis of literary texts such as Jane Eyre, "The Yellow Wallpaper," Ambiguous Adventures, The Namesake, Autobiography of My Mother, A Pagan Place.

ENG 347 B: SPTP- Writing About History Creatively

This course will offer students who have a passion for history the opportunity to write about it in a way they haven't before: for a rapidly-growing popular audience. Short and long published pieces in the genre of popular history -- entertaining, provocative, and often quite unconventional -- will be read and analyzed for such elements as subject, narrative voice and structure, while exercises will help students explore and develop story ideas that will be interesting and relevant to both them and potential readers. Ultimately, they will conceive, research, write, revise and edit their own historical articles and essays, and workshop them with the rest of the class.

ENG 347 C: SPTP-Poe after 200 Years

2009 marks the bicentennial of Edgar Allan Poe's birth. We will take advantage of this occasion to assess Poe's literary work and influence. Often regarded as the father of American gothic literature, the inventor of the detective tale, and a pioneer of science fiction, Poe has influenced many writers around the world, including Dostoyevsky, Stevenson, Baudelaire, Wilde, Borges and Pessoa.His stories and poems have been the subject of frequent imitation, parody, and film, cartoon, and musical adaptation, and no American writer has had a greater impact upon popular culture in the United States and abroad. We will examine Poe's works in the context of his times and the 150 years following his death, seeking to understand the sources of his ideas and artistic practice and their lasting appeal and influence. Among other short assignments, students will do a semester-long research project on Poe's influence on another writer, filmmaker, graphic artist or musician.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

ENVS 124 A/ SOC 124 A: Dirty Business and the Environment

The Earth is in crisis. In this course we will focus on the social causes - and solutions -to this crisis. First, we will look comparatively at cultures and economic systems to see which societies have developed ecologically sustainable cultures and economies. Next, we will examine some of the effects of corporations on wildlands, agriculture, and energy policy. What causes these effects and how do people respond to them? Last, we will examine consumerism and different remedies to the effects of corporations, and alternatives, both market and nonmarket. At each step we will analyze the principles that lead to ecological sustainability.

ENVS 209 A/ BIOL 209 A: Vertebrate Natural History w/Lab

Vertebrate Natural History will focus on the field ecology and behavior of vertebrate animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) in New York State. Classes on Wednesdays will often be spent entirely in the field, leaving at 10:50 am and returning to campus at 4:00 pm. On those days students will be required to bring a lunch (which can be arranged through Dana) and will be expected to have appropriate field gear (rain coat, boots, etc). One of the key aspects of this course will be on true natural history - students will keep field notebooks, make collections, and improve their skills in scientific observation of the natural world (plus, we'll all get muddy and wet). Prerequisites: Biology 101 and 102 or permission of the instructor. Also offered as BIOL 209.

ENVS 247 A: SPTP- The Sustainable House- ESP

This class will be a problem/project based learning class, focusing on the Ecological Sustainability Landscape property (ESL) located on Rt. 68 and maintained by the Environmental Studies Department. Each semester, a small group of upper level majors will be introduced to the underlying scenario of the class: "You are a small family who has just purchased this property". The class will then undertake a comprehensive assessment of the ESL property from numerous sustainability perspectives defined as priorities by the group, and will formulate a residential-scale working budget based on average St. Lawrence County census statistics. The class objectives will be to identify an opportunity to improve upon the sustainability of the residence that can be accomplished within the defined budget and semester time frame, to establish a specific working plan, and to implement the project.

ENVS 347 A: SPTP-National Parks and Protected Areas -ESP

Around the world, National Parks and other protected areas conserve biodiversity, protect cultural and natural heritage, provide millions of people with recreation opportunities, and help maintain the functioning of a broad array of ecosystems. Many authors and activists have claimed that the National Parks was America's best idea. But like any good idea, there are bound to be contradictions between the idea and the reality. In this course we will examine the contradictions by tracing the intellectual history of the National Park Service and the spread of the National Parks idea. Topics will include debates and critiques of how the Parks ought to be managed, the implications for indigenous and resident peoples, current issues and a comparison of the approaches different nations take to the administration of their parks.

ENVS 347 B /AFS 347 A/ ANTH 347 A: SPTP-Environmental Conservation in Africa

This course investigates a wide variety of environmental conservation projects in sub-Saharan Africa. We will examine efforts by colonial and post colonial states to preserve wilderness in national parks, and how local residents have responded. We will study projects developed by international organizations that link environmental conservations with economic benefits for local people. Finally, we will look at indigenous African efforts to conserve natural resources and to restore degraded lands. Throughout the course, we will compare and contrast the perspectives and interests of conservation biologists, government officials, and local residents, among others.

ENVS 461 A: Research Seminar on Local Foods and Food Mapping –ESP (formerly ENVS 351)

A small, intensive research seminar of 5 students who will utilize data from SLU Dining Services to estimate the transportation and other environmental impacts of major food items served at meals on campus. We will develop an interactive food map for several typical meals and one holiday meal. Results of our analysis will also be utilized to estimate the food-based portion of SLU's ecological footprint. We will use this data to consider the most effective strategies to shrink our ecological/carbon footprint. Available to majors only. Permission of instructor required.

FILM AND REPRESENTATION STUDIES

FILM 247A/ GNDR 247A: SPTP- Cinema of Childhood w/Lab

What are the models for heroines and harlots, heroes and villains that Hollywood makes available to children? How are issues of burgeoning sexual desire, flirtation with risky behavior, longings for love and popularity played out on the screen? Cinema of Childhood is a course that focuses on how meaning is created, negotiated, maintained and/or transformed as viewers engage with the visual imaginary. The course begins with an examination of the historical creation of childhood as a social category. Using a critical feminist lens of analysis, students will develop media literacy skills that support them in identifying how notions of gender, sexuality, class, race, and ability are shaped in film imagery. Throughout the semester visual representations of childhood will provide a foundation for thinking about and discussing how cultural ideas about youth and citizenship change over time. This course addresses the interests of students across the curriculum; it is ideal for scholars who desire an opportunity to think from an interdisciplinary perspective. There are no prerequisites for enrollment.

FILM 347 B /PCA312 A/ GNDR 347 B : SPTP-The Wandering Eye/I: Travel, Subjectivity & Intercultural Communication

In this course, we will explore the myriad dimensions of and issues posed by travel. We will examine the complex and contradictory realities that travel brings - to the traveler, to cultures & societies, and to natives. Who travels and how? Is travel merely the movement of bodies from one geographic locale to another? Are we ever, only in one place at a time? Why do we hate tourists, even when we are being tourists? How do those upon whom we impose ourselves see us? What is an "authentic" (inter)cultural experience? Who are we once we've come "home?" In this course, students will grapple with issues of place, identity, movement, and the inter-actions of culture and subject(s). We will pay particular attention to Euro-American travel narratives and texts and examine the ways in which culture, self, and other are represented and framed within these discourses.

FILM 347 C PCA 313 B: SPTP- Representations of Violence

Particularly in the wake of films like No Country For Old Men, Kill Bill, and Watchmen, and video games such as Grand Theft Auto IV, the debates over the effects of media violence rage on. Artists and audiences alike continue to investigate (or ignore) the complicated intersections of representations of violence and real-life violence. In addition to exploring a wide selection of works that contain violence primarily theatre, but also film, television, music, and visual arts we will enter into these debates kinesthetically That is, as actors, we will learn the basics of stage combat technique to explore how violence is often performed today, and then we will work collaboratively to investigate how we might use such knowledge to portray violence that goes beyond spectacle and that is actually critical and instructive about the nature of violence itself.

FINE ARTS

FA 247 B: SPTP-Digital Media and Culture

In this combination studio/seminar course we will explore the major theoretical issues surrounding digital technologies and their impact on various aspects of contemporary culture including: aesthetics and perception,creative production, morality, entertainment, identity, consumerism, social control and constructs of intimacy and deviance. Studio projects will investigate the creative potentials of pod casting, digital video, cell phones,eBay, online dating sites, SecondLife.com, digital imaging, animation and hypertext. It is helpful if you have some comfort using digital technology, and particularly helpful if you have used digital imaging software, but it is not mandatory. Prerequisite: FA 121 or permission of the instructor.

FA 248 A: SPTP- Art of the Nineteenth Century

This course deals with art in the context of the tumultuous political and social history of 19th century Europe and the United States. Beginning with the French Revolution in the late 18th century, we will examine the ways in which art participated in the revolutionary, colonial, technological, economic, and gendered discourses of the era. Works covered include well-known and often controversial examples by such artists as David, Blake, Goya, Courbet, Manet, Cassatt, Degas, Rodin, Van Gogh, and Munch. Prerequisite: FA 116 or FA 117

FA 448 A: SPTP- SYE- Critical Theory and Art History

Designed for senior Fine Arts majors who are interested in graduate school or careers in the arts, this seminar explores the ways in which contemporary critical and theoretical discourses have challenged and in some cases transformed the practice of art history and criticism. Students will practice incorporating (or challenging) within their written work theoretical perspectives including those of psychoanalysis, structuralism and semiotics, post-structuralism and deconstruction, and feminist, queer, and postcolonial theory. Restricted to senior Fine Arts majors only.

FRANCOPHONE STUDIES

no descriptions this semester.

GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES

GNDR 247A/FILM 247A: SPTP- Cinema of Childhood w/Lab

GNDR 347 A/ENG 347 A: SPTP-Desire, Drive & Self -The Psychoanalysis of Gender and Sexuality

GNDR 347 B/FILM 347 B /PCA312 A: SPTP-The Wandering Eye/I: Travel, Subjectivity & Intercultural Communication

GNDR 347 C/ PCA 313 A: SPTP - Queer Theory and Performance

What does queer mean in 2009? What does it signify to practice queer politics, or to create queer artwork? How might those who don't identify as queer appreciate, learn from, or engage in respectful and critical reflection on queer issues and identities? This introductory course explores the emergence and evolution of queer theory since the early 1990s, and focuses in particular on theatre and other performance works (such as film and television) by and about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Over the semester we will touch upon major events in GLBTQ history, and examine how artists have responded and contributed to ongoing debates about marriage, military service, and hate crimes, as well as other pressing issues relevant to our entire society. By the end of the semester, students will also have explored what it means to be a spectator or reader of any performance or artwork through a queer perspective.

GEOLOGY

no descriptions this semester.

GERMAN STUDIES

GER 247A: SPTP-Literary Responses to Post-war Germany

The journey of Germany from the fascist state of the Nazi era to the present stable democracy it has become has not been without certain difficulties along the way. The German Republic begins with the repressive, authoritarian Adenauer era and the Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle) of the 50s, becomes center stage of the cold war, continues with the generational conflict and left-wing extremism of the late 60s and early 70s and takes an unexpected turn with the reunification of East and West in the 90s. In this course we will work with some of the literary and filmic responses to this fascinating journey of Germany as a country in quest of a new self-image. Some of the readings will be in English others in German.

GOVERNMENT

GOVT 257 A: SophSEM-Reading Dewey's Democracy and Education (0.5 unit)

The idea that education is critical for the development of citizens has a long history in political theory. In the early 1900s, John Dewey contributed to this tradition in hopes of articulating visions of

democracy, education, and citizenship based on the recognition that people are both socially defined and individuals, and that we need to learn in ways that are meaningful in themselves, rather than

simply preparation for the future. His vision of education is very different from that dominating current education policy, and his vision of democracy is one that demands more from citizens than currently dominant models of citizenship. In this course, we will carefully read Democracy and Education, in order to consider how Dewey's perspective might be helpful us to consider what an ideal education might look like, what experiences at St. Lawrence might best contribute to this kind of education, and how this education might influence future citizenship.

GOVT 290 A: SEM-The Arab-Israeli Conflict

This course will provide an in-depth examination of the history, politics and diplomacy of the Arab-Israeli conflict. We will examine the conflict's social, political, ideological, and diplomatic origins; reasons for its intractability, focusing on Israeli and Palestinian national emergence, Arab-Israeli wars, the subsequent diplomacy from each, and the impact of American, European, and Cold War dynamics on the conflict.

GOVT 290 B SEM: Issues in the Study of Public Policy

This course will ask students to explore some of the basic public policy controversies shaping contemporary American politics. We will examine a range of issues, including the welfare state, poverty, race, crime, terrorism, biotechnology, changing family structures, and environmental protection. Each student will be asked to select a particular issue, argue a policy position in response to that issue in a thesis based research paper, and report his/her findings to the class. While the course is designed as a research seminar in Government, students from all disciplines who have a general interest in American public policy are welcome.

GOVT 290 C/ASIA 290 C: SEM- Asian Politics

GOVT 343 A/ PHIL 343 A: Political Theories of Violence and Non-Violence

Carl von Clausewitz famously remarked that "war is a continuation of politics by other means," which suggests that politics is intimately connected with violence even as it seeks to avoid it. In this discussion based seminar we will examine how key figures throughout the history of political thought have conceptualized the relationship between politics, violence, and non-violence. Topics covered in the course include just war theory, the role of violence in the state, non-violent civil disobedience, and revolutionary violence associated with working class and anti-colonial struggles.

GLOBAL STUDIES

GS 247A: SPTP-Africa and Globalization

In an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, Africa seemingly appears to be marginalized or absent from contemporary imaginations and discourses of globalization. Often, what we hear about Africa today it is about crises, failures, and problems. Yet, Africa, a heterogeneous continent differentiated along geographical, historical, social, cultural, religious, economic, and political lines among others, has been and continues to be integral to the global economy. Beyond "Africa in general", this course seeks to examine and understand how particular global processes intersect with and manifest differently in specific places and social realities in Africa. Though interactive discussions of books, articles, films, case studies from different parts of Africa, the course will explore, among others, themes around African youth and women's experiences, and contemporary African diasporas and their transnational activities.

HISTORY

HIST 160 A: The Islamic World, 600 - 1500 C.E.

This course is an introduction to the history of the Middle East from the rise of Islam to the "Age of Gunpowder Empires." Topics to be considered will include the development of classical Islamic culture, the nature of the Sunni - Shii split, empire building, processes of conversion, the role of non-Muslims in Islamicate societies, jihad, the Crusades, gender and sexuality, and issues of trade and warfare. No previous knowledge or background in Islam or Middle Eastern history is required or expected.

HIST 232 A/ ASIA 232 A/ LTRN 232 A: Cultures of China

HIST 247 A/AFS 247 A: SPTP- Conflict in Africa

Conflict is a word that often comes to mind in contemporary discussions about the African continent. But what do we mean by conflict in Africa and what are the historical roots of conflict in Africa? This course will explore a broad definition of conflict through an examination of case studies taken from the last 100 years of African history. Topics will cover historical and social themes such as ethnicity, gender, colonialism, nationalism and human rights.

HIST 247 B: SPTP- History of the Middle East, 1800 - The Present

This course offers an overview of the history of the Middle East period from 1800 to the present. Among the issues which will be addressed are the role of nationalism and imperialism in the Middle East, political and social transformations, changes in gender roles and popular culture, the development of the Arab - Israeli conflict, political Islam, the impact of Oil, and the relation of the Middle East to broader global transformations.

HIST 257A: Sophomore Seminar- Abraham Lincoln-The Man and His Words

Abraham Lincoln is already one of America's most noted historical figures, but the 200^th anniversary of his birth has brought even greater attention to the man and his legacy. New biographies, documentaries, and historical assessments of Lincoln abound. What can we learn about Lincoln and from Lincoln if we strip away all the hype and see what the man himself had to say? Lincoln's writings teach us about his responses to extraordinary crises of his times, about citizenship and America's founding principles. Lincoln's writings also ask us to think about the kind of people we want to be and how we might become those people. These seem precisely the kinds of issues that sophomores should be thinking about at this critical juncture in their education and in their lives. In this .5 unit course, we'll pay some attention to what others have said about Lincoln, but we'll spend most of our time looking at a sample of Lincoln's speeches, letters, and other writings. The odds are that the man who warned "it is better to sit quietly and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt" has a lot to teach us.

HIST 299 A: SEM-The South in History, Memory, and Image

This course, required for the major and minor in history, is designed to offer students an opportunity to learn about and practice the tools of the historian's craft. In this course we will explore how the United States South has been depicted in history, memory, and film. We will examine images deeply associated with the South in the U. S. imagination. Possible images of discussion and exploration may include plantation ladies and gentlemen, fundamentalist evangelicals, poverty stricken sharecroppers, and recently created sunbelt suburbanites. Course requirements include (but are not limited to) active participation in discussion of assigned readings each class period, completion of a historiographic essay, and class discussions/presentations on students' research topic.

HIST 299 C: SEM- U.S. Women's and Gender History 1945 to the 1970s

This seminar is designed for current and soon-to-be History majors and minors to study and practice the historian's craft, and to learn about "historiography"- that is, the history of historical interpretations of a particular subject. The purview of this seminar is women's and gender history in the United States spanning the end of World War II, to the nuclear family ideal and "traditional" gender roles (masculine as well as feminine) of the 1950s, to the women's movement of the 1960s and 1970s. In addition to discussing assigned course readings, students will pursue their own research projects. This entails finding, scrutinizing, comparing, and writing about primary sources as well as historians' arguments. Students will do presentations of their research projects, and give attention to other students' projects.

HIST 347A: SPTP-History of Modern Iran

This course examines the history of Iran in the modern era. After some brief attention to Iran under Safavid rule and the early Qajars, the emphasis of the course will be on social, political, and cultural transformations in Iran since 1800. Topics of particular interest will include the question of "modernity," the role of the ulema, the Constitutional and Islamic revolutions, the rise of political Islam, the role of Iran in Lebanon and Iraq, and issues of gender and sexuality. Assignments will include historical mongraphs and essays, works of Iranian fiction, and films. Classes will alternate between formal lectures and seminar-style discussions.

HIST 471 A: SYE - Revolutionary Europe 1815-1914

This senior research seminar will explore the ideas, actors and events that made the long nineteenth century the most revolutionary in history. Beginning with the influence of the French Revolution of 1789 and including consideration of developments that contributed to the Russian Revolution of 1917, the course will focus less on the "bookends" to the period than on the century in between. While we will examine common themes through common texts in the first half of the course, the primary project will be the development and completion of a major research paper based on primary as well as secondary sources. Topics such as socialism, feminism, anarchism, trade unionism, and the European-wide revolutionary outbreaks in 1848 are all possible subject for research.

HIST 471 B: SYE- Weimar & Nazi Germany

The two German political regimes of the era from 1918 to 1945-the Weimar Republic born out of the Great War and the Nazi dictatorship that destroyed it -exemplified and contributed directly to the reshaping of European (and non-European) life in the twentieth century. This research seminar for senior history majors and minors will examine some of the approaches scholars have taken to understanding social, intellectual, cultural, and political aspects of life under these two governments as well as their effects on our understanding and experience of the "modern" world. The bulk of the course will be devoted to students crafting high-quality research papers on individually chosen topics. These papers will be expected to demonstrate a comprehension of the historiography on the topic while contributing original insights based on students' primary and secondary source research.

HIST 473 A: SYE - Native Americans in U.S. History

This is an advanced and intensive research seminar for senior history majors and minors.The ultimate goal of this 400-level senior research seminar is for each student to draw on primary and secondary (scholarly) sources to produce a substantive (25-30 page), high-quality and original research paper on a specific aspect of the history of Native Americans in the (geographic boundary of the present-day) United States. The general focus and theme of the course is Native American history from the 11th century (the formation of the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace) to the twentieth century. The first several weeks of the course will be spent becoming familiar with some of the theoretical and methodological issues that frame current research in Native American history. Our objective will be to design and execute research projects that reveal the historical agency of indigenous nations within the narrative of American history.

no descriptions this semester.

LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION

LTRN232 /ASIA 232/HIST 232 A: Cultures of China

MATHEMATICS

MATH 348 A; Advanced Linear Algebra

The prerequisite for the course is Mathematics 217 Linear Algebra. Building on the material covered in the introductory linear algebra course, concepts will be covered in more detail and proofs of important theorems that are not normally covered in the introductory course will be presented. The emphasis of the course will be on how linear algebra is applied in a diverse range of areas. Included, but not limited to, are applications in computer graphics, in economics, to the solution of differential equations, data compression, Markov processes, least squares approximation and linear regression, chemistry, and graph theory. Students will give several presentations, provide solutions to problem sets and application problems using LaTeX, and will use Maple to investigate specific applications.

MUSIC

MUS 247A: SPTP- Recording Arts

Recordings of audio materials are a growing part of our world, and making professional recordings is an art that is now within the reach of many. Especially appropriate for music and PCA students, this course is designed to hone skills in producing recorded materials. The technology of recording is a combination of listening and performance skills and electronics. This course is a practical survey of materials and methods, with core principles applied to projects that will provide an understanding of how to achieve quality recordings by intelligent use of available equipment and spaces.

MUS 350 A: Composition

Composition/Songwriting. The fundamental goal in this course is making sense in sound by means of close observation, analysis and listening. Having arrived at a formative idea for a composition by means of a close analysis of a generative text or a sound, we begin making sense of the idea in sound. The fundamental difference between songwriting and composition is that, in songwriting, a composer fits sounds and ideas into an established form. In composition the sounds and ideas you generate result in an organic form.

Pre-requisites: MUS 100/101/200/201 and MUS 220. May be repeated for credit

NEUROSCIENCE

no descriptions this semester.

NON DEPARTMENTAL

ND 257A: Where in the World Is . . . ?
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? That's just one of the topics we'll discuss this semester in WHERE IN THE WORLD IS…? In this course, we’ll study SLU's international and intercultural opportunities for off-campus study. We’ll engage the scholarly literature on off-campus study programs and read about off-campus experiences sponsored by SLU and SLU approved programs. We’ll review the promotional and recruitment materials that the CIIS publishes for students and attend and evaluate "information” and "orientation” sessions for off-campus programs. We will interview SLU students who have participated in off-campus programs and invite them to speak to our class about their experiences. Each student in WHERE IN THE WORLD IS…? will write a comprehensive and critical evaluation of one of the SLU off-campus programs as a final essay. You’ll also write an essay in which you discuss your particular plans for off-campus study, and how that decision is influenced by family, friends, career and academic goals, SLU preparation and encouragement, personal aspirations, and most of all, by what you learn in this course! You’ll participate in two oral presentations of your research and interviews.

OUTDOOR STUDIES

no descriptions this semester.

PERFORMANCE AND COMMUNCATION ARTS
PCA 313 A/GNDR 347 C: SPTP-Queer Theory and Performance

PCA 313 B/FILM 347 C: SPTP- Representations of Violence

PCA 313 C: SPTP-Musical Theatre Studies

A concentrated study of the development of American musical theatre. Students will explore several diverse musicals that are important to the development of the genre. The course engages students in the analysis of libretti and the function of music in musical theatre. Coursework includes research as well as performance of scenes and songs.

PCA 313 E: SPTP- From Page to Stage: A Practical Course in Production Dramaturgy

As consultant to the director and advocate for the playwright's intentions, the production dramaturge's primary function is to serve as what dramaturge Mark Turvin calls "Director of the Text." This course will provide hands-on experience with performing this particular practical role in the theater. Taking advantage of the two shows that will be mounted in the fall--a comedy for Parents Weekend and Paula Vogel's How I Learned to Drive for the November slot--students will engage in the tasks associated with the dramaturge as required by these two plays in production. Not only will students do in-depth analyses of the dramas themselves, they will engage in researching the playwrights, the plays' production histories and critical reception, the thematic concerns, as well as the historical and geographical contexts. These tasks will generate written, visual and audial materials that will serve as resources for the directors, their designers, and the actors. There will be further opportunities for audience outreach (including classroom presentations), creating program notes, generating publicity materials, planning lobby and showcase displays, as well as attending several rehearsals.

PCA 312 A/GNDR 347 B/FILM 347 B: SPTP-The Wandering Eye/I: Travel, Subjectivity & Intercultural Communication

PHILOSOPHY

PHIL 343 A/ GOVT 343 A: Political Theories of Violence and Non-Violence

PHIL 201 A: Ancient Philosophy

A historical study of Western philosophy from its beginnings in ancient Greece through the end of the classical period, with primary emphasis on Plato and Aristotle. Representative original works are read dealing with such problems as reality, the self, knowledge, and value. Prerequisite: Philosophy 100 or 103, or permission of instructor. Also offered through European Studies.

PHYSICS

No descriptions this semester

PSYCHOLOGY

PSYC 480 B: SPTP-Working with Vulnerable Populations: Psychology in the Community

This seminar-internship course has two objectives: to develop an understanding of the bioecological perspective in psychology, and to further that understanding through an internship placement in a

community setting (eight hours per week). Our focus will be on children and adolescents who are at risk for developing academic or psychological difficulties. Possible internship placements include

Headstart, residential homes for juveniles, crisis intervention centers, Planned Parenthood, local elementary and middle school counseling centers, and a neuro-rehabilitation center for children with braininjuries; a small number of students may participate in a community research project as their internship placement. Current issues in the field (e.g., child abuse and neglect, school bullying, alcohol and substance abuse) will be analyzed using a systems approach, recognizing that individuals operate within families and communities, and these systems exert their own pressures on the individual'sbehavior. Prerequisites: Psychology 100 or 101, Psychology 205 and permission of instructor. Psychology 207 highly recommended

RELIGIOUS STUDIES
REL 247 A: Religion and Visual Culture

This course considers the interaction between visuality and religion, the role that seeing might play in religious practice and the role that religion might play in visual practice. We will explore not just the ways that images and objects can embody and communicate meaning, but also how they can elicit powerful responses (e.g. fascination, excitement, faith, desire, or fear) in those that view them, and more broadly, how they help humans to constitute the worlds that they inhabit. To better understand the ways in which seeing and what is seen are part of social history and material culture, the class will consider the extent to which vision changes from culture to culture, religion to religion. We will draw upon case studies from a variety of religious traditions including Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Vodou, Christianity, and Neo-Paganism.

REL 247 E: SPTP-Judaism in the Modern World

This course is designed to familiarize the student with the modern Jewish experience from the 18th century Enlightenment until the post-Holocaust era. Our study will particularly emphasize how new trends emerged in Judaism due to the influence of historical and sociological changes in the surrounding society and how these changes led to a variety of possible Jewish identities and expressions. We will consider many texts that reveal the precarious position of Jewry in the modern world and that called for intellectual and ideological responses to charges by antisemitism.

SOCIOLOGY

SOC 124 A/ENVS 124 A: Dirty Business and the Environment

The Earth is in crisis. In this course we will focus on the social causes - and solutions - to this crisis. First, we will look comparatively at cultures and economic systems to see which societies have developed ecologically sustainable cultures and economies. Next, we will examine some of the effects of corporations on wildlands, agriculture, and energy policy. What causes these effects and how do people respond to them? Last, we will examine consumerism and different remedies to the effects of corporations, and alternatives, both market and nonmarket. At each step we will analyze the principles that lead to ecological sustainability.

SOC 247A: SPTP-What's So Bad About Aging w/CBL?

In 2011, the oldest of the baby boomers will be turning 65 years old. Americans will have to make important decisions regarding the consequences of population aging. This course explores the issues surrounding old age and aging. Discussion will focus on many of the basic problems faced by older adults. This course will consider the impact of aging on individuals and society, as well as the reactions of individuals and society to aging. Prominent theories and research on aging will be discussed, as well as the social, historical, demographic, psychological, cultural, political, and health factors related to the aging process. Specific topics to be addressed include diversity in the aging experience, housing and long term care, social support networks, interpersonal relationships and sexuality, work and retirement, leisure, and death and dying. Special attention will be given to the policy choices that will have to be made as the baby boom generation reaches retirement age. In addition, an experiential Community Based Learning component is integrated with the course material to facilitate a thorough understanding of aging in society. Though open to any student, this course meets the Experiential Requirement for Sociology majors.

SOC 247 B SPTP- Environmental Problems

We live in the era of the environment. Environmental problems are increasingly coming to define the times we live in. In this course we will examine the nature of those problems, including the debate about whether we are currently running out of resources such as oil and food. We will next examine the causes of these problems, including the role that consumption - and overconsumption - plays in leading to these problems. Environmental problems imply the need for environmental solutions. Thus, we will examine political and social solutions that have been proposed to these problems as well as models of successful solutions.

SOC 247 C/AFS 247 E: SPTP- Making of Modern Africa

SOC 288 A: Dilemmas of Development

Many people believe that economic development is not happening quickly enough in much of the world. Indeed, the standard of living in some parts of the world has been declining. What does development mean? Is economic development always at the expense of social integration? By whose standard should we measure development? Is there a single best way of development? Are some cultures more likely to develop than others? This course will cover the basic sociological theories on development, and answer the above questions by looking at issues like inequality, market transitions, health care, education, cultural transformation and environment in America, Europe, and Asia.

SOC 290 A: Independent Study for SOC 275A Medical Sociology

When take with SOC 275A, this optional Independent Study meets the Experiential Requirement for Sociology majors.

SOC 347A: SPTP- Modernity and Social Change

Is globalization inevitable? What's the difference between the current globalization and the historical colonialism and imperialism? Is globalization the correct term to capture the social, economic, and political change we are experiencing today? Who wins and who loses in this transformation? This course will survey the sociological theories on modernity and social change, and cover such themes as increasing global interconnectedness, work pattern shifts, power of transnational and financial institutions, social movements against globalization, and the social transformation in the US and developing countries like China and India.

SOPHOMORE SEMINARS

Sophomore Seminar: ENG 257 A, B, C or HIST 257 A (0.5 unit)

This seminar has as its explicit goal a logical continuation of student work done in FYP/FYS. Assuming that sophomore students need to continue t develop and deepen their reading, research, and communication skills, each sophomore seminar focuses on one or more texts raising questions of enduring human values and critiquing them and envisioning personal applications. Students are encouraged to relate the seminar's analysis to their own lives, to their own goals, and to their own academic plans during their college years. One of several offered annually in various departments and programs. Enrollment is limited to sophomores.

ENG 257 B %SophoSEM:Wht'sImpToMe 0.5 0140pm 0310pm w RI 105 Thacker, Robert 7 9 10 12

ENG 257 C %SophoSEM:Reading Frank Kafka 0.5 1200pm 0130pm f Ponce, Pedro E. 7 9 10 12

GOVT 257 A %SophoSEM:RdingDewey'sDemo&Edu 0.5 tba tba Lehr, Valerie D. 7 9 10 12

HIST 257 A %SophSEM:LincolnTheMan&HisWords 0.5 0220pm 0350pm h PK 101 Regosin, Elizabeth A. 7 9 10 12

ND 257 A SophoSEM:WhereInTheWorldIs.... 0.5 0140pm 0310pm m RI 105 Bass, Margaret Kent 7 9 10 12

See respective departments for course descriptions

ESTUDIOS HISPáNICOS (SPANISH STUDIES)

SPAN 447 A: SPTP-Afrohispanic Culture and Literature

The major objective of this course is to introduce students to the African Legacy in the culture of the Hispanic Caribbean and Latin America. Through readings, films, recipes, and songs we will analyze the contributions of the Afrohispanic peoples to the overall Caribbean and Latin American Culture particularly in the literature, language, religion, music and dance. Close readings and discussions will focus on the work of writers such as Francisco Arriví, Luis Palés Matos, Nancy Morejón, Quince Duncan, Nicolás Guillén, Lydia Cabrera and Blas Jiménez, among others. Students will create and perform an original play, write critical essays and deliver oral presentations. Crosslisted with Caribbean and Latin American Studies. This course will be taught in Spanish, and permission of the instructor is required.

AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

no course descriptions this semester