The following course are offered by Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice Department:
Anthropology
- The evolution and behavior of human beings as cultural animals are the focus of this course. Students are introduced to the basic concepts and methods of the major divisions of anthropology: physical, social and cultural; archeology and linguistics. Emphasis is placed on preliterate societies to facilitate the study of the interrelation of various aspects of culture.
- In this course students will inquire into the nature of classical traditions of Chinese culture. A range of Chinese texts in translation and associated materials will be explored to develop knowledge of the literary and philosophical foundations of Chinese culture. Lectures and readings are in English.
- This course will introduce students to linguistics, the study of language, and language in multicultural urban settings, including topics such as children's language acquisition, bilingual families and bilingual education, language and gender, different varieties of English and contemporary language use. The readings will draw on works in linguistics, literature, sociology, anthropology, and related topics. Students will improve critical reading and thinking skills and produce reflective and expository writing based on the readings in connection with their own experiences and backgrounds.
- This course studies the emergence of a national culture, folklore and identity. Topics include the Taino, Spanish and African contributions to the creation of a Criollo personality and character and the Puerto Rican family, race relations, the Jibaro, religion, and the arts. It reviews customs, traditions, celebrations, dances, legends, songs, proverbs, and hero/underdog stories as well as the impact of the United States culture.
- This course explores the role of economics, culture, and world diplomacy in the development of the Republic of Haiti since the Revolution of 1791. The impact of Haitian intellectual and popular thought on prose, poetry, and art is examined.
- The changing status of women in African traditional societies is compared with changes in the status of Black women in the United States, the Caribbean, and Brazil.
- This course examines the diverse peoples and cultures that have populated Latin American and the Caribbean region since pre-Columbian times. It discusses the legacy of European colonization and the subsequent struggles for independence, formation of national identities and the quest for modernization today. The course will place particular emphasis on the production of social movements that respond to social inequality, and conflicting ideologies around ethnicity, race and gender among other factors. The readings illustrate case studies that examine a wide range of topics - ecological adaptation, food production, kinship and local politics, medical and religious beliefs and artistic expressions - from small-scale rural society to large complex urban centers throughout the continent. It will also explore how globalization, intense migration, and transnationalism have generated new notions of identity in the US today.
- This course analyzes the status and roles of women in cross-cultural perspective. Particular emphasis is given to the socio-cultural forces underlying the women's rights movements in the 19th century and the present resurgence of feminism.
- This course will investigate health issues related to aging from a global perspective. Students will understand how culture influences individual responses' to the elderly and the aging. The relationship between aging, chronic and degenerative diseases will also be reviewed with special consideration given to the effect of biological changes on elders' process, health functioning and prevention of the effects of physical and mental deterioration of the individual.
Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice is the field that studies formal social control. This course covers the processing of crime by agents of formal control (police, courts, and institutional corrections). The general focus is on understanding the complex interactions of structures and agents in the system. Of particular concern are discretion and diversity in law enforcement, due process in criminal courts, and the punishment-rehabilitation dichotomy in corrections. The ultimate goal is to provide a critical foundation that prepares students for the challenges of a career in criminal justice.
- This is an introductory and foundational course in the study of crime and justice. It is designed to introduce students to the various historical and contemporary theories and empirical research used to understand deviant and criminal behavior. This course takes a critical approach to the study of the definition and measurement of crime, as well as applications of these theories to practice and in policy. Offending and victimization, as these relate to specific crime types (i.e., white collar crime, violent crime, sex crime, drug related crimes, etc.) will be explored. Prerequisite: SOC 100
- This course provides a historical overview of the relationship of the states of the Bill of Rights, and how the Supreme Court has interpreted the powers of the federal government. The effect of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment on the application of the Bill of Rights to the states is examined through a study of the leading Supreme Court decisions related to criminal justice. Topics include characteristics and powers of the three branches of government, the principles governing the operation of the Bill of Rights, and the variables affecting the formulation of judicial policy. Prerequisite: POL 100
- This course is intended to broaden the studenta??s understanding of the origins and development of law enforcement agencies in the United States. Moreover, the course will examine the complex role of the police in a democratic society in the criminal justice system. An emphasis will be placed on recruitment, the training process and the importance of diversity, particularly among larger police departments in the U.S. The course will also examine contemporary legal issues and modern strategies such as community, evidence-based, intelligence-led and predictive policing. Prerequisite: CRJ 101
- This course examines the history of criminal punishment in Western society, emphasizing the United States. The course highlights social forces (political, religious, economic, and technological) shaping punishment; reviews common theories (deterrence, retribution, rehabilitation, incapacitation, and restoration) and examines how theory relates to policy. The course takes a critical approach to correctional systems and policies by considering disparities and structural inequalities. Empirical evidence is used to examine contemporary crises of punishment (i.e., mass incarceration, school-to-prison pipeline) as well as prison culture, staffing, privatization, and prisoner civil rights. Alternatives to traditional punishment, especially restorative justice models, are explored. Prerequisite: CRJ 101
- This is an introductory course in the study of criminal law. The focus is on how it functions in and affects modern society, with a particular emphasis on understanding both the objectives and the limitations of law as an apparatus of social control. This course will cover the principles underlying the definition of crime, the purpose of punishment, and the general doctrines, such as attempt, causation and conspiracy. Throughout the course, a review of U.S. Supreme Court ruling and their role in the evolving nature of theory of criminal law will also be covered. Prerequisite: CRJ 101
- This course takes a critical approach to the study of crime and justice in urban settings. Course materials examine contemporary crime-related issues that affect urban communities within a historical and sociological context. The course highlights the intersections of deviant behavior and the criminal justice system within the structures of class, race, gender, and power inequalities. Topics explored may include racial profiling, juvenile delinquency, media representations of crime, policing, the war on drugs, and prisoner re-entry.
Prerequisite: CRJ 101 and CRJ 102 - This course will explore a significant topic, concept, theme or methodology of interest in the field of criminology, which studies crime as a social phenomenon. Topics for the following semester will be chosen by the instructor and will be made available during registration. Each section of the course will cover in depth a single special topic related to criminology, such as one of the following: Race and Crime; Gender and Crime; Media/Culture and Crime; Drugs and Crime; Theories of Juvenile Offending and Justice; Critical Criminology; Cultural Criminology; Crime and Social Problems; Criminal Deviance; Green Criminology; Elite Crime/White Collar Crime; Cyber criminology; Organized Crime; Immigration (or Migration and crime); Victimology; Violent Crime; Fear of Crime; Perspectives on Terrorism; Narrative, Ethnographic or Qualitative methodologies; Feminist Criminology.
Prerequisite: CRJ 102 and one 200-level social science course - This course will study a significant topic, concept, theme or methodology of interest in the field of criminal justice, including an understanding of institutional theory and practice. Topics for the following semester will be chosen by the instructor and will be made available during registration. Each Section of the course will cover in depth a single special topic related to criminal justice, such as one of the following: Administration of justice (policing, corrections, and /or courts); Comparative Criminal Justice (policing, corrections, and/or courts); Class, Sexuality and/or Gender and the Law; Immigration and the Law; Criminal Justice Ethics; Civil rights and Criminal Procedure; Criminal Law; Jurisprudence; Probation and Parole; Practices of Counter Terrorism; Juvenile Justice. Prerequisite: CRJ 101, POL 100 and one 200-level social science course
Economics
- This course provides an introduction to the fundamental economic concepts of production, consumption and price determination, as developed by economists over the last two centuries for understanding market economies. The class introduces students to the role of markets and economic policy in our contemporary global economy at the individual and societal level. The topics to be explored in the course span the areas of economics and economic history, and may include the banking system, social insurance programs, international trade, market regulations, the role of unions, and the federal budget. The student will come away with a broad understanding of economic issues, methods, ideas, and history.
Course Syllabus - This course introduces the subject of urban economics in historical and social contexts rather than as a strict analytical discipline. The causes and existence of poverty in cities, the management of federal, state and local government programs, the financing of Black enterprises, and conditions of social welfare are considered. Solutions toward developing neglected economics of urban communities are proposed.
Course Syllabus - This course analyzes the economic policies of the different political regimes in the Dominican Republic from the end of the 19th century to the present. It studies the application and results of these policies-changes brought about by these regimes in trade, industry, agriculture and population. It also examines the influence of the United States on developments in the Dominican economy during this century.
Course Syllabus - Problems of African economic and political development since 1900 are analyzed. The emergence of conditions contrary to the goals of independence and African participation in world affairs is explored.
Course Syllabus - This is a study of the factors affecting the economies of the English and French speaking countries of the Caribbean region. The effects of international diplomacy, multinational corporate policies, educational and social determinants, and economic policies are evaluated.
Course Syllabus - This course is intended primarily for those students who intend to pursue professional careers in fields such as economics, finance, management, and administration. It is also open to highly motivated students in other areas. Topics include: national income and national product; saving, consumption, investment, the multiplier theory, fiscal policy, inflation, employment and business cycles. The student will also be acquainted with money, banking, and central bank monetary policies, as well as some of the more significant theories of international trade and economic development.
- This course is an introduction to the topics of microeconomics, which include market supply and demand, theories of the firm and individual behavior, competition and monopoly, externalities, public goods, and income distribution. Students will learn ways to analyze the basic economic activities of consumption and production, and how to evaluate the allocation of resources and products achieved through markets. The role of government policy in addressing markets failures will be emphasized throughout the course, with special focus on contemporary economic problems.
- This course introduces students to the economic analysis of environmental issues and problems related to the allocation of natural resources as well as the role of government in dealing with environmental problems. Students will develop the capacity to understand economic and policy issues related to environmental and natural resource exploitation, the micro- and macroeconomic foundations of environmental theory and policy, and discuss and evaluate current environmental policies in the United States. Students will learn about the economics of externalities and natural resource management, including theoretical concepts, models of analysis, and theoretical debates among orthodox and heterodox interpretations. Prerequisite: ECO 100 or ECO 201 or ECO 202
- International trade, capital movements and foreign exchange markets lay the basis for global economic analyses and policy debates. Balance of payments problems include liquidity and growth, exchange rate systems, and tendencies for internal and external balance. Applied areas range from international financial institutions to issues of economic integration and development. Other topics involve history of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Euro Zone and Emerging Markets. Prerequisites: ECO 100 or ECO 201 or ECO 202
- Economic History is a discipline which integrates history and economics. The marriage of these two disciplines enables us to look critically at the impact that ideas, institutions, and individuals have upon our economy, how such elements affect our economy, and ultimately our own lives and experiences. Together these disciplines enable us to understand local, national and global economic relationships, and observe how policies, theories, and behaviors affect our society economically, socially, and politically. This course traces the economic development of the world economy - the focus is on Europe and North America - from medieval times up to the present. The first major topic concerns the transition from feudalism to capitalism, that is, the replacement of one major system of economic and social organization by another. Once we have examined the origins of capitalism, we shall follow its progress from its early mercantile phase, through the industrial revolution up to the international order established after the Second World War. Prerequisite: ECO 201 or ECO 202
- This course is an introduction to the economic analysis of the role of government in capitalist economies. The subjects covered in this course include the provision of public goods, remedies for externalities, the generation of public revenue through taxation, the method of cost-benefit analysis, and voting mechanisms for the representation of social preferences. Additional topics to be discussed include policies implemented for the maintenance of social welfare and social insurance programs, like public education and healthcare, and unemployment insurance. While other economies will be discussed periodically, attention throughout the course will be given to the United States economy. Prerequisite: ECO 201 or ECO 202
- This course develop students' critical thinking on the economic development process and introduce them to the basic issues and concepts of Development. The course covers the political economy of the development process and the challenges of formulating and implementing development policy in developing countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The evolution of development theory is treated as a contest of competing development paradigms, ranging from the Classical Modernization Paradigm, and alternative perspectives on development which emphasize dependency, world systems, human development, participatory development, sustainable development, poverty and inequality, culture, and gender, to the post-modernist challenges to 'development discourses' expressed in Post-development. The policy implications and problems raised with each discursive wave in the development process and under 'neo-liberal' globalization are expressly flagged, with special attention paid to the policy and development challenges faced by developing countries including SIDS. Prerequisite: ECO 201 or ECO 202
- This course will introduce students to anti-trust law and government policy regarding industry competition. Students will survey the economic theories of imperfect competition and the history of the regulation of competition within the United States. The motivation, formation and execution of government regulation will be discussed, along with economic analyses of the impact of regulations. Topics to be covered may also include mergers, natural monopolies, anti-competitive strategies, deregulation oversight, and the regulation of utilities and public enterprises. Prerequisite: ECO 202
- Feminist economics critically analyzes both economic theory and economic life through the lens of gender, and advocates various forms of feminist economic transformation. The objective is to retain and improve economic analysis by ridding the discipline of the biases created by the centrality of distinctively masculine concerns. We will look at feminist critiques of, and alternatives to, mainstream economics methodology and view and "economic man" the firm, and the economy itself. Other themes in the course will be racial-ethnic, class, and country differences among women. Prerequisite: ECO 201 or ECO 202
- This course is an introduction to the analysis of labor markets in advanced capitalist economies with primary reference to the United States economy. Aside from discussing the determinants of the supply and demand of labor and the qualities of labor market equilibrium, the course may cover the dominant theories of ancillary issues, like the determinants of labor productivity, wage differentials, and the role of incentive pay. Several topics of importance to the general welfare of society may also be covered, such as migration, education, labor market discrimination, and government programs to address unemployment. Prerequisite: ECO 202
- This course analyzes the history and effects of American economic policies on contemporary Puerto Rico. Economic conditions before the American occupation are examined with the objective of comparing them with the conditions and changes after 1898. The period of sugar as a monoculture is studied as well as the great depression and its impact on Puerto Rico. The coming to power of the Popular Party, with its politics of land reform and economic development, are examined. The economic and social planning that have brought about modern Puerto Rico are analyzed.
Course Syllabus - This course is an introduction to behavioral economics, which is the use of the methods of psychology to evaluate economic models of decision making and the collection of theories derived therefrom. The course reviews behavioral economics in the context of different economic models of decision making: decisions made under conditions of uncertainty, judgments of risk and probability, intertemporal decision making, and strategic interaction. Topics may include framing effects, prospect theory, menu dependence, endowment effects, confirmation bias, hyperbolic discounting, social preferences, and the utilization of behavioral economics for public policy. Prerequisites: ECO 202 and MAT 209
- This course introduces students to the economic analysis of strategic interaction and competition among firms in imperfectly competitive markets. While the focus of the course is on the behavior of businesses in an oligopoly, basic concepts of game theory will also be applied to a variety of situations facing firms. The course will cover various types of games (normal-form, sequential, repeated interaction) and bargaining theory, as well as the economic theory of contracts and asymmetric information situations. Topics covered in the course may also include vertical/horizontal integration, auctions, principal-agent relations, and market design.
Prerequisite: ECO 202
Course Syllabus - This course is an analysis of the organization and operation of our financial system, including money and capital markets, commercial banking, and other financial institutions such as commercial finance companies. The relationship between financial and economic activity including monetary and fiscal policy is demonstrated. Prerequisite: FNB 100 or ECO 100 or ECO 201 or ECO 202
Gender and Women's Studies
- This introductory level, interdisciplinary course explores the basic concepts and perspectives of Gender & Women's Studies from an intersectional angle; that is, examining the ways in which gender intersects with race, ethnicity, nationality, class, sexuality, sexual identity, disability, and other categories. The concepts of gender - the roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a society considers appropriate for men and women - privilege and oppression, intersectionality, and feminist praxis will be at the core of this course. After a background in the history and significance of Gender & Women's Studies as a field of study, you will learn to critically examine how institutionalized privilege and oppression shape individual lives and intersecting identity categories.
- The Gender and Womena??s Studies Capstone course will be a culmination and synthesis of studentsa?? work in the GWS program. Over the course of the semester, students will explore a topic in GWS in-depthI? they will sharpen their analytic abilities and critical thinking skills while engaging in an independent research and/or experiential learning project. Through course readings and individual and/or group work, students will apply interdisciplinary concepts, theories and methods to real life experiences, resulting in a research paper or project and a presentation to the class. Prerequisite: GWS 100 and two GWS electives
Geography
- This course introduces students to the key concepts and principles of human geography. The course is designed to show how world geographic conditions such as climate, landform, natural resources, soil, space and ecology have influenced human culture and civilization over time.
- This course introduces students to environmental studies with a focus on policy and management of resources. The course will examine issues pertaining to sustaining our resource base (biodiversity, food, soil, water, and energy) and how humans have impacted these key elements of the natural system. The goals of the course are to introduce students to the trends in human impact and management of the natural environment and provide a background to debates on sustainability and conservation. Prerequisite: GEO 100
- Population geography examines the dynamics of populations and their patterns of spatial settlement through time. Specifically, it will examine the main characteristics, changing size, and geographic distribution of populations, particularly in this age of intense globalization. The course covers fours main themes in global population: mobility and settlement; population and environment; population increase and decrease; and urbanization. Because of the broad scope of this subject matter, this course will provide a general overview of the scale of the diverse and complex patterns that operate between people and landscape. Prerequisite: GEO 100
History
- This course analyzes the societies of Western civilization from their origin to early modern times. The major social, economic, political, religious and intellectual developments are examined and their impact on the development of modern Western civilization is traced.
Course Syllabus - This course traces the growth of the modern Western world to the present. It surveys the political, economic and social foundations of contemporary civilization.
- In this historical survey of the emergence and development of a recognizable science and technology, the interrelationships between science and technology will be brought out. Some of the principal topics considered include science and technology in prehistory; ancient Babylonian, Egyptian, and Greek science and culture; Medieval medical technology and science; the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century; Darwinian evolution; the conquest of epidemic diseases; and the development of nuclear weapons. Critical analysis will cover the nature of scientific ideas, the scientific method and scientific change; the structure of scientific communities; relations between science, technology, and medicine; and the place of science in modern society.
Course Syllabus - The Asian American presence from the mid-nineteenth century to the present is studied. Three periods, 1848 to 1943, 1943 to 1965, and 1965 to the present are examined. Topics are designed to focus on the impact of historical processes on the cultural, economic, and political experiences of diverse Asian American groups in urban and rural communities. The multi-ethnic aspects of Asian American communities are explored.
Course Syllabus - This course offers a survey of human history in a global context, beginning with the birth of civilization and running up through the beginnings of the Renaissance in Europe. This historical development of fundamental cultural, political and social institutions will be examined through an analysis of recurring themes in world history. Topics include the earliest civilizations of the Middle East, India, China and the Americas; the beginnings of the world?s major faiths, such as Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism; the history of ancient Greece and Rome; the pre-Islamic history of the Middle East; the early histories of Africa, the Far East and the Americas; Islamic History; medieval European history; the Renaissance. It should be noted that, with respect to those topics generally associated with the ?West? ( i.e., Europe ? for instance, ancient Greece and Rome and the Renaissance), these will be considered within a more global context; developments in Europe then will be considered in terms of its interaction with other global regions, likewise, as reflective of analogous responses to common societal, cultural and environmental challenges. Indeed, the course will address the question of whether the familiar dichotomy of ?West? and ?East? is, in fact, a meaningful one.
Course Syllabus - The course offers a survey of human history in a global context, beginning with the Renaissance in Europe and running up to the present. The historical development of fundamental cultural, political and social institutions will be examined through an analysis of recurring themes in world history. Topics include the respective histories of the world?s great religions, the European Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the European Enlightenment, the development ( and continuing pervasiveness) of nationalism, Western imperialism and colonialism, the First and Second World Wars, the Cold War, and decolonization. It should be noted that those topics generally associated with the ?West? (for instance, nationalism) will be considered within a more global context; likewise, developments in Europe and North America will be considered in terms of their interaction with other global regions and/or as reflective of analogous responses to similar societal, cultural and environmental challenges. Indeed, the course will address the question of whether the familiar dichotomy of ?West? and ?East? is, in fact, a meaningful one.
Course Syllabus - In this course, the history of the United States from the Colonial period to the Civil War is studied and the major political, economic, and social problems of the new nation are analyzed.
- African civilizations from the pre-historic cultures in East Africa to the decline of the West African kingdom of Songhai in 1596 are examined.
Course Syllabus - Africa from the beginnings of the Atlantic slave trade to the end of Colonialism in the late twentieth century is examined. The effect of Colonialism on economic and cultural patterns in the African diaspora is explored.
Course Syllabus - This course is a systematic examination of the participation of African American people in the political, economic and cultural history of the United States. The involvement of African Americans in abolitionism and in the development of social and cultural institutions in free black communities is analyzed.
Course Syllabus - Reconstructions I and II, the social Darwinist years, Civil Rights activism of the 1960's, and the cumulative effects of institutionalized racism are set in an historical framework for comparative study. The course examines the impact of urbanization, institutional racism, economic, and political policies on the life experiences of African-Americans. The dynamics of cultural, social, and political interactions within the social structure of the nation since 1865 are analyzed.
Course Syllabus - This continued study of American history emphasizes the emergence of an industrial economy, an urban society, world responsibility and the expanded federal government.
- This course is a survey of the economic, political and cultural institutions which characterize the present nations of the Caribbean, their antecedents in the post- Emancipation period and the prospects for the future.
Course Syllabus - This course studies the history of Puerto Rico from the pre-Columbian period to the end of the 19th century. Consideration will be given to political, social, cultural, and economic factors contributing to the emergence of national consciousness in the 19th century and the events leading to the Spanish-American War in 1898.
Course Syllabus - This course studies the historical conditions of Puerto Rico in the 20th century. The transition from a Spanish colony to an American possession is examined. The events and forces that created the present Puerto Rico are studied and analyzed in perspective. The alternatives to the problem of status?commonwealth, statehood, and independence?are studied.
Course Syllabus - Recent events have seen a growing interest in that part of the world commonly referred to as the Middle East. This course aims to introduce students to the Middle East, from the rise of Islam to contemporary times. It takes a cross-disciplinary approach, designed to allow students the chance to examine the region from a number of different perspectives; not only an historical one, but also those of literature, religion, economics, politics and international relations. It is hoped that, at minimum, the course will provide a sound basis by which students might better frame their understanding of the region; at maximum, that it might stimulate a desire to further explore the region in greater depth. Particularly, given the tendency if the media to view the region largely in terms of current events, it is hoped that by taking a cross-disciplinary approach, students will come to conceive of the region as a multi-dimensional; as a region with rich and varied cultural, historical and intellectual traditions; most importantly, as a region made up of people, of individuals who have many of the same desires and aspirations, the same fears and concerns, as ourselves. Given that the course constitutes a broad cross-disciplinary survey of the Middle East, it will, at times, be necessarily selective, focusing in depth on specific but representative aspects of Middle Eastern civilization. Students are thus encouraged to make reference to the a??additional reading lista?? towards the end of the syllabus. An additional goal of the course is to consider in a more critical way the manner in which the region is portrayed in the media. Thus, periodically, we will be examining issues of topical interest.
Course Syllabus - Survey covering from the pre-Columbian cultures, the age of discovery and exploration, colonial structures, independence movements, to contemporary Latin America, with special emphasis on the countries of the mainland (i.e., North, Central, and South America). Students will learn about the traditions and institutions of Latin American Civilization including the Iberian conquest and colonization, the role of the Catholic Church, economic and social structures, as well as problems related to government, nation-building, race and class relations, wars and Latin America's position in the world.
Course Syllabus - This course studies the history of the Dominican Republic from the pre-Columbian and Colonial periods to the present. It deals with the geographical, political, social, and economic factors that form the Dominican nation. Emphasis is given to relations with Haiti and North America. The course also analyzes the position of the Dominican Republic in the community of Latin American nations as well as its place in today's world.
Course Syllabus - This course in social and intellectual history examines ideas about women and women?s status in society in selected periods of history. Emphasis is placed on t'e reading and interpretation of primary source material. Topics included are: the historiography of women's history; examples of matriarchy; women in the Ancient Near East; Greece and Rome in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance; the role of women in the American slave and plantation society; women in the modern capitalist and socialist worlds.
Prerequisite: Any history course or GWS 100 - The course will address in a historical context the political, social, economic and ideological factors underlying the various conflicts that have confronted the Middle East, beginning with post-First World War period and ending with more recent developments, with the aim of helping students better appreciate their root causes and complexities.
Prerequisite: Any Social Science course
Course Syllabus - This course will provide a culminating experience for students enrolled in the History Major by allowing them to explore a topic in-depth, engage in independent research, develop their analytic abilities and critical thinking skills, and apply concepts and theories to new cases. The course will focus on special topics within the field and expertise of the instructor. It will introduce students to major theoretical perspectives, basic research methodologies and research design issues, and central analytical models in history. The course will call upon students to write historical research papers involving library research and analysis of multiple sources. Students will spend the first third of the
semester reading and analyzing examples of academic historical work. They will then write their own research papers, based on topics of their own choosing, while working in conjunction with both peers and the instructor to revise these papers.
Prerequisite: ENG 201 and [(HIS 101 and HIS 102) or (HIS 115 and HIS 116) or (HIS 120 and HIS 125) or Departmental Approval]
Course Syllabus
Human Services
- This course introduces students to the field of Human Services and the profession of Social Work. Those human services which deal with social and personal problems are explored as well as the knowledge base, the skills base and the values base of the social work profession. Students are exposed to the methods of working with people as individuals, in groups and on a community level. This course meets the requirements as a liberal arts elective in social science.
- The course is designed to train students in the use of helping skills and techniques utilized in the field of human services. Some of the areas covered in the course include interviewing and counseling, making referrals, assessment, group process and behavioral techniques. This course is open only to students enrolled in the Human Services curriculum. Pre-Requisite: HUM101
- This course provides students with a basic understanding of the interrelationships between the physical, intellectual, social and psychological aspects of the aging process in contemporary society. Problems particular to aging are explored as well as policies and programs which have been developed to deal with them.
- This course focuses on the psychological and sociological aspects of disabling conditions, and the approaches to effecting the person's habilitation/rehabilitation through behavior change.
- This course is a survey of child welfare as a field of Social Work practice. Course content includes the relationships of parents, children and society; the development of old and new governmental programs for children; the impact on the family of child welfare policies, and the future of child welfare programs in the United States.
- Students are placed for one day per week in human service settings where they learn first-hand about agency structure and function, the activities of human service professionals, and the application of human service skills. Settings include community centers, hospitals, family service agencies, community residences for the developmentally disabled, senior citizen centers, homeless shelters, child psychiatry clinics, etc. A one hour weekly class session reinforces the agency experience through case presentations and group discussion. This course is open only to students enrolled in the Human Services curriculum. Please note: This course has 1 hour lecture and 7 internship hours per week. Prerequisite: HUM 101 and [HUM 201 or Gerontology Major]
- This course follows the same format as HUM 301, Field Experience in Human Services I. Remaining in the same field placement, the student deepens his/her knowledge and strengthens his/her skills through continued practice and supervision. This course is open only to students enrolled in the Human Services curriculum. Please note: This course has 1 lecture hour and 7 internship hours per week. Prerequisite: HUM 301
- This course will acquaint students with the social welfare system of the United States. An historical perspective helps to illuminate the evolution of current policies, programs and practices. Poverty in the U.S. is analyzed as well as the specific programs which have been developed to alleviate it. Cross-cultural approaches to social welfare are also examined. Prerequisite: POL 100
Philosophy
- The study of philosophy helps students develop analytic skills and gain an appreciation of the general philosophical problems with which human beings have grappled throughout Western civilization. Basic philosophic problems such as free will and determinism, the criteria which justify ethical evaluations, the philosophical considerations which are relevant to belief or disbelief in God, and knowledge and illusion are examined during this course.
- The course focuses on principles of sound thinking and valid argument in order to develop skills in analysis and evaluation of inductive and deductive reasoning. Students learn to discriminate between valid and invalid argument, using as tools the techniques of formal and symbolic logic.
- In considering ethical positions ranging from animal rights to environmental philosophies of radical ecology, and studying the impact of new reproductive technologies and other biotechnologies on the (so-called) Third World, students learn about advances made by working scientists and feminist philosophers in contextualizing science and technology. A special attempt will be made to study cultural factors as class, gender, and race in order to understand the responsibilities of scientists and technologists for the uses of their knowledge; the ethics of scientific research; and truth and fraud in science and engineering.
- This course is designed to develop the mind and help sharpen students' ability to think clearly, logically, thoroughly, critically and effectively. Through substantive readings, structured writings assignments and ongoing discussions, students will learn to use analytical skills in reading, writing, oral presentations, researching, and listening. Students will examine concrete examples from their own experience and readings and contemporary issues in the media to learn how to analyze issues, solve problems and make informed decisions in academic, professional, and personal lives.
- This course will examine major historical and contemporary perspectives in moral philosophy. We will consider questions such as, 'Are there universal moral values??, Are ethical conduct and self-interest compatible?', 'What is the source of our ethical obligations (God? Society? Or Reason?) and how can we justify them?', and 'How does globalization impact ethical theory?' The course will look at what attributes and qualities make up a successful ethical theory and will compare competing approaches to ethical decision-making. Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on real-world ethical issues that arise in contemporary life and society.
- This course provides an in-depth discussion of some of the great issues of philosophy. It applies analytical and logical tools for clarification of these issues with emphasis on recent/contemporary philosophical developments. Using a cross-cultural perspective, there is a focus on select topics such as ethical codes and moral conduct, plolitcal order, social justice, religious experiences and beliefs, science and knowledge and the nature of consciousness. Prerequisite: PHI 100 or 110
Political Science
- The history, development, and intellectual origin of American government are studied and analyzed. Special consideration is given to the structure and operation of the executive, legislative and judiciary branches, and the role of government and politics in a modern industrial society.
- This class involves students in observation and critical analysis of political affairs. Topics and themes will include both American and global perspectives and both contemporary and historical cases. The class introduces a range of approaches to the study of politics, such as empirical research, quantitative analysis, theoretical questioning, and the examination of literary or artistic works. Central concepts will include politics, power, government, conflict, and justice.
Course Syllabus - Science, technology and society is constructively and deconstructively theorized within fields of knowledge known as textual and political economies. In considering competing intellectual traditions in creating a theory of science, technology, and society, themes such as the relationship between science, technology and the state; social epistemology; laboratory science studies; feminist perspectives on science and technology; ecological foundations for science and technology; and the globalization of science and technology will be discussed. This course will provide acquaintance with the everyday context of working scientists and technologists.
Course Syllabus - This course uses gender as a lens of analysis for studying politics, with an emphasis on the United States. It will explore how participation, including voting, campaigning, office holding, and activism, has been gendered and how ideals of citizenship have differed for men and women, taking into account the ways that gender intersects with other categories such as race and ethnicity. The course will cover the historical development of men'A?s and women's political roles, the ways gender inequality has been sustained and contested in various political contexts, and selected current issues and debates.
- This course is an analysis of the political movements and parties of Puerto Rican communities in the U.S.A.; the relationships of these movements and parties toward political development in Puerto Rico; the role of the Puerto Rican in both traditional and radical political movements in the U.S.A.; and how political participation in the American process has come to contribute to a sense of community identity among Puerto Ricans in the U.S.A.
Course Syllabus - The origins of nationalist ideologies, and political and social action in the United States, Caribbean, and Africa are examined. Political and economic developments since the late 19th century are analyzed.
Course Syllabus - This course considers the basic factors involved in international relations. The components of nationalism, the state system, and the concept of politics as the crucial form of interstate relationship are discussed and examined. A systematic study is made of capabilities, goals and methods of interstate relations, considering the underlying principles, forces, patterns, and problems which historically characterize international organization and the political systems of the world.
Prerequisite: POL 100 or POL 110
Course Syllabus - This course explores the politics of cities, with special emphasis on New York City and with attention to institutions and organizations active in urban politics, urban public policy issues, and interactions between cities and other levels of government. Themes may include the roots of urban public life, the historical development and importance of cities, and current challenges to urban communities.
Prerequisite: POL 100 or POL 110
Course Syllabus - This course analyzes the nature of power in America. Who governs? How is power exercised? What is the relationship between the private sector and the public sector? These and other areas will be investigated. The course will examine concepts and approaches to the study of power, including pluralism, elite, class, and the role of race and gender.
Prerequisite: Any 100-level Social Science course
Course Syllabus - This course provides an introduction to the comparative study of political institutions, political cultures, public policy, and forms of political action. Taking examples from different parts of the world, the course examines the development and contemporary workings of various political systems, emphasizing basic concepts and methods of comparative analysis.
Prerequisite: POL 100 or POL 110
Course Syllabus - This course examines political ideas and their relationship to the practice of politics. Various theories will be explored, including liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and contemporary political thought. The course will address questions such as: What is human nature? What are rights, liberty and justice? How might they be achieved? What is the proper role of government? Political theorists approach these questions differently and provide different answers. The relevance of theories to current political issues is discussed.
Prerequisites: Any Social Science course
Course Syllabus - This is a summer course taught abroad in Greece. Ancient Greek thinkers and the experiences of the ancient polis will be studied with a view to their influence, validity, and contemporary relevance. Readings will include Plato and Aristotle, among others.
Course Syllabus
Psychology
- The course introduces students to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Students will learn about current perspectives, historical roots and scientific methods in psychology. Topics within major areas of psychology may include biopsychology, human development, learning, cognition, social processes, personality and psychological disorders.
- The course introduces students to major theories and scientific findings in social psychology emphasizing personal and situational behavior. Research and application in the areas of social thinking, social influence and social relations are discussed. Topics include, but are not limited to, attitudes and beliefs, conformity, prejudice, group behavior and leadership, communication and persuasion. Prerequisite: PSY 100
- This course will cover the psychology of death and dying in our society. Throughout the semester we will examine the attitudes and values about death and dying, the developmental processes on death and dying as well as the sociocultural-perspectives, both the legal and ethical concerns of death and dying, as well as the issues of grief and bereavement. The text and supplemental readings will provide the groundwork for the assignments and class discussions. Students will be expected to remain open to different experiences, feelings and values. Prerequisite: PSY 100
- This course will provide an introduction to statistical methods utilized in the behavioral sciences. Topics that will be discussed include probability theory, descriptive statistics, correlation/regression, t-test, ANOVA, and chi-square. Students will also learn how to analyze data using statistical software and how to report their results in APA style. Prerequisite: PSY 100
- The course focuses on exploring, critically evaluating and applying theories and concepts to the study of personality psychology. It also discusses research, assessment and influences of personality on human behavior and everyday life. Prerequisite: PSY 100
- This course explores cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes across the lifespan. Attention is given to how biological sociocultural factors shape the individual. Prerequisite: PSY 100
- This course involves the interpersonal and institutional socialization of women in contemporary American society and the effect of these processes on individual personality through an examination of existing roles and exploration of alternatives. Prerequisite: PSY 100
- This course explores biological, cognitive, and emotional growth from conception through adolescence. Attention is paid to the interplay of individual and sociocultural factors that influence the course of psychological development. Prerequisite: PSY 100
- The course is designed to introduce the students to historical, cultural and contemporary perspectives as well as scientific research in cognitive psychology. Topics include but are not limited to memory, perception, language, problem solving, decision making and cognitive neuroscience. Prerequisite: PSY 100
- This course focuses on historical perspectives, contemporary trends, theoretical models and scientific research in the assessment and classification of mental illness. The etiology and treatment of psychological disorders are discussed with emphasis on the role of biological, cognitive, psychodynamic and sociocultural factors. Prerequisites: PSY 100
- The course is designed to introduce the students to psychological research. Students will learn about the research process by analyzing the ethical issues in research, conducting literature reviews, collecting, analyzing and interpreting the data, as well as summarizing and presenting the findings. Students may be presented with an opportunity to work with faculty on designing and implementing a research project. The course includes both theoretical and applied (lab) components.
Prerequisite: PSY 100 and two PSY 200-level courses - The course presents Black experiences through a psychological lens. Leaning on the work of leading Black psychologists and other theorists, this course examines critical issues related to race, ethnicity, education, Black families and other social factors embedded in both contemporary and historical contexts. Prerequisite: PSY 100
- The course will examine theoretical and methodological approaches and challenges to studying the impact of culture on psychological processes and how people construct cultural meaning. Topics may include: definition and methods of cultural psychology, self and identity, motivation and emotion, cognition and perception, morality, mental health, and migration and cultural assimilation. Implications of cultural psychology for social policy and clinical practice will be discussed. Prerequisite: PSY 100
Social Science
- This course offers the student Social Science field experience in Italy. Orientation, seminars with guest lecturers, field trips to sites of historic interest, and cultural tours are an integral part of the travel program. The field experience base of operations is a university in Italy.
Course Syllabus - This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to the cultures of selected African nations through travel, structured reading, and lectures conducted on the campuses of African colleges and universities. Requirements include a term paper. This course and LAT 475 are part of the Center for Ethnic Studies' Study Abroad Program.
Course Syllabus - This is a summer course taught abroad in a Latin American or Caribbean country. It offers the student the opportunity to travel, to share, to live and to study in another country. From a global perspective, this course explores the history and culture of a selected Latin American or Caribbean country by focusing on religion, homeland, art, family, identity, film, economic development, social and political movements and environment as they are presented as major themes of current research and in the tangible appreciation of the student.
Prerequisite: A functional knowledge of the language of the country or countries visited may be required.
Course Syllabus
Sociology
- This course studies the social world and how it has evolved over time, as well as how individuals are influenced and structured by social interactions in small groups and by larger social forces. The course covers major sociological theories and research methods, and key concepts such as culture, socialization, social class, race/ethnicity, gender, technology, social inequality, and social change.
- This course examines the barriers to the completion of high school by urban high school students and presents the "mentor model" as one way to support and help students achieve in the school environment. Students taking this course will spend a minimum of 20 hours serving as a mentor to a student from a nearby high school. Prerequisite: Permission of department
- This is a problem-centered and task-oriented course that integrates the humanities and the theories and practices of science and social sciences into the leading public issues of technological society. By emphasizing the close connections between science and technology, social institutions, and cultural values, students will learn how social institutions directly affect technological development and professional careers. The course also analyzes today's "global village," the changing relations between East and West and the Third World, and worldwide development and environmental issues.
- This course surveys the long history of cross-racial and inter-ethnic interactions among immigrants, migrants, people of color and working people in the United States and the wider world from the era of mercantile capitalism in the sixteenth century to the present. By making inroads into the dynamic worlds that indigenous people, people of African and Latin American descent, European Americans, and Asian Americans made and remade, the course aims to reach across borders of all kinds, including national boundaries, to cultivate global, transnational and comparative perspectives on race and ethnicity. In particular, it places emphasis on relationships and conflicts between these diverse groups, especially how they were treated and defined in relation to each other. Broadly, this course is concerned with how these groups struggle to stake out their place in a highly unequal world.
- The effects of economic and social factors on socialization, status, and levels of achievement among Black men are analyzed. The impact of institutional racism and underachievement on urbanized populations is explored in terms of access, social status, and economic differentials.
- This course studies the varied experiences of Latinos in the United States of America. Through readings, lectures, discussions and fieldwork, students will become familiar with the group and its diverse components from North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean, while covering representative nationalities such as Mexicans, Salvadorians, Cubans, Colombians, Ecuadorians, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans. The course will survey the history and evolution of Latinos at the same time that it explores issues of culture and identity. Other topics include family, race relations, religion, education, economic incorporation and political participation. Key issues of contemporary interest will also be explored, such as Latinos and immigration, and the impact they have on local, state and nationwide elective office.
- This course studies the peculiar characteristics of the Puerto Rican migration to the U.S. It analyzes the processes of assimilation and adaptation to the American society as opposed to the identity and preservation of Puerto Rican cultural values. The problems of education, housing, health services, family and community, employment, and economic development are given special attention as they relate to the unique experience of the Puerto Rican in the U.S.A.
- Current theories of socialization, cultural transformation, and poverty are assessed. Field visits to recognized agencies and institutions are arranged under supervision of the instructor. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or ANT 100
- This course analyzes the relationships between economic and social factors, and the delivery of health care services in urban communities. Attention is given to community needs related to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, mortality rates, prevention, and education. Guest lecturers and workshops are presented. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or ANT 100
- A close relationship exists between the social problems and the values and structures regarded by society as normal and stable. In this course, students apply sociological principles, theory, methods, and research toward an understanding of social problems. Prerequisite: SOC 100
- This course examines the role of gender in society, with a focus on gender as a social construction and a system of inequality that shapes contemporary society and its institutions. Topics may include the relationship of biology and gender, gender and sexuality, feminist theory, the influence of gender on institutions such as the family, schools, workplace, media, politics, etc., gender and violence, and the intersection of gender, race and ethnicity, and class. Prerequisite: SOC 100
- This course examines the role of arts and culture in society, with an emphasis on the social meanings, interpretation and impact of art, arts institutions, and art worlds. The roles of the artist and art world will be considered in relation to race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and social class. Questions of the politics, policy, and labor involved in arts and culture will be addressed. Prerequisite: Any 100-level social science course
- This course focuses on sociological approaches to the study of racial and ethnic relations and their impact on social life. The relations between racial and ethnic groups in the United States will be examined from a social-structural and social-Psychological perspective. This course will examine historical and contemporary constructions of identity, assimilation stratification and interaction between majority and minority groups.
Prerequisite: SOC 100 - This course studies the Puerto Rican family as the primary unit of Puerto Rican society, reflecting the patterns and dynamics of that society. It examines the variations in family structure that have evolved from the Taino, Spanish and African cultures. The historical and economic changes that have transformed Puerto Rican society are analyzed with emphasis on their effect on the family structure. The experience of migration and its impact on the Puerto Rican family are considered. Attention is given to the problems facing the family as the unit of migration. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or ANT 100.
- This course involves a sociological analysis of the modern city and the urban way of life. Among the topics discussed are: the growth and decline of urban neighborhoods; social forces responsible for the modern urban community; urban ecology; urban blight and shifts in the residential distribution of racial, ethnic, and income groups; plans and policies for urban development; and the future of the central city. Prerequisite: SOC 100
- This course examines the basic functions of the family in contemporary society. The social processes involved in courtship, marriage, parenthood, alternative family models, the roles of family members, and the relationship between the various models and the community will be examined. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or ANT 100
- The Black family in current urban/suburban settings and the effects of changing value systems, the single-parent family, crises in education, and economic stability are examined. Field visits to selected agencies and institutions are required. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or ANT 100
- Health intersects with every aspect of our daily lives as well as institutions and larger social structures. This course examines the social construction of health and medicine, with a focus on political, cultural, and economic forces that shape meaning of health, as well as medical institutions and other responses to illness. Topics may include sociological perspectives of health and illness; inequality produced through social factors including sex/gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status; medicalization and social control; issues related to an aging society; and the health care system. Prerequisite: SOC 100
- This Sociology Capstone will focus on special topics within the field and expertise of the instructor. It will provide a culminating experience for students by allowing them to explore a topic in-depth, engage in independent research, develop their analytic abilities and critical thinking skills, and apply concepts and theories to new cases. The capstone course will introduce students to the major theoretical perspectives, the basic research methodologies and research design issues, and the central analytical models in Sociology. Over the course of the semester, each student will engage in independent research that culminates in a research paper or project and a presentation to the class. Prerequisite: [ENG 100.5 or ENG 101] and SOC 100 and two (2) SOC major electives of which one (1) must be a 200-level course
