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Course Catalog 2012-2013 
    
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Course Catalog 2012-2013 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Oberlin College Courses Offered in 2012-13 (and planned offerings in future years)

 You may wish to consult inforamation about using the Oberlin Catalog located here: Using the Online Catalog to My Advantage 

 
  

  • POLT 110 - Revolution, Socialism and Reform in China


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    East Asian Studies
    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, CD,WR
    We begin with a chronological overview, from ancient times to the present. Then we proceed topically, focusing on: politics and the state; political economy (including industry and agriculture); gender relations; population; and cultural politics. Written work consists of take-home, open-book essays, and weekly blogs on the readings. We will also screen and discuss several films.
    Enrollment Limit: 35
    Instructor: M. Blecher
  

  • POLT 119 - Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This course will introduce students to the field of Peace and Conflict Studies, an inter-disciplinary field that examines the causes of human aggression and conflict, with such conflict ranging in scale from the interpersonal to the international. We will survey the approaches of various disciplines to understanding violent conflict, explore potential links between violence and such factors as perceptions of injustice, and critically evaluate nonviolent means for resolving conflict. Enrollment limit: 13 per section.
    Enrollment Limit: 13
    Instructor: S. Crowley, F. Mayer
    Cross List Information This course is cross-listed with Psychology 118.
  

  • POLT 120 - Introduction to International Politics


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This course surveys the major theories and concepts of international politics, and applies them to the discipline’s enduring questions. Topics include: the evolution of state sovereignty; causes of war and peace; inequality and the politics of the global economy; the emergence of non-state actors; changing norms of intervention; and the effects of globalization on the modern state system.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: D. Imerman, K. Mani
  

  • POLT 130 - Being Political: Political Theory and Political Action


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Of the various forms of human activities, what is unique about politics? When and where does it occur, and what does it look like? How is it related to other areas of human endeavor, such as art and science? We will critically investigate concepts of political action and the sites of politics from ancient Greece to the present. Authors will include Aristotle, Hobbes, Machiavelli, Marx, William Connolly, and Iris Young.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: J. Schiff
  

  • POLT 132 - Explaining Social Power: Classical and Contemporary Theories


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, WR
    Politics is about power. However, there is no consensus as to what power is, or about how power operates in society. Drawing on economic, sociological, psychological and feminist approaches, as well as on works of classical and contemporary political theory, the class will discuss the questions: ‘what are the bases of social power?’ and ‘how does power operate in society?’ Readings will be drawn from Machiavelli, Hobbes, Marx, Weber, Freud, Foucault and recent feminist work.
    Enrollment Limit: 22
    Instructor: S. Kruks
  

  • POLT 202 - American Constitutional Law


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society
    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 4 hours
    Attribute: 4SS, CD,WR
    The case method is used to analyze the principles of the American Constitution and Supreme Court decision-making. Topics include: presidential, congressional, and Supreme Court power; state versus national control of social policy and commerce; equal protection of the law and race, gender, sexual orientation; implied fundamental rights to abortion choice, education, and sexual intimacy; First Amendment rights of free speech and religion, and modern constitutional theories.
    Enrollment Limit: 40
    Instructor: R. Kahn
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: One course in politics or consent of instructor.
  

  • POLT 203 - The First Amendment


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society
    Semester Offered: First Semester 2013-2014
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This course will consider some of the historical, theoretical, and doctrinal issues surrounding the First Amendment to the American Constitution (freedom of expression and freedom of, and from, religion). Topics include obscenity and sexual speech, libel, hate speech, school prayer, and other forms of religious expression. A previous course in constitutional law is helpful but is not required. Class participation is essential and is a component of each student’s grade.

     
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: H. Hirsch
    Prerequisites & Notes
     

     
  

  • POLT 204 - Democratic Citizenship in America


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society
    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 Hours
    Attribute: 3 SS
    Practitioners and theorists alike debate the proper role of citizens in a democracy. Should they follow all laws or only those they consider just? Should they be more committed to common citizenship standards or to ethnic identities? Can they be both free and equal? Political philosophy and political psychology illuminate these questions, helping us to understand current political events. This course considers historical arguments, democratic ideals, and the psychological underpinnings of American political behavior.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: C. DeSante
  

  • POLT 205 - Political Research and Analysis


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, QP-H
    New course added 11.01.12.

    An introductory course in computational statistics for the social sciences. This course will use freely available statistical software and will cover basic object-oriented programming and data visualization using R. Topics will be chosen that can be analyzed using quantitative/statistical techniques, focusing on computing and interpreting statistics to answer substantive questions about political phenomena. Strongly recommended for any student considering graduate school; pre-requisite is the successful completion of high school algebra.

     
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: C. DeSante
  

  • POLT 206 - The Politics of Sexual Minority Communities


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies
    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, CD
    This course examines the history and politics of LGBT communities in the United States during the twentieth century. No background in the subject is required, though a general knowledge of American history and politics during this period is helpful. Topics include the relative freedom of urban LGBT communities before and during World War II, the repression of the 1950’s, the Stonewall Rebellion and its aftermath, the politics of AIDS, and the place of LGBT issues in the African-American community. Class participation is essential and is a component of each student’s grade.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: H. Hirsch
  

  • POLT 208 - Environmental Policy


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This course introduces students to the foundations, evolution, actors, content, goals and future of environmental policies in the U.S. We will contrast federal policies with initiatives in local communities, at the State level, in other countries, and at the international level. By navigating through various levels of governance, this course builds a typology of environmental policies highlighting distinct assumptions , interests, approaches and agendas of key players in the development and implementation of policy.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: M. Maniates
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Note: Restricted to ENVS and POLT majors.
    Cross List Information This course is cross-listed with ENVS 208.
  

  • POLT 209 - Public Policy in America


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This course is concerned with diagnosing the sources of folly in the making of public policy and with developing those political skills of analysis and action that enhance policy-making effectiveness. Academic perspectives expose historical errors. An emphasis on experiential learning makes the acquisition of political skills personally meaningful.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: P. Dawson
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisites: Two courses in American politics.
  

  • POLT 210 - Latin American Politics


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Latin American Studies
    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, CD
    An introduction to Latin American political development since 20th century. Uses comparative analysis to examine the region’s major political models and their protagonists. Focus on the role of the state; major theories and policies of economic development; the regimes and practices of authoritarianism, populism and democracy; the military; the United States contemporary challenges to democracy.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: K. Mani
  

  • POLT 211 - Revolutions


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Latin American Studies, Russian and East European Studies
    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    We will examine a number of revolutions of the past century, particularly those in Latin America and Russia/Eastern Europe. The questions we will explore include: What brings about revolution? Why do some revolutions succeed, and others fail? Are revolutions effective means of social change, or do they merely reproduce the problems inherited from the past? Have recent global changes rendered revolutions obsolete, or will they likely persist as a means of social and political transformation? Enrollment limit: 17 per section.
    Enrollment Limit: 17
    Instructor: S. Crowley
  

  • POLT 214 - Social and Political Change in Eastern Europe


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Russian and East European Studies
    Semester Offered: First Semester 2013-2014
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, CD
    This course focuses on Eastern Europe as the first relatively backward region in the world capitalist system. We will begin with some major theories of social change and a historical introduction to the region. Next, we will turn to communist revolutions, Stalinism, reform communism, the rise of dissent and the revolutions of 1989. Much of the course will be devoted to the post-communist era, attempts to build democracy and capitalism, and the rise of nationalism.
    Enrollment Limit: 45
    Instructor: S. Crowley, V. Vujacic
    Cross List Information This course is cross-listed with SOCI 230.
  

  • POLT 215 - Politics of South Asia


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This course introduces the politics of major South Asian countries–India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. The course will begin by looking at this region’s colonial history and how it has shaped the region’s current politics. Then we will examine the political institutions and the process of democratization within the countries of this region. Lastly, we will look at some of the contemporary issues affecting these countries–such as terrorism and nuclear proliferation.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: S. Pathak
  

  • POLT 216 - The Political Economy of Advanced Capitalism


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, WR
    This course is an introduction to comparative political economy, broadly defined as the ways in which the triangular relationship between the state, labor and capital differs from one advanced capitalist country to another. The course will examine the political economies of Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, the United States and Japan, paying particular attention to globalization, deindustrialization, and challenges to the welfare state and trade unions.
    Enrollment Limit: 30
    Instructor: C. Howell
  

  • POLT 219 - Work, Workers and Trade Unions in Advanced Capitalist Societies


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, WR
    This course examines the nature and organization of work in capitalist societies, and the forms of labor organization created by workers. It is a comparative course, looking at Western Europe, Japan, and the United States. Among the topics covered are: conflict and cooperation in the workplace, the intersection of race, class and gender at work, types of trade unionism, the labor process, the role of the state and employers in industrial relations, and labor politics.
    Enrollment Limit: 30
    Instructor: C. Howell
  

  • POLT 220 - US Security in a Globalizing World


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 Hours
    Attribute: 3 SS
    New course added 11.02.12.

    The accelerating pace of globalization has influenced both the specific issues Americans believe to be most significant for US security and the way in which they are framed and understood. This course explores how globalization is challenging traditional notions of nationalism and international community, introducing new (inter-)national security concerns, and altering existing ones. Topics include nuclear proliferation, terrorism, immigration, US involvement in specific regions, transnational online communities, and the legality and ethics of drone strikes.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: D. Immerman
    Consent of the Instructor Required: No
  

  • POLT 226 - International Law


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society
    Semester Offered: Second Semester 2013-2014
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    The course will explore the nature, sources, and role of law in international relations; participants in the international legal system, questions of jurisdiction, enforcement, rights, norms, liability, dispute settlement and the connection of domestic to international law. The course will also consider the role of major multilateral treaties and institutions and new developments in changing areas such as international criminal law and the law of intellectual property.
    Enrollment Limit: 35
    Instructor: B. Schiff
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: One course in international relations.
  

  • POLT 227 - War, Weapons & Arms Control


    Semester Offered: First Semester 2013-2014
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Evolution of war, weapons and war technologies, arms diffusion, acquisition, and control, their influences on international violence and concepts of national security, relationship to civilian technological, organizational and political change, and relationships to military tactics will be examined. A series of policy memorandums constitute the writing requirement for the course.
    Enrollment Limit: 20
    Instructor: B. Schiff
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: One course in Politics (highly recommended: POLT 120 or POLT 121).
  

  • POLT 228 - US Foreign Policy Making


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Analyze foreign policy theories including the President, Congress, bureaucracy, media, advocacy organizations, and public opinion. Study pivotal moments in U.S. foreign policy: Washington’s farewell, Monroe Doctrine, Wilson’s 14points, Truman’s 1947 speech, Kennan’s ‘Containment’ in Foreign Affairs, Nixon Doctrine, Carter Doctrine, Clinton Doctrine, GW Bush’s National Security Memorandum 2002. We will seek to understand U.S. foreign policies with respect to selected ‘hot spots’ confronting President Obama and his foreign policy team.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: E. Sandberg
  

  • POLT 232 - European Political Theory: Hobbes to Marx


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society
    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    How did political thought develop from the 17th to the 19th century? Does it still matter today? We will study the emergence of and responses to this period called ‘The Enlightenment,’ paying particular attention to the relationships among human nature, history and politics; forms of political power and community; and the nature and purpose of education for political life. Authors will include: Kant, Hume, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, J. S. Mill and Marx.
    Enrollment Limit: 30
    Instructor: J. Schiff
  

  • POLT 234 - European Political Theory: After Marx


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    A critical analysis of European political theory from the mid-19th to the mid-20th centuries. Issues examined include the nature of power, the relation of freedom to authority, whether individual political action remains possible in the modern world, and the status of social science methods in political theory. Authors studied include Durkheim, Nietzsche,Weber, Lenin, Freud, Arendt, and others.
    Enrollment Limit: 30
    Instructor: H. Wilson
  

  • POLT 238 - Modern American Political Thought


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    A survey of major themes and issues in American political thought between 1960 and the present. Topics include the New Left, the counterculture, modern feminism, Black Power, environmentalism, neoconservatism, LGBTQ liberation, and America’s place in the world. Politics 233 and/or working knowledge of American history during the period is helpful but not required. Class participation is expected and constitutes a portion of each student’s grade.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: H. Hirsch
  

  • POLT 239 - Marxian Theory


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Russian and East European Studies
    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, CD,WR
    A survey of Marxian theory from Marx and Engels to the present. After discussing Hegel, the heart of the course is in-depth study of Marx and Engels. We proceed next to leading Marxist thinkers and political activists of the early 20th century: Bernstein, Luxemburg, Kautsky, Lenin and Gramsci. Finally we briefly take up critical theory, Marxian feminist, Marxian environmental. The course includes lectures and weekly small discussion groups.
    Enrollment Limit: 60
    Instructor: M. Blecher, H. Wilson
  

  • POLT 240 - Identity Politics


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 Hours
    Attribute: 3 SS
    New course added 11.02.12.

    This course explores the meaning of identity, who controls it, and how it influences political outcomes both domestically and internationally. National, racial, gendered, and religious identities are a few of the topics we will analyze through liberal, social-psychological, and structural theories of identity formation, reproduction, and change. The course will stress the sociological nature of identity and its importance in politics, broadly defined.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: D. Immerman
    Consent of the Instructor Required: No
  

  • POLT 251 - Political Responsibility


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Actions always have consequences. In politics, who is responsible for those consequences, to whom, and why? How can we hold others responsible and assume our own political responsibilities? We will critically examine the responsibility of political leaders and other officials; social responsibility, and existential responsibility in political theory and philosophy, as well as their depictions in literature and film. Authors will include Aristotle, Schmitt, Weber, Arendt, Young, and Sartre.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: J. Schiff
  

  • POLT 260 - Post Soviet Politics


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, CD
    In examining Soviet and post-Soviet politics, this course explores some of the major political themes of the 20th century-the Russian revolution, Stalinism, the nature of the Soviet political system, Gorbachev’s perestroika, the Soviet collapse, and Russia’s struggle with building capitalism and democracy. Much of the course will be devoted to the dramatic events since the fall of the Soviet empire and Russia’s attempt to find its place in the global political economy.
    Enrollment Limit: 35
    Instructor: S. Crowley
  

  • POLT 268 - Democracy in Comparative Perspective: Issues, Problems, and Prospects


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 Hours
    Attribute: 3 SS
    New course added 08.08.12.

    This course provides students with the conceptual skills to comprehend the global resurgence of democracy. We will examine the various meanings of the term democracy; its strengths and weaknesses vis-à-vis other regime types; the importance of differentiating the concepts of liberal and illiberal democracy; and the issues and problems specific to democratic transition and consolidation from a historical and comparative perspective. Case studies will be drawn from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: F. Fuchs
    Consent of the Instructor Required: No
  

  • POLT 269 - Latin American Politics Past and Present through Film


    Semester Offered: First Semester, First Module
    Credits (Range): 1 Hour
    Attribute: 1 SS, CD
    New course added 08.10.12.

    Introduction, screening, and discussion of films from the Latin American New Wave cinema, which present powerful critiques of social justice, political power, and economic conditions in the region. Focus on films from Argentina and Chile. This course is offered to students concurrently enrolled in POLT 210 or HIST 293 or HISP 318. Students participate in either of two discussion groups (Spanish or English) and write several short essays.
    Enrollment Limit: 35
    Instructor: K. Mani
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Concurrent enrollment in POLT 210 Latin American Politics, or HIST 293 Dirty Wars and Democracy, or HISP 318 Survey of Latin American Literature II
  

  • POLT 271 - Gender, Sexuality and the Law


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society and Gender Sexuality and Feminist Studies
    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    In this course, students will explore the way American law and the legal system has treated issues of sexuality and gender. Particular attention will be devoted to conceptions of privacy as they have been interpreted by the Supreme Court. Issues to be explored include but are not limited to discrimination, sexuality, and marriage and family. Students will learn how gender and sexuality have been constructed and deployed in the American legal context. Class participation is expected and constitutes a portion of each student’s grade.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: H. Hirsch
  

  • POLT 274 - Public Opinion in America


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 Hours
    Attribute: 3 SS
    New course added 11.02.12.

    This course will examine the nature and role of public opinion in American democracy, providing an introduction to the dynamics of social and political attitudes in the United States. The goal of this course is to help students arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the forces that shape the beliefs, attitudes, and opinions of the American public, the means by which those views are publicly expressed, and the influence of those opinions on policy outcomes.
    Enrollment Limit: 25
    Instructor: C. DeSante
    Consent of the Instructor Required: No
  

  • POLT 301 - Seminar: Constitutional Law: First Amendment


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society
    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Contemporary First Amendment theory and practice. Topics include: First Amendment and the Internet; speech and symbolic action in public forums; hate speech; offensive and pornographic speech; free exercise of religion and separation of church and state; equal protection and speech rights; government as speaker: arts grants and social policy; social construction and constitutional change; and balancing, feminist, and absolutist approaches to the First Amendment. Wide choice of paper topic.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: R. Kahn
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: One of the following courses, POLT 103, 119, 201, 202, 203, 204, 226, 270, 271, 409, or consent of instructor.
  

  • POLT 302 - Parties, Partisanship and Ideology in America


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    New course added 11.02.12.

    This seminar will introduce students to core literature on political parties, partisanship and ideology in America with a strong bias towards recent work. After surveying research on the role of parties in the American political system, the class will explore the role that partisanship and ideology play in public opinion, political behavior, and elections, and examine various explanations for how an individual comes to have a particular attachment to either a party or ideology. Instructor consent required.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: C. DeSante
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 305 - Seminar: The Presidency


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, WR
    The study of the American presidency provides an opportunity to examine the nature and interaction of historical, institutional, cultural, and political forces in the acquisition and exercise of political power. Specialized topics vary by year.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: P. Dawson
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisites: Two courses in American politics.
  

  • POLT 309 - Justice


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    A seminar devoted to a consideration of major classic and modern theories of justice, and their application to contemporary issues such as affirmative action, disability, same-sex marriage, reproductive rights, and economic fairness. A previous course in political theory or constitutional law is recommended but not required. Substantial class participation expected.
    Enrollment Limit: 14
    Instructor: H. Hirsch
  

  • POLT 313 - Seminar: The Transition to Capitalism in China


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    East Asian Studies
    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, CD, WR
    We analyze the achievements and problems of China’s ongoing efforts at structural “reform” from state socialism to capitalistic authoritarianism, sampling the latest studies of political economy (the role of the state in production, trade and finance), political sociology (inequality, stratification, social problems) and politics (resistance, civil society and democracy). Students will write research papers on a topic of their choice; they and the instructor will present and critique drafts.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: M. Blecher
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisites: One course in comparative politics or consent of the instructor.
  

  • POLT 317 - Seminar: The Transformation of the Welfare State


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, WR
    This seminar examines the transformation of welfare states across the advanced capitalist world in the past two decades. The seminar will be comparative, examining the causes and consequences of the crisis and transformation of the welfare state in Western Europe and North America. Topics will include: healthcare reform, pensions, and workfare, and the impact of globalization on welfare states. A research paper is required.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: C. Howell
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 319 - The Military in Latin America


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, CD
    Who guards the guardians in today’s Latin American democracies? This seminar examines the causes and consequences of the armed forces’ interventions in politics and economics during the 20th century, as well as the contemporary challenges of achieving democratic civilian control of the military. Special attention to the politics of transitional justice and military reform. Selection of cases from across the region. Course requirements include weekly discussions, presentations, and research/writing of a substantial paper.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: K. Mani
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite & Notes: POLT 210 or HIST 110
  

  • POLT 320 - The Evolution and Reform of the United Nations System


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 Hours
    Attribute: 3 SS
    New course added 11.02.12.

    The United Nations forms the institutional core of the current international order and the primary source of international law. Originally purposed with promoting international peace, human rights, and social justice, the UN has steadily expanded its purview to include nearly every facet of international politics, and its significance has grown considerably since the Cold War. This seminar surveys the origins of the UN, examines its expansion since 1945, and critically evaluates current proposals for reform.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: D. Immerman
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 321 - Seminar: International Politics


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Latin American Studies, Law and Society
    Next Offered: 2013-2014
    Semester Offered: First Semester 2013-2014
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Selected issues in international relations. In 2011, the seminar focused on International Criminal Law (the law of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes), related domestic and international institutions (military tribunals, truth commissions, mixed courts, ad hoc international tribunals, and the International Criminal Court), and relevant international relations and international legal concepts (international norms, state sovereignty, universal jurisdiction, positive and natural law). Students will research and write a major paper throughout the course of the semester, engage in debate, discussion and presentations.
    Enrollment Limit: 13
    Instructor: B. Schiff
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 322 - Seminar: Failed States


    Next Offered: 2013-2014
    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, WR
    How do we measure which states are failed states? Why do states fail? What measures have been proposed to reverse failed states? How do failed states affect other states in their regions? How do failed states affect global politics? Requirements: team assignments, memo writing, workshop research papers, and a twenty page research paper that investigates a failed state.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: E. Sandberg
  

  • POLT 324 - Seminar: Natural Resources and Conflict


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This course will examine the processes through which a natural resource like oil, diamonds or water becomes a source of contention. We will also look at the social, economic and political contexts that foster these resource-based conflicts. We will then move on to studying how conflicts in turn have a devastating impact on the environment, which can further exacerbate resource-based conflicts, engendering a vicious circle of natural resource exploitation/degradation and conflict.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: S. Pathak
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite & Notes: Introductory Course to International Relations or Comparative Politics.
  

  • POLT 328 - Seminar: Pirates, Priests and Protestors: Non-state Actors in International Politics


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Non-state actors have long influenced international politics through the use of violence, the creation of norms, and the production of wealth. How do contemporary non-state actors challenge states, or reinforce state capacity? How do they influence norm building and policy making? The course examines the evolution of a range of non-state actors, including transnational advocacy networks, NGOs, transnational corporations, transnational criminal networks, private security providers, and terrorist groups.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: K. Mani
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Consent of instructor required and at least one international releations course.
  

  • POLT 329 - Seminar: Globalization


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This seminar will examine what is arguably the dominant trend of the post-Cold War world: the increasingly global nature of capitalism, together with the compression of the world through new technologies, and the consequences and reactions these trends have spurred. We will examine competing theoretical perspectives on globalization, and explore the impact on the Third World, labor, the environment, state sovereignty and world culture, as well as the rise of various movements as a result.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: S. Crowley
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 330 - Seminar: Responding to Disaster: Politics, Philosophy, Literature


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Political disasters turn our worlds upside down. These events disrupt ordinary life and cause immense suffering. How can the tools of politics, philosophy and literature help us respond to disasters? We will seek to answer this question primarily by examining political, literary and philosophical responses to three disasters: The ‘rape of Nanking’, 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina. Authors include Martha Nussbaum, Richard Rorty, Jurgen Habermas, Jacques Derrida, Michael Eric Dyson, Iris Chang, and Tom Piazza.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: J. Schiff
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite & Notes: one course in political theory.
  

  • POLT 331 - Seminar: Modernity and Postmodernity in Contemporary Political Theory


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    An intensive, critical examination of the works of several recent political theorists (Arendt, Habermas, Foucault, and some others). Particular attention will be given to issues raised in recent debates about modernity and postmodernity, such as the nature of history and the possibility of progress, the place of truth and knowledge in politics, and whether we can still talk of social emancipation.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: S. Kruks
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 402 - American Democracy: Law and Policy


    Semester Offered: First Semester 2013-2014
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This course will focus on politics, the political and electoral process, and the courts. We will examine some of the key legal and policy issues framing the political landscape: the right to vote, money and politics, reapportionment and vote dilution. We also will look at the role of the political parties, the federal and state judiciary, and the voters, among other significant players. Prior coursework in constitutional law is strongly desired.
    Enrollment Limit: 20
    Instructor: M. Krislov
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 403 - Senior Honors


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-5 hours
    Attribute: 1-5SS
    Senior honors course requires consent of the instructor.
    Instructor: E. Sandberg
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 404 - Senior Honors


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-5 hours
    Attribute: 1-5SS
    Senior Honors. Consent of instructor required.
    Instructor: E. Sandberg
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 409 - Public Education, Policy and Law


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This seminar will explore how law and policy interact in public education (K12 and higher education), focusing on significant Supreme Court constitutional rulings involving race and/or religion. We will grapple with several questions: 1) What theory of judicial review should the Court embrace? 2) How are Court decisions made? 3) What impact do Court decisions have on policy and practice? 4) To what extent does (or should) the law limit policy options in these areas? Limited to third and fourth year students.
    Enrollment Limit: 20
    Instructor: M. Krislov
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 411 - Practicum in Applied Research


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Functioning as part of a small consultancy team, students will research and write on a topic that services the needs of an off-campus organization or government official. Students will learn about the management, ethical activities, and choices of political research consultants as a model for launching their own businesses or managing not-for-profits. Students will research best-management, innovation practices of four not-for-profits in NE Ohio and offer recognition to a not-for-profit with the best management innovation practice.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: E. Sandberg
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 412 - Street Law and Community Development


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Module
    Credits (Range): 1-2 hours
    Attribute: 1-2SS
    The fall Street Law and Community Development seminar teaches theory and pedagogy in practical law as training for the teaching practicum the following semester. This year, we will focus on longstanding tensions regarding race, class, and crime in Oberlin through creative organizing techniques. We will learn how our own unique narratives define our ideal ‘lawyering’ practice. We will also gain skills in teaching and organizing teens and community members around discrimination and police relations in town which we will put into practice in the spring practicum.
    Enrollment Limit: 20
    Instructor: A. Wu
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 413 - Advanced Street Law and Community Development


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society
    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    The fall Street Law seminar teaches theory and pedagogy in practical law as training for the teaching practicum in the spring semester. This spring practicum will focus on longstanding tensions regarding race, class, and crime in Oberlin through creative organizing techniques. We will learn how our own unique narratives define our ideal ‘lawyering’ practice. We will also gain skills in teaching and organizing teens and community members around discrimination and police relations in town.
    Enrollment Limit: 20
    Instructor: A. Wu
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 421 - Studies in Electoral Politics


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 2-3 hours
    Attribute: 2-3SS
    This is a research and writing seminar exclusively for Cole Scholars who have been selected to participate in the Oberlin Initiative in Electoral Politics. The seminar will prepare students for their summer internships and familiarize them with the major scholarly and practical literature concerning campaigns and elections.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: Staff
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 422 - Projects in Electoral Politics


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 2-3 hours
    Attribute: 2-3SS
    This is a research and writing seminar in which students analyze electoral politics in light of social science theories and field work. Enrollment is limited to Cole Scholars who have completed their summer internships under the auspices of the Oberlin Initiative in Electoral Politics.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: M. Parkin
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: POLT 421.
  

  • POLT 430 - Legal Advocacy


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society
    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Module
    Credits (Range): 0-2 hours
    Attribute: 0-2SS
    Topics include: Approaching a case and developing a core theory; information literacy and research skills; legal writing (pre-trial motions, legal research memoranda, oral arguments, and briefs); presenting oral arguments; court procedures and decorum; professional responsibility and ethics. Students will participate in an on-campus mock trial.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: R. Kahn
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    This course is open to students selected for the Oberlin Law Scholars Program.
  

  • POLT 900 - OCEAN: International Relations


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-3 hours
    An introduction to the core concepts and approaches used in the study of international relations to examine issues and events that shape countries’ interactions. Survey of major theoretical approaches (e.g., realist, liberal and constructivist) to understand issues such as international security concerns, global economic relations, the role of decision makers, international organizations and norms. Prerequisite and Notes: Strong performance in previous social studies courses. Notes: Off Campus concurrent enrollment equivalent to Politics 120.
    Instructor: Staff
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 977 - The Birth of Modern Politics: The Case of 19th Century Britain


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 6 hours
    Attribute: 6SS
    This course examines the development of modern society and politics through the lens of 19th century Britain. It weaves the history of political thought with historical and political sociology, including party politics and reform, elite rule, working class conditions, and so forth. Museum and Parliament visits as well as field trips illustrating the development of industrial capitalism are included. This course carries credit towards majors in both Sociology and Politics. Course requirements include weekly discussions, presentations, and research/writing of a substantial paper
    Instructor: V. Vujacic, H. Wilson
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 979 - Twentieth-Century British Politics: Ideas and Practice


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 6 hours
    Attribute: 6SS
    This course examines 20th and early 21st century British politics, from early 20th century liberalism and Fabian socialism through Thatcherite conservatism to the contemporary scene. Connections between ideas and practice are emphasized. The course makes use of guest speakers and visits to various sites, including Parliament. Students will have the opportunity to do research on contested political issues. This course carries 6 hours’ credit towards the Politics major.
    Instructor: H. Wilson
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • POLT 995 - Private Reading


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 0.5-3 hours
    Attribute: 0.5-3SS
    Signed permission of the instructor required.
    Enrollment Limit: 5
    Instructor: M. Blecher, S. Crowley, P. Dawson, H. Hirsch, C. Howell, R. Kahn, M. Krislov, S. Kruks, K. Mani, M. Parkin, S. Pathak, E. Sandberg, B. Schiff, J. Schiff, H. Wilson
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • PSYC 100 - Introduction to Psychological Science


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 4 hours
    Attribute: 2NS, 2SS
    A survey of research and theory in psychological science. Topics include: scientific methods for behavioral research, biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, memory, language, learning and development, social influence, aggression, motivation, intelligence, personality, psychopathology, and psychotherapy.
    Enrollment Limit: 120
    Instructor: A. Porterfield, P. deWinstanley
    Prerequisites & Notes
    This is a prerequisite course for most advanced courses in the department.
  

  • PSYC 106 - Visual Communication


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    An introduction to visual communication. This course will address questions such as: How is information effectively presented? What are principles of good graphic design? Using computer technology, students will learn how to create and evaluate the effectiveness of two and three dimensional visual communications. Visual communications will take the form of print publications, web sites, PowerPoint presentations, videos, animations, or interactive CDs. Evaluation will include basic research design and data analysis.
    Instructor: S. Carrier
  

  • PSYC 108 - Psychobiologial Perspective of the Arts


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, QP-H
    This course examines fundamental biological and psychological processes involved in the experience and creation of art. It adopts the perspective of the natural sciences to address questions such as: What are the biological and behavioral prerequisites for art? How and why did they evolve? How are sensory, perceptual, and cognitive systems organized to acquire and process information about the environment? How are motivational and emotional systems organized to direct and influence artistic behavior?
    Instructor: S. Carrier
  

  • PSYC 118 - Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This course will introduce students to the field of Peace and Conflict Studies, an inter-disciplinary field that examines the causes of human aggression and conflict, with such conflict ranging in scale from the interpersonal to the international. We will survey the approaches of various disciplines to understanding violent conflict, explore potential links between violence and such factors as perceptions of injustice, and critically evaluate nonviolent means for resolving conflict.
    Enrollment Limit: 13
    Instructor: S. Crowley, F. Mayer
    Cross List Information This courses is cross-listed with Politics 119.
  

  • PSYC 200 - Research Methods I


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Neuroscience
    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 4 hours
    Attribute: 4NS, QP-F
    This skills based course introduces descriptive and inferential statistics and basic principles of experimental and non-experimental research design. Topics include probability, chi-square, ANOVA, correlation and regression, sampling, measurement, and the systematic elimination of alternative hypotheses through statistical and experimental control. Scientific writing, use of SPSS, model building, and hypothesis testing are strongly emphasized. The course is intended to provide psychology majors with the core skills they need to carry out and interpret quantitative empirical research.
    Enrollment Limit: 20
    Instructor: N. Darling
    Prerequisites & Notes
    PSYC 100, NSCI 201 or permission of instructor.
  

  • PSYC 204 - Cultural Psychology


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS, CD
    A survey of the rapidly growing field of cultural psychology, for students interested in the ways in which behavior, thoughts, and feelings of individuals are influenced by their cultural context. Specifically, the course will examine the impact that culture has on child development, cognitive processes, emotional experiences, social behavior, health-related behaviors, and psychopathology. Applications to psychotherapy, negotiation, and organizational/work settings will also be explored.
    Enrollment Limit: 40
    Instructor: S. Mayer
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: PSYC 100.
  

  • PSYC 206 - Sensory Processes and Perception


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3NS
    Sensory systems evolved so that the organism could acquire information about its environment in order to survive and reproduce. This course explores the structure and function of sensory systems and includes topics such as: sensory receptors; transduction; mapping of sensory magnitude, space and time, movement, and stimulus qualities; the relationship between sensory processes and perceptual experience. Class meetings will be interactive, and used for a variety of exercises, demonstrations, presentations, and other activities.
    Instructor: S. Carrier
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite & Notes: PSYC 100 Note: Not open to students who have received credit for PSYC 210 or 212.
  

  • PSYC 211 - Personality: Theory and Research


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    A survey of historical theory and current research in adult personality. We will examine the conceptual origin and current body of empirical knowledge relevant to personality processes and individual differences. Topics covered will include emotionality, introversion-extraversion, the self system, self-consciousness, self-efficacy, androgyny and gender identity, personality and health, and interpersonal behavior. Personality assessment and socio-cultural influences will be considered as well.
    Enrollment Limit: 35
    Instructor: K. Sutton
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: PSYC 100. Note: Not open to students who have received credit for PSYC 210 or 212. 
  

  • PSYC 214 - Abnormal Psychology


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society, Neuroscience
    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3NS
    A survey of the field of adult psychopathology, beginning with conceptual and methodological foundations of the study of disordered behavior, followed by an examination of the major categories of mental disorder. A scientific perspective will be emphasized throughout the course, although a variety of philosophical, socio-cultural, and legal controversies will be considered as well.
    Enrollment Limit: 35
    Instructor: A. Porterfield
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: NSCI 201. Recommended preparation: PSYC 100.
  

  • PSYC 216 - Developmental Psychology


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Research, issues, and theories of human development. Psychological topic areas, such as cognition, personality, and social behavior, will be related to the different age periods from infancy to adolescence, with a brief consideration of adulthood. The final part of the course will be devoted to social policy concerns and childhood psychopathology.
    Enrollment Limit: 35
    Instructor: T. Wilson
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Note: An optional laboratory, PSYC 302, may be taken with or after this course. Prerequisite: PSYC 100.
  

  • PSYC 218 - Social Psychology


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society
    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This course surveys major theories and research traditions in social psychology. Topics covered will include: interpersonal attraction, stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, and helping behavior. Assignments are designed to encourage students to apply the ideas of social psychology to their own and others’ behavior. Research methodologies in social psychology will also be covered.
    Enrollment Limit: 40
    Instructor: C. Frantz
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: PSYC 100.
  

  • PSYC 219 - Cognitive Psychology


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Neuroscience
    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3NS
    This course covers a variety of topics that deal with the scientific study of human cognition. Topics may include: perception, memory, learning, thinking, problem solving, language, and reasoning. Historical as well as contemporary perspectives will be discussed, and data from behavioral experiments, cognitive neuroscience, and computational modeling will be addressed.
    Enrollment Limit: 35
    Instructor: P. deWinstanley
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: PSYC 100 or NSCI 201, or NSCI 204. Recommended Preparation: PSYC 200, or MATH 100, 113, or 114. Notes: An optional laboratory, PSYC 303, may be taken after this course.
  

  • PSYC 300 - Research Methods II


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 4 hours
    Attribute: 4NS, QP-F
    A continuation of PSYC 200, covering advanced experimental and correlational designs. Analysis topics include factorial and repeated measurement analysis of variance, partial and multiple correlation/regression. Students are expected to complete complex data analysis projects using advanced SPSS statistical procedures.
    Enrollment Limit: 30
    Instructor: T. Wilson
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisites: PSYC 200; or MATH 113 or 114 and consent of instructor. This course is intended for psychology and related majors and prospective majors. It should be taken in the semester following PSYC 200.
  

  • PSYC 301 - Advanced Methods in Personality/Social Psychology


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3NS, QP-F
    Projects designed to parallel closely the process of professional research in personality and social psychology. Students will conduct their own research in groups, thus gaining experience in the activities common to all psychological research: hypothesis generation; research design; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; and report writing. The lab group will also engage in the use of computerized statistical analysis.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: S. Mayer
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: PSYC 204 or PSYC 218.
  

  • PSYC 302 - Advanced Methods in Developmental Psychology


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS

    Experimental and naturalistic methods used to study children from infancy through adolescence. Content areas include: attachment behavior, cognitive development, motivation, and peer relations. Students will collect data, use computer routines to analyze data sets, and prepare laboratory reports.
    Enrollment Limit: 8
    Instructor: T. Wilson
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisites: To be taken in conjunction with or subsequent to PSYC 200, PSYC 216 and PSYC 300.
  

  • PSYC 303 - Advanced Methods in Cognitive Psychology


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Neuroscience
    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3NS, WR
    This lab will introduce students to experimental methods used in cognitive psychology. Students will design experiments, collect data, and report research in the style and format of the American Psychological Association.
    Enrollment Limit: 8
    Instructor: J. Hanna
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: PSYC 200, and PSYC 219. Prerequisite or Co-requisite: PSYC 300.
  

  • PSYC 304 - Advanced Methods in Adolescent Development


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Advanced Methods in Adolescent Development is designed to give students a fuller understanding of adolescent development, the research process, and how research methods and statistics are applied in collecting and analyzing data. Students enrolled in this course will plan, pilot, and carry out a joint research project that involves interview, experimental, observational, and/or questionnaire methodologies.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: N. Darling
    Prerequisites & Notes
    To be taken subsequent to PSYC 200. It is recommended that students take this course in conjunction with or subsequent to PSYC 216.
  

  • PSYC 305 - Advanced Methods in Human Psychophysiolgy


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Neuroscience
    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3NS
    Psychophysiology is concerned with physiological responses as reflections of psychological traits, states, and processes. In this combination lecture-laboratory introduction to the field, students will study the form and function of major physiological response systems and gain laboratory experience in the recording, analysis, and interpretation of cardiovascular, skin conductance, EMG, EEG, and event-related brain potential data.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: A. Porterfield
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisites: NSCI 201, PSYC-200, familiarity with MS Excel.
  

  • PSYC 430 - Seminar in Social Conflict


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Law and Society, Peace and Conflict Studies
    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Drawing from the fields of social, cognitive, and political psychology, this course explores the psychological processes that lead to, exacerbate, and ameliorate conflict. It examines biases in perceiving the ‘other’, the role of pride and face-saving, the influence of social identity, and shortcomings in decision-making. We will also explore methods of de-escalating conflict, negotiation as problem-solving, the process of mediation, and the role of gender and culture in negotiation.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: C. Frantz
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite & Notes: PSYC 218 or permission of instructor.
  

  • PSYC 431 - Psychology of Law


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    Psychology of law concerns the application of research from all subdisciplinary areas of psychology including cognitive, clinical, social, developmental, and physiological. Topics may include forensic assessment, eyewitness accuracy, jury decision making, special considerations surrounding juveniles, hypnosis, and repressed memory. Much of the content of the seminar will be determined by the students in consultation with the instructor.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: P. deWinstanley
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Open to senior Psychology majors
  

  • PSYC 450 - Seminar in Psycholinguistics


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This seminar investigates the psychological study of language, from sound perception to actions we perform with language. Topics may include word recognition, sentence processing and production, discourse and conversation, creative language, bilingualism, and language disorders. Discussions will address issues such as modularity, ambiguity resolution, context effects, how people coordinate conversation, and how IQ tests and telephone voice recognition systems are affected by our conversational expectations. We’ll also discuss methodologies and new technologies such as head-mounted eye tracking.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: J. Hanna
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: PSYC 219 or consent of instructor.
  

  • PSYC 461 - Seminar in Adolescent Development


    Next Offered: 2013-2014
    Semester Offered: First Semester 2013-2014
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    This seminar explores the empirical and theoretical literature on development from the end of elementary school through the transition to adulthood. The class will provide a brief overview of normative change and individual differences in biological and cognitive development and in family and peer relationships. During the second half of the semester, readings will explore two or more topics in depth. Topics may include romantic relationships and sexuality, identity, problem behavior, or developmental psychopathology.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: N. Darling
    Prerequisites & Notes
    PSYC 216 or PSYC 217, or permission of instructor.
  

  • PSYC 470 - Seminar in Psychotherapy


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    An examination of theories, assumptions, and clinical procedures associated with the major approaches to individual psychotherapy. We will consider psychoanalysis, existential psychotherapy, client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, behavior modification, and cognitive-behavior therapy as well as therapies for special groups (e.g., children). The evaluation of therapeutic effectiveness and ethical issues will also be examined.
    Enrollment Limit: 12
    Instructor: K. Sutton
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: PSYC 211. PSYC 214 is strongly recommended.
  

  • PSYC 490 - Seminar in Child Developmental Disorders


    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 2-3 hours
    Attribute: 2-3SS
    This course combines a continuation of the field placement experience undertaken in PSYC 501: Practicum in Childhood Developmental Disorders, with an examination of the empirical and clinical literatures on the major childhood disorders. Students will continue to work with special needs children in the classroom while exploring the psychological and neuroscientific literatures on the etiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of various childhood disorders.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: K. Sutton
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisites: PSYC 501 or consent of instructor
  

  • PSYC 500 - Teaching Assistant


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1 hours
    Attribute: 1SS, WR
    Advanced majors may serve as teaching assistants in a lower-level course by invitation of the faculty member involved.
    Instructor: S. Carrier, N. Darling, C. Frantz, J. Hanna, F. Mayer, A. Porterfield, K. Sutton, T. Wilson, P. deWinstanley
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • PSYC 501 - Practicum in Child Devlopmental Disorders


    Semester Offered: First Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 hours
    Attribute: 3SS
    The practicum provides an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills by working with special needs children in a school setting. In a field placement, students will develop relationships with children diagnosed with such disorders as Autism and Asperger?s and work on educational and social skills. In class, we will examine the popular and descriptive literatures to better understand our classroom experiences. The practicum may be helpful with career decisions.
    Enrollment Limit: 15
    Instructor: K. Sutton
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Notes: P/NP grading. May be repeated for credit.
  

  • PSYC 504 - Research Assistant


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-4 hours
    Attribute: 1-4SS
    Students may serve as research assistants in faculty or Senior Honors research projects by invitation of the faculty sponsor involved.
    Instructor: S. Carrier, N. Darling, C. Frantz, J. Hanna, F. Mayer, A. Porterfield, K. Sutton, T. Wilson, P. deWinstanley
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
  

  • PSYC 510 - Supervised Research in Memory and Learning


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-2 hours
    Attribute: 1-2SS
    A class designed to involve students in the conduct of professional research. The research topics will include applications of memory research to classroom learning and metamemory. Metamemory refers to a person’s knowledge about memory processes and functions. Students will read the background literature, attend regular lab meetings to discuss the research, and conduct studies.
    Instructor: P. deWinstanley
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Notes: P/NP grading.
  

  • PSYC 520 - Supervised Research in Social and Environmental Psychology


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-3 hours
    Attribute: 1-3SS
    A class designed to involve students in the conduct of professional research. Research issues will broadly fall within the areas of social conflict, social/environmental issues, prejudice and discrimination, and perspective taking.
    Instructor: C. Frantz, F. Mayer
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Note: P/NP grading. May be repeated for credit.
  

  • PSYC 540 - Supervised Research in Cognitive Neuroscience


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-3 hours
    Attribute: 1-3NS
    A class designed to involve students in the conduct of professional research. Research will address some aspect of human cognition or emotion, with an emphasis on physiological dependent measures. Students will master laboratory procedures and collect and process experimental data under the close supervision of the instructor. Some reading of relevant research papers and regular group meetings devoted to coordinating lab activities and discussing the ongoing research will be required.
    Instructor: A. Porterfield
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Notes: P/NP grading. May be repeated for credit.
  

  • PSYC 550 - Supervised Research in Psycholinguistics


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-3 hours
    Attribute: 1-3NS
    A class designed to involve students in the conduct of professional research. Research will address some aspect of human language comprehension. Students will master laboratory procedures (such as materials norming, sentence completion, word-by-word reading, and head-mounted eyetracking) and will collect and process experimental data under the close supervision of the instructor. Regular group meetings to discuss relevant research papers and current lab projects and activities will be required. Consent of instructor required.
    Instructor: J. Hanna
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Notes: P/NP grading. May be repeated for credit.
  

  • PSYC 560 - Supervised Research in Adolescent Development


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-3 hours
    Attribute: 1-3SS
    A class designed to involve students in the conduct of professional research. Research will address some aspect of adolescent development. Students will master research procedures which may include observational and survey techniques, behavioral coding, physiological assessment of emotional state, and data preparation and management. Students are expected to work as part of a larger group and to complete a small research project either independently or with another student. Students will participate in regular group meetings where project issues and related research are discussed.
    Instructor: N. Darling
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Open to all students with the consent of the instructor. May be repeated for credit.
  

  • PSYC 604 - Problems for Investigation


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-4 hours
    Attribute: 1-4SS
    Designed for the student who wishes to pursue independent work on a topic not usually covered by formal offerings. Normally, a bibliographic or theoretical research paper will be part of the course requirement. Consent of instructor required.
    Instructor: S. Carrier, N. Darling, C. Frantz, J. Hanna, F. Mayer, A. Porterfield, K. Sutton, T. Wilson, P. deWinstanley
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: PSYC 100.
  

  • PSYC 606 - Independent Research Problems


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-4 hours
    Attribute: 1-4SS
    Students may select an empirical research problem for individual investigation. 
    Instructor: S. Carrier, N. Darling, C. Frantz, J. Hanna, F. Mayer, A. Porterfield, K. Sutton, T. Wilson, P. deWinstanley
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: PSYC 200 or equivalent.
  

  • PSYC 608 - Empirical Honors Research


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-4 hours
    Attribute: 1-4SS
    Consent of chair required.
    Instructor: S. Carrier, N. Darling, C. Frantz, J. Hanna, F. Mayer, A. Porterfield, K. Sutton, T. Wilson, P. deWinstanley
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program. Note: Not more than eight hours may be taken in PSYC 608.
  

  • PSYC 612 - Theoretical or Bibliographic Honors Research


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 2-4 hours
    Attribute: 2-4SS
    Senior Honors Research. Consent of chair required.
    Instructor: S. Carrier, N. Darling, C. Frantz, J. Hanna, F. Mayer, A. Porterfield, K. Sutton, T. Wilson, P. deWinstanley
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program. Note: Not more than six hours may be taken in PSYC 612.
  

  • PSYC 995 - Private Reading


    Semester Offered: First Semester, Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 1-3 hours
    Attribute: 1-3SS
    Independent study of a subject beyond the range of catalog course offerings. Signed permission of the instructor required.
    Enrollment Limit: 5
    Instructor: S. Carrier, N. Darling, C. Frantz, J. Hanna, F. Mayer, A. Porterfield, Staff, K. Sutton, T. Wilson, P. deWinstanley
    Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
    Prerequisites & Notes
    Prerequisite: Completion of basic coursework in the selected topic area. Note: Available to junior and senior majors.
  

  • REES 250 - Music and Revolution in Postsocialist Eurasia


    This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
    Musical Studies
    Semester Offered: Second Semester
    Credits (Range): 3 Hours
    Attribute: 3 HU
    New course added 08.07.12.

    Explores music’s role since 1989 in diverse revolutions—a concept taken to encompass economic reform, cultural transition, secession, and attendant violence. Sections will examine popular and folk musics during the “fall” of communism (from Romania’s overthrowing Ceauşescu to the dissolution of the USSR); the capacity of turbofolk and rap for fostering nationalism/reconciliation during the breakup of Yugoslavia; and conflicts over changes in musical space and labor (connecting revolution to broader global processes).
    Enrollment Limit: 20
    Instructor: I. MacMillen
 

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