Search Results
Your search for courses · during 24FA, 25WI, 25SP · meeting requirements for SI, Social Inquiry · returned 130 results
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AFST 120 Blackness and Whiteness Outside the United States 6 credits
This course examines blackness and whiteness as constructs outside the U.S. Racial categories and their meanings will be considered through a range of topics: skin color stratification, nationalism, migration and citizenship, education, popular culture and media, spatial segregation and others. Central to the course will be considering how racism and anti-blackness vary across societies, as well as the transnational and global flows of racial ideas and categories. Examples will be drawn from the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
Not available to students who took AFST 100 Fall 2023
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AFST 220 Color, Class, and Status in Black America 6 credits
As a racial category and identity, “Black” is often treated in a homogenous, monolithic way, obscuring the internal diversity and inequality within the black population in the U.S. In this course, we consider the inequalities within black communities and the black population living in the U.S., historically and through to the present. “Colorism,” or skin tone stratification, represents one status linked to class and ranking in society; but does colorism matter more than other statuses to class? Class differences are in fact profound within black communities, and they are correlated to multiple social statuses–skin tone, immigrant status, national origin, and even political orientation. We will examine how these status, color, and class interact, and how they shape class relations and tensions, lived experience, and notions of authenticity (“blackness”) in everday life and popular culture. Course topics include the Black middle class; education; neighborhood segregation; gender and sexuality; and media representations and popular culture.
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AFST 289 Global Blackness and Social Movements 6 credits
This course considers Black social movements from around the globe, with an emphasis on non-U.S. contexts. Examining multiple movements both past and present, it takes a comparative approach to understanding the unique and variable ways that Black communities have articulated the Black condition, and mobilized and resisted oppression. Central to the course is the question of Blackness as a global and transnational identity; as well as the extent to which movements themselves form ties and mutually inform each other across national boundaries.
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ARCN 112 Archaeology of Native North America 6 credits
When did humans first migrate to North America? How long have people lived in Minnesota? This course will examine the material culture of Indigenous peoples throughout the North American continent above Mexico, from c. 20,000 years ago to present. Cultural groups include the Inuit, Iroquois, ancient Puebloans, Cahokia, Great Plains villages, and Pacific Northwest (Kumash) peoples. We will study Indigenous oral histories, genetic data, linguistics, material remains, and ethnohistorical accounts to examine migration, trade, and contact, with an emphasis on decolonization and Indigenous archaeologies.
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ARTS 275 Studio Art Seminar in the South Pacific: The Physical and Cultural Environment 6 credits
This is a wide-ranging course that asks students to engage with their surroundings and make broad connections during the South Pacific program. It examines ecological topics, such as natural history, invasive species, conservation efforts, and how the physical landscape has changed since colonialism. Students will also study indigenous people’s history, culture, art, and profound relationship to landscape. This course includes readings, films, local speakers, and diverse site visits.
Open only to participants in Carleton OCS South Pacific Program
- Winter 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Acceptance in the Studio Art in the South Pacific Program and the student has completed any of the following courses: ARTS 110 – Observational drawing or ARTS 113 – Field Drawing or ARTS 114 – Introduction to Drawing Architecture with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.
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ASLN 111 Writing Systems 6 credits
The structure and function of writing systems, with emphasis on a comparison of East Asian writing systems (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) to Western alphabetic systems. Topics covered include classification of writing systems, historical development, diffusion and borrowing of writing systems, and comparison with non-writing symbol systems.
- Spring 2025
- CX, Cultural/Linguistics SI, Social Inquiry
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CGSC 130.00 Revolutions in Mind 6 credits
An interdisciplinary study of the history and current practice of the cognitive sciences. The course will draw on relevant work from diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, philosophy, biology, and neuroscience. Topics to be discussed include: scientific revolutions, the mind-body problem, embodied cognition, perception, representation, and the extended mind.
- Winter 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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CGSC 130.00 Revolutions in Mind 6 credits
An interdisciplinary study of the history and current practice of the cognitive sciences. The course will draw on relevant work from diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, philosophy, biology, and neuroscience. Topics to be discussed include: scientific revolutions, the mind-body problem, embodied cognition, perception, representation, and the extended mind.
- Spring 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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CGSC 130.00 What Minds Are What They Do 6 credits
An interdisciplinary examination of issues concerning the mind and mental phenomena. The course will draw on work from diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics, anthropology, and neuroscience. Topics to be discussed include: the mind-body problem, embodied cognition, perception, representation, reasoning, and learning.
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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CGSC 289 The Cognitive Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence 3 credits
This course will investigate the cognitive dimensions of cutting edge research in artificial intelligence and machine learning. We will apply qualitative research methods to create an annotated library of cognitive terms in “AI” research. Doing so will help put “AI” research in context. By the end of the term we will have co-created resources that can be used by others to help understand the complexities of cognition and its relationship to technology and the world.
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): CGSC 130 – Introduction to Cognitive Science AND CGSC/PSYC 232 – Cognitive Processes or CGSC 253 – Philosophy of Cognitive Science with a grade of C- or better.
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ECON 110 Principles of Macroeconomics 6 credits
This course gives students a foundation in the general principles of economics as a basis for effective citizenship and, when combined with 111, as a preparation for all advanced study in economics. Topics include analysis of the measurement, level, and distribution of national income; the concepts of inflation and depression; the role and structure of the banking system; fiscal and monetary stabilization techniques; implications of and limits to economic growth; and international economic relations.
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Not open to students who have completed any of the following exams: AP Macroeconomics exam with a score of 5 or better or IB Economics exam with a score of 6 or better.
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ECON 111 Principles of Microeconomics 6 credits
This course gives the students a foundation in the general principles of economics as a basis for effective citizenship and, when combined with 110, as a preparation for all advanced study in economics. Topics include consumer choice theory; the formation of prices under competition, monopoly, and other market structures; the determination of wages, profits, and income from capital; the distribution of income; and an analysis of policy directed towards problems of public finance, pollution, natural resources, and public goods.
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Note open to students who have completed any of the following exams: AP Microeconomics exam with a score of 5 or better or IB Economics exam with a score of 6 or better.
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ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development 6 credits
This course explores household behavior in developing countries. We will cover areas including fertility decisions, health and mortality, investment in education, the intra-household allocation of resources, household structure, and the marriage market. We will also look at the characteristics of land, labor, and credit markets, particularly technology adoption; land tenure and tenancy arrangements; the role of agrarian institutions in the development process; and the impacts of alternative politics and strategies in developing countries. The course complements Economics 241.
- Winter 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry IS, International Studies
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or has received a score of 5 on the AP Microeconomics test or a score of 6 or better on the IB Economics test.
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ECON 244 Gender and Ethnicity in Latin American Economic Development 6 credits
Latin America has the highest level of inequality in the world, undergirded by significant ethnic and gender inequalities. The course will analyze key gender issues such as the feminization of poverty, female labor force participation and violence against women. We will also investigate how men can contribute to promoting gender equality and how public policy can promote healthy—rather than toxic—masculinities. We will explore what development means for indigenous peoples in the Americas, analyze different ways of measuring development with identity, and delve into how to promote better health and educational outcomes for indigenous peoples, in collaboration with indigenous communities and in ways that respect their worldview. This course is designed to be a combination of topics and tools. You will be equipped with a few useful tools from the economist’s toolkit, including using randomized controlled trials to measure the effectiveness of public policy and deploying nudges inspired by behavioral science to change behaviors in quick and low-cost fashion.
- Fall 2024
- IS, International Studies QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or has received a score of 5 on the AP Microeconomics test or a score of 6 or better on the IB Economics test.
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ECON 264 Health Care Economics 6 credits
This course will focus on the economics of medical care and how health care markets and systems work. We will consider both private health insurance markets and publicly provided social health insurance. The changes which demography, technology and the Affordable Health Care Act are bringing to health care delivery will be examined. Some time will be devoted to understanding the health care systems in other countries. This is a discussion course.
- Winter 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or has received a score of 5 on the AP Microeconomics test or a score of 6 or better on the IB Economics test.
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ECON 265 Game Theory and Economic Applications 6 credits
Game theory is the study of purposeful behavior in strategic situations. It serves as a framework for analysis that can be applied to everyday decisions, such as working with a study group and cleaning your room, as well as to a variety of economic issues, including contract negotiations and firms’ output decisions. In this class, modern game theoretic tools will be primarily applied to economic situations, but we will also draw on examples from other realms.
- Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or has received a score of 5 on the AP Microeconomics test or a score of 6 or better on the IB Economics test.
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ECON 267 Behavioral Economics 6 credits
This course introduces experimental economics and behavioral economics as two complementary approaches to understanding economic decision making. We will study the use of controlled experiments to test and critique economic theories, as well as how these theories can be improved by introducing psychologically plausible assumptions to our models. We will read a broad survey of experimental and behavioral results, including risk and time preferences, prospect theory, other-regarding preferences, the design of laboratory and field experiments, and biases in decision making.
- Winter 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 110 – Principles of Macroeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Macroeconomics AP exam AND ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Microeconomics AP exam OR has received a score of 6 or better on the Economics IB exam.
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ECON 269 Economics of Climate Change 6 credits
This course studies the relationship between climate change, government policy, and global markets. It explores the historical relationship between economic growth and greenhouse gasses, the cost-benefit analysis of policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the potential for adaptation to climate change. Through readings, discussions, and case studies, students will gain a deep understanding of the economic implications of climate change and the policies that can be used to mitigate its effects. By the end of the course, students will have developed a critical understanding of the complex relationship between economics and climate change and will be equipped to engage in meaningful discussions and analysis of this pressing global issue.
- Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 110 – Principles of Macroeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Macroeconomics AP exam AND ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Microeconomics AP exam OR has received a score of 6 or better on the Economics IB exam.
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ECON 270 Economics of the Public Sector 6 credits
This course provides a theoretical and empirical examination of the government’s role in the U.S. economy. Emphasis is placed on policy analysis using the criteria of efficiency and equity. Topics include rationales for government intervention; analysis of alternative public expenditure programs from a partial and/or general equilibrium framework; the incidence of various types of taxes; models of collective choice; cost-benefit analysis; intergovernmental fiscal relations.
- Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 110 – Principles of Macroeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Macroeconomics AP exam AND ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Microeconomics AP exam OR has received a score of 6 or better on the Economics IB exam.
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ECON 271 Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment 6 credits
This course focuses on environmental economics, energy economics, and the relationship between them. Economic incentives for pollution abatement, the industrial organization of energy production, optimal depletion rates of energy sources, and the environmental and economic consequences of alternate energy sources are analyzed.
- Winter 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or has received a score of 5 on the AP Microeconomics test or a score of 6 or better on the IB Economics test.
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ECON 274 Labor Economics 6 credits
Why do some people choose to work and others do not? Why are some people paid higher wages than others? What are the economic benefits of education for the individual and for society? How do government policies, such as subsidized child care, the Earned Income Tax Credit and the income tax influence whether people work and the number of hours they choose to work? These are some of the questions examined in labor economics. This course will focus on the labor supply and human capital decisions of individuals and households.
- Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 110 – Principles of Macroeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Macroeconomics AP exam AND ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Microeconomics AP exam OR has received a score of 6 or better on the Economics IB exam.
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ECON 275 Law and Economics 6 credits
Legal rules and institutions influence people’s behavior. By setting acceptable levels of pollution, structuring guidelines for contract negotiations, deciding who should pay for the costs of an accident, and determining punishment for crimes, courts and legislatures create incentives. How do economic considerations factor into legal rules, and how do laws affect economic output and distribution? In this class, we use court cases, experiments, and current legal controversies to explore such issues.
- Fall 2024
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or has received a score of 5 on the AP Microeconomics test or a score of 6 or better on the IB Economics test.
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ECON 276 Money and Banking 6 credits
This course examines the role of money and monetary institutions in determination of income, employment, and prices in the domestic and world economies. It also examines the role of commercial banking and financial markets in a market-based economy.
- Winter 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 110 – Principles of Macroeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Macroeconomics AP exam AND ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Microeconomics AP exam OR has received a score of 6 or better on the Economics IB exam.
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ECON 277 History and Theory of Financial Crises 6 credits
This course provides a historical perspective on financial crises and highlights their main empirical patterns. This course also introduces economic theories of financial crises, in which leverage, moral hazard, mistaken beliefs, and coordination problems play a central role. We will also discuss some policy instruments used to balance risk exposure, such as deposit insurance, collective action clauses, exchange controls, and foreign reserves.
- Spring 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 110 – Principles of Macroeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Macroeconomics AP exam AND ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Microeconomics AP exam OR has received a score of 6 or better on the Economics IB exam.
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ECON 280 International Trade 6 credits
A study of international trade theories and their policy implications. Classical and neo-classical trade models, the gains from trade, the terms of trade and the distribution of income, world trade patterns, international factor movements, tariffs, and the impact of commercial policy on developing and developed countries are analyzed.
- Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or has received a score of 5 on the AP Microeconomics test or a score of 6 or better on the IB Economics test.
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ECON 281 International Finance 6 credits
This course studies theories of the multi-faceted interaction between the balance of international payments and foreign exchange market and the general levels of domestic prices, employment and economic activity. Topics include the balance of payments, foreign exchange markets, adjustment mechanisms in international payments, macroeconomic policies for internal and external balance, and international monetary systems.
- Fall 2024
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 110 – Principles of Macroeconomics with grade of C- or better or has scored a 5 on the Macroeconomics AP exam or has scored a 6 or better on the Economics IB exam.
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ECON 285 Computational Economics 6 credits
This course is an introduction to the use of computational methods for the analysis of economic models. After becoming familiar with the programming environment, we will explore the application of computational methods to constrained optimization, econometric estimation, and calibrating, solving, and simulating static and dynamic economic models.
Previous elective courses involving mathematical modeling in economics recommended.
- Fall 2024
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 110 – Principles of Macroeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Macroeconomics AP exam AND ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Microeconomics AP exam OR has received a score of 6 or better on the Economics IB exam.
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ECON 329 Econometrics 6 credits
This course is an introduction to the statistical methods used by economists to test hypotheses and to study and quantify economic relationships. The course emphasizes both econometric theory and practical application through analysis of economic data sets using statistical software. Prior experience with R is strongly encouraged. Topics include two-variable and multiple regression, interval estimation and hypothesis testing, discrete and continuous structural change, parameter restrictions, model construction, experimental design, issues of functional specification, model overfitting and underfitting, heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, and multicollinearity.
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student must have completed any of the following course(s): ECON 110 – Principles of Macroeconomics or received a score of 5 or better on the Macroeconomics AP exam AND ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics or received a score of 5 or better on the Microeconomics AP exam OR received a score of 6 or better on the Economics IB exam. AND MATH 101 – Calculus with Problem Solving or MATH 111 – Introduction to Calculus or greater or received a a score of 4 or better on the Calculus AB AP exam or received a score of 4 or better on the Calculus BC AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Mathematics IB exam AND either STAT 120 – Introduction to Statistics or STAT 250 – Introduction to Statistical Inference with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Statistics AP exam or equivalents.
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ECON 330 Intermediate Price Theory 6 credits
An analysis of the forces determining relative prices within the framework of production and distribution. This class is normally taken by juniors. Sophomores considering enrolling should speak to the instructor.
- Fall 2024, Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student must have completed any of the following course(s): ECON 110 – Principles of Macroeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 or better on the Macroeconomics AP exam AND ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 or better on the Microeconomics AP exam OR received a score of 6 or better on the Economics IB exam AND MATH 101– Calculus with Problem Solving or MATH 111 – Introduction to Calculus with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Calculus AB AP exam or received a score of 4 or better on the Calculus BC AP exam or received a score of 5 or better on the Calculus IB exam.
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ECON 331 Intermediate Macro Theory 6 credits
Analysis of the forces determining the general level of output, employment, and prices with special emphasis on the role of money and on interest rate determination. This class is normally taken by juniors. Sophomores considering enrolling should speak to the instructor.
- Winter 2025, Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student must have completed any of the following course(s): ECON 110 – Principles of Macroeconomics or received a score of 5 or better on the Macroeconomics AP exam AND ECON 111 – Principles of Microeconomics or received a score of 5 or better on the Microeconomics AP exam OR received a score of 6 or better on the Economics IB exam. AND MATH 101 – Calculus with Problem Solving or MATH 111 – Introduction to Calculus or greater or received a a score of 4 or better on the Calculus AB AP exam or received a score of 4 or better on the Calculus BC AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Mathematics IB exam AND either STAT 120 – Introduction to Statistics or STAT 250 – Introduction to Statistical Inference with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Statistics AP exam or equivalents.
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ECON 395.01 Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics and Finance 6 credits
The seminar will explore contemporary approaches to the analysis of the macroeconomy and financial markets. Topics include tests of micro-founded models of consumer, worker, firm, and investor behavior; the analysis of business cycles and the dynamic response of the macroeconomy to exogenous shocks; proximate and fundamental theories of long-run growth across countries; and the design and effects of stabilization policies.
- Fall 2024
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 329 – Econometrics and ECON 330 – Intermediate Price Theory and ECON 331 – Intermediate Macro Theory with a grade of C- or better.
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ECON 395.02 Advanced Topics in Applied Microeconomics 6 credits
The seminar focuses on the advanced microeconomic analysis of real-world economic data. Through discussion of research papers and hands-on data analysis projects, we will explore techniques such as panel data analysis, instrumental variables, differences-in-differences, and regression discontinuity designs. Throughout the course we will focus on the application of these techniques to economic issues such as the effects of school quality, minimum wages, expansion of Medicaid, stock-price news event studies, and others according to student interest. A major goal of the course is to prepare students to write a COMPS research prospectus as required for the Economics major.
- Fall 2024
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): ECON 329 – Econometrics and ECON 330 – Intermediate Price Theory and ECON 331 – Intermediate Macro Theory with a grade of C- or better.
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EDUC 110 Introduction to Educational Studies 6 credits
This course will focus on education as a multidisciplinary field of study. We will explore the meanings of education within individual lives and institutional contexts, learn to critically examine the assumptions that writers, psychologists, sociologists and philosophers bring to the study of education, and read texts from a variety of disciplines. What has “education” meant in the past? What does “education” mean in contemporary American society? What might “education” mean to people with differing circumstances and perspectives? And what should “education” mean in the future? Open only to first-and second-year students.
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025
- IDS, Intercultural Domestic Studies SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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Student has Sophomore Priority.
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EDUC 234 Educational Psychology 6 credits
Human development and learning theories are studied in relation to the teaching-learning process and the sociocultural contexts of schools. Three hours outside of class per week are devoted to observing learning activities in public school elementary and secondary classrooms and working with students.
Extra Time required for classroom time in public schools
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry
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EDUC 242 The Future is Now: Education and Technology in the 21st Century 6 credits
This course will examine the increasingly prominent role that technology is playing in education, inside and outside of schools. How is technology transforming teaching and learning? What are the potential costs and benefits of relying on technology to provide educational opportunities? Is technology re-wiring our brains? And who needs brains when we have Google and ChatGPT? This course will examine the following topics, among others: digital literacy, virtual reality, cyborgs and artificial intelligence.
- Spring 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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EDUC 250 Fixing Schools: Politics and Policy in American Education 6 credits
How can we fix American public schools? What is “broken” about our schools? How should they be repaired? And who should lead the fix? This course will examine the two leading contemporary educational reform movements: accountability and school choice. With an emphasis on the nature of the teaching profession and the work of foundations, this course will analyze the policy agendas of different reform groups, exploring the dynamic interactions among the many different stakeholders responsible for shaping American education.
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EDUC 338 Multicultural Education 6 credits
This course focuses on the respect for human diversity, especially as these relate to various racial, cultural and economic groups, and to women. It includes lectures and discussions intended to aid students in relating to a wide variety of persons, cultures, and life styles.
Extra time
- Spring 2025
- IDS, Intercultural Domestic Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): One 100 or 200 level Educational Studies (EDUC) course with grade of C- or better.
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ENTS 120 Introduction to Geospatial Analysis & Lab 6 credits
Spatial data analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, global positioning, and related technologies are increasingly important for understanding and analyzing a wide range of biophysical, social, and economic phenomena. This course serves as an overview and introduction to the concepts, algorithms, issues, and methods in describing, analyzing, and modeling geospatial data over a range of application areas.
- Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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ENTS 289 Climate Change and Human Health 6 credits
This course will survey the relationship between climate change and human health. The course will begin by exploring the science of the Earth’s climate before turning to an exploration of topics that illuminate the intimate relationship between climate change and human health. These include short-lived climate forcers and the climate and health impact of mitigation measures, extreme heat/drought, mosquito-borne diseases, indoor air pollution/biomass combustion/cookstoves, and biodiversity conservation.
- Fall 2024
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): BIOL 125 – Genes, Evolution and Development & Lab or BIOL 126 – Energy Flow in Biological Systems & Lab or CHEM 123 – Principles of Chemistry I & Lab or CHEM 124 – Principles of Chemistry I with Problem Solving & Lab or CHEM 128 – Principles of Environmental Chemistry & Lab or one 100 Level Geology course or 6 credits of Physics from courses 131-165 with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 or better on the Biology AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Biology IB exam.
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ENTS 395 Senior Seminar 3 credits
This seminar will focus on preparing Environmental Studies majors to undertake the senior comprehensive exercise. The seminar will be organized around a topic to-be-determined and will involve intensive discussion and the preparation of a detailed research proposal for the comps experience. The course is required for all Environmental Studies majors choosing the group comps option. Prerequisite: Completion of all other ENTS core courses except comps.
Requires completion of all other ENTS core courses except comps.
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry
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EUST 159 “The Age of Isms” – Ideals, Ideas and Ideologies in Modern Europe 6 credits
“Ideology” is perhaps one of the most-used (and overused) terms of modern political life. This course will introduce students to important political ideologies and traditions of modern Europe and their role in the development of political systems and institutional practices from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. We will read central texts by conservatives, liberals, socialists, anarchists and nationalists while also considering ideological outliers such as Fascism and Green Political Thought. In addition the course will introduce students to the different ways in which ideas can be studied systematically and the methodologies available.
- Winter 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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GWSS 110 Introduction to Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies 6 credits
This course is an introduction to the ways in which gender and sexuality structure our world, and to the ways feminists challenge established intellectual frameworks. However, since gender and sexuality are not homogeneous categories, but are crosscut by class, race, ethnicity, citizenship and culture, we also consider the ways differences in social location intersect with gender and sexuality.
Sophomore Priority
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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GWSS 200 Gender, Sexuality & the Pursuit of Knowledge 6 credits
In this course we will examine whether there are feminist and/or queer ways of knowing, the criteria by which knowledge is classified as feminist and the various methods used by feminist and queer scholars to produce this knowledge. Some questions that will occupy us are: How do we know what we know? Who does research? Does it matter who the researcher is? How does the social location (race, class, gender, sexuality) of the researcher affect research? Who is the research for? What is the relationship between knowledge, power and social justice? While answering these questions, we will consider how different feminist and queer studies researchers have dealt with them.
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GWSS 240 Gender, Globalization and War 6 credits
We are surrounded by images, stories and experiences of war, conflict, aggression, genocide, and widespread human suffering. In this course we will engage with the field of transnational feminist theorizing in order to understand how globalization and militarism are gendered, and the processes through which gender becomes globalized and militarized. We will examine hegemonic ideals of security and insecurity and track how they are gendered. You will learn to conduct and analyze in-depth interviews focusing on the militarization of civilians/ordinary people so as to understand how all our lives have been shaped by the acceptance and/or resistance to globalized militarism.
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GWSS 244 Women’s & Gender Studies in Europe Program: Ethics and Politics of Cross-Cultural Research
This course explores the following questions: What are the ethics and politics of cross-cultural research? What is the relationship between methodology and knowledge claims in feminist research? What are the power interests involved in keeping certain knowledges marginalized/subjugated? How do questions of gender and sexuality, of ethnicity and national location, figure in these debates? We will also pay close attention to questions arising from the hegemony of English as the global language of WGS as a discipline, and will reflect on what it means to move between different linguistic communities, with each being differently situated in the global power hierarchies.
Acceptance in OCS Women's & Gender Studies in Europe Program
- Fall 2024
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Acceptance in the Carleton OCS Women's and Gender Studies in Europe program.
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IDSC 240 Nudging Our Way to a Better World 2 credits
This discussion-based seminar, open to all students, will examine the most common cognitive biases that keep us from making good decisions—and will explore the potential of behavioral science to produce better outcomes in areas ranging from saving the planet from environmental ruin to promoting more gender equality and increasing organ donation. Along the way, we will examine the controversy surrounding the work of two famous behavioral scientists accused of falsifying data on a massive scale and producing impossible-to-replicate results. Together we will wrestle with the question, “Can behavioral science save the world?”
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry
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LING 135 Introduction to Sociolinguistics 6 credits
There is a complex relationship between language and society. This course examines how language variation is tied to identity and the role of language in human social interaction. We will consider language as it relates to social status, age, gender, ethnicity, and location as well as theoretical models used to study variation. We will also examine how language is used in conversation, in the media, and beyond using ethnography of communication and discourse analysis. You will become more aware of how language is used in your own daily life and will be able to argue sociolinguistic perspectives on language attitudes.
- Fall 2024, Spring 2025
- IDS, Intercultural Domestic Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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LING 145 Dialectology 6 credits
This course explores dialectology, the study of dialects. Participants learn the field’s history before turning to World Englishes, with special attention to the current dialects of American English. We analyze the earliest colonial American English dialects, highlighting language contact with indigenous and other languages, the linguistic impact of the Atlantic slave trade, and subsequent impacts of westward migration. Participants also assess speakers’ perceptions of dialects; analyze dialectal variation as portrayed in media, either accurately or stereotypically; and re-examine what constitutes standard/non-standard dialects, and how ‘standardness’ has changed over time. Not open to students who have taken LING 140.
Not open to students who have taken LING 140
- Winter 2025
- IDS, Intercultural Domestic Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Not open to students who have taken LING 140 – Language in the US.
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LING 219 Sociophonetic Analysis 6 credits
This course introduces participants to sociophonetics, a field of study that weds theories of phonetics (the study of the science of speech) to the methodological approaches of sociolinguistics, and which examines the relationships between linguistic variation and speaker identity. Participants consider the acoustic characteristics of vowels, consonants, and prosody; the variation that occurs across these; and how this variation impacts the production and perception of speech. Working with natural speech data, participants learn to use Praat to assess articulatory variation, and contextualize their findings against the backdrop of previous sociophonetic literature.
Not open to students who have taken LING 117 previously
- Winter 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): One 100-Level Linguistics course with a grade of C- or better. Not open students who have completed LING 117 – Sociophonetics.
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LING 319 Sociolinguistic Field Methods 6 credits
Participants in this course learn how to design and conduct sociolinguistic research, with a focus on the varieties of English spoken in Minnesota. After an introduction to the quantitative sociolinguistic methods used to obtain large data sets of naturalistic speech (publicly available data, online questionnaires, individual and group interviews, and ethnography), participants design studies investigating the status of a phonetic or phonological linguistic variable typically attributed to regional Englishes. The course culminates in a pilot study assessing the status of these variables in the speech of Minnesotans.
- Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): LING 217 – Phonetics & Phonology or LING 219 – Sociophonetic Analysis with grade of C- or better.
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LTAM 220 Eating the Americas: 5,000 Years of Food 6 credits
Food is both a biological necessity and a cultural symbol. We eat to survive, we “are what we eat,” and delicious foods are “to die for.” What does this all mean in the context of Latin America, which gave us the origins of peanut butter (peanuts), spaghetti sauce (tomatoes), avocado toast (avocados), french fries (potatoes), and power bowls (quinoa)? In this class, we will explore the long history humans have had with food in Latin America, drawing from archaeology, ethnohistory, and anthropology to explore the relationship between food, culture, power, identity, gender, and ethnicity.
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LTAM 230 Ancient People of the Andes 6 credits
Who were the first settlers of South America? Was Caral the first city on earth? Who made the Nazca Lines? How did the Inka build Machu Picchu? Which societies flourished or collapsed in the Andean region of South America? This course will examine these questions using archaeology to understand the sociopolitical arrangements that existed among ancient Andean peoples prior to the arrival of the Spanish. Evidence used to explore these themes comes from a range of prehispanic societies, including the Chavin, Tiwanaku, Wari, Moche, Chimu, and Inka. Offered at both the 200 and 300 levels; coursework will be adjusted accordingly. Students who have previously taken any 200-level LTAM social science or humanities course or a 200-level ARCN course should register for LTAM 330; students who have not should register for LTAM 230.
Offered at both the 200 and 300 levels; coursework will be adjusted accordingly. Students who have previously taken any 200-level LTAM social science or humanities course or a 200-level ARCN course should register for LTAM 330; students who have not should register for LTAM 230.
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LTAM 300 Issues in Latin American Studies 6 credits
This is an advanced multidisciplinary research seminar on contemporary Latin America. New forms of political populism, indigenous understanding of the relationship between human and non-human forms of being, transformative urbanistic solutions at work in its largest cities, the political economy of migration, and vibrant cultures of protest, will be among our topics of study. Ideal for students going to or returning from study abroad in Latin America. Required course for minors and majors in Latin American Studies.
- Fall 2024
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): HIST 170 – Modern Latin America, POSC 221 – Latin American Politics, SOAN 353 – Ethnography of Latin America, SPAN 242 – Intro to Latin American Lit with grade of C- or better.
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LTAM 330 Ancient Peoples of the Andes 6 credits
Who were the first settlers of South America? Was Caral the first city on earth? Who made the Nazca Lines? How did the Inka build Machu Picchu? Which societies flourished or collapsed in the Andean region of South America? This course will examine these questions using archaeology to understand the sociopolitical arrangements that existed among ancient Andean peoples prior to the arrival of the Spanish. Evidence used to explore these themes comes from a range of prehispanic societies, including the Chavin, Tiwanaku, Wari, Moche, Chimu, and Inka. Offered at both the 200 and 300 levels; coursework will be adjusted accordingly. Students who have previously taken any 200-level LTAM social science or humanities course or a 200-level ARCN course should register for LTAM 330; students who have not should register for LTAM 230.
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MEST 148 The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 6 credits
This course will provide students with the knowledge and tools to engage productively and respectfully with current events in the Middle East. It will do so by situating the contemporary Israeli-Palestinian conflict in its broader historical context. In addition to studying key events in the history of the conflict, we will examine the conflicting narratives formed by different actors within the Israeli and Palestinian communities, as well as those produced within other related populations. Our discussions will be based on readings of primary sources, academic studies from multiple disciplines, and portrayals of the conflict in music, cinema, and literature.
- Fall 2024
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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MUSC 244 Music Studies at the Border 6 credits
Where is music found? What can we learn about musical practices beyond the score and recording? This course introduces students to hands-on, ethnographic approaches to the study of music. We will consider the ethical, legal, interpersonal, and philosophical challenges of writing about the musical lives of others — and ourselves. Throughout the course, we will work together to design and carry out ethnographic research projects. Selected interested students will develop and carry out a project involving a significant on-site project through a significant on-site visit to the U.S./Mexico border during December. Previous coursework in music is helpful, but not required.
An optional, Carleton-funded site visit during the first week of December is planned to travel to the U.S./Mexico border. Students enrolled in MUSC 244 will indicate their interest in this visit by the Fall 2024 drop/add deadline; due to limited funding, only 12 students will be able to participate. Participants will be selected by random lottery among those who are interested. Students participating in the December travel are required to enroll in a 2-credit Winter 2025 MUSC 245 (Thursdays 10:45–11:50am, first five weeks).
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PE 332 Foundations of Sport Psychology and Performance Mentality 3 credits
Research shows that the most successful athletes are those who are able to think consciously and engage differently than others before, during, and after competition. Like any other life skill, thinking differently and embracing active mindfulness takes training, a willingness to learn, and dedicated hard work. This course is designed to help students and athletes think differently about various aspects of training and competition, ultimately using these skills as they apply to sport, functioning in team environments, and most importantly to the other areas of their lives outside of athletics during and beyond their time at Carleton.
- Winter 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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PE 350 Methods: Principles and Philosophy of Coaching 3 credits
This course emphasizes the methods of teaching skills, structure, and strategies of team oriented sports. Emphasis is placed on understanding the coaching profession at different levels, developing coaching skills and creating a philosophy of coaching.
- Spring 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 120 Democracy and Dictatorship 6 credits
An introduction to the array of different democratic and authoritarian political institutions in both developing and developed countries. We will also explore key issues in contemporary politics in countries around the world, such as nationalism and independence movements, revolution, regime change, state-making, and social movements.
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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POSC 122 Politics in America: Liberty and Equality 6 credits
An introduction to American government and politics. Focus on the Congress, Presidency, political parties and interest groups, the courts and the Constitution. Particular attention will be given to the public policy debates that divide liberals and conservatives and how these divisions are rooted in American political culture.
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025
- IDS, Intercultural Domestic Studies QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 170 International Relations and World Politics 6 credits
What are the foundational theories and practices of international relations and world politics? This course addresses topics of a geopolitical, commercial and ideological character as they relate to global systems including: great power politics, polycentricity, and international organizations. It also explores the dynamic intersection of world politics with war, terrorism, nuclear weapons, national security, human security, human rights, and the globalization of economic and social development.
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 190 In the News: Us, China, and World Politics 3 credits
How will Russia’s invasion of Ukraine end? Will new conflicts break out across the Taiwan Strait? How will a backsliding Turkey and a highly volatile Syria evolve in response to the devastating Kahramanmaras earthquake? This course provides a forum to discuss and analyze such important current global affairs through reading and debating news headlines. We will follow major news stories chosen by students, analyze reporting from multiple sources and perspectives, and conduct individual research. The goal of this course is to encourage students to think deliberately about current events, and to practice the research and analytical skills needed to gain a deeper understanding of global affairs. Students will also leverage course readings and discussions to produce their own editorial articles or detailed research proposal for future inquiries at the end of the course.
2nd 5 weeks
- Winter 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 201 Statecraft and the Tools of National Power 6 credits
This course covers the science and art of statecraft, which is the application of the tools of national power. Students will study how nations use diplomatic, economic, and military power to achieve stated national policy objectives. The course is team-taught by three career national security professionals. Case studies are used to assess the application of diplomatic, economic, and military power in the real world. Course readings, papers, and significant classroom discussion will deliver content to students and set the stage for the International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise, which is a graded part of the course.
Not open to first years.
- Spring 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 204 Media and Electoral Politics: 2024 United States Election 6 credits
Our analysis of media influences on politics will draw from three fields of study: political psychology, political behavior and participation, and public opinion. Students will conduct a study of the effects of campaign ads and news using our multi-year data set of content analyzed election ads and news. We study a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods to learn how political communication affects U.S. elections.
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POSC 206.00 Judges and Courts 6 credits
This course focuses on the judicial branch of government. By exploring the judiciary and the courts, we will see how law, politics, economics, and social trends combine to shape the legal system. We will examine how judges are selected; how judges’ backgrounds and views influence their decisions; the moral, emotional, and intellectual aspects of deciding cases; variations between judges in different courts and administrative settings; and how judging fits into the broader structure and operation of the courts. A special feature of this course will be a guest lectures and dialogue with judges and judicial clerks.
- Spring 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 221 Latin American Politics 6 credits
This course will enable students to think critically and comparatively about the Latin American political and socio-economic reality. The course serves as an introduction for those who are unfamiliar with the contemporary history, politics, and social structures of the region. Instruction in this class, however, will go beyond a mere introduction to Latin American political history. It will challenge students to analyze complex problems in Latin American politics and development and encourage them to provide informed arguments on these matters.
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POSC 224 Political Campaigns & Electoral Behavior 6 credits
Representative government requires the occurrence of regular elections. This course is designed to introduce you to the key issues and controversies surrounding the study of campaigns and elections in the United States. It will analyze the rules and processes that define the presidential and congressional electoral systems, the actors who engage one another within those systems, the campaign strategies candidates use to persuade and turnout voters, and the considerations Americans use to determine their vote on Election day. This course also provides insight into why (and how) campaigns and elections are normatively important for maintaining a healthy democracy.
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POSC 230 Methods of Political Research 6 credits
An introduction to research method, research design, and the analysis of political data. The course is intended to introduce students to the fundamentals of scientific inquiry as they are employed in the discipline. The course will consider the philosophy of scientific research generally, the philosophy of social science research, theory building and theory testing, the components of applied (quantitative and qualitative) research across the major sub-fields of political science, and basic methodological tools. Intended for majors only.
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): STAT 120 – Introduction to Statistics or STAT 230 – Applied Regression Analysis or STAT 250 – Introduction to Statistical Inference or PSYC 200 – Measurement and Data Analysis or SOAN 239 – Social Statistics with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Statistics AP exam.
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POSC 231 American Foreign Policy 6 credits
An introduction to the actors and processes of American foreign policymaking and to the substance of American foreign policy. The course aims to provide students with an understanding of how knowledge of the past, the global policy environment, the processes of foreign policymaking, and the specifics of a foreign policy issue come together to help determine modern American foreign policy. The course will review the structure of the international system of states, state power and interests, the historical context of American foreign policy, actors in American foreign affairs, models of foreign policy decision making, and the instruments of foreign policy. Recommended preparation: POSC 122, AP American Government or AP U.S. History.
- Spring 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 232.01 PS Lab: Agent-Based Models 3 credits
Linear modeling using statistical techniques and equilibrium-centered, game-theoretic approaches are standard methods in quantitative social science. However, research into complex systems suggests that dynamic, chaotic and non-linear processes are common in networked, multi-actor systems. Equilibrium may also be difficult to achieve in a world of adaptive or evolutionary agents. How do these concepts apply to our political world? In this class we will explore agent-based models related to political, social and policy questions while student build their own models using the open-source NetLogo language. Prerequisite: POSC 230
- Winter 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning
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POSC 232.01 PS Lab: Simulation Research 3 credits
Simulations, games and role-play exercises are commonly used as experiential learning tools to help students understand complex problems. They can also be used in a research context to explore processes that are difficult to observe in the field or that involve strategic, adversarial and interactive social choices among multiple actors (such as red team exercises). In this lab we will explore the use of simulation as a tool for social inquiry and policy making and use participant observation approaches to gather data from a large simulation exercise.
- Spring 2025
- No Exploration
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POSC 232.02 PS Lab: Interview Techniques 3 credits
This class provides a hands-on introduction to how researchers devise, conduct, and analyze interviews in political science. Students will learn about different types of interview methodologies with a particular focus on semi-structured techniques. Over the course of the class, students will consider the types of questions most appropriately answered by interviews, the fundamentals of different sampling strategies, how to devise questionnaires, and how to use the information collected for both quantitative and qualitative analysis. We will also cover interview ethics, how to employ culturally sensitive techniques, and how to employ interviews in individual, group, and crowd situations.
Expected preparation: completion of one prior course in political science or a related field.
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 232.02 PS Lab: Political Research in Spanish 3 credits
This political science lab will train students interested in conducting social science research in Spanish on Latin America or Spain. All reading and audio visual materials used in this course will be in Spanish. Students will exercise and receive further training in their ability to read both qualitative and quantitative scholarship, access official and scholarly databases, read and discuss primary materials such as presidential speeches and interviews with political leaders, as well as journalistic sources. All discussion and instruction will be conducted in Spanish.
- Spring 2025
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POSC 232.03 PS Lab: Hacking the Case Study 3 credits
This course explores the case study method for investigating important political science questions. We will begin by discussing the philosophy of science, causality, theory building and testing; this will provide us with the grounding to think critically about the uses, strengths, and limitations of case study methods. We will then explore the core issues of case study research design, including methods of comparison, case selection, process tracing, and building cases into mixed method studies. We will also explore how various techniques such as interviews, participant observation, and archival research contribute to building case studies.
- Winter 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 242 Middle East Politics 6 credits
This course introduces the politics and political structures of states in the Middle East. We explore the political origins of Middle Eastern states, and investigate how regional politics are shaped by colonialism, religion, tribes, the family, and more. We examine the persistence of authoritarianism and its links to other issues like nationalism and militarism. The course covers how recent and current events like the revolutionary movements of the ‘Arab Spring’ civil society affect the states and their societies. We conclude with a consideration of the future of Middle Eastern politics, evaluating lingering concerns and emerging prospects for liberalization and reform.
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POSC 245 Geopolitics of Southeast Asia 6 credits
This course will cover key thematic issues of Southeast Asian politics, including the challenges of democracy, geopolitical conflicts with China, politics of borderlands, environmental politics, the rise of the power of non-state actors, and struggles for citizen-sovereignty of the people. We will examine these geopolitical frontier issues against the background of Southeast Asia's societal evolution through kingdoms, colonial eras, emergence of nation-states, and the influence of globalization on politics. Why is Southeast Asia a misunderstood region of the world? What can we learn from Southeast Asian political orders to understand the faith of freedom, self-governance, and democracy?
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POSC 252 Theoretical Foundations of the American Regime 6 credits
In this course we will examine the theoretical foundations of the American regime as understood by the founders (including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton); by dissenters among their ranks (the Antifederalists); by earlier thinkers on whom the founders drew (Locke, Montesquieu, and Aristotle); and by later figures, including political actors (such as Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass) and philosophically minded observers (such as Alexis de Tocqueville).
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POSC 265 Public Policy and Global Capitalism 6 credits
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to comparative and international public policy. It examines major theories and approaches to public policy design and implementation in several major areas: international policy economy (including the study of international trade and monetary policy, financial regulation, and comparative welfare policy), global public health and comparative healthcare policy, institutional development (including democratic governance, accountability systems, and judicial reform), and environmental public policy. Recommended Preparation: STAT 120 is strongly recommended.
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POSC 266 Urban Political Economy 6 credits
City revenue is increasingly dependent on tourism. Cities manufacture identity and entertainment, whether we think of Las Vegas or Jerusalem, Berlin or Bilbao, the ethnoscapes of Copenhagen or the red light district of Amsterdam. As cities compete in the global economy to become playgrounds for a transnational tourist class, what is the role of urban residents? Who governs? Who benefits? Short essays or exams will be required.
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POSC 271 Constitutional Law I 6 credits
This course will explore the United States Constitution and the legal doctrines that have emerged from it, using them as lenses through which to understand the history—and shape the future—of this country. Using prominent Supreme Court opinions as teaching tools and loci of debate (including cases on the Court’s recent and current docket), this course will explore the different kind of theoretical approaches with which to make Constitutional arguments and interpret the Constitution. It is one of two paired courses (the other being POSC 272) that complement each other. Both courses will address the structure and functioning of the United States government, and will explore in greater depth the historic Constitutional “trends” towards greater equality and more liberty (albeit slowly, haltingly, and with steps both forward and backward). This course will focus in particular on how matters of racial justice have been a Constitutional issue from the very beginning of the nation—and very much remain unfinished legal work. In exploring matters of personal liberty, this course will focus in particular on First Amendment freedom of religion. Finally, in examining governmental structures, this course will emphasize federalism and the distribution of power between the national and state governments, including the rise of a nationwide economic system and the modern administrative state. The course will require close reading of judicial opinions and other texts, and learning how to construct arguments using logic and precedent. A special feature of this course will be detailed examination and intra-class mock debate of the cases the Supreme Court will hear this fall challenging raced-based affirmative action programs at private and public universities.
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 272 Constitutional Law II 6 credits
This course will explore the United States Constitution and the legal doctrines that have emerged from it, using them as lenses through which to understand the history—and shape the future—of this country. Using prominent Supreme Court opinions as teaching tools and loci of debate (including cases on the Court’s recent and current docket), this course will explore the different kind of theoretical approaches with which to make Constitutional arguments and interpret the Constitution. It is one of two paired courses (the other being POSC 271) that complement each other. Both courses will address the structure and functioning of the United States government, and will explore in greater depth the historic Constitutional “trends” towards greater equality and more liberty (albeit slowly, haltingly, and with steps both forward and backward). This course will focus in particular on how gender equality is very much unfinished Constitutional work on our way towards a “more perfect union.” This topic will include an examination of the Court’s recent controversial decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. In exploring matters of personal liberty, this course will focus in particular on First Amendment freedom of speech and other fundamental rights protected under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. Finally, in examining governmental structures, this course will emphasize the separation of powers across the branches of the federal government. The course will require close reading of judicial opinions and other texts, and learning how to construct arguments using logic and precedent. POSC 271 is not a prerequisite for POSC 272. The two courses can be taken independently, although having taking POSC 271 will provide students with a broader and more nuanced foundation for exploring the themes covered of this course
- Spring 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 273 Race and Politics in the U.S. 6 credits
This course addresses race and ethnicity in U.S. politics. Following an introduction to historical, sociological, and psychological approaches to the study of race and ethnicity, we apply these approaches to understanding the ways in which racial attitudes have been structured along a number of political and policy dimensions, e.g., welfare, education, criminal justice. Students will gain an increased understanding of the multiple contexts that shape contemporary racial and ethnic politics and policies in the U.S., and will consider the role of institutional design, policy development, representation, and racial attitudes among the general U.S. public and political environment.
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POSC 281 U.S.-China Rivalry: The New Cold War? 6 credits
This course surveys key security dynamics, actors and issues in the Asia-Pacific. We will begin with a brief overview of historical conflicts and cooperations in the region, focusing on the impact of decolonization, communism, and the Cold War. We will then proceed to discuss contemporary security issues; topics include territorial disputes, Taiwan, nuclear proliferation, the U.S. alliance system, regional organizations like ASEAN, and U.S.-China rivalry. We will also study major international relation paradigms and theories, including heterodox approaches relevant to major actors in the Asia-Pacific, to guide our investigation of these security issues. No prior knowledge required.
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POSC 282 Terrorism and Counterterrorism 6 credits
This course focuses on the historic and modern use of violence or the threat of violence by non-state actors to secure political outcomes. We will review the strategy and tactics of various terror groups, use case studies to understand the logic of terrorism, assess why some groups succeed while others fail, and study terrorist organizations’ efforts at recruitment and indoctrination. These topics will be addressed from theoretical and practical perspectives, with input from expert guest speakers. Finally, we will assess counterterrorism measures, including the moral, ethical, legal, and practical approaches to creating security in the modern world.
- Winter 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 285 The U.S. Intelligence Community 6 credits
This course covers the U.S. Intelligence Community, how intelligence supports national security policy development, and how intelligence is applied to execute strategy in pursuit of policy objectives (specifically, implementation of national security and foreign policy initiatives). Studying the structure, processes, procedures, oversight, and capabilities of the Intelligence Community will enhance understanding of how intelligence supported or failed policymakers in national security decision-making, including the areas of diplomatic and economic cooperation and engagement, and security challenges ranging from deterrence to conventional war. The course concludes with the study of asymmetric/hybrid warfare in our modern age and how intelligence might be used to better understand the changing dynamics of future global conflict.
- Winter 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 302 Subordinated Politics and Intergroup Relations 6 credits
How do social and political groups interact? How do we understand these interactions in relation to power? This course will introduce the basic approaches and debates in the study of prejudice, racial attitudes, and intergroup relations. We will focus on three main questions. First, how do we understand and study prejudice and racism as they relate to U.S. politics? Second, how do group identities, stereotyping, and other factors help us understand the legitimation of discrimination, group hierarchy, and social domination? Third, what are the political and social challenges associated with reducing prejudice?
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POSC 304 Media and Electoral Politics: 2024 United States Elections 6 credits
Our analysis of media influences on politics will draw from three fields of study: political psychology, political behavior and participation, and public opinion. Students will conduct a study of the effects of campaign ads and news using our multi-year data set of content analyzed election ads and news. We study a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods to learn how political communication affects U.S. elections. Students enrolled in the POSC 304 version will conduct more extensive analysis of data for their seminar papers.
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POSC 313 Legal Issues in Higher Education 6 credits
This seminar will explore pressing legal and policy issues facing American colleges and universities. The course will address the ways core academic values (e.g., academic freedom; the creation and maintenance of a community based on shared values) fit or conflict with legal rules and political dynamics that operate beyond the academy. Likely topics include how college admissions are shaped by legal principles, with particular emphasis on debates over affirmative action; on-campus speech; faculty tenure; intellectual property; student rights and student discipline (including discipline for sexual assault); and college and university relations with the outside world.
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 315 Polarization and Democratic Decline in the United States 6 credits
The United States is more politically polarized today than at any time since the late nineteenth century, leaving lawmakers, journalists, and experts increasingly concerned that the toxicity in our politics is making the country vulnerable to political instability, violence, and democratic decline. Moreover, citizens are increasingly willing to call into question the legitimacy of this country’s core electoral and governing institutions. How did the U.S. get to this point? What can be done about it? This course will examine political polarization as a central feature of American politics and the consequences for American democracy.
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POSC 322 Polarization and Populism in Latin America 6 credits
Polarization and populism have shaped Latin American politics and development for much of the region's history. These forces have re-emerged in the post-Cold War period in acute and powerful ways in threatening democracy and systems of accountability. This course will examine these forces and adjacent phenomena such as democratic backsliding, the aggrandizement of presidential powers, socio-economic conflicts, contentious politics, and the continuation of state crises in Latin America. Students will work on their own research projects.
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POSC 324 Rebels and Risk Takers: Women and War In the Middle East 6 credits
How are women (and gender more broadly) shaping and shaped by war and conflict in the Middle East? Far from the trope of the subjugated, veiled, and abused Middle Eastern woman, women in the Middle East are active social and political agents. In wars and conflicts in the Middle East region, women have, for example, been combatants, soldiers, activists, spies, homemakers, writers, and political leaders. This course surveys conflicts involving Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Iraq–along with Western powers like the U.S., UK, and Australia–through the wartime experiences of women.
- Fall 2024
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 328 Foreign Policy Analysis 6 credits
Foreign policy analysis is a distinct sub-field within international relations that focuses on explaining the actions and choices of actors in world politics. After a review of the historical development of the sub-field, we will explore approaches to foreign policy that emphasize the empirical testing of hypotheses that explain how policies and choices are formulated and implemented. The psychological sources of foreign policy decisions (including leaders' beliefs and personalities and the effect of decision-making groups) are a central theme. Completion of a lower level IR course and the stats/methods sequence is recommended preparation.
- Winter 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 333 Global Social Changes and Sustainability 6 credits
This course is about the relationship between social changes and ecological changes to understand and to be able to advance analytical concepts, research methods, and theories of society-nature interactions. How do livelihoods of individuals and groups change over time and how do the changes affect ecological sustainability? What are the roles of human institutions in ecological sustainability? What are the roles of ecosystem dynamics in institutional sustainability? Students will learn fundamental theories and concepts that explain linkages between social change and environmental changes and gain methods and skills to measure social changes qualitatively and quantitatively.
Extra Time required.
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POSC 348 Strangers, Foreigners and Exiles 6 credits
The course explores the role that strangers play in human life, the challenges that foreigners create for democratic politics, the promises they bring to it, as well as the role of exiles in improving the cultural capacity of societies to live with difference. We will read texts by Arendt, Kafka, Derrida, Sophocles, Said, Joseph Conrad, Tzvetan Todorov, and Julia Kristeva. Special attention will be given to the plight of Roma in Europe, as a typical case of strangers that are still perceived nowadays as a menace to the modern sedentary civilization.
- Spring 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 372 Mansions and Shantytowns: Politics of The Spaces We Live in 6 credits
This course explores theories about spaces/places and investigates the impact of our physical environment on a broad range of social and political issues. We will look at how parks, monuments, residential communities, and other features of our cities and towns are made, who makes them, and in turn, their effects on our daily lives. Students will engage with important contemporary issues such as residential segregation, public space management, protest policing, etc. Most of the course will focus on urban politics, with a brief foray into rural issues. The goal of this course is to encourage students to think about everyday environmental features in a more systematic and theoretic manner and design social scientific inquiries into spatial issues.
- Winter 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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POSC 378 Political Economy & Ecology of Southeast Asia: Social Changes in Southeast Asia 6 credits
Informed by the assigned readings, students will visit markets, factories, farms, and various cultural and natural sites to see first-hand the changes and challenges occurring in these areas. The course covers: (1) issues of livelihood transition from rural to urban; (2) the interaction between market systems and social relations; and (3) the impact on society of changes in physical infrastructures such as roads and telecommunication. Students will keep a journal and produce three thematic short essays, a 15-20-minute video, or a well-organized blog to document their learning.
Participation in Carleton OCS Political Economy and Ecology in Southeast Asia Program
- Winter 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Acceptance in the Political Economy and Ecology in Southeast Asia Program.
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POSC 379 Political Economy and Ecology of S.E. Asia: Diversity of Social Ecological Systems in Southeast Asia 6 credits
Connecting the first and the second components, this course examines key actors, issues, and interests in the political economy of and ecology of Southeast Asia. Students will connect economy to ecology in Southeast Asia by connecting field experiences and observation to real data, facts, and cases that illustrate the interaction between economy and ecology. This course requires students to identify a topic of interest based on their field experience, research it using techniques taught in the field research and methods course, and write a research report in the form of a term paper.
Participation in Carleton OCS Political Economy and Ecology in Southeast Asia Program
- Winter 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Acceptance in the Political Economy and Ecology in Southeast Asia Program.
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PSYC 110 Principles of Psychology 6 credits
This course surveys major topics in psychology. We consider the approaches different psychologists take to describe and explain behavior. We will consider a broad range of topics, including how animals learn and remember contexts and behaviors, how personality develops and influences functioning, how the nervous system is structured and how it supports mental events, how knowledge of the nervous system may inform an understanding of conditions such as schizophrenia, how people acquire, remember and process information, how psychopathology is diagnosed, explained, and treated, how infants and children develop, and how people behave in groups and think about their social environment.
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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PSYC 244 Positive Psychology 6 credits
This course evaluates the effort to use the tools of psychological science to understand the sources and nature of positive human strengths, characteristics, resources, and aspirations, and to apply any knowledge gained to help individuals and institutions function more effectively.
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): PSYC 110 – Principles of Psychology with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Psychology AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Psychology IB exam.
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PSYC 251 Lifespan Development 6 credits
This course explores the concepts, theories, and research on human development as it occurs over the lifespan and across contexts. We will learn about physical, cognitive, and psychosocial developmental milestones and challenges unique to each stage of human development. This exploration “from womb to tomb” includes infancy, early and middle childhood, adolescence, emerging adulthood, adulthood, and old age. Through readings, class discussions, and group and individual activities, students will have the opportunity to apply the concepts we are learning to the world around us.
- Winter 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): PSYC 110 – Principles of Psychology with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Psychology AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Psychology IB exam.
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PSYC 263 Sleep and Dreaming 6 credits
This course will examine recent experimental findings and current perspectives on sleep, dreaming, sleep disorders, and states of consciousness.
- Winter 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): PSYC 110 – Principles of Psychology with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Psychology AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Psychology IB exam.
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PSYC 264 Relationship Science 6 credits
What makes two people attracted to one another? Why do some relationships last for decades, and others for just weeks? In what ways do our relationships influence our understanding of who we are? In this course, we will address questions like these by exploring the field of relationship science, a research area that leverages the scientific method to study interpersonal attraction and relationships. The content covered in this course will focus primarily on insights drawn from psychological research on romantic relationships, with particular attention to questions of how people across diverse backgrounds and identities experience their relationships. Expected preparation: Psychology 110
- Winter 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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PSYC 318 Psychopharmacology 6 credits
This course will cover the major categories of drugs that possess psychoactive properties, with an emphasis on their effects on the nervous system. In addition, drug use and abuse in a larger societal context will be examined.
- Winter 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): PSYC 216 – Behavioral Neuroscience with a grade of C- or better.
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PSYC 354 Counseling Psychology 6 credits
This course provides an introduction to the field of counseling psychology, exploring its fundamental principles and practices. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of various counseling theories and treatment modalities, including their historical development and practical application. Students will also explore research methodologies utilized in counseling psychology and critically analyze empirical studies to inform evidence-based practice. Additionally, the course addresses professional issues, ethical considerations, and multicultural factors that influence counseling psychology, fostering cultural competence and awareness of diverse populations.
- Spring 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): PSYC 110 – Principles of Psychology with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Psychology AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Psychology IB exam.
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PSYC 358 Cross-Cultural Psychology Seminar in Prague: Psychopathology 6 credits
In the West mental illness has traditionally been approached with a biomedical model that views it as independent of culture. By contrast the “relativist” position assumes that, to a large extent, human behaviors are culturally determined and that the etiology and manifestation of mental disorders are affected by society and culture. This course will address such issues as well as their implications for assessment and treatment through an examination of several Western and non-Western societies, with a special emphasis on Czech society. There will be several guest lectures by Czech psychology professors as well as excursions within Prague to psychiatric hospitals and clinics, where students will meet with Czech clinicians and patients.
- Fall 2024
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Acceptance in Cross-Cultural Studies in Prague Program and student has completed any of the following course(s): PSYC 110 – Principles of Psychology with a grade of C- or better.
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PSYC 367 Neuropsychology of Aging 6 credits
With the aging population comes a variety of challenges, including those to cognitive health and decline. Neurodegenerative diseases create various forms of dementia and cause unique problems beyond those that are an outcome of healthy aging. The disabling effects of aging and dementia extend beyond the person to family, friends and wider community. The need to understand and extend knowledge of both healthy aging and the pathological changes that occur with neurodegenerative diseases with aging is of great importance. By understanding how the brain is impacted by age, dementia, and other clinical syndromes, both management of the cognitive issues and advances in treatments to improve mental functioning can be made. This course takes a neuropsychological approach to study healthy aging and neurodegenerative disease. In this seminar, lectures and discussions explore the cognitive, behavioral, and molecular aspects of healthy aging and neurodegenerative disease processes in humans. Cognitive topics include working memory, long term memory, attention, familiarity and recollection, emotion, and social factors that interact with aging. The physiological and cognitive outcomes of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and various types of dementia are compared with the physiology and cognitive decline evident in healthy aging. Students will read primary articles on these topics, and propose a project based on course discussion and interactions with people at senior centers and convalescent centers in Northfield.
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): PSYC 110 – Principles of Psychology or equivalent, PSYC 216 – Behavioral Neuroscience or NEURO 127 – Foundations of Neuroscience with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Psychology AP Exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Psychology IB exam.
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PSYC 382 Topics in Social and Personality: Endings 6 credits
This seminar will examine the psychology of endings, including endings associated with psychotherapy, social interactions, personal relationships, social roles, literature and the arts, and life itself. We will address when and how endings occur, how we experience endings, and what makes an ending a good or poor one, among other issues.
- Spring 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): PSYC 252 – Personality or PSYC 256 – Social Behavior and Interpersonal Processes or PSYC 258 – Social Cognition with grade of C- or better.
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PSYC 384 Psychology of Prejudice 6 credits
This seminar introduces students to major psychological theories and research on the development, perpetuation and reduction of prejudice. A social and historical approach to race, culture, ethnicity and race relations will provide a backdrop for examining psychological theory and research on prejudice formation and reduction. Major areas to be discussed are cognitive social learning, group conflict and contact hypothesis. Psychology 256 or 258 recommended preparation.
- Winter 2025
- IDS, Intercultural Domestic Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): PSYC 110 – Principles of Psychology with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Psychology AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Psychology IB exam.
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PSYC 389 LGBTQ+ Psychology 6 credits
In this seminar, we will examine the psychology of LGBTQ+ people, focusing on topics such as LGBTQ+ identity development; predictors and consequences of anti-LGBTQ+ bias and discrimination; the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people; and familial and relationship dynamics of LGBTQ+ populations. We will consider psychology's history of—and potential for—both contributing to and dismantling the inequities faced by LGBTQ+ populations.
- Spring 2025
- IDS, Intercultural Domestic Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): Psychology 110 – Principles of Psychology or GWSS 110 – Introduction to Gender, Women's & Sexuality or GWSS 200 – Gender, Sexuality and the Pursuit of Knowledge or GWSS 212 – Foundations of LGBTQ Studies with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Psychology AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Psychology IB exam.
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SOAN 110 Introduction to Anthropology 6 credits
Anthropology is the study of all human beings in all their diversity, an exploration of what it means to be human throughout the globe. This course helps us to see ourselves, and others, from a new perspective. By examining specific analytic concepts—such as culture—and research methods—such as participant observation—we learn how anthropologists seek to understand, document, and explain the stunning variety of human cultures and ways of organizing society. This course encourages you to consider how looking behind cultural assumptions helps anthropologists solve real world dilemmas.
Sophomore Priority.
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025
- CX, Cultural/Linguistics IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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SOAN 111 Introduction to Sociology 6 credits
Sociology is an intellectual discipline, spanning the gap between the sciences and humanities while often (though not always) involving itself in public policy debates, social reform, and political activism. Sociologists study a startling variety of topics using qualitative and quantitative methods. Still, amidst all this diversity, sociology is centered on a set of core historical theorists (Marx/Weber/Durkheim) and research topics (race/class/gender inequality). We will explore these theoretical and empirical foundations by reading and discussing influential texts and select topics in the study of social inequality while relating them to our own experiences and understanding of the social world.
Sophomore Priority.
- Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025
- SI, Social Inquiry
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SOAN 125 Southeast Asian Migration and Diasporic Communities 6 credits
2025 is the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Many Southeast Asian (SEAn) refugees resettled in the U.S. in the aftermath. First, we begin in Southeast Asia (SEA) to understand the social, political, and historical circumstances that have led to SEA migration. Then we will examine how SEAn have adapted to life in the U.S. and how those communities—many are here in Minnesota—are thriving today. We’ll work on a project in collaboration with SEAn organizations to commemorate the 50th anniversary and also travel to SEAn communities in the Twin Cities, dates TBD.
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SOAN 203 Anthropology of Good Intentions 6 credits
Is the environmental movement making progress? Do responsible products actually help local populations? Is international AID alleviating poverty and fostering development? Today there are thousands of programs with sustainable development goals yet their effectiveness is often contested at the local level. This course explores the impacts of sustainable development, conservation, and AID programs to look beyond the good intentions of those that implement them. In doing so we hope to uncover common pitfalls behind good intentions and the need for sound social analysis that recognizes, examines, and evaluates the role of cultural complexity found in populations targeted by these programs. The department strongly recommends that Sociology/Anthropology 110 or 111 be taken prior to enrolling in courses numbered 200 or above.
- Fall 2024
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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SOAN 209 Language, Culture, and Power 6 credits
This course introduces linguistic anthropology, the study of language in social contexts. People use language to navigate the world and to make judgments about others. Has anyone ever correctly guessed your background after you used a specific word (pop vs. soda)? Have you ever been teased due to your accent? By surveying cross-cultural research from around the world, we ask: How do linguistic practices contribute to the construction of social identity and social difference? How might perceptions of language create and reinforce social divisions and inequality? Students will also consider ways they may advocate for linguistic social justice.
- Winter 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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SOAN 214 Neighborhoods and Cities: Inequalities and Identities 6 credits
Inequalities and identities are well understood yet too often disconnected from the context of space and place. In this class, we discuss the ways that neighborhoods and cities are sites of inequality as well as identity. Neighborhoods are linked to the amount of wealth we hold; the schools we attend; the goods, services, and resources we have access to; and who our neighbors are. Neighborhoods are also spaces where identities and community are created, claimed, and contested. They can also be sites of conflict as they change through gentrification or other processes that often reflect inequalities of power, resources, and status. In this course, special attention will be paid to how race, gender and sexuality, and immigration shape inequalities and identity in neighborhoods and cities. This course will also include an academic civic engagement component, collaborating with local communities in Minnesota. The department strongly recommends that Sociology/Anthropology 110 or 111 be taken prior to enrolling in courses numbered 200 or above.
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SOAN 225 Social Movements 6 credits
How is it that in specific historical moments ordinary people come together and undertake collective struggles for justice in social movements such as Black Lives Matter, Me Too, Standing Rock, immigrant, and LGBTQ rights? How have these movements theorized oppression, and what has been their vision for liberation? What collective change strategies have they proposed and what obstacles have they faced? We will explore specific case studies and use major sociological perspectives theorizing the emergence of movements, repertoires of protest, collective identity formation, frame alignment, and resource mobilization. We will foreground the intersectionality of gender, sexuality, race, and class in these movements.
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SOAN 228 Public Sociology of Religion 6 credits
This course focuses on special topics in the public sociology of religion. We will look at the intersection of race, religion, and politics in the U.S.; the intersection of science and religion in Indigenous-led environmental movements; and varieties of public religion around the world—including Islamic feminism and democracy in Egypt and Indonesia, Coptic Christianity and the Muslim Brotherhood, orthodox Jewish movements in Israel, American evangelicals in the U.S., and Black church mobilization in the U.S. civil rights movement. As we do so, we will examine core theoretical perspectives and empirical developments in the contemporary sociology of religion. The department strongly recommends that Sociology/Anthropology 110 or 111 be taken prior to enrolling in courses numbered 200 or above.
- Spring 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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SOAN 240 Methods of Social Research 6 credits
When sociologists and anthropologists conduct their research, how do they know which method to choose? What assumptions guide their decision? What challenges might they encounter? And, even more importantly, what are their ethical obligations? In this course we will answer these questions through examining some popular sociological and anthropological research methods (e.g., interviews, surveys, and participant observation). Specific topics include: developing feasible research questions, selecting an appropriate research method, collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, and writing up research findings. By the end of the course, students will be better equipped to design and conduct a research study.
- Spring 2025
- QRE, Quantitative Reasoning SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): SOAN 110 – Introduction to Anthropology or SOAN 111 – Introduction to Sociology with a grade of C- or better AND STAT 120 – Introduction to Statistics or STAT 250 – Introduction to Statistical Inference with a grade of C- or better, or received a score of 4 or better on the Statistics AP exam.
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SOAN 252 Growing Up in an Aging Society 6 credits
Both the U.S. and global populations are trending toward a world with far fewer young people than ever before. So, what does it mean to grow up in a rapidly aging society? This course explores age, aging, and its various intersections with demographic characteristics including gender, sexuality, race, and social class. We situate age and aging within the context of macro-structural, institutional, and micro-everyday realms. Some topics we will examine include: media depictions and stereotypes; interpersonal relationships and caregiving; the workplace and retirement; and both the perceptions and inevitable realities of an aging population.
The department strongly recommends that Sociology/Anthropology 110 or 111 be taken prior to enrolling in courses numbered 200 or above
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SOAN 262 Anthropology of Health and Illness 6 credits
An ethnographic approach to beliefs and practices regarding health and illness in numerous societies worldwide. This course examines patients, practitioners, and the social networks and contexts through which therapies are managed to better understand medical systems as well as the significance of the anthropological study of misfortune. Specific topics include the symbolism of models of illness, the ritual management of misfortune and of life crisis events, the political economy of health, therapy management, medical pluralism, and cross-cultural medical ethics. The department strongly recommends that Sociology/Anthropology 110 or 111 be taken prior to enrolling in courses numbered 200 or above.
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SOAN 278 Urban Ethnography and the American Experience 6 credits
American sociology has a rich tradition of focusing the ethnographic eye on the American experience. We will take advantage of this tradition to encounter urban America through the ethnographic lens, expanding our social vision and investigating the nature of race, place, meaning, interaction, and inequality in the U.S. While doing so, we will also explore the unique benefits, challenges, and underlying assumptions of ethnographic research as a distinctive mode of acquiring and communicating social knowledge. As such, this course offers both an immersion in the American experience and an inquiry into the craft of ethnographic writing and research. The department strongly recommends that Sociology/Anthropology 110 or 111 be taken prior to enrolling in courses numbered 200 or above.
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SOAN 283 Immigration, Citizenship, and Belonging in the U.S. 6 credits
Immigration has been a defining feature of the United States that is tied to legal and cultural forms of citizenship, and more broadly, to questions of belonging. This course explores these three concepts through multiple aspects of immigration, including the migration experience, immigration policy, community, education, culture, and others, for both immigrants and the children of immigrants. Special attention is given to how differences among immigrants—such as race, gender, class, national origin, and others—matter in all of these areas. These questions and issues are explored through academic readings, popular and public discourse, immigrant voices, and civic engagement in local communities.
The department strongly recommends that 110 or 11 be taken prior to enrolling in courses number 200 or above.
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SOAN 312 How Rude: (Im)politeness and (Dis)respect in Language 6 credits
Expressions of politeness and impoliteness differ between societies. From smiling at strangers to addressing a woman as “ma’am,” what is polite in one setting can be strange or antagonistic in another. This course focuses on cross-linguistic expressions of (im)politeness and (dis)respect, but also touches upon non-verbal behavior and communication. Older cross-cultural literature has focused on the positive valuations of politeness, deference, and respect in language. By balancing past scholarship with recent works on linguistic impoliteness and disrespect, we’ll explore language’s role in social relations, from creating harmony to sowing conflict. Expected preparation: prior Sociology/Anthropology course or instructor permission is recommended.
The department strongly recommends that Sociology/Anthropology 110 or 111 be taken prior to enrolling in courses numbered 200 or above.
- Spring 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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SOAN 313 Woke Nature: Towards an Anthropology of Non-Human Beings 6 credits
The core of anthropological thought has been organized around the assumption that the production of complex cultural systems is reserved to the domain of the human experience. While scholars have contested this assumption for years, there is an emerging body of scholarship that proposes expanding our understandings of culture, and the ability to produce meaning in the world, to include non-human beings (e.g. plants, wildlife, micro-organisms, mountains). This course explores ethnographic works in this field and contextualizes insights within contemporary conversations pertaining to our relationship with nature, public health, and social justice movements that emerge within decolonized frameworks. The department strongly recommends that Sociology/Anthropology 110 or 111 be taken prior to enrolling in courses numbered 200 or above.
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SOAN 323 Mother Earth: Women, Development and the Environment 6 credits
Why are so many sustainable development projects anchored around women's cooperatives? Why is poverty depicted as having a woman's face? Is the solution to the environmental crisis in the hands of women the nurturers? From overly romantic notions of stewardship to the feminization of poverty, this course aims to evaluate women's relationships with local environments and development initiatives. The course uses anthropological frameworks to evaluate case studies from around the world. The department strongly recommends that Sociology/Anthropology 110 or 111 be taken prior to enrolling in courses numbered 200 or above.
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SOAN 330 Sociological Thought and Theory 6 credits
Many thinkers have contributed to the development of sociology as an intellectual discipline and mode of social inquiry; however, few have had the influence of Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber. This course focuses on influential texts and ideas generated by these and other theorists from sociology’s “classical era,” how these texts and ideas are put to use by contemporary sociologists, and on more recent theoretical developments and critical perspectives that have influenced the field. The department strongly recommends that Sociology/Anthropology 110 or 111 be taken prior to enrolling in courses numbered 200 or above.
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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SOAN 331 Anthropological Thought and Theory 6 credits
Our ways of perceiving and acting in the world emerge simultaneously from learned and shared orientations of long duration, and from specific contexts and contingencies of the moment. This applies to the production of anthropological ideas and of anthropology as an academic discipline. This course examines anthropological theory by placing the observers and the observed in the same comparative historical framework, subject to the ethnographic process and to historical conditions in and out of academe. We seek to understand genealogies of ideas, building on and/or reacting to previous anthropological approaches. We highlight the diversity of voices who thought up these ideas, and have influenced anthropological thought through time. We attend to the intellectual and political context in which anthropologists conducted research, wrote, and published their works, as well as which voices did/did not reach academic audiences. The course thus traces the development of the core issues, central debates, internecine battles, and diversity of anthropological thought and of anthropologists that have animated anthropology since it first emerged as a distinct field of inquiry to present-day efforts at intellectual decolonization.
The department strongly recommends that 110 or 11 be taken prior to enrolling in courses number 200 or above.
- Winter 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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Student must have completed any of the following course(s): SOAN 110 – Introduction to Anthropology or SOAN 111 – Introduction to Sociology AND one 200 or 300 level SOAN course with a grade of C- or better.
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SOAN 396 Advanced Sociological and Anthropological Writing 6 credits
This course explores different genres of writing and different audiences for writing in the social sciences, focusing particular attention on scholarly articles published in professional journals in sociology and anthropology. To that end, students both analyze sociological and anthropological articles regarding commonalities and differences in academic writing in our two sister disciplines. Students work on their own academic writing process (with the help of peer-review and instructor feedback). The writing itself is broken down into component elements on which students practice and revise their work.
Prerequisite: Completion of Sociology/Anthropology 240 or submission of a topic statement in the preceding spring term and submission of a comps thesis proposal on the first day of fall term or instructor permission
- Fall 2024
- SI, Social Inquiry WR2 Writing Requirement 2
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Student is a Sociology and Anthropolog major and has Senior Priority.
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SPAN 229 Madrid Program: Current Issues in Spanish Politics 6 credits
This course offers a fresh look of Spain’s current political and economic life. Discussion topics include the rise of Podemos and the new Spanish political scene, the Catalan separatist movement, political corruption, illegal immigration, and the role of the European Union.
Acceptance in Carleton OCS Madrid Program
- Fall 2024
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Acceptance in the Spanish Studies in Madrid Program and student has completed the following course(s): SPAN 205 – Conversation and Composition or a higher course with a grade of C- or better.
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SPAN 369 The Carnival Trail: Carnival Literature in Latin America 6 credits
Carnivals are frequently associated with colourful crowds, merrymaking and excess. But what role do carnivals play in the construction of national and collective identities? We will try to answer this and other questions focusing on films, paintings, and literary texts from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries that represent some of the most popular carnivals in Latin America: Candombe (Uruguay), Yawar Fiesta (Peru), Blacks and Whites (Colombia), Oruro (Bolivia), and Rio (Brazil). We will analyze them from an interdisciplinary perspective that includes literary criticism, anthropology, and history. Students will engage with debates about nation, popular culture, modernity/modernization, and intangible cultural heritage.
- Spring 2025
- IS, International Studies SI, Social Inquiry
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Student has completed any of the following course(s): One SPAN course numbered 205 or higher excluding Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better. Not open to students that have taken SPAN 250 – The Carnival Trail: Carnival Literature in Latin America.