LBA
107/207: Composition I/Honors Composition I
(3 hrs.)
(Required of all students.)
The first semester of a two-semester sequence, this course provides
students with a wide range of opportunities to sharpen their reading,
writing, research, reasoning, and digital medial skills. At the
same time, the course also encourages students to develop, in both writing
and speaking, their own distinct and identifiable voice. The format
of the course will include guest speakers, class discussions, small
group presentations, individual presentations, formal and informal papers,
writing exercises, and peer reviewing.
LBA
108/208: Composition and Research II / Honors Composition and
Research II
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: LBA 107 or LBA 108.) (Required of all students.)
Students continue to sharpen their skills in critical reading, writing,
researching, reasoning, and digital-film making with an additional focus
on learning to make good use their speaking voices. Composition and
Research II links closely with the other Liberal Arts course offered
in the student's Learning Community, supporting and enriching the reading,
research, and writing required in the linked course.
LBA 142: Social Science: Peacemaking in the Modern World
(3 hrs.)
Using the resources of philosophical and religious ethics, students in this course examine theories of war, terrorism, justice, and peace, as well as principles of nonviolence and alternative methods of conflict resolution.
LBA
151: Cultural Studies: Seven Pleasures
(3 hrs.)
This course provides an opportunity for students to study art as aesthetic
experience across cultures and time. Specifically, the course explores
seven basic ways of enjoying works of art: the pleasures of illusion,
narrative, pattern, emotion, form, the unconscious and the intellect.
LBA 154: Cultural Studies: World Music
(3 hrs.)
World Music is an interdisciplinary liberal arts course that unites the study of world cultures and music. By its very nature, music creates connections. To the individual performer or listener, music has the unique power to unite the body, heart, intellect and spirit in a single experience. Music connects performers with audiences. Music links individual members of an audience in a common experience. At the highest level, music is inextricably connected to the culture from which it springs. Our study of World Music will involve the examination of music drawn from a myriad of cultural traditions, with particular focus given to how music reflects the culture that brings it to life.
LBA 155: Cultural Studies: Love, Actually: Studies in International Film
(3 hrs.)
In this class students explore how various types of love relationships are portrayed in the films of different countries. The course will look at parental love, friend love, sibling love, romantic love, etc as well as how the filmmakers use the art and craft of filmmaking to express the relationships and the cultures in which they occur.
LBA 156: Cultural Studies: Rock and Roll Music
(3 hrs.)
This course offers students an introductory survey of the history of Rock & Roll music, from its initial Golden Age of the 1950's to the digital revolution of the late 1990s. Through class lecture, discussion, listening, writing and individual presentations, students will explore a wide range of Rock & Roll styles, musicians, works, and ideas, always with an eye to how this music reflects the cultural context of its time.
LBA 157: Cultural Studies: The Culture of Colour
(3 hrs.)
This course will use color as its investigative medium. Basic color theory and terminology will help us view scientific, psychological and symbolic studies of color.
Rites of passage, major religions/spirituality and celebrations will help students investigate color and meaning in different cultures. Great works of art and the complexities of folk art will be used as examples.
LBA 172: Historical Studies: Unruly Women-
Greek and Roman
(3 hrs.)
Students in this course study the history of women through the perspectives of women that challenged the norms of society through their actions, lifestyles, race, and gender. Focus will be from various historical periods and cultures.
LBA 173: Historical Studies: America 1960-1990: Domestic and Global Perspectives
(3 hrs.)
Students in this class will study America 's involvement in the world through the lenses of human rights, race, roles of women and gender, poverty, the environment, and globalization.
LBA 175: Historical Studies: 20th Century America-Global Perspectives
(3 hrs.)
Students in this course will study America 's growth from the turn of the century through the 1980s. Particular focus will be given to immigration, roles of women, human rights, the Cold War and America 's place in the world , acknowledging the influences of radicalism, conformity, liberalism, and conservatism. The importance of gender, race, and religion are investigated as broad topics that shaped America during the 20 th century.
LBA 176: Historical Studies: 20 th Century Europe
(3 hrs.)
This course will study Europe 's involvement in the world through the lenses of human rights, race, roles of women and gender, poverty, the environment and globalization. Ranging from European colonialism to Soviet communism, this course will focus on the imp[act of states and citizens of Europe upon the world.
LBA 177: Historical Studies: Perspectives in History- Colonial America
(3 hrs.)
Beginning with the European arrival and its consequences for American Indians, this course will introduce students to the meaning and significance of culture in the American past. The class will focus in particular the establishment and growth of a diverse collection of colonies and the process by which these colonies began to view themselves as “Americans”. The significance of race, class, gender, and religion will also be examined.
LBA 184: Social Sciences: Understanding Our World Through Psychology
(3 hrs.)
Students study psychological principles and apply them to current events. Course will focus on the principles of human behavior using assigned readings and class discussion. Topics include attachment theory, psychopathology, social psychology, development, moral reasoning, theoretical perspectives on aggression, stress and health. Research studies supporting major theories will be described throughout the course.
LBA 186: Social Sciences: (Introduction to) Anthropology
(3 hrs.)
This is a survey course which may focus on one or more indigenous cultures. Study will include language, art, religion, literature/oral tradition, kinship, social organization and cultural change. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and analysis skills.
LBA 187: Social Sciences: Psychology of Identity
(3 hrs.)
This course is designed to explore the various aspects of identity theory including (but not limited to): racial/ethnic, sexual, gender, career and feminist. Additionally, the course will explore the development, intersections of multiple identities, and the overall impact of identity on the developmental process. Students will be asked to explore their own identity development through various activities and assignments designed to make the course more applicable to their own experiences.
LBA
214: Honors - Literary Studies: Contemporary International Fiction
(3 hrs.)
This course investigates the elements of fiction by reading six contemporary
novels from around the world. Students will examine the historical,
cultural, sociopolitical, and economic context of the literary readings
and explore themes common to contemporary literature.
LBA
218: Sophomore Seminar: Government and Economics
(3 hrs.)
(LBA 218 OR
LBA 219 Required of all students.)
This course focuses on the national and trans-national relationships
between governments, especially the United States government, and economic
systems, corporations, institutions, and agreements. As the first
of the two Social Science Core Courses offered in the second year of
the LBA program, this course helps students learn about some of the
most powerful forces in the world at the same time as it gives them
opportunities to sharpen their reading, writing, researching, reasoning,
and speaking skills.
LBA
219: Sophomore Seminar: Global Village
(3 hrs.)
(LBA 218 OR LBA 219 Required of all students.)
This course will involve students in three broad topics: global resource management, global economics and global conflict and cooperation. The world is a surprisingly small place, and most of our activities directly or indirectly connect us with people in distant lands. This course seeks to widen our horizons, to become aware of these global connections, to be able to act consciously and responsibly as global citizens.
LBA 224: Literary Studies: 20 th Century Literature (3 hrs.)
This course is designed to offer an introduction to contemporary literature centered around a theme. While special attention is given to work written in the past decade, selections will include influential and pioneering work from the middle of the 20th century. A portion of the selected work will be dedicated to international and women writers.
LBA
238: Literary Studies: Coming-of-Age Literature
(3 hrs.)
This class focuses on coming-of-age narratives, a specific and well-documented
genre of literature representing the transition between childhood and
adulthood, an intense and memorable time filled with conflict: first
love, lost love, rebellion against authority. Readings will include
a variety of novels, short stories, essays, and scholarly and popular
articles on developmental theory.
LBA 252: Cultural Studies: The Jazz Experience
(3 hrs.)
Jazz music is America 's unique artistic contribution to the world. This course will investigate the history of jazz which is steeped in the singular experiences of African–Americans. It will explore the context in which jazz has developed and produced cultural and political realities. Students will become familiar with the major developments and eras of the jazz art form, as well as specific musical contributions of key individuals.
LBA
253: Honors Cultural Studies: Seven Pleasures
(3 hrs.)
(Open to Honors House Plan students only,.)
This course provides an opportunity for students to study art as aesthetic experience across cultures and time. Specifically, the course explores seven basic ways of enjoying works of art: the pleasures of illusion, narrative, pattern, emotion, form, the unconscious and the intellect.
LBA
340: Honors Social Science: Terrorism Perspectives on Acts of Violence
(3 hrs.)
This course examines different types and characteristics of terrorism. Because of the negative, and often polarizing, connotation of the word, the course will begin by defining terrorism in a way that removes moral judgments attached to this unusual human behavior. Terrorism, as discussed in this course, refers to a purposeful act or threat of violence to create fear and/or compliant behavior in a victim and/or audience. Next, the course will examine political terrorism, religious terrorism, and terrorism with other motives. The course will seek to answer whether social or physical environments attract certain people to join violent terrorist organizations.
LBA
350: Global Ethics
(3 hrs.) (Required of all students.)
This course looks at a broad spectrum of international issues – from global climate change and sustainability, human rights to gender discrimination – in a context that considers both sides of the dilemma and seeks for an ethical way forward. The class uses concepts in economics, philosophy, political science, history, sociology and anthropology in its attempt to analyze global problems and decide how best to address the various ethical issues.
