Cultural Diversity - Cultural Classes
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Not all classes are offered every semester. Please review the specific class schedule of the semester in which you are planning to enroll to verify class availability.
Department of Anthropology
ANTH 102 CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY. An introduction to the descriptions, analysis, and explanations of the different ways of life, or cultures, through which human groups have adapted to their environments. An explanation of the nature and characteristic of culture as an adaptive mechanism for human survival.
ANTH 209 ISSUES IN CULTURAL DIVERSITY . This course is designed to provide the introductory student with the skills necessary to recognize and analyze issues of cultural diversity, using basic anthropological strategies. The course will approach cultural diversity from the local and global perspective and will study issues of concern about cultural ecology, cultural pluralism, cross-cultural communication, human reproduction, family life and organization, religion, and art.
ANTH 215 CULTURAL CONCEPTS IN ANTHROPOLOGY . An introduction to concepts, theories, and methods utilized in cultural anthropology, emphasizing both humanistic and scientific orientations.
ANTH 300 AFRICAN PREHISTORY . A survey of the archaeology of Africa, beginning with a discussion of Hominid origins and evolution. Emphasis upon culture history with reference to Oldowan, Acheulian and Mousterian culture, the Later Prehistory, and the Iron Age. Environmental adaptations, origins of food production, and social complexity will be discussed.
ANTH 305 PEOPLES OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS . A survey of the ethnographic area Oceania. Will include a study of the ethnographic data from the islands of Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia, from original settlement to present time.
ANTH 307 INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA . An ethnographic survey of the native peoples of North America, emphasizing cultural diversity and adaptation. Ethnographic data will cover the time span from the settling of North America to the present.
ANTH 308 INDIANS OF SOUTH AMERICA . A survey and analysis of native South American cultures, emphasizing cultural-environmental adaptations and historical events affecting the acculturation of the region�s native peoples.
ANTH 310 JAPANESE CULTURE AND SOCIETY . An introduction to the structure and substance of Japanese culture. An investigation into the development of Japanese culture from prehistory to present, the development of the Japanese world view, cultural patterns, beliefs, behaviors, values, and norms that are reflected in Japanese culture today.
ANTH 311 PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF THE WORLD . An ethnographic survey of selected cultures, with emphasis on cultural diversity, cultural adaptation, and historical development.
ANTH 312 ARCHAEOLOGY OF NORTH AMERICA . A survey of prehistoric cultures of North America north of Mexico. The course includes a history of ideas about native America origins and antiquities, along with demonstrating regional societal complexity on the continent. Special emphasis is given to the study of early man and the cultures of the Eastern Woodlands, the America Southwest, and the intermountain West.
ANTH 313 ARCHAEOLOGY OF SOUTH AMERICA . A comprehensive survey of the culture history of South America, from the earliest Paleo-Indians to the Peruvian high cultures. Emphasis is placed on regional chronologies, environmental adaptations, origins of America agriculture, social complexity, and culture change.
ANTH 315 INDIAN PEOPLES OF IDAHO . A study of the pre-historic and recent cultures of the native peoples of Idaho. Topics will include the interpretation of ancient Idaho cultures, the distinctiveness of the recent tribal groupings, and the relationship between past and present Idaho societies to those of the Great Basin, Interior Plateau and Northern Plains.
ANTH 319 ARCHAEOLOGY OF MESOAMERICA . A survey of pre-Columbian cultures of Central America, with an emphasis on Mexico. Special focus on the transition from Pre-Classic to Classic civilization, with consideration of the Maya and Aztec.
ANTH 409 EDUCATIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY . An examination of cultural transmission and the cultural aspects of educational processes and institutions. Will include a review of the application of anthropological methods and theories to formal and informal education in traditional and modern cultures.
ANTH 410 EXPRESSIVE CULTURE . Explores the crucial part culture plays in artistic creation and the cultural patterning of expressive behavior. Concerned with the purposeful arrangement of forms, colors, sounds, language and body movements in ways that have meaning and are aesthetically appealing.
ANTH 411 LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY (Cross-listed LING 411). The course provides an introduction to the nature of the relationships among language, culture, and society. Major topics explored are language and thought; conversational theory; the ethnography of communication; language change; language variation; speech communities; pidgins and Creoles; diglossia, code switching and mixing, and solidarity and politeness. Several languages are examined in specific social and cultural contexts. LING 305 or a foreign language recommended.
ANTH 428 URBAN ANTHROPOLOGY . This course examines the varieties of cultural experiences within urban settings. The course will include cross-cultural comparisons of urban cultures, with a focus on such topics as population pressure and cultural changes; ethnic and occupational uses of urban space; and understanding the built environment and its reflection of cultural values.
Return to top of pageDepartment of Art
ART 300 MULTICULTURAL ARTS . Designed to prepare art and art education majors in the history and practices of a variety of world cultures in two- and three-dimensional folk arts. The course will include basic history, anthropology, and aesthetics of art forms studied. Students will demonstrate proficiency in basic technical and artistic skills, research and present multicultural art lessons to peers, and participate in assessment of outcomes.
ART 352-352G ART OF CHINA . A survey of the art and architecture of China from the earliest times to the end of the Ch�ing Dynasty. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship of Chinese art to native and foreign philosophies and religions.
ART 356-356G ART OF INDIA . A survey of the art and architecture of India from the earliest times until the end of the Mughal period, emphasizing artistic expression as a reflection of the general culture and religion.
ART 357-357G ART OF JAPAN . A survey of the traditional arts of Japan from the earliest times until the first influences of Western culture, including painting, sculpture, architecture, calligraphy, prints, and ceramics.
ART 359-359G PRE-COLUMBIAN ART . A survey of the Middle American art of the Olmecs, Nayarit, Colima, Maya, Teotihuacan, Zapotecs, Toltecs, and Aztecs from ancient times until the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century.
Return to top of pageDepartment of Communication
COMM 160 COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE I . An introduction to the study of communication and culture. The course will examine central concepts and theories in the field of communication and cultural studies, and focus upon current issues and theoretical perspectives in the study of rhetoric, communication relationships, and the art and performance of communication.
COMM 161 COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE II . An introduction to the study of communication and culture. The course will focus upon current issues and theoretical perspectives in the study of mass media, communication ethics, communication technologies and freedom of expression.
COMM 351 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION . An analysis of societal and cultural influences on interpersonal communication. A critical examination of communication within and among subcultures as well as across cultural boundaries.
Return to top of pageDepartment of Education
EDUC 210 CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE SCHOOL An introduction to cultural diversity in education, including an historical overview of programs for students from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds, contemporary multicultural and bilingual education, and education for social justice and equity.
EDUC 211 FOUNDATIONS OF TEACHING BILINGUAL EDUCATION/ESL Psychological, legal, and cultural foundations of bilingual education and teaching English as a Second Language. Current trends in the field and bilingual education/ESL teacher preparation.
EDUC 212 MEXICAN-AMERICAN TRADITION AND CULTURE Mexican-American traditions, culture, and history. Mexican-American people including their influence on contemporary American language, customs, and beliefs in Mexican-American and educational institutions.
Return to top of pageDepartment of English
ENGL 213 AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE . The African-American experience reflected in the development of African-American literature. The course relates African-American writing to its social and cultural conditions, exploring recurrent, characteristic themes, techniques, and genres from slavery to present. Emphasis on such writers as Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker, and contemporaries.
ENGL 215 FAR EASTERN LITERATURE, IN TRANSLATION . Survey of literature of Far Eastern countries with major emphasis on China, India, and Japan. An introduction to the cultural and religious environment of each country is covered.
ENGL 391 NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN FOLKLORE AND LITERATURE . An examination of traditional Native American world views and belief systems as reflected in oral narratives and written literature. Study topics include aspects of cosmology, religious life, seasonal round, and life cycle as presented in the oral redactions of specific tribal/culture areas and in the literary poetry and prose of major creative writers.
EDUC 261 FIELD EXPERIENCE IN DIVERSITY AND EXCEPTIONALITY Collaborative tutorial experiences with elementary public school students, with primary emphasis on working with students who have diverse cultural backgrounds, and with those who have exceptional learning needs. Fifty hours are required in a field placement.
EDUC 311 TEACHING READING BILINGUALLY Theories of teaching reading and language arts to limited English proficient students. Approaches and opportunities to teach early literacy in Spanish. Instruction is given in both English and Spanish.
EDUC 312 TEACHING CONTENT IN THE BILINGUAL/ESL CLASSROOM Instructional strategies, techniques, and methods across the content areas for use in the elementary bilingual/ESL classroom. Instruction presented in both Spanish and English.
EDUC 313 METHODS OF TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE Current approaches, resources and classroom organizational patterns. Problem-solving strategies for dealing with issues and problems regarding the development of communicative competency.
EDUC 314 SPANISH FOR THE BILINGUAL CLASSROOM A literature based oral and written communication course for the extended opportunities in expressing and comprehending ideas in Spanish, as it relates to the context of the bilingual classroom. Students may be assigned to local public schools and/or community to gain practice in using the language for the local speech community.
Return to top of pageDepartment of Geosciences
GEOG 102 CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY . A study of the distribution and character of cultural activities throughout the world with emphasis on human landscapes.
Return to top of pageDepartment of History
HIST 261 HISTORY OF MULTICULTURAL AMERICA . An examination of America�s multicultural history, with emphasis on how race and ethnicity have shaped American experience and identity.
HIST 329 HISTORY OF MODERN SOUTH ASIA: India, Pakistan and Burma from 1750 to the Present. The Mughal empire, its decline; the rise of British power, its social, political, and economic impact; South Asian reaction to British rule; the rise of nationalism and independence; and Indian and Pakistani history since 1947.
HIST 330 HISTORY OF MODERN AFRICA; 1750-Present . History of the African continent from 1750 to the present with emphasis on the sub-Saharan regions, including the slave trade, its abolition, the pre-colonial eras, independence movements, and the emergence of the modern African state. Mediterranean, black, and white African states will be included.
HIST 331 THE ISLAMIC MIDDLE EAST . A history of the people, institutions, and culture of the Near and Middle East from Muhammad to the decline of the Ottoman and Safavid empires in the eighteenth century.
HIST 332 THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST . A history of the Near and Middle East during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the decline of the Ottoman empire, the breakdown of cosmopolitan Islam, and the rise of Turkish, Iranian, Arab, and Israeli nationalism.
HIST 334, 334G UNITED STATES SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY . Selected themes from colonial times to the present. The nature and meaning of the national experience, customs, traditions, and intellectual developments.
HIST 344 THE HISTORY OF MODERN SOUTHEAST ASIA Examines Southeast Asian history from the middle of the nineteenth century to the present. The profound outside influences and the strength of the Southeast Asian indigenous world views are explored throughout the course.
HIST 346 CRITICAL ISSUES IN MODERN ASIAN HISTORY Examines how the historic rural/urban relations, gender issues, and interregional trade and conflict throughout Asia have changed since World War II.
HIST 356 THE INDIAN IN UNITED STATES HISTORY . Emphasis is on Indian-white relations. The time period studied extends from early contacts, European rivalries, and the origins of the United States Indian policy, to the reservation system, "Red Power," and current Indian problems.
HIST 367 COLONIAL LATIN AMERICA . A study of the development of distinctive Latin American societies through the fusion of late medieval Iberian with American and African cultures in Middle and South America, with emphasis upon the creation of colonial institutions in the context of Spain�s and Portugal�s imperial rise and decline and the early nineteenth century wars of independence.
HIST 368 MODERN LATIN AMERICA . An examination of Latin America in the aftermath of the wars of independence and the struggles for political and economic stability during the nineteenth century. Particular emphasis placed upon twentieth century socioeconomic change and the role of the United States in that process.
HIST 468 HISTORY OF MEXICO . An examination of cultural, social, political, and economic factors affecting the historical development of Mexico from pre-conquest times to the present, with emphasis upon the conquest era, the revolution, and post-revolutionary periods.
Return to top of pageDepartment of Modern Languages
JAPN 101, 102 ELEMENTARY JAPANESE . The skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing Japanese are developed, initially emphasizing oral skills. Conducted in Japanese, the course also integrates the written language, introducing katakana, hiragana, and a limited number of Chinese characters, used in context.
JAPN 201, 202 INTERMEDIATE JAPANESE . This course further develops conversational skills including the casual, honorific, and humble styles of Japanese speaking. Additional emphasis placed on formal and colloquial writing through a combination of Katakana, Hiragana, and Kanji. These oral and written skills are developed through study of Japanese culture and literature.
SPAN 101, 102 ELEMENTARY SPANISH . Develops beginning abilities in all four language skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Offers a basic study of grammatical structures and vocabulary in a communicative context. Introduces students to Hispanic cultures.
SPAN 108 INTENSIVE ELEMENTARY SPANISH . Develops beginning abilities in all four language skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Offers a fast-paced study of basic grammatical structures and vocabulary in a communicative context. Introduces students to Hispanic cultures. Covers combined material of SPAN 101 and SPAN 102 in one semester.
SPAN 201, 202 INTERMEDIATE SPANISH . Intended to further develop all four language skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Intensive review of fundamentals of structure and vocabulary in a communicative context. Topics for conversation, reading, and writing focus on Hispanic cultures. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 203 INTERMEDIATE SPANISH FOR THE NATIVE OR NEAR-NATIVE SPEAKER . A course designed for students with native or near-native speaking ability, but with little or no formal training in grammar, reading and writing. Provides introduction to and practice in the formal register in all four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Topics for conversation, reading and writing focus on U.S. Latino cultures. Students who qualify for this course may not receive credit for SPAN 202. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 208 INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE SPANISH . Intended to further develop all four language skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Fast-paced, intensive review of fundamentals of structures and vocabulary in a communicative context. Topics for conversation, reading and writing focus on Hispanic cultures. Course conducted in Spanish. Covers combined material of SPAN 201 and SPAN 202 in one semester.
SPAN 303 ADVANCED SPANISH CONVERSATION AND COMPOSITION . Expands ability in all four skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening with special emphasis on accuracy in the formal registers of spoken and written Spanish. Offers analysis of grammar and expansion of vocabulary through cultural and literary readings. Discussion of topics related to Hispanic contemporary trends. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 304 INTRODUCTION TO HISPANIC LITERATURE . Develops and expands composition and conversation skills through the use of Hispanic literary terms and forms. A broad introductory course for students wishing to concentrate in culture and literature and for those students who will be teaching at any level. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 305 SPANISH FOR BUSINESS . Introduction to the terminology and etiquette of business practice in the Spanish-speaking world. Emphasis on appropriate terminology and structures for business letters and other forms of business communication. This course is highly recommended for students majoring/minoring in international business and for those who wish their Spanish major or minor emphasis to be in business. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 376 SPANISH PENINSULAR CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE . Spanish Peninsular civilization from earliest Iberian beginnings to the present. Special attention given to the impact of Peninsular culture on the Western world. Discussions of topics such as music, economic and business environment, literature, and the Conquest. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 377 LATIN AMERICAN CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE. Latin American civilization and culture from the Pre-Columbian period to the present. Discussion of topics such as an analysis of historical, political, economic, social, and cultural development in the Spanish-speaking Latin American nations, as well as the impact on the Conquest and its implications for Latin American identity formation and nationhood. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 498 SENIOR SEMINAR. A capstone, exit requirement course. Topic chosen by instructor on a rotating basis year-to-year. Discussion of topics such as literary, linguistic, and/or social and historical subject matter. Students will demonstrate proficiency in the written and oral codes by means of a 10-15 page research paper and an expanded oral presentation on the topic of the paper. Frequent writing assignments. Course must be taken at least one semester prior to graduation and includes an exit oral proficiency interview. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 385 MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE. Mexican American culture and civilization from the conquest of Mexico and the Colonial period of New Spain to the present. Discussion of topics such as Pre-Columbian culture and its relation to Mexican American cultural practices. Analysis of the impact of the Mexican American War and the resulting incorporation of Mexican territory into the United States on Mexican American culture and identity formation from 1848 to the present. Readings may be in English and Spanish. Frequent writing assignments in Spanish. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 403 SURVEY OF LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE I. A global survey of the forms and genres of Latin American literature from the Pre-Columbian epoch to Modernism. Analysis of literary texts and the socio-historical circumstances in which they were produced. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 404 SURVEY OF LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE II. A global survey of the forms and genres of Latin American literature from Modernism to the present. Analysis of literary texts and the socio-historical circumstances in which they were and are produced. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 405 SURVEY OF SPANISH PENINSULAR LITERATURE I. A global survey of the forms and genres of Spanish Peninsular literature from the Middle Ages to the end of the Golden Age. Analysis of literary texts and the socio-historical circumstances in which they were produced. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 406 SURVEY OF SPANISH PENINSULAR LITERATURE II. A global survey of the forms and genres of Spanish Peninsular literature from the 18th century to the present. Analysis of literary texts and the socio-historical circumstances in which they were and are produced. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 412 ADVANCED SPANISH GRAMMAR AND SYNTAX. An intensive study of the formal written and spoken registers of Spanish. Also develops an awareness of and sensitivity to the variety of spoken and written registers, especially those of Spanish in the United States. Special emphasis on appropriateness in the written register. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 425 MEXICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE. A survey of writings by Mexican American authors. Discussion of topics such as an analysis of Mexican American cultural and identity formation from 1848 to the present as represented in literature. Primary genres and movements, as well as gender issues within the field of Mexican American literature, with special attention given to works produced during or after the Chicano Renaissance (1960�s). Frequent writing assignments in Spanish. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 430 TOPICS IN LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE. A focused study of Latin American literature organized around a historical period, a genre, a movement, an author, or a theme. Topics will vary each time the course is taught. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 440 TOPICS IN SPANISH PENINSULAR LITERATURE. A focused study of Spanish Peninsular literature organized around a historical period, a genre, a movement, an author, or a theme. Topics will vary each time the course is taught. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 477 WOMEN�S LITERATURE OF THE SPANISH-SPEAKING WORLD. An introduction to literature written by women in the Spanish-speaking world. All periods, all genres. Discussion of topics such as issues concerning women writers, representation of women in literature, and/or the social and historical climate in which the literature was and is produced. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 480 ADVANCED BUSINESS TOPICS IN THE SPANISH-SPEAKING WORLD. An in-depth analysis of business etiquette, practices and climate in the Spanish-speaking world. Discussions of topics such as appropriate forms of correspondence, advances in technology, the impact of the social and political climate on business practice, as well as the changing demographics of the Spanish-speaking population in the United States. Course conducted in Spanish.
SPAN 490 TOPICS IN HISPANIC CINEMA. An advanced culture course using films from Hispanic cultures for further refinement of linguistic and analytic skills. Topics will be chosen from Spanish Peninsular, Latin American, and/or U.S. Latino Cinema. Film lab required. Readings will include critical articles on the films and/or literary texts from which films were adapted. Frequent writing assignments. Course conducted in Spanish.
Return to top of pageDepartment of Music
MUS 402 SURVEY OF JAZZ . Explores interpretation of America�s original musical art form through listening and through discussion of socio-cultural contexts of jazz. Survey covers stylistic influences of nineteenth-century Africa and western Europe through current living exponents of jazz.
MUS 404 SURVEY OF MUSIC OF WORLD CULTURES Musical traditions beyond the scope of Western art music.
Return to top of pageDepartment of Philosophy
PHIL 221 ORIENTAL PHILOSOPHY. An examination of the philosophical teachings of the great oriental thinkers through a study of classical texts selected from the traditions of Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.
Return to top of pageDepartment of Physics
PHYS 115 CULTURAL APPROACH TO PHYSICS. Designed for liberal arts students. Students should gain an appreciation for the basic ideas in physics and how these ideas have contributed to the development of western culture by their influence on philosophy, religion and technology.
Return to top of pageDepartment of Political Science
POLS 328 POLITICS IN JAPAN. An analysis of the political system of Japan, with special emphasis on the development of Japanese political culture and its impact on the policy process.
POLS 352 CIVIL LIBERTIES. Examination of constitutional rights and liberties, as interpreted by U. S. Supreme Court, through the case method. Rights of free speech, press, association, religious exercise, privacy, and protection of civil rights that were denied on basis of race or gender.
Return to top of pageDepartment of Social Work
SOCWRK 434 WOMEN AND PEOPLES OF COLOR, MULTICULTURAL ISSUES OF IDENTITY AND OPPRESSION. Historical oppression is central to the experiences of women and peoples of color in the United States. This course is a comparative exploration of experiences, emphasizing those aspects of gender, cultural, and racial diversity most pertinent to social work and social welfare.
Return to top of pageDepartment of Sociology
SOC 230 INTRODUCTION TO MULTI-ETHNIC STUDIES. This course views majority and minority relations and confronts, challenges, and motivates students to know themselves better and understand some societal problems: for example, racism, prejudice, etc. The course deals with the degree to which ethnic relations involve questions of economic and political power and the distribution of the power. It looks at American society�s institutional role in maintaining and perpetuating systematic inequality.
SOC 278 MEXICAN-AMERICAN TRADITION AND CULTURE. This class provides an exploration of Mexican-American traditions and culture. It explores the history of the Mexican-American people including their influence on contemporary American language, customs and beliefs.
SOC 279 CONTEMPORARY MEXICAN SOCIETY. The course will consist of an examination of the major social institutions in modern Mexico. The course will also focus on the social life and problems facing contemporary Mexico. Students will study the cultural diversity of contemporary Mexico and review Mexican social thinkers who analyze its national character. The complex relationship of Mexico with the United States will be explored including such topics as undocumented workers, drug trafficking, international politics, and transnational corporations.
SOC 305 RACIAL AND CULTURAL MINORITIES. Comparative study of inter-ethnic relations. Problems and possibilities of genocide, oppression, integration, pluralism and equality.
SOC 306 SOCIOLOGY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS. Examination of the African American presence and experience in the contemporary United States will emphasize political, socio-economic, and cultural issues. Sociological and other perspectives will be introduced which offer promise in reconciling problems that separate peoples.
SOC 307 THE ASIAN AMERICAN SOCIAL EXPERIENCE (3-0-3)(F/S)(Alternate years). Examination of the Asian presence and experience in the United States emphasizing current social, economic, political, and cultural issues.
SOC 333 MEXICAN-AMERICAN LIFE THROUGH SOCIOLOGY, LITERATURE, AND PRACTICE. This course provides readings in sociological theory and research concerning Mexican-Americans. The student will have the opportunity to study contemporary Mexican-American literature. The course will also provide a close examination of problems facing Hispanics in Idaho through the use of community scholars who are working to improve Mexican-American/Anglo relations.
SOC 499 SENIOR SEMINAR IN MEXICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES. As the culminating course for the Mexican-American Studies minor students will examine advanced theoretical and research issues concerning Mexican-Americans in a seminar setting. One objective will be for students to utilize their previous course work in the minor to enable them to read specialized studies in specific topics and case studies such as the dropout problem facing Mexican-American students; the role of fundamentalist religions in the Mexican-American community; and employment patterns of Mexican-Americans. The primary objective of the readings and class discussions will be to integrate the diverse course materials from the previous required classes in this minor. society. Planning, collective behavior, diffusion, conflict, and other efforts to create change.
Return to top of pageMexican-American Studies
The sociology minor in Mexican-American studies requires a student to complete 18 hours of core courses in specified Mexican-American studies courses and an additional 6 credits in related topics selected from other disciplines. Students will be introduced to the issues and problems facing Mexican-Americans in the United States and Idaho. Students will have the opportunity to explore Mexican-American culture and how America's social institutions and social organizations relate to and react to the Mexican-American population. Special emphasis in the sociology classes is placed on examining the work of practitioners from applied sociology, clergy, legal profession, and social service agencies to ameliorate the problems facing Mexican-Americans.
Mexican-American Studies Minor Courses
HIST 468 HISTORY OF MEXICO. An examination of cultural, social, political, and economic factors affecting the historical development of Mexico from pre-conquest times to the present, with emphasis upon the conquest era, the revolution, and post-revolutionary periods.
SOC 230 INTRODUCTION TO MULTI-ETHNIC STUDIES. This course views majority and minority relations and confronts, challenges, and motivates students to know themselves better and understand some societal problems: for example, racism, prejudice, etc. The course deals with the degree to which ethnic relations involve questions of economic and political power and the distribution of the power. It looks at American society's institutional role in maintaining and perpetuating systematic inequality.
SOC 279 CONTEMPORARY MEXICAN SOCIETY. The course will consist of an examination of the major social institutions in modern Mexico. The course will also focus on the social life and problems facing contemporary Mexico. Students will study the cultural diversity of contemporary Mexico and review Mexican social thinkers who analyze its national character. The complex relationship of Mexico with the United States will be explored including such topics as undocumented workers, drug trafficking international politics, and transnational corporations.
SOC 333 MEXICAN-AMERICAN LIFE THROUGH SOCIOLOGY, LITERATURE, AND PRACTICE. This course provides readings in sociological theory and research concerning Mexican-Americans. The student will have the opportunity to study contemporary Mexican-American literature. The course will also provide a close examination of problems facing Hispanics in Idaho through the use of community scholars who are working to improve Mexican-American/Anglo relations.
SOC 493 Internship (emphasis on Hispanic placements) Upper-Division students may select an internship program in consultation with department faculty and internship coordinator. The intent of the internship is to provide an experiential learning experience for students in a variety of settings in the community or on campus.
SOC 499 SENIOR SEMINAR IN MEXICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES. As the culminating course for the Mexican-American Studies minor students will examine advanced theoretical and research issues concerning Mexican-Americans in a seminar setting. One objective will be for students to utilize their previous course work in the minor to enable them to read specialized studies in specific topics and case studies such as the dropout problem facing Mexican-American students; the role of fundamentalist religions in the Mexican-American community; and employment patterns of Mexican-Americans. The primary objective of the readings and class discussions will be to integrate the diverse course materials from the previous required classes in this minor. society. Planning, collective behavior, diffusion, conflict, and other efforts to create change.
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