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Social Sciences & Cultural Studies

International Studies Course Descriptions

COMM 101: Intercultural Communication: CD

Credits: 5.0

Examines communication processes to see how they are influenced by the values, behaviors and beliefs that constitute 'culture'. Strives to discover the 'cultural self' that shapes how we interact with others as individuals and group members. Previous experience with online courses recommended.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Use varied analytic and creative approaches to identify the self as a cultural being and recognize one's own cultural values and behaviors.
  2. Articulate the differences between values, beliefs, attitudes, behavior and custom, and develop the ability to separate perception and judgment.
  3. Define culture within the broader context of communication and other social sciences (politics, economics, history, geography, demographics, etc.).
  4. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.
  5. Identify changes within oneself as a result of the course.

INSTD 200: State of Capitalism: CD

Credits: 5.0

What are the historical processes that have created a world economy with integrated systems of production and trade that now encompass the entire globe? How is it that this economically integrated world has become so divided and fragmented along ethnic, national, political, and cultural lines? The course examines these questions from a world historical perspective by focusing on selected times, places, and events. Crosslisted as: N.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Differentiate between economic and political systems by identifying the attributes and developing examples of each.
  2. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.
  3. Interact respectfully through critical and imaginative expression in classroom and/or online exchanges.
  4. Explain how cultural forces interact with political and economic systems by citing historical examples.
  5. Compare and contrast in essays and discussions the diversity of ethics, values, and ways of thinking across communities.
  6. Identify in essays and discussions the evolution of global political and economic systems from 13th century Asia including the growth, expansion and various economic and political setbacks in the world system between the 15th century and the early 20th century.
  7. Use historical references (events, dates and places) to explain the economic, political and cultural realities of the modern world.
  8. Identify in essays and discussions the major economic, political and cultural influences that are shaping American society.
  9. Demonstrate in essays and discussions an expanded perception of how the modern system of nation states evolved and how the application of this term is challenged by contemporary fragmentation imposed by ethnic, religious and racial identities.

INSTD 201: International Political Economy: CD

Credits: 5.0

Explores how political and economic systems influence social development. Analyzes the effect of the Industrial Revolution, colonialism and the Cold War on the concepts of justice, freedom, and prosperity in various societies. These are then reviewed as practical objectives in a contemporary global context.

Course Level Objectives

  1. In discussions and essays, differentiate between politics and economics as distinctive social sciences that uniquely contribute to the process of social development.
  2. Discuss various interpretations of the concept of social development.
  3. Recount the evolution of economic and political systems since the Industrial Revolution.
  4. Assess the social influences that encourage the development of totalitarian and democratic political systems.
  5. Assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of centrally planned and market based economic systems.
  6. Analyze and broadly categorize the political and economic systems adopted by various nation states around the world through citation of examples.
  7. Demonstrate "relativist thinking" that transcends the limitations of personal experience and cultural profile to assess circumstances in foreign societies in their native context.
  8. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.

INSTD 202: Cultural Interactions: CD

Credits: 5.0

Explores how cultures evolve from 'primitive' origins to modern behaviors, values and beliefs that shape our perceptions of the world. Examines how culture defines social units (class, religion, ethnicity, etc.) and how it affects the interactions of these sub groupings.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Describe in essays and discussions how the study of culture fits into the other social sciences that explain human behavior in an international context.
  2. Explain some of the origins and manifestations of their own cultural profiles.
  3. Cite specific cases of how point of view, bias and individual experience affect our perception of others and other cultures.
  4. Evaluate their own thinking as well as the thinking of others and then describe how social interactions are affected by culturally derived perspectives.
  5. Anticipate and respect the influences of diverse cultural backgrounds on how people conduct their lives.
  6. Identify behavior modifications that may eliminate or mitigate the difficulties often associated with intercultural interactions.
  7. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.
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