Interdisciplinary Studies

Interdisciplinary Studies 490 and 498 are for the student completing an individually planned major (for information on the independently designed major see “Major Study Requirements” in the Academics section of this catalog).

200 Special Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies
1, 1

Offerings under this designation will be short-term classes and/or seminars of an interdisciplinary nature. These courses will be graded on a credit/no credit basis, and cannot be used to satisfy distribution requirements in any area. May be repeated for a maximum of four credits. Any current offerings follow.

200A ST: Issues in South Asian Archaeology
1, x Seneviratne

This discussion forum takes up issues on the transition of South Asian Archaeology from Antiquarianism, Orientalism, Colonialism and Nationalism to a scientific discipline retrieving information from the past. It also discusses the political uses of ancient material culture and a wide range of auxiliary areas of studies such as epigraphy, built-environment, textual sources and oral history in the interpretation and misinterpretation of South Asian history. Credit/no credit only.  Credit will be based on attendance. Distribution area: none.

200B ST: The Environment and the Politics of Hegemony
x, 1 Seneviratne

The habitat located within a particular environmental niche was a contested space during the period of pre-state societies. It was controlled and hegemonized for the sustenance of the resident community. The basic philosophy of hegemony over the environment was continued by state societies, especially under imperial systems. Under Colonialism and later globalization such hegemonic control continued to be imposed on environmental zones, their resources and communities through various political, economic and social mechanisms. The most sophisticated hegemonic control in the present era is carried out under the aegis of transnational corporations. The forum will take up for discussion the processes and modalities of political hegemony over the environment from prehistoric times to the present era. Credit/no credit only.  Credit will be based on attendance. Distribution area: none.

300 Special Topics in International or Global Studies
1-4

A course which examines a specific topic within the area of international studies. Any current offerings follow.

300A ST: Global Water Scarcity
4, x Staff

Water is simultaneously priceless and worthless.  Water’s conservation is vital yet unsustainable. We purify water to drinking quality, only then to blend it with our feces. We destroy clean water  in order to produce useless items; meanwhile 5,000 kids die each day without it. This course reframes our modern decisions – trade, aid, food, work, freedom, democracy – through the timeless lens of scarce water.  It tackles the political and economic paradoxes of water that so confounded even Galileo, Adam Smith, Alexander Hamilton and Ben Franklin, and drives our modern world to require 40% more water by 2030 than the earth can physically provide. Some say water stress triggered the Arab Spring, and believe that uprising to be the dawn of increasingly fatal, thirst-driven conflicts. Are we bound for a global water-constrained ‘Armageddon,’ as otherwise optimistic leaders predict? Or is there a new virtual key that may reverse scarcity and reveal water’s true value for all species, especially our own? Distribution area: none.

300B ST: Fire and Ice: Canadian Issues and Identity
x, 2 Alker et al.

This team-taught course will begin by providing a basic understanding of Canadian geography, history, politics and culture. Building on that broad foundation, we will study an array of current issues (across disciplinary boundaries) that help to shape Canadian identity today. These will include environmental issues, such as the tar sands; economic issues, such as Canada's apparent insulation from the 2007-2009 global financial crisis; border issues, such as fishing rights and terrorism; and national issues, such as Quebec sovereignty. This rich survey of a range of sociopolitical issues will end with an in-depth study of one specific issue that is crucial to Canadian identity, cultural plurality. We will explore the angst surrounding Canada’s multicultural policy and explore a variety of cultural responses ranging from literature to religion and sports. We will meet twice a week. The workload will include a range of quizzes, short written assignments, and a poster presentation. Distribution area: cultural pluralism.

400 O’Donnell Endowment: Special Topics in Applied International Studies
1, 1 Staff

The Ashton and Virginia O’Donnell Endowment exists to bring to campus individuals who are expert practitioners in global affairs. O’Donnell Visiting Educators will have expertise in international business, diplomacy, social movements, environmental regulation, immigration, engineering, medicine, development, the arts or other areas involving international study. Offerings under this designation will be short-term classes and/or seminars led by the O’Donnell Visiting Educator. Graded credit/no credit. May be repeated for a maximum of four credits. Distribution area: none.

490 Senior Project
1-4, 1-4 Staff

Interdisciplinary project, reading or research undertaken as part of an approved independently designed major or combined major. Prerequisite: approved independently designed major, or combined major. Distribution area: none.

498 Honors Thesis
1-4, 1-4 Staff

Designed to further independent research projects leading to the preparation of an undergraduate thesis or a project report in an approved independently designed major or combined major. Required of and limited to senior honors candidates. Distribution area: none.