Spring 2021

Critical approaches to social and cultural changes stemming from disruptive innovations in the arts, science, technology, communications, new media, politics and business. Open only to Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation students.

Analysis of race and the economic, political, gender, and social dimensions of contemporary Los Angeles including topics such as residential segregation, economic inequality, and city politics.

An introduction to cultures and people in the Americas; the social, historical, economic and cultural formations that together make up the Latino/a American imaginary.

Introduction to American studies and ethnic studies. Provides an overview of major theories, concepts, and issues.

Overview of Native American studies, including Indigenous intellectualism and resistance through language revitalization, film-making, and the recognition of one another.

Explores how the proliferation of sexual cultures, identities, politics shape everyday lives in the United States and beyond.

Historical, social, and cultural analysis of (East, South, and Southeast) Asians in the United States. Theme examined: immigration, race and gender relations, ethnic culture, community, and identity.

History, political-economy and aesthetics of the African Diaspora with emphasis on Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa.

Examines history of popular cultural forms such as literature, music, dance, theater, and visual arts produced by and about African Americans.

The body, illness and healing from a cultural perspective, including comparative studies of folk healing systems, curing rituals and Western biomedical practices.

An exploration of the nature and contributions of pre-Columbian high civilizations (Maya, Aztecs, etc.) and their descendants as they resist and assimilate to the modern world.

Archaeology as the means of investigating our shared human past, from the origins of humanity to the foundations of current civilization.

Cultural differences and social processes examined in global and regional networks. Issues are studied ethnographically, using materials from several disciplines.

Concepts of social anthropology using filmic representations ofsocieties throughout the world in contrast to written ethnography.

Survey of the performance of healing in cross-cultural perspective. The course culminates in field research to Spiritist centers outside the United States.

Indigenous peoples of North America: major cultural themes, contemporary issues, language revitalization, native sovereignty, environmental issues, decolonization.

Introduction to folklore as a discipline, including folklore research methods and theory. Core course for the minor in Folklore and Popular Culture.

Youth gang dynamics and their effects on institutions. Comparative analysis of Asian, African, and Mexican American gangs.

Analysis of historical change; social and political theory and revolutionary thought; introduction to competing images of future states of affairs; the continuing process of change. Students may not take this course on a P/NP basis.

Advanced-level introduction to China and its relations with the wider world in historic and contemporary perspective.

Gateway to the majors and minors in environmental studies. Provides students with an overview of how government agencies and societal institutions address (or fail to address) the interrelated social and scientific aspects of environmental problems and policies.

Exploration of the major social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical disagreements that exist between scholars, leaders, and citizens concerning today's most serious environmental issues and problems. Not available for credit to environmental studies majors and minors.

How psychologists study thinking, memory, emotions, personality, and behavior, and how people change in these throughout adulthood to old age.

Individual and collective human action as it shapes and is shaped by economic organizations, political institutions, and broad social and cultural settings. (Satisfies GE-C, Social Analysis) Open only to Freshmen.

The causes and consequences of social phenomena; quantitative and qualitative methods of the social sciences; how people behave and influence the world through cultural forms. Offered by a professional school.

Achievements of the near East, Greece, and Rome with emphasis on the development of ideas, arts, and institutions which have influenced modern man.

U.S. motion pictures as both a response to and comment upon major events, problems, and themes in 20th century America.

The political, cultural, and social forces that have shaped scientific achievements in the modtern age.

Business history of East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong) as related to culture, politics, and society.

Comparison of national and international differences in health status as influenced by cultural practices and lifestyles within geographic, economic, and political environments. (Duplicates Credit in former HP-400m)

Comprehensive introduction to contending theoretical and analytical approaches; development of critical, evaluative, cognitive, and analytical competencies regarding historical and contemporary issues.

Historical background and responses to the Holocaust, withspecial emphasis on ethical implications.

Examination of the relationship between the American Jewish and African-American communities and what it teaches about race and coalition politics in American society.

Discourse patterns among diverse social groups in institutional and interpersonal settings; interrelationships among language practices and gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity; social structures and cultural values as reflected in language policies and practices.

Modern political ideologies; their assumptions, perceptions, and prescriptions regarding political stability and social injustice:anarchism, communism, socialism, liberalism, conservatism, and fascism.

Interaction between law and politics; overview of the American legal system; value conflicts and public policy questions which arise within it.

Overview of human rights controversies across the globe. Introduction to techniques of analysis for social issues, interdisciplinary research methods, and interpretation of complex political problems.

Review of legal and ethical traditions of citizenship withemphasis on the latter; consideration of implications for currentpractice of public policy-making and management.

The urban context for planning and policy decisions. Socioeconomic, physical, and spatial structure of cities: and the underlying demographic, economic, and social processes that drive their ongoing transformation.

Scientific perspective of close relationships: intimate relationships, friendships and others, evolutionary and biological bases of attraction and love, historical, social , cultural influences. Prerequisite: PSYC 100. (Duplicates credit in PSYC 359)

Introduction to psychological, biological and behavioral processes affecting physical health, including stress, coping with disease, health behaviors and socioeconomic and cultural influences on health.

Examination of the immigrant experience in the United States. Comparative analysis of social context of migration, formation of immigrant communities, and social integration of immigrants.

The peculiarity of the "modern" Western family system in historical and cross-cultural perspective; focus on the "postmodern" family crisis in the United States.

Basic concepts of sociology with special reference to group life,social institutions, and social processes.

Science and technology change society and how we understand ourselves. In turn, social struggles influence science. We will explore the interplay between these forces.

Sociological and demographic concepts focusing on the causes of disease, health and wellness. Empirical analysis of population composition and its connection to health.

Theory and history behind the ideal of "the local, grassroots volunteer": a direct link between theory and research using Los Angeles as a case study.

Historical and contemporary approaches to sociological theory; analysis of conceptual frameworks applied to the study of society and social interaction.

The influence of sustainability science on public policy and vice versa in the context of social/ethical theories, analytical methods and solutions.

Introduction to the complex relationship between human development and natural hazards, which are increasingly causing damage and displacement to human populations throughout the world.