Academics . Liberal Arts . Courses
Reading Topics
Course No. HC 225 Credits: 3.0
Reading Topics Courses will cover a specific genre of historic or contemporary literature. Examples may include modernist women’s writing, science fiction, literature of the African diaspora, blues literature, nature writing, and/or emerging and experimental forms. The topic covered in specific courses designated as such will be listed during the semester when students register. While students may engage in creative assignments during this course, the main goal of this class will be for students to become familiar with reading and assessing a subcategory of literature to consider how global events, political artistic movements shape and influence and are shaped and influenced by writing. Assignments may include short critical analyses, student-led discussions, and independent research. 3 credits.
Sound Art & New Media
Course No. HC 311 Credits: 3.0
A course on how visual artists (and some composers) use sound in their works. Works discussed in class will include “stand alone” works of sound art, musique concrete, sound sculptures, installation works (using sound as a main component), radio art, film, and internet-based works. Students will be expected to identify differing qualities of sound, and there will be regular listening and reading assignments for each class. Students will also be given written assignments, and will have to compose a work of sound art or sound sculpture as a final project. 3 credits.
Avant Garde Film
Course No. HC 325 Credits: 3.0
Film, the quintessential art form of the 20th century, added time and relativity to the artist's palette. This course examines the abstract and non-narrative tradition: films that focus on manipulation of form, motion, and the collage-like collision of images in time (montage). Topics include early Soviet formalists, Dadaist and Surrealist films of the 1920's and 1930's, and American underground films of the 1960's and 1970's. Students keep a journal of their impressions of each film shown. Course fee required. 3 credits.
Japanese Expressions
Course No. HC 328 Credits: 3.0
This course is an introduction to the culture of Japan as it is revealed in the Japanese literary and religious tradition and in modern literary and cinematic expression. Readings will include selections from early Japanese myth and poetry, the diary and early novel forms, and the literary and aesthetic response to influence from China. Appropriate attention will be paid to Noh drama and haiku poetry, writings in the samurai tradition, a modern novel and a Japanese film. The purpose of this course is not to survey the whole of the Japanese experience, but rather to read and view representative examples of Japanese expression with understanding and delight. 3 credits.
Issues in the Humanities and Cultural Studies
Course No. HC 348 Credits: 3.0
This special topics course explores critical issues in the humanities and cultural studies. Each section will focus on distinct topics and disciplines, such as literary studies, film studies, Black studies, Latinx studies, disability studies, queer studies, digital humanities, and cross-disciplinary studies in the humanities. Course activities will includ readings and discussion, the analysis and interpretation of texts, presentations, and research assignments. 3 credits.
Literature of the Americas
Course No. HC 388 Credits: 3.0
This course will survey the concurrent but separate developments of the literary traditions of North and South America. Taking Columbus’ arrival on Hispaniola as our point of anchor, we will work backward to the Pre-Columbian original narrative forms, and forward through the written records of the complex colonial contexts of the literary art in both Americas. We will also trace the divergent results of the influences of European literature, following in each case the developments of such directions as we can identify in the prose and poetry of the colonial and postcolonial periods of each America. Reading widely and also closely, we will consider how best to trace the parallel emergence of these national literatures, seeking in a juxtaposed study what common literary and extra-literary antecedents and shaping forces the texts in both traditions may reveal. We will also inquire into the nature of the distinctions that must be made between these traditions, and into the impact the differences between these literatures may have on the understanding of what we mean by the phrase “American literature". 3 credits.
Children's Literature
Course No. HC 390 Credits: 3.0
Many adults feel they are familiar with the classic children’s books covered in this course, but actually know only sanitized versions, most produced for the movie screen. This class will examine the original texts of several well-known titles as literature and the fascinating and sometimes disturbing stories behind them. Critical reading, thought, research and writing on these texts will be among the key skills covered. Students will read extensively and discuss what they have read in class, create and deliver peer-evaluated presentations, and write a semester research paper related to the topics of the course. They will view several related films during the semester as well. 3 credits.
Topics in Environmental Science
Course No. NS 290 Credits: 3.0
This course explores a broad range of topics that come under the heading of Environmental Science. It will focus on humans and the environment, taking in populations and health, earth resources, water management, food and hunger, biodiversity and sustainable living systems. Applications of these topics to various problems in design such as the design of sustainable cities will be emphasized through term research projects. 3 credits.
Zachary Savich
Associate Professor | Chair of Liberal Arts
Zach Savich is a poet and nonfiction writer. His books include the poetry collections Daybed (2018) and The Or...more
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