General Education
General Education at UIC: An Overview
General Education is an important part of every undergraduate degree program. The General Education Program provides students with a breadth of exposure to the academic disciplines and serves as the foundation for the knowledge, skills, and competencies essential to becoming well-educated college graduates and citizens.
The program ensures a certain level of intellectual breadth, while at the same time allowing students the opportunity to select courses or clusters of courses around areas of their own interests. Specifically, the program:
- provides intellectual guidance by identifying six broad areas of knowledge that correspond to the kinds of experiences that a liberally educated person should have.
- makes clear to students what they are taking and why.
- is an open system that does not bind departments into one category. This model thus allows for the development of interdepartmental courses over time. It also allows students to gain interdisciplinary perspectives, which was one of the hoped for outcomes of revising General Education.
- gives individual colleges some freedom to adjust the General Education requirements to suit their own needs. Although there is a campus wide minimum of one course from each General Education category, colleges may add additional course requirements.
The General Education Program at UIC
The General Education Program at UIC is designed to serve as a foundation for lifelong learning. It also helps prepare students for the world beyond the college experience, a world in which one needs to be able to:
- think independently.
- understand and critically evaluate information.
- analyze and evaluate arguments.
- develop and present cogent written and oral arguments.
- explore one’s own culture and history as well as those of others.
- understand, interpret, and evaluate the arts.
- think critically about how individuals influence and are influenced by political, economic, cultural, and family institutions.
The General Education Program at UIC (sometimes referred to as Gen Ed or GE) has two main components: a grouping of core courses that are clustered around six themes and sets of required proficiencies. The specific requirements vary from college to college. All colleges, however, require a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit with at least one course in each of the six categories of General Education and proficiency in writing (as demonstrated by successful completion of ENGL 160 and ENGL 161 or by certain scores on placement or other tests). Note: Students may count up to two courses in their major toward their General Education requirements. If students have a double major, then two courses from each of the majors may be applied toward General Education.
General Education Core
The General Education Core includes the following six categories. This section of the catalog provides a description and list of courses for each category.
- Analyzing the Natural World
- Understanding the Individual and Society
- Understanding the Past
- Understanding the Creative Arts
- Exploring World Cultures
- Understanding U.S. Society
General Education Proficiencies
The University Writing requirement is common across all colleges. Individual colleges may have additional General Education requirements and proficiencies. Students should consult their college and department sections of the catalog for information about fulfilling the General Education requirements as a required part of their degree program.
University Writing Requirement
Students must demonstrate proficiency in written English by earning passing grades in ENGL 160 and ENGL 161, or by achieving proficiency (see section on Demonstrating Writing Proficiency for a Waiver of ENGL 160 or ENGL 161 ) in one or both of these courses certified in writing by the Department of English. The Department of English reserves the right to require a student to take a preparatory course as a prerequisite for ENGL 160 if the student’s score on the Writing Placement Test reveals the need for such a course. Whenever questions arise with regard to the fulfillment of the University Writing requirement through transfer courses, a writing portfolio, or standard examinations, the Department of English will determine whether to grant the student an exemption from the requirement.
Students should consult their college section of the catalog for more information on fulfilling the University Writing requirement as part of their degree program.
General Education Core
Analyzing the Natural World
A central principle of a knowledge-based society is that, where possible, experimental tests should be designed to critically evaluate the accuracy of an idea or physical law. It is crucial that students understand both how accurate experimental results are obtained and how uncertainties in these results affect scientific conclusions. Courses in this category provide an understanding of scientific method and the factual knowledge necessary to develop hypotheses, to test them, and to distinguish those conclusions resting on unsupported assertion from those verified by sound scientific reasoning. Theories also play an important role in the way we see the world around us. In the natural sciences, theories are developed to explain experimental observation, form the basis for the design of further experiments, and provide the foundation for advances in technology. Mathematics provides appropriate tools (such as calculus) necessary to formulate the scientific theories.
Courses in this category should introduce students to scientific and mathematical concepts and methods. They should be designed to facilitate the students’ ability to do one or more of the following:
- Understand and critically evaluate information and concepts in the natural and mathematical sciences.
- Use and understand scientific method to analyze ideas and obtain knowledge.
- Appreciate the value of and difference between scientific laws, theories, hypotheses, and speculation.
- Use scientific and mathematical reasoning to make relevant distinctions among ideas.
- Think critically about contemporary issues in science and technology.
- Logically and clearly communicate experimental results and observations to others.
- Analyze quantitative information and draw conclusions from these analyses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Analyzing the Natural World Courses | ||
| Anthropology | ||
| ANTH 102 | Introduction to Archaeology c,g | 4 |
| ANTH 105 | Human Evolution c,g | 4 |
| ANTH 238 | Biology of Women (Same as GWS 238) g,h | 3 |
| Biological Sciences | ||
| BIOS 100 | Biology of Cells and Organisms | 5 |
| BIOS 101 | Biology of Populations and Communities | 5 |
| BIOS 104 | Biology for Non-majors g | 4 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 100 | Chemistry and Life g | 5 |
| CHEM 105 | Chemistry and the Molecular Human: An Inquiry Perspective g | 4 |
| CHEM 116 | Honors and Majors General and Analytical Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 118 | Honors and Majors General and Analytical Chemistry II | 5 |
| CHEM 122 | General Chemistry I Lecture h,i | 4 |
| CHEM 123 | General Chemistry Laboratory I i | 1 |
| CHEM 124 | General Chemistry II Lecture h,i | 4 |
| CHEM 125 | General Chemistry Laboratory II i | 1 |
| CHEM 130 | Survey of Organic and Biochemistry | 5 |
| Computer Science | ||
| CS 100 | Discovering Computer Science h | 3 |
| Earth and Environmental Sciences | ||
| EAES 101 | Global Environmental Change | 4 |
| EAES 111 | Earth, Energy, and the Environment | 4 |
| EAES 200 | Field Work in Missouri | 2 |
| Economics | ||
| ECON 106 | Tobacconomics b,h | 3 |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | ||
| ECE 115 | Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering | 4 |
| Honors College | ||
| HON 130 | Honors Core in Analyzing the Natural World and Understanding the Individual and Society b,h | 3 |
| HON 131 | Honors Core in Analyzing the Natural World and Understanding the Past c,h | 3 |
| HON 132 | Honors Core in Analyzing the Natural World and Understanding the Creative Arts d,h | 3 |
| HON 133 | Honors Core in Analyzing the Natural World and Exploring World Cultures e,h | 3 |
| HON 134 | Honors Core in Analyzing the Natural World and Understanding U.S. Society f,h | 3 |
| HON 145 | Honors Core in Analyzing the Natural World h | 3 |
| Kinesiology | ||
| KN 152 | Introduction to Exercise Science and Health | 3 |
| Mathematical Computer Science | ||
| MCS 260 | Introduction to Computer Science h | 4 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 125 | Elementary Linear Algebra h | 5 |
| MATH 160 | Finite Mathematics for Business h | 5 |
| MATH 165 | Calculus for Business h | 5 |
| MATH 170 | Calculus for the Life Sciences h | 4 |
| MATH 180 | Calculus I h | 4 |
| MATH 181 | Calculus II h | 4 |
| MATH 210 | Calculus III h | 3 |
| Music | ||
| MUS 116 | The Science and History of Sound in the Arts (Same as ART 116) | 3 |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| NATS 101 | Physical World g | 4 |
| NATS 102 | Chemical World g | 4 |
| NATS 103 | Biological World g | 4 |
| NATS 105 | Physical Systems in Earth and Space Science g | 4 |
| NATS 106 | Chemical and Biological Systems g | 4 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 102 | Introductory Logic h | 3 |
| PHIL 105 | Science and Philosophy h | 3 |
| PHIL 210 | Symbolic Logic h | 3 |
| Physics | ||
| PHYS 105 | Introductory Physics I - Lecture h,i | 4 |
| PHYS 106 | Introductory Physics I - Laboratory i | 1 |
| PHYS 107 | Introductory Physics II - Lecture h,i | 4 |
| PHYS 108 | Introductory Physics II - Laboratory i | 1 |
| PHYS 112 | Astronomy and the Universe g | 4 |
| PHYS 116 | Energy for Future Decision-Makers (same as EAES 116) h | 3 |
| PHYS 118 | Physics in Modern Medicine h | 3 |
| PHYS 141 | General Physics I (Mechanics) | 4 |
| PHYS 142 | General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) | 4 |
| Public Health | ||
| PUBH 120 | Public Health and the Study of Disease and Epidemics h | 3 |
| a | also approved for Analyzing the Natural World |
| b | also approved for Understanding the Individual and Society |
| c | also approved for Understanding the Past |
| d | also approved for Understanding the Creative Arts |
| e | also approved for Exploring World Cultures |
| f | also approved for Understanding U.S. Society |
| g | indicates courses specifically designed for those majoring in areas other than science and mathematics |
| h | nonlaboratory courses |
| i | Each of the following pairs will be considered one course in meeting the LAS General Education requirements: PHYS 105/PHYS 106; PHYS 107/PHYS 108; CHEM 122/CHEM 123; CHEM 124/CHEM 125. |
Understanding the Individual and Society
The primary goal of the Individual and Society requirement is to enhance understanding of the complex activities of individuals and their relations with each other and with groups, institutions, governments, media, and society. Courses within this category seek to:
- enhance knowledge and appreciation of the diversity of individuals, societies, and cultures
- advance the understanding of human relationships within different contexts and
- explore the gathering and assessing of knowledge within any social setting or activity.
Courses present theories about the human activities and ideas and demonstrate how scholars use qualitative, quantitative, and humanistic methods to evaluate those theories. They may also explore the ways that knowledge is formed about the self and the world in historical, literary, philosophical, and scientific realms.
Courses in this category should introduce students either to the complexities of the individual or the relationship of the individual to social structures. They should be designed to facilitate the students’ ability to do one or more of the following:
- Recognize, describe, and explain social institutions, structures, and processes and the complexities of a global culture and diverse society.
- Think critically about how individuals influence and are influenced by political, geographic, economic, cultural, and family institutions in their own and other cultures and explain how one’s knowledge and beliefs may differ from others.
- Explain the relationship between the individual and society as it influences
- individuals’ cognition, ethics, social interactions, communication practices and affect; and
- the quality of life of the individual, the family, and the community.
- Examine how literature, history, ethical systems, scientific inquiry, or communicative practice shape our knowledge and perception of individuals and social structures.
- Using the most appropriate principles, methods, and technologies, gather and analyze previous inquiry regarding the relationships between individuals and society, draw logical conclusions about such inquiry, and creatively or scientifically apply those conclusions to one’s life and society.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding the Individual and Society Courses | ||
| African American Studies | ||
| AAST 100 | Introduction to African American Studies f | 3 |
| AAST 103 | African American Politics and Culture (Same as POLS 112) f | 3 |
| AAST 104 | Race, Place, and Schooling: African Americans and Education (Same as EDPS 104) f | 3 |
| AAST 201 | The Psychology of African Americans (Same as PSCH 201) f | 3 |
| AAST 202 | African American Behavioral Patterns (Same as PSCH 202) f | 3 |
| AAST 203 | The African American Family in the United States (Same as SOC 203) f | 3 |
| AAST 263 | African American Intellectual History (Same as HIST 263) c | 3 |
| AAST 271 | African Americans and the Politics of Incarceration (Same as CLJ 271 and SOC 271) f | 3 |
| AAST 272 | Race, Gender, and Sexuality (Same as GWS 272) f | 3 |
| Anthropology | ||
| ANTH 100 | The Human Adventure c | 3 |
| ANTH 101 | World Cultures: Introduction to Social Anthropology e | 3 |
| ANTH 214 | Sex and Gender in World Cultures (Same as GWS 214) e | 3 |
| ANTH 215 | Anthropology of Religion (Same as RELS 215) e | 3 |
| ANTH 216 | Medicine, Culture, and Society e | 3 |
| ANTH 218 | Anthropology of Children and Childhood a | 3 |
| ANTH 238 | Biology of Women (Same as GWS 238) | 3 |
| ANTH 273 | Ethnography of Southeast Asia (Same as GEOG 273) e | 3 |
| ANTH 274 | Ethnography of Africa e | 3 |
| ANTH 275 | South American Indians (Same as LALS 255) e | 3 |
| ANTH 277 | Ethnography of Meso-America (Same as LALS 270 ) e | 3 |
| ANTH 278 | Brazil: A Multi-Ethnic Society (Same as LALS 272) e | 3 |
| ANTH 279 | South Asian Cultures and Societies (Same as GLAS 279) e | 3 |
| ANTH 281 | Ethnography of North Africa and the Middle East e | 3 |
| Architecture | ||
| ARCH 200 | Architecture and Society d | 4 |
| Art | ||
| ART 290 | Art and Resistance: Socially Engaged Art | 4 |
| Art History | ||
| AH 101 | The Naked and the Nude: Studies in Visual Literacy | 3 |
| AH 180 | Intro to Museum & Exhibition d | 3 |
| Classics | ||
| CL 208 | Greek Mythology (same as RELS 208) c | 3 |
| CL 260 | Near Eastern Myths & Epic c | 3 |
| Communication | ||
| COMM 100 | Fundamentals of Human Communication | 3 |
| COMM 101 | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| COMM 102 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 103 | Introduction to Media | 3 |
| COMM 140 | Fundamentals of Media Communication | 3 |
| Dialogue | ||
| DLG 220 | Intergroup Dialogue f | 3 |
| Disability and Human Development | ||
| DHD 101 | Disability in U.S. Society f | 3 |
| DHD 201 | Disability, Rights, and Culture | 3 |
| DHD 202 | Disability, Health, and Society | 3 |
| DHD 205 | Disability, Race, Class and Gender (Same as GWS 205) | 3 |
| Economics | ||
| ECON 106 | Tobacconomics a | 3 |
| ECON 111 | Freakonomics | 3 |
| ECON 120 | Principles of Microeconomics f | 4 |
| ECON 121 | Principles of Macroeconomics f | 4 |
| Education | ||
| ED 100 | Introduction to Urban Education f | 3 |
| ED 135 | Child and Youth Policies in Urban America f | 3 |
| ED 205 | Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Education f | 3 |
| ED 222 | Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Education f | 3 |
| ED 258 | Language Development and Learning in a Diverse Society f | 3 |
| Educational Psychology | ||
| EPSY 242 | Introduction to Sexuality Development Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| English | ||
| ENGL 110 | English and American Popular Genres d | 3 |
| ENGL 111 | Women and Literature (Same as GWS 111) d | 3 |
| ENGL 117 | Introduction to Gender, Sexuality and Literature (Same as GWS 117 ) d | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | Film and Culture d | 3 |
| ENGL 122 | Understanding Rhetoric d | 3 |
| Gender and Women’s Studies | ||
| GWS 101 | Gender in Everyday Life f | 3 |
| GWS 102 | Global Perspectives on Women and Gender e | 3 |
| GWS 204 | Gender and Popular Culture (Same as COMM 204) f | 3 |
| GWS 262 | Constructions of Gender, Race, Health, and Human Rights e | 3 |
| Geography | ||
| GEOG 100 | Concepts in Geography e | 3 |
| GEOG 101 | World Regional Geography e | 3 |
| GEOG 141 | Environmental Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 151 | Introduction to Cultural Geography e | 4 |
| GEOG 161 | Introduction to Economic Geography e | 3 |
| GEOG 202 | Geography of the United States and Canada f | 3 |
| GEOG 203 | Human Geography of Latin America including the Caribbean Region (Same as LALS 217) e | 3 |
| GEOG 211 | Chicago: An Urban Geography f | 3 |
| GEOG 215 | A Global Geography of Cities e | 3 |
| GEOG 241 | Resource Problems in the United States f | 3 |
| Germanic Studies | ||
| GER 120 | Study of Gender, Class, and Political Issues in German Texts (Same as GWS 120) e | 3 |
| GER 240 | Classical German Thought from Kant to Nietzsche c | 3 |
| Global Asian Studies | ||
| GLAS 120 | Intro Asian Amer Studies (Same as SOC 120) f | 3 |
| GLAS 210 | Asian American Histories (Same as HIST 210) f | 3 |
| GLAS 230 | Cultural Politics of Asian American Food f | 3 |
| GLAS 250 | Critical Issues in Community Engagement | 3 |
| GLAS 263 | Asian American Gender and Sexual Diversity (Same as GWS 263) f | 3 |
| History | ||
| HIST 117 | Understanding the Holocaust (Same as JST 117 and RELS 117) c | 3 |
| HIST 137 | Russia in War and Revolution, 1904-1922 c | 3 |
| HIST 211 | The Dawn of European Modernity, 1500-1715 c | 3 |
| HIST 213 | Europe in the Age of Capitalism and Imperialism, 1815 - 1914 c | 3 |
| HIST 214 | Twentieth-Century Europe c | 3 |
| HIST 220 | Modern Germany, 1848 to the Present c | 3 |
| HIST 224 | France: 1500 to 1715 c | 3 |
| HIST 233 | East Central Europe and the Balkans: From Empires to Nation-States c | 3 |
| HIST 234 | History of Poland (Same as POL 234) c | 3 |
| HIST 235 | The Rise and Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe c | 3 |
| HIST 237 | The Russian Empire in the Modern Period: History, Culture and the Challenges of Diversity c | 3 |
| HIST 282 | Global Enlightenment: Empire and the 18th-Century European Imagination of the World c | 3 |
| Honors College | ||
| HON 120 | Honors Core in Understanding Individual and Society and Understanding the Past c | 3 |
| HON 121 | Honors Core in Understanding Individual and Society and Understanding Creative Arts d | 3 |
| HON 122 | Honors Core in Understanding Individual and Society and Exploring World Cultures e | 3 |
| HON 123 | Honors Core in Understanding Individual and Society and Understanding U.S. Society f | 3 |
| HON 130 | Honors Core in Analyzing the Natural World and Understanding the Individual and Society a | 3 |
| HON 140 | Honors Core in Understanding the Individual and Society | 3 |
| Humanities | ||
| HUM 101 | Humanities Core: Understanding the Individual and Society | 3 |
| Jewish Studies | ||
| JST 101 | Introduction to Judaism (Same as RELS 121) | 3 |
| JST 102 | Introduction to Jewish History (Same as RELS 126) c | 3 |
| Latin American and Latino Studies | ||
| LALS 103 | Introduction to Latino Urban Studies f | 3 |
| LALS 192 | From the Convent to the Streets: Latin American Women Writers in Translation (Same as GWS 192 and SPAN 192) e | 3 |
| LALS 220 | Latin American Cities in a Global Context: Environment, Employment, and Housing (Same as US 220) e | 3 |
| LALS 269 | Latin American Environmental Studies e | 3 |
| LALS 276 | Latinas in the United States (Same as GWS 276 and SOC 226) f | 3 |
| Linguistics | ||
| LING 150 | Introduction to the Study of Language | 3 |
| LING 160 | Language and Society f | 3 |
| LING 170 | Languages of the World e | 3 |
| LING 260 | Language Acquisition, Language Contact and Bilingualism f | 3 |
| Music | ||
| MUS 240 | Music, Gender and Culture (Same as GWS 240) d | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 100 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 101 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| PHIL 103 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 104 | Introduction to Political Philosophy f | 3 |
| PHIL 106 | What Is Religion? (Same as RELS 106) | 3 |
| PHIL 108 | What Is Freedom? | 3 |
| PHIL 109 | Who Am I? | 3 |
| PHIL 110 | Philosophy of Love and Sex | 3 |
| PHIL 112 | Morality and the Law | 3 |
| PHIL 115 | Death | 3 |
| PHIL 120 | Introduction to Ancient Philosophy (Same as CL 120) c | 3 |
| PHIL 225 | Nineteenth Century Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 240 | Philosophy and Revelation: Jewish and Christian Perspectives (Same as RELS 240 and JST 240) e | 3 |
| Political Science | ||
| POLS 101 | Introduction to American Government and Politics f | 3 |
| POLS 120 | Introduction to Political Theory c | 3 |
| POLS 130 | Introduction to Comparative Politics (Same as INST 130) | 3 |
| POLS 184 | Introduction to International Relations (Same as INST 184) e | 3 |
| POLS 190 | Scope of Political Science | 3 |
| Psychology | ||
| PSCH 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| PSCH 210 | Theories of Personality | 3 |
| PSCH 231 | Community Psychology | 3 |
| PSCH 270 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| Public Policy | ||
| PPOL 100 | Individual Action and Democratic Citizenship | 3 |
| PPOL 232 | International Development Policy in a Globalized World e | 3 |
| Public Health | ||
| PUBH 100 | Health and the Public f | 3 |
| PUBH 110 | Public Health and Global Societies e | 3 |
| Religious Studies | ||
| RELS 100 | Religion in Human Experience | 3 |
| Social Justice | ||
| SJ 101 | Introduction to Social Justice: Stories and Struggles | 3 |
| Sociology | ||
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology f | 3 |
| SOC 105 | Social Problems f | 3 |
| SOC 215 | Sociology of Childhood and Youth f | 3 |
| SOC 224 | Gender and Society (Same as GWS 224) f | 3 |
| SOC 225 | Racial and Ethnic Groups (Same as AAST 225 and LALS 225) f | 3 |
| SOC 228 | Sociology of Asia and Asian Americans (Same as GLAS 228) f | 3 |
| SOC 229 | Sociology of Latinos (Same as LALS 229) f | 3 |
| SOC 241 | Social Inequalities f | 3 |
| SOC 244 | Sociology of Work f | 3 |
| SOC 245 | Marriage and Family f | 3 |
| SOC 246 | Sociology of Religion (Same as RELS 246) f | 3 |
| SOC 251 | Health and Medicine f | 3 |
| SOC 265 | Sociology of Politics | 3 |
| SOC 268 | Introduction to Comparative Sociology e | 3 |
| SOC 276 | Urban Sociology f | 3 |
| Urban Studies | ||
| US 205 | Cinema and the City | 3 |
| US 208 | Mapping the Urban: Cartography and its Alternatives (Same as GEOG 208) | 3 |
| a | also approved for Analyzing the Natural World |
| b | also approved for Understanding the Individual and Society |
| c | also approved for Understanding the Past |
| d | also approved for Understanding the Creative Arts |
| e | also approved for Exploring World Cultures |
| f | also approved for Understanding U.S. Society |
Understanding the Past
The study of past events and ideas enables students to view the present within the context of the past, appreciate both the liberating and constraining features of tradition, and understand what forces have affected their own lives as well as those of peoples in different cultures. The objects of study in these courses include the human past and its historical record; the emergence and transformation of nations, states, ideas, and civilizations; traditions and modes of human thought; the relationship between ideas and practices; and the implications of scientific discovery and technological innovation.
Courses in this category should have as their primary focus significant past events. They should be designed to facilitate the students’ ability to do one or more of the following:
- Understand the implication and meaning of technological innovation and scientific discovery for the development of human society.
- Critically analyze the cultural, economic, geographical, and political processes that influenced historical events.
- Recognize, describe, and explain the nature of past historical events and their consequences for the present.
- Examine the relationship between individuals and past events, their interactions, and the repercussions of these interactions.
- Understand and explain the significance and influence of the past and its connection to current political, scientific, and cultural forces.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding the Past Courses | ||
| African American Studies | ||
| AAST 101 | Introduction to African Diaspora Studies e | 3 |
| AAST 125 | African American Religious Traditions (Same as RELS 125) f | 3 |
| AAST 246 | Black Lives in Historical Context (Same as HIST 243) f | 3 |
| AAST 247 | African American History to 1877 (Same as HIST 247) f | 3 |
| AAST 248 | African American History since 1877 (Same as HIST 248) f | 3 |
| AAST 249 | Black Freedom Movements in the U.S. f | 3 |
| AAST 263 | African American Intellectual History (Same as HIST 263) b | 3 |
| AAST 265 | The Harlem Renaissance (Same as ENGL 265) f | 3 |
| Anthropology | ||
| ANTH 100 | The Human Adventure b | 3 |
| ANTH 102 | Introduction to Archaeology a | 4 |
| ANTH 105 | Human Evolution a | 4 |
| Arabic | ||
| ARAB 250 | The Heritage of Muslim Iberia e | 3 |
| Archaeological Studies | ||
| ARST 209 | The Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Same as AH 209) d | 3 |
| ARST 210 | The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt (Same as AAST 210 and AH 210) d | 3 |
| Art History | ||
| AH 122 | History of Chicago Architecture d | 3 |
| AH 130 | Photography in History | 3 |
| Classics | ||
| CL 100 | Greek Civilization d | 3 |
| CL 101 | Roman Civilization | 3 |
| CL 102 | Introduction to Classical Literature d | 3 |
| CL 103 | Introduction to Classical and Mediterranean Archaeology d | 3 |
| CL 104 | Mediterranean Traditions: Family, Society and the Divine e | 3 |
| CL 204 | Greek Art and Archaeology (Same as AH 204 and HIST 204) d | 3 |
| CL 205 | Roman Art and Archaeology (Same as AH 205 and HIST 205) d | 3 |
| CL 208 | Greek Mythology (Same as RELS 208) b | 3 |
| CL 218 | Pompeii: Everyday Life in a Roman Town (Same as AH 218 and HIST 218) | 3 |
| CL 250 | Greek and Roman Epic Poetry d | 3 |
| CL 251 | Greek Tragedy d | 3 |
| CL 252 | Greek and Roman Comedy d | 3 |
| CL 253 | Roman Satire and Rhetoric d | 3 |
| CL 255 | Greek Science, Islamic Culture (Same as ARAB 255) e | 3 |
| CL 260 | Near Eastern Myths & Epic b | 3 |
| CL 297 | Studies in the Classical Tradition (Same as ENGL 297) d | 3 |
| English | ||
| ENGL 107 | Introduction to Shakespeare d | 3 |
| Gender and Women’s Studies | ||
| GWS 252 | Sexuality in America: Historical Perspectives (Same as HIST 252) f | 3 |
| Germanic Studies | ||
| GER 125 | Diaspora, Exile, Genocide: Aspects of the European Jewish Experience in Literature and Film. (Same as JST 125 and RELS 127) e | 3 |
| GER 218 | Opera in Germanic Cultures: From Mozart to Berg d | 3 |
| GER 219 | Vikings and Wizards: Northern Myth and Fairy Tales in Western Culture d | 3 |
| GER 240 | Classical German Thought from Kant to Nietzsche b | 3 |
| Greek, Modern | ||
| GKM 285 | Cultural History of Modern Greece: 1453 to the Present (Same as HIST 285) | 3 |
| GKM 286 | Modern Greek Cities: Historical-Ethnographic Survey (Same as HIST 286) | 3 |
| GKM 296 | Fascism and Dictatorship in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean (Same as HIST 296 and POLS 296) | 3 |
| History | ||
| HIST 100 | Western Civilization to 1648 e | 3 |
| HIST 101 | Western Civilization Since 1648 e | 3 |
| HIST 103 | Early America: From Colonization to Civil War and Reconstruction f | 3 |
| HIST 104 | Modern America: From Industrialization to Globalization f | 3 |
| HIST 105 | Global Transformations and the Rise of the West Since 1000 (Same as INST 105) e | 3 |
| HIST 106 | The World Since 1400 (Same as INST 106) e | 3 |
| HIST 109 | East Asian Civilization: Ancient China (Same as GLAS 109) e | 3 |
| HIST 110 | East Asian Civilization: Japan (Same as GLAS 110) e | 3 |
| HIST 116 | Freshman Seminar: Special Topics | 3 |
| HIST 117 | Understanding the Holocaust (Same as JST 117 and RELS 117) b | 3 |
| HIST 137 | Russia in War and Revolution, 1904-1922 b | 3 |
| HIST 161 | Introduction to Latin American History (Same as LALS 161) e | 3 |
| HIST 170 | The Ottoman Empire e | 3 |
| HIST 177 | Middle Eastern Civilization (Same as RELS 177) e | 3 |
| HIST 200 | Gandhi: The History and Practice of Nonviolence (Same as GLAS 200) | 3 |
| HIST 202 | The Ancient World: Greece (Same as CL 202) e | 3 |
| HIST 203 | Ancient Rome (Same as CL 203) e | 3 |
| HIST 211 | The Dawn of European Modernity, 1500-1715 b | 3 |
| HIST 213 | Europe in the Age of Capitalism and Imperialism, 1815 - 1914 b | 3 |
| HIST 214 | Twentieth-Century Europe b | 3 |
| HIST 220 | Modern Germany, 1848 to the Present b | 3 |
| HIST 221 | The Atlantic Slave Trade (Same as AAST 221) e | 3 |
| HIST 222 | England to 1689 | 3 |
| HIST 223 | Modern Britain Since 1689 | 3 |
| HIST 224 | France: 1500 to 1715 b | 3 |
| HIST 225 | The Age of Revolution in France: 1715-1848 e | 3 |
| HIST 233 | East Central Europe and the Balkans: From Empires to Nation-States b | 3 |
| HIST 234 | History of Poland (Same as POL 234) b | 3 |
| HIST 235 | The Rise and Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe b | 3 |
| HIST 236 | Russia Between Europe and Asia: Eurasian Spaces and Peoples in the Premodern Era e | 3 |
| HIST 237 | The Russian Empire in the Modern Period: History, Culture and the Challenges of Diversity b | 3 |
| HIST 238 | Russia from Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin | 3 |
| HIST 239 | Twentieth-Century Russia in Film (Same as RUSS 239) | 3 |
| HIST 240 | Radicalism in America: From the Revolution to Occupy Wall Street f | 3 |
| HIST 241 | Precolonial Africa in World History (Same as AAST 241) e | 3 |
| HIST 242 | History of Modern Africa (Same as AAST 242) e | 3 |
| HIST 245 | Imagining the American West f | 3 |
| HIST 246 | History of American Capitalism (Same as POLS 246) f | 3 |
| HIST 249 | The American Civil War f | 3 |
| HIST 253 | The Worker in American Life f | 3 |
| HIST 255 | History of Chicago f | 3 |
| HIST 256 | Religion in American History (Same as RELS 256) f | 3 |
| HIST 259 | Women and Gender in American History (Same as GWS 259) f | 3 |
| HIST 261 | Latin America to 1850 (Same as LALS 261) e | 3 |
| HIST 262 | Latin America Since 1850 (Same as LALS 262) e | 3 |
| HIST 265 | Mexico: 1400 to 1850 (Same as LALS 265) e | 3 |
| HIST 264 | The Pacific Rim in Modern History (Same as GLAS 264) e | 3 |
| HIST 266 | Modern Mexico (Same as LALS 266) e | 3 |
| HIST 267 | American Intellectual History to 1865 (Same as POLS 267) f | 3 |
| HIST 268 | American Intellectual History since 1865 (Same as POLS 268) f | 3 |
| HIST 271 | Late Imperial China: 1500 to 1911 (Same as GLAS 271) e | 3 |
| HIST 272 | China Since 1911 (Same as GLAS 272) e | 3 |
| HIST 275 | History of South Asia to 1857 (Same as GLAS 275) e | 3 |
| HIST 276 | Modern South Asia, 1857 to the Present (Same as GLAS 276) e | 3 |
| HIST 277 | The Middle East to 1258 e | 3 |
| HIST 278 | The Middle East Since 1258 e | 3 |
| HIST 282 | Global Enlightenment: Empire and the 18th-Century European Imagination of the World b | 3 |
| HIST 289 | Latina/o History (Same as LALS 289) | 3 |
| HIST 293 | The Gilded and the Gritty: Power, Culture, and the Making of 20th-century America f | 3 |
| Honors College | ||
| HON 120 | Honors Core in Understanding Individual and Society and Understanding the Past b | 3 |
| HON 124 | Honors Core in Understanding the Past and Understanding the Creative Arts d | 3 |
| HON 125 | Honors Core in Understanding the Past and Exploring World Cultures e | 3 |
| HON 126 | Honors Core in Understanding the Past and Understanding U.S. Society f | 3 |
| HON 131 | Honors Core in Analyzing the Natural World and Understanding the Past a | 3 |
| HON 141 | Honors Core in Understanding the Past | 3 |
| Humanities | ||
| HUM 102 | Humanities Core: Understanding the Past | 3 |
| Italian | ||
| ITAL 230 | Italian and Italian American Culture and Civilization e | 3 |
| ITAL 293 | Dante's Divine Comedy (Same as CST 293 and RELS 293) d | 3 |
| Jewish Studies | ||
| JST 102 | Introduction to Jewish History (Same as RELS 126) b | 3 |
| JST 103 | Introduction to Israel Studies e | 3 |
| JST 124 | Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (Same as CL 124 and RELS 124) | 3 |
| JST 242 | The History of Jewish Biblical Interpretation (Same as CL 242 and RELS 242) | 3 |
| JST 254 | Prophets in Judaism and Islam (Same as CL 254 and RELS 254) | 3 |
| Latin American and Latino Studies | ||
| LALS 101 | Introduction to Latin American Studies e | 3 |
| LALS 102 | Introduction to Latino Studies f | 3 |
| LALS 104 | Introduction to Puerto Rican Studies e | 3 |
| LALS 105 | Introduction to Mexican Studies e | 3 |
| LALS 275 | Gender in Latin America (Same as GWS 275 and POLS 275) c | 3 |
| LALS 290 | Mexican-American History (Same as HIST 290) f | 3 |
| Military Science | ||
| MILS 217 | Introduction to United States Military History (Same as HIST 217) | 3 |
| Music | ||
| MUS 114 | Jazz History d | 3 |
| MUS 118 | American Popular Music since 1850 d | 3 |
| Native American Studies | ||
| NAST 113 | Native American Studies: Sovereignty e,f | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 120 | Introduction to Ancient Philosophy (Same as CL 120) b | 3 |
| Political Science | ||
| POLS 120 | Introduction to Political Theory b | 3 |
| Public Policy | ||
| PPOL 230 | Nonprofit Organizations in U.S. Society f | 3 |
| Religious Studies | ||
| RELS 120 | Catholic Thought: An Introduction (Same as CST 120) | 3 |
| Spanish | ||
| SPAN 230 | Civilization and Culture of Spain e | 3 |
| SPAN 231 | Civilization and Culture of Latin America e | 3 |
| Theatre | ||
| THTR 101 | Introduction to Theatre History I: Premodern Drama d | 3 |
| THTR 103 | History of Chicago Theatre Past and Present d | 3 |
| a | also approved for Analyzing the Natural World |
| b | also approved for Understanding the Individual and Society |
| c | also approved for Understanding the Past |
| d | also approved for Understanding the Creative Arts |
| e | also approved for Exploring World Cultures |
| f | also approved for Understanding U.S. Society |
Understanding the Creative Arts
Courses in literature (e.g., fiction, poetry, drama), the arts (e.g., painting, sculpture, architecture, design, music, theatre and dance, film, photography, new media) and philosophy examine materials that explore and express the potential of the human imagination. Courses fulfilling this requirement acquaint students with issues involved in making, interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating written texts, musical works, visual and material culture, performing arts, and other media presentations in the context of the histories and cultures that have shaped and been shaped by their production. The aim is to develop the ability to read, experience, and view carefully, to think critically, to argue cogently and to communicate ideas effectively in written and oral form.
All cultures create stories, images, objects, built environments, dramas, music, etc. The study of such cultural products is an area with its own questions, techniques, and traditions. A student taking courses in this area can expect to study, in close detail, a number of significant works of literature, art, or other media. Courses in this category should facilitate a student’s ability to address one or more of the following questions:
- Basic issues of interpretation. How does a work mean anything? How does one determine meaning? How can a work have numerous meanings, often at the same time?
- Questions of poetics. How do the traditions of genres and forms, materials and means of production, and philosophies and theories influence individual literary and artistic works and their interpretation?
- Questions of value. How can such creative works be evaluated? How are critical vocabularies developed? How does a work come to be called a “classic”? How do new works and genres become accepted as art?
- Questions of cultural and historical context. How do creative works relate to the societies in which they are produced and received? How do cultural roles of creative products, definitions of art, institutions, markets, and patronage affect the creation of works of architecture, art, music, literature, and other media?
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding the Creative Arts Courses | ||
| African American Studies | ||
| AAST 105 | African Americans in Film, 1900 - Present: Images, Individuals and Ideas on Screen (Same as COMM 105 and MOVI 105) f | 3 |
| AAST 110 | Introduction to African American Literature, 1760-1910 (Same as ENGL 118) f | 3 |
| AAST 111 | Introduction to African American Literature Since 1910 (Same as ENGL 119) f | 3 |
| AAST 250 | Comparative Black Literatures (Same as ENGL 260) f | 3 |
| AAST 262 | Black Cultural Studies (Same as ENGL 262) f | 3 |
| AAST 266 | Topics in African Literature (Same as ENGL 266) e | 3 |
| Arabic | ||
| ARAB 270 | The Reel Arab (Same as MOVI 270) | 3 |
| Archaeological Studies | ||
| ARST 209 | The Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Same as AH 209) c | 3 |
| ARST 210 | The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt (Same as AAST 210 and AH 210) c | 3 |
| Architecture | ||
| ARCH 200 | Architecture and Society b | 4 |
| Art | ||
| ART 112 | Introduction to Drawing | 4 |
| ART 130 | Introduction to Painting + Color | 4 |
| ART 140 | Introduction to Sculpture | 4 |
| ART 150 | Introduction to New Media Arts | 4 |
| ART 151 | Introduction to Creative Coding in New Media Arts | 4 |
| ART 160 | Introduction to Digital Photography | 4 |
| ART 170 | Introduction to Filmmaking | 4 |
| ART 190 | Introduction to Socially Engaged Art | 4 |
| Art History | ||
| AH 100 | Introduction to Art and Art History | 3 |
| AH 110 | World History of Art and the Built Environment I | 4 |
| AH 111 | World History of Art and the Built Environment II | 4 |
| AH 122 | History of Chicago Architecture c | 3 |
| AH 125 | Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Asia (Same as GLAS 125) e | 3 |
| AH 160 | Trends in International Contemporary Art Since 1960 | 3 |
| AH 180 | Intro to Museum & Exhibition b | 3 |
| AH 201 | Reading and Writing Art Criticism | 3 |
| AH 211 | History of Urbanism | 3 |
| AH 219 | Art and Architecture of East Asia (Same as GLAS 219) e | 3 |
| AH 230 | History of Photography I: 1820-1920 | 3 |
| AH 231 | History of Photography II: 1900 to Present | 3 |
| AH 242 | Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture | 3 |
| AH 243 | Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 |
| AH 244 | Islamic Art and Architecture e | 3 |
| AH 250 | Italian Renaissance Art | 3 |
| AH 251 | Northern Renaissance Art and Architecture | 3 |
| AH 252 | Art of the Baroque and Rococo | 3 |
| AH 260 | European Art from 1750 to 1900 | 3 |
| AH 261 | European and American Art from 1900 to the Present | 3 |
| AH 262 | American Art to 1945 | 3 |
| AH 263 | Latin American Colonial Art (Same as LALS 263) e | 3 |
| AH 264 | African American Art (Same as AAST 264) e | 3 |
| AH 265 | History of Performance Art 1900 - Present | 3 |
| AH 270 | African Art (Same as AAST 270) e | 3 |
| AH 271 | Native American Art (Same as NAST 271) e | 3 |
| AH 273 | Visual Culture of the Ancient Andes (Same as LALS 239) e | 3 |
| AH 274 | Visual Culture of Ancient Mesoamerica (Same as LALS 240) e | 3 |
| AH 275 | South Asian Visual Cultures e | 3 |
| Classics | ||
| CL 100 | Greek Civilization c | 3 |
| CL 102 | Introduction to Classical Literature c | 3 |
| CL 103 | Introduction to Classical and Mediterranean Archaeology c | 3 |
| CL 204 | Greek Art and Archaeology (Same as AH 204 and HIST 204) c | 3 |
| CL 205 | Roman Art and Archaeology (Same as AH 205 and HIST 205) c | 3 |
| CL 250 | Greek and Roman Epic Poetry c | 3 |
| CL 251 | Greek Tragedy c | 3 |
| CL 252 | Greek and Roman Comedy c | 3 |
| CL 253 | Roman Satire and Rhetoric c | 3 |
| CL 297 | Studies in the Classical Tradition (Same as ENGL 297) c | 3 |
| Disability and Human Development | ||
| DHD 102 | Disability in American Film f | 3 |
| DHD 204 | Disability in the Humanities | 3 |
| English | ||
| ENGL 101 | Understanding Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Introduction to Film (Same as MOVI 102) | 3 |
| ENGL 103 | English and American Poetry | 3 |
| ENGL 104 | English and American Drama | 3 |
| ENGL 105 | English and American Fiction | 3 |
| ENGL 106 | English and American Prose | 3 |
| ENGL 107 | Introduction to Shakespeare c | 3 |
| ENGL 108 | British Literature and British Culture | 3 |
| ENGL 109 | American Literature and American Culture f | 3 |
| ENGL 110 | English and American Popular Genres b | 3 |
| ENGL 111 | Women and Literature (Same as GWS 111) b | 3 |
| ENGL 112 | Introduction to Native American Literatures (Same as NAST 112) f | 3 |
| ENGL 113 | Introduction to Multiethnic Literatures in the United States f | 3 |
| ENGL 114 | Introduction to Colonial and Postcolonial Literature e | 3 |
| ENGL 115 | Understanding the Bible as Literature (Same as RELS 115) | 3 |
| ENGL 117 | Introduction to Gender, Sexuality and Literature (Same as GWS 117) b | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | Film and Culture b | 3 |
| ENGL 121 | Introduction to Moving Image Arts (Same as MOVI 121) | 3 |
| ENGL 122 | Understanding Rhetoric b | 3 |
| ENGL 123 | Introduction to Asian American Literature (Same as GLAS 123) f | 3 |
| French | ||
| FR 191 | African and Caribbean Francophone Literature in Translation (Same as AAST 191) e | 3 |
| FR 200 | Introduction to the Study of French Literature and Culture e | 3 |
| FR 297 | Paris in Literature, Film, and Culture e | 3 |
| FR 298 | French Literature, Drama and/or Film in Translation e | 3 |
| Germanic Studies | ||
| GER 100 | Introduction to Germanic Cultures and Literatures e | 3 |
| GER 122 | Minority Perspectives in the Germanic Context (Same as JST 122 and RELS 122) e | 3 |
| GER 123 | Introduction to Yiddish Culture and Literature (Same as JST 123 and RELS 123) e | 3 |
| GER 217 | Introduction to German Cinema e | 4 |
| GER 218 | Opera in Germanic Cultures: From Mozart to Berg c | 3 |
| GER 219 | Vikings and Wizards: Northern Myth and Fairy Tales in Western Culture c | 3 |
| Global Asian Studies | ||
| GLAS 223 | Global Hip-hop and Asian Diasporas | 3 |
| Honors College | ||
| HON 121 | Honors Core in Understanding Individual and Society and Understanding Creative Arts b | 3 |
| HON 124 | Honors Core in Understanding the Past and Understanding the Creative Arts c | 3 |
| HON 127 | Honors Core in Understanding the Creative Arts and Exploring World Cultures e | 3 |
| HON 128 | Honors Core in Understanding the Creative Arts and Understanding U.S. Society f | 3 |
| HON 132 | Honors Core in Analyzing the Natural World and Understanding the Creative Arts a | 3 |
| HON 142 | Honors Core in Understanding the Creative Arts | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Education in the Arts | ||
| IDEA 110 | Creativity and Innovation in Design and Arts | 4 |
| Italian | ||
| ITAL 280 | Italian and Italian American Cinema (Same as MOVI 280) | 3 |
| ITAL 293 | Dante's Divine Comedy (Same as CST 293 and RELS 293) c | 3 |
| Latin American and Latino Studies | ||
| LALS 109 | Introduction to Latino Cultures f | 3 |
| LALS 110 | Introduction to Latin American Cultures e | 3 |
| LALS 260 | Indigenous Storytelling in Latin America e | 3 |
| LALS 278 | Latin American/Latino Film Studies (Same as MOVI 278 and SPAN 278) e | 4 |
| LALS 295 | Latino Literary Studies (Same as ENGL 295 and SPAN 295) f | 3 |
| Literatures, Cultural Studies, and Linguistics | ||
| LCSL 207 | European Cinema (Same as GER 207 and SPAN 207) e | 3 |
| Lithuanian | ||
| LITH 130 | Lithuanian Prose Fiction in International Context e | 3 |
| Music | ||
| MUS 100 | Introduction to Music I | 3 |
| MUS 107 | Fundamentals of Music Theory | 3 |
| MUS 113 | Art Song | 3 |
| MUS 114 | Jazz History c | 3 |
| MUS 115 | Opera | 3 |
| MUS 117 | Music for Symphony Orchestra | 3 |
| MUS 118 | American Popular Music since 1850 c | 3 |
| MUS 119 | Music for the Piano | 3 |
| MUS 127 | Latin American Music (Same as LALS 127) e | 3 |
| MUS 227 | Music Cultures of the World e | 3 |
| MUS 240 | Music, Gender and Culture (Same as GWS 240) b | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 107 | What is Art? | 3 |
| Polish | ||
| POL 120 | The Polish Short Story in Translation e | 3 |
| POL 130 | Masterworks of Polish Literature in Translation e | 3 |
| POL 140 | Polish Drama in Translation (Same as THTR 140) e | 3 |
| POL 150 | Introduction to Polish Cinema e | 3 |
| POL 220 | Modern Polish-Jewish Culture and Literatures (Same as JST 220) e | 3 |
| Russian | ||
| RUSS 120 | The Russian Short Story in Translation e | 3 |
| RUSS 130 | Masterpieces of Russian Literature in Translation e | 3 |
| RUSS 150 | Introduction to Russian Cinema e | 3 |
| RUSS 241 | Dostoyevsky | 3 |
| RUSS 242 | Tolstoy | 3 |
| RUSS 244 | Women in Russian Literature (Same as GWS 244) e | 3 |
| RUSS 246 | Revolution in Arts: Russian and European Avant-Garde | 3 |
| RUSS 247 | Literature and Fantasy in Russia | 3 |
| RUSS 248 | Russian Visual and Material Culture (Same as AH 248) | 3 |
| Spanish | ||
| SPAN 210 | Introduction to the Formal Analysis of Hispanic Texts e | 3 |
| SPAN 226 | Early Modern Spanish and Colonial Latin American Literature and Culture in Translation e | 3 |
| Theatre | ||
| THTR 101 | Introduction to Theatre History I: Premodern Drama c | 3 |
| THTR 103 | History of Chicago Theatre Past and Present c | 3 |
| THTR 105 | Introduction to American Musical Theatre f | 3 |
| THTR 155 | Scenography: Introduction to Principles of Theatrical Design | 4 |
| THTR 201 | Introduction to Theatre History II: Modern Theatre | 3 |
| THTR 245 | East Asian Theatre | 3 |
| a | also approved for Analyzing the Natural World |
| b | also approved for Understanding the Individual and Society |
| c | also approved for Understanding the Past |
| d | also approved for Understanding the Creative Arts |
| e | also approved for Exploring World Cultures |
| f | also approved for Understanding U.S. Society |
Exploring World Cultures
A global society demands that individuals gain an appreciation of cultures that are different from their own. Courses in this category explore how cultures function and how they may arise and change, whether through the internationalization of economies, social or political forces, changes in environment, or the development of new technologies. Further, these courses aim to provide students with the necessary tools to study and evaluate disparate social systems and cultural products.
Courses in this category should address significant aspects of any culture that is not part of the mainstream American culture. They should be designed to facilitate the students’ ability to do one or more of the following:
- Analyze a culture, including its political, social, ethical, communicative, or economic systems.
- Analyze how cultures are formed, transmitted, and changed.
- Compare different cultures.
- Explore the values or cultural products of non-U.S. cultures.
- Analyze the influence of other cultures upon U.S. culture.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Exploring World Cultures Courses | ||
| African American Studies | ||
| AAST 101 | Introduction to African Diaspora Studies c | 3 |
| AAST 221 | The Atlantic Slave Trade c | 3 |
| AAST 245 | Politics and Government of Africa (Same as POLS 245) | 3 |
| AAST 266 | Topics in African Literature (Same as ENGL 266) d | 3 |
| Anthropology | ||
| ANTH 101 | World Cultures: Introduction to Social Anthropology b | 3 |
| ANTH 207 | Asian Cities: Urban Cultures of the Global South (Same as GLAS 207) | 3 |
| ANTH 208 | Virtual Lives: Science, Technology, and Culture | 3 |
| ANTH 214 | Sex and Gender in World Cultures (Same as GWS 214) b | 3 |
| ANTH 215 | Anthropology of Religion (Same as RELS 215) b | 3 |
| ANTH 216 | Medicine, Culture, and Society b | 3 |
| ANTH 219 | Anthropology of Globalization | 3 |
| ANTH 273 | Ethnography of Southeast Asia (Same as GEOG 273) b | 3 |
| ANTH 274 | Ethnography of Africa b | 3 |
| ANTH 275 | South American Indians (Same as LALS 255) b | 3 |
| ANTH 277 | Ethnography of Meso-America (Same as LALS 270) b | 3 |
| ANTH 278 | Brazil: A Multi-Ethnic Society (Same as LALS 272) b | 3 |
| ANTH 279 | South Asian Cultures and Societies (Same as GLAS 279) b | 3 |
| ANTH 281 | Ethnography of North Africa and the Middle East b | 3 |
| Arabic | ||
| ARAB 230 | Arabic Literature in Translation | 3 |
| ARAB 250 | The Heritage of Muslim Iberia c | 3 |
| Art History | ||
| AH 125 | Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Asia (Same as GLAS 125) d | 3 |
| AH 219 | Art and Architecture of East Asia (Same as GLAS 219) d | 3 |
| AH 244 | Islamic Art and Architecture d | 3 |
| AH 263 | Latin American Colonial Art (Same as LALS 263) d | 3 |
| AH 264 | African American Art (Same as AAST 264) d | 3 |
| AH 270 | African Art (Same as AAST 270) d | 3 |
| AH 271 | Native American Art (Same as NAST 271) d | 3 |
| AH 273 | Visual Culture of the Ancient Andes (Same as LALS 239) d | 3 |
| AH 274 | Visual Culture of Ancient Mesoamerica (Same as LALS 240) d | 3 |
| AH 275 | South Asian Visual Cultures d | 3 |
| Classics | ||
| CL 104 | Mediterranean Traditions: Family, Society and the Divine c | 3 |
| CL 255 | Greek Science, Islamic Culture (Same as ARAB 255) c | 3 |
| Disability and Human Development | ||
| DHD 203 | Disability in World Cultures | 3 |
| English | ||
| ENGL 114 | Introduction to Colonial and Postcolonial Literature d | 3 |
| French | ||
| FR 191 | African and Caribbean Francophone Literature in Translation (Same as AAST 191) d | 3 |
| FR 200 | Introduction to the Study of French Literature and Culture d | 3 |
| FR 297 | Paris in Literature, Film, and Culture d | 3 |
| FR 298 | French Literature, Drama and/or Film in Translation d | 3 |
| Gender and Women’s Studies | ||
| GWS 102 | Global Perspectives on Women and Gender b | 3 |
| GWS 262 | Constructions of Gender, Race, Health, and Human Rights b | 3 |
| Geography | ||
| GEOG 100 | Concepts in Geography b | 3 |
| GEOG 101 | World Regional Geography b | 3 |
| GEOG 151 | Introduction to Cultural Geography b | 4 |
| GEOG 161 | Introduction to Economic Geography b | 3 |
| GEOG 203 | Human Geography of Latin America including the Caribbean Region (Same as LALS 217) b | 3 |
| GEOG 215 | A Global Geography of Cities b | 3 |
| Germanic Studies | ||
| GER 100 | Introduction to Germanic Cultures and Literatures d | 3 |
| GER 120 | Study of Gender, Class, and Political Issues in German Texts (Same as GWS 120) b | 3 |
| GER 122 | Minority Perspectives in the Germanic Context (Same as JST 122 and RELS 122) d | 3 |
| GER 123 | Introduction to Yiddish Culture and Literature (Same as JST 123 and RELS 123) d | 3 |
| GER 125 | Diaspora, Exile, Genocide: Aspects of the European Jewish Experience in Literature and Film. (Same as JST 125 and RELS 127) c | 3 |
| GER 217 | Introduction to German Cinema d | 4 |
| Global Asian Studies | ||
| GLAS 100 | Introduction to Global Asian Studies | 3 |
| GLAS 229 | Introduction to Asian Film (Same as ENGL 229 and MOVI 229) | 3 |
| GLAS 270 | Topics in Asian Cultures and Societies | 3 |
| Greek, Modern | ||
| GKM 105 | Modern Greek Culture | 3 |
| GKM 203 | Modern Greek Authors in Translation | 3 |
| History | ||
| HIST 100 | Western Civilization to 1648 c | 3 |
| HIST 101 | Western Civilization Since 1648 c | 3 |
| HIST 105 | Global Transformations and the Rise of the West Since 1000 (Same as INST 105) c | 3 |
| HIST 106 | The World Since 1400 (Same as INST 106) c | 3 |
| HIST 109 | East Asian Civilization: Ancient China (Same as GLAS 109) c | 3 |
| HIST 110 | East Asian Civilization: Japan (Same as GLAS 110) c | 3 |
| HIST 161 | Introduction to Latin American History (Same as LALS 161) c | 3 |
| HIST 170 | The Ottoman Empire c | 3 |
| HIST 177 | Middle Eastern Civilization (Same as RELS 177) c | 3 |
| HIST 202 | The Ancient World: Greece (Same as CL 202) c | 3 |
| HIST 203 | Ancient Rome (Same as CL 203) c | 3 |
| HIST 221 | The Atlantic Slave Trade (Same as AAST 221) c | 3 |
| HIST 225 | The Age of Revolution in France: 1715-1848 c | 3 |
| HIST 236 | Russia Between Europe and Asia: Eurasian Spaces and Peoples in the Premodern Era c | 3 |
| HIST 241 | Precolonial Africa in World History (Same as AAST 241) c | 3 |
| HIST 242 | History of Modern Africa (Same as AAST 242) c | 3 |
| HIST 261 | Latin America to 1850 (Same as LALS 261) c | 3 |
| HIST 262 | Latin America Since 1850 (Same as LALS 262) c | 3 |
| HIST 264 | The Pacific Rim in Modern History (Same as GLAS 264) c | 3 |
| HIST 265 | Mexico: 1400 to 1850 (Same as LALS 265) c | 3 |
| HIST 266 | Modern Mexico (Same as LALS 266) c | 3 |
| HIST 271 | Late Imperial China: 1500 to 1911 (Same as GLAS 271) c | 3 |
| HIST 272 | China Since 1911 (Same as GLAS 272) c | 3 |
| HIST 275 | History of South Asia to 1857 (Same as GLAS 275) c | 3 |
| HIST 276 | Modern South Asia, 1857 to the Present (Same as GLAS 276) c | 3 |
| HIST 277 | The Middle East to 1258 c | 3 |
| HIST 278 | The Middle East Since 1258 c | 3 |
| Honors College | ||
| HON 122 | Honors Core in Understanding Individual and Society and Exploring World Cultures b | 3 |
| HON 125 | Honors Core in Understanding the Past and Exploring World Cultures c | 3 |
| HON 127 | Honors Core in Understanding the Creative Arts and Exploring World Cultures d | 3 |
| HON 129 | Honors Core in Exploring World Cultures and Understanding U.S. Society f | 3 |
| HON 133 | Honors Core in Analyzing the Natural World and Exploring World Cultures a | 3 |
| HON 143 | Honors Core in Exploring World Cultures | 3 |
| Human Nutrition | ||
| HN 202 | Culture and Food | 2 |
| Italian | ||
| ITAL 230 | Italian and Italian American Culture and Civilization c | 3 |
| Jewish Studies | ||
| JST 103 | Introduction to Israel Studies c | 3 |
| Korean | ||
| KOR 130 | Understanding Korean History, Culture and Society through Contemporary Korean Films (Same as MOVI 130) | 3 |
| Latin American and Latino Studies | ||
| LALS 101 | Introduction to Latin American Studies c | 3 |
| LALS 104 | Introduction to Puerto Rican Studies c | 3 |
| LALS 105 | Introduction to Mexican Studies c | 3 |
| LALS 108 | Indigenous Culture Change in Latin America | 3 |
| LALS 110 | Introduction to Latin American Cultures d | 3 |
| LALS 192 | From the Convent to the Streets: Latin American Women Writers in Translation (Same as GWS 192 and SPAN 192) b | 3 |
| LALS 220 | Latin American Cities in a Global Context: Environment, Employment, and Housing (Same as US 220) b | 3 |
| LALS 256 | European-Indigenous Interaction in Latin America (Same as ANTH 256) | 3 |
| LALS 260 | Indigenous Storytelling in Latin America d | 3 |
| LALS 269 | Latin American Environmental Studies b | 3 |
| LALS 275 | Gender in Latin America (Same as GWS 275 and POLS 275) c | 3 |
| LALS 278 | Latin American/Latino Film Studies (Same as MOVI 278 and SPAN 278) d | 4 |
| Linguistics | ||
| LING 170 | Languages of the World b | 3 |
| Literatures, Cultural Studies, and Linguistics | ||
| LCSL 207 | European Cinema (Same as GER 207 and SPAN 207) d | 3 |
| Lithuanian | ||
| LITH 115 | Lithuanian Culture | 3 |
| LITH 130 | Lithuanian Prose Fiction in International Context d | 3 |
| Music | ||
| MUS 127 | Latin American Music (Same as LALS 127) d | 3 |
| MUS 227 | Music Cultures of the World d | 3 |
| Native American Studies | ||
| NAST 113 | Native American Studies: Sovereignty c,f | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 240 | Philosophy and Revelation: Jewish and Christian Perspectives (Same as RELS 240 and JST 240) b | 3 |
| Polish | ||
| POL 115 | Introduction to Polish Culture | 3 |
| POL 120 | The Polish Short Story in Translation d | 3 |
| POL 130 | Masterworks of Polish Literature in Translation d | 3 |
| POL 140 | Polish Drama in Translation (Same as THTR 140) d | 3 |
| POL 150 | Introduction to Polish Cinema d | 3 |
| POL 220 | Modern Polish-Jewish Culture and Literatures (Same as JST 220) d | 3 |
| Political Science | ||
| POLS 184 | Introduction to International Relations (Same as INST 184) b | 3 |
| POLS 231 | Introduction to Chinese Politics (Same as GLAS 231) | 3 |
| POLS 232 | Politics in Korea (Same as GLAS 232) | 3 |
| POLS 243 | Politics and Government of the Middle East (Same as JST 243) | 3 |
| POLS 245 | Politics and Government of Africa (Same as AAST 245) | 3 |
| Public Administration | ||
| PPOL 232 | International Development Policy in a Globalized World b | 3 |
| Public Health | ||
| PUBH 110 | Public Health and Global Societies b | 3 |
| Religious Studies | ||
| RELS 101 | Introduction to World Religions | 3 |
| RELS 130 | Introduction to Islam | 3 |
| RELS 230 | Topics in Islam | 3 |
| RELS 250 | Eastern and Western Philosophies of Religion (Same as INST 250) | 3 |
| Russian | ||
| RUSS 115 | Russian Culture Before the Revolution | 3 |
| RUSS 116 | Russian Culture: The Soviet Period | 3 |
| RUSS 120 | The Russian Short Story in Translation d | 3 |
| RUSS 130 | Masterpieces of Russian Literature in Translation d | 3 |
| RUSS 150 | Introduction to Russian Cinema d | 3 |
| RUSS 244 | Women in Russian Literature (Same as GWS 244) d | 3 |
| Sociology | ||
| SOC 268 | Introduction to Comparative Sociology b | 3 |
| Spanish | ||
| SPAN 210 | Introduction to the Formal Analysis of Hispanic Texts d | 3 |
| SPAN 225 | Spanish and Latin American Culture through Literature and Film (Same as MOVI 225) | 3 |
| SPAN 226 | Early Modern Spanish and Colonial Latin American Literature and Culture in Translation d | 3 |
| SPAN 230 | Civilization and Culture of Spain c | 3 |
| SPAN 231 | Civilization and Culture of Latin America c | 3 |
| a | also approved for Analyzing the Natural World |
| b | also approved for Understanding the Individual and Society |
| c | also approved for Understanding the Past |
| d | also approved for Understanding the Creative Arts |
| e | also approved for Exploring World Cultures |
| f | also approved for Understanding U.S. Society |
Understanding U.S. Society
The United States is a country that is often characterized by its diversity, including diversity of cultures, religions, classes, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and gender practices. The aim of this category is to study these diversities, explore the principles and experiences that unite us in the face of them, and perhaps most importantly, to examine critically the social, cultural, and political tensions that arise between that which unites and that which divides us. The goal is thus to understand our society and our political and economic systems, whether to gain knowledge of the past events that have shaped current ones, to gain the means to evaluate critically current policy and to shape future ones, or to develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of our current communities.
Courses in this category should address some significant aspect of U.S. society as their central focus. They should be designed to facilitate the students’ ability to do one or more of the following:
- Analyze aspects of U.S. society.
- Analyze the communicative, political, social, economic, or cultural systems in the U.S.
- Explore the diverse communities—racial, ethnic, class, gender, religious, and sexual—that define cultural and political life in the United States.
- Critically examine the tensions among various groups within U.S. society.
- Explore contemporary governmental policies.
- Analyze the role and influence of the U.S. in the world.
- Study events, ideas, or movements that have influenced U.S. society.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding U.S. Society Courses | ||
| African American Studies | ||
| AAST 100 | Introduction to African American Studies b | 3 |
| AAST 103 | African American Politics and Culture (Same as POLS 112) b | 3 |
| AAST 104 | Race, Place, and Schooling: African Americans and Education (Same as EDPS 104) b | 3 |
| AAST 105 | African Americans in Film, 1900 - Present: Images, Individuals and Ideas on Screen (Same as COMM 105 and MOVI 105) d | 3 |
| AAST 110 | Introduction to African American Literature, 1760-1910 (Same as ENGL 118) d | 3 |
| AAST 111 | Introduction to African American Literature Since 1910 (Same as ENGL 119) d | 3 |
| AAST 125 | African American Religious Traditions (Same as RELS 125) c | 3 |
| AAST 201 | The Psychology of African Americans (Same as PSCH 201) b | 3 |
| AAST 202 | African American Behavioral Patterns (Same as PSCH 202) b | 3 |
| AAST 203 | The African American Family in the United States (Same as SOC 203) b | 3 |
| AAST 246 | Black Lives in Historical Context (Same as HIST 243) c | 3 |
| AAST 247 | African American History to 1877 (Same as HIST 247) c | 3 |
| AAST 248 | African American History since 1877 (Same as HIST 248) c | 3 |
| AAST 249 | Black Freedom Movements in the U.S. c | 3 |
| AAST 250 | Comparative Black Literatures (Same as ENGL 260) d | 3 |
| AAST 262 | Black Cultural Studies (Same as ENGL 262) d | 3 |
| AAST 265 | The Harlem Renaissance (Same as ENGL 265) c | 3 |
| AAST 271 | African Americans and the Politics of Incarceration (Same as CLJ 271 and SOC 271) b | 3 |
| AAST 272 | Race, Gender, and Sexuality (Same as GWS 272) b | 3 |
| Catholic Studies | ||
| CST 150 | Catholicism in U.S. History (Same as RELS 150 and HIST 150) | 3 |
| Criminology, Law, and Justice | ||
| CLJ 101 | Introduction to Criminology, Law, and Justice | 3 |
| CLJ 102 | Foundations of Law and Justice | 3 |
| CLJ 110 | Rights, Justice and the Law | 3 |
| CLJ 114 | Race, Class, Gender and the Law | 3 |
| CLJ 120 | Crime and Society | 3 |
| CLJ 121 | Violence in Society | 3 |
| CLJ 122 | Gangs and the Media | 3 |
| CLJ 200 | Law and Society | 3 |
| Dialogue | ||
| DLG 220 | Intergroup Dialogue b | 3 |
| Disability and Human Development | ||
| DHD 101 | Disability in U.S. Society b | 3 |
| DHD 102 | Disability in American Film d | 3 |
| Economics | ||
| ECON 120 | Principles of Microeconomics b | 4 |
| ECON 121 | Principles of Macroeconomics b | 4 |
| Education | ||
| ED 100 | Introduction to Urban Education b | 3 |
| ED 135 | Child and Youth Policies in Urban America b | 3 |
| ED 205 | Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Education b | 3 |
| ED 222 | Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Education b | 3 |
| ED 252 | Contemporary Controversies in U.S. Schools | 3 |
| ED 258 | Language Development and Learning in a Diverse Society b | 3 |
| English | ||
| ENGL 109 | American Literature and American Culture d | 3 |
| ENGL 112 | Introduction to Native American Literatures (Same as NAST 112) d | 3 |
| ENGL 113 | Introduction to Multiethnic Literatures in the United States d | 3 |
| ENGL 123 | Introduction to Asian American Literature (Same as GLAS 123) d | 3 |
| Gender and Women’s Studies | ||
| GWS 101 | Gender in Everyday Life b | 3 |
| GWS 204 | Gender and Popular Culture (Same as COMM 204) b | 3 |
| GWS 252 | Sexuality in America: Historical Perspectives (Same as HIST 252) c | 3 |
| Geography | ||
| GEOG 202 | Geography of the United States and Canada b | 3 |
| GEOG 211 | Chicago: An Urban Geography b | 3 |
| GEOG 241 | Resource Problems in the United States b | 3 |
| Global Asian Studies | ||
| GLAS 120 | Intro Asian Amer Studies (Same as SOC 120) b | 3 |
| GLAS 210 | Asian American Histories (Same as HIST 210) b | 3 |
| GLAS 217 | Introduction to Filipino American Studies | 3 |
| GLAS 230 | Cultural Politics of Asian American Food b | 3 |
| GLAS 250 | Critical Issues in Community Engagement b | 3 |
| GLAS 263 | Asian American Gender and Sexual Diversity (Same as GWS 263) b | 3 |
| History | ||
| HIST 103 | Early America: From Colonization to Civil War and Reconstruction c | 3 |
| HIST 104 | Modern America: From Industrialization to Globalization c | 3 |
| HIST 240 | Radicalism in America: From the Revolution to Occupy Wall Street c | 3 |
| HIST 245 | Imagining the American West c | 3 |
| HIST 246 | History of American Capitalism (Same as POLS 246) c | 3 |
| HIST 249 | The American Civil War c | 3 |
| HIST 253 | The Worker in American Life c | 3 |
| HIST 255 | History of Chicago c | 3 |
| HIST 256 | Religion in American History (Same as RELS 256) c | 3 |
| HIST 259 | Women and Gender in American History (Same as GWS 259) c | 3 |
| HIST 267 | American Intellectual History to 1865 (Same as POLS 267) c | 3 |
| HIST 268 | American Intellectual History since 1865 (Same as POLS 268) c | 3 |
| HIST 293 | The Gilded and the Gritty: Power, Culture, and the Making of 20th-century America c | 3 |
| Honors College | ||
| HON 123 | Honors Core in Understanding Individual and Society and Understanding U.S. Society b | 3 |
| HON 126 | Honors Core in Understanding the Past and Understanding U.S. Society c | 3 |
| HON 128 | Honors Core in Understanding the Creative Arts and Understanding U.S. Society d | 3 |
| HON 129 | Honors Core in Exploring World Cultures and Understanding U.S. Society e | 3 |
| HON 134 | Honors Core in Analyzing the Natural World and Understanding U.S. Society a | 3 |
| HON 144 | Honors Core in Understanding U.S. Society | 3 |
| Italian | ||
| ITAL 270 | Migration and Diaspora in the Italian and Italian American Experience | 3 |
| Latin American and Latino Studies | ||
| LALS 102 | Introduction to Latino Studies c | 3 |
| LALS 103 | Introduction to Latino Urban Studies b | 3 |
| LALS 109 | Introduction to Latino Cultures d | 3 |
| LALS 276 | Latinas in the United States (Same as GWS 276 and SOC 226) b | 3 |
| LALS 283 | Latinos and Politics (Same as POLS 209) | 3 |
| LALS 290 | Mexican-American History (Same as HIST 290) c | 3 |
| LALS 295 | Latino Literary Studies (Same as ENGL 295 and SPAN 295) d | 3 |
| Linguistics | ||
| LING 160 | Language and Society b | 3 |
| LING 260 | Language Acquisition, Language Contact and Bilingualism b | 3 |
| Native American Studies | ||
| NAST 113 | Native American Studies: Sovereignty c,e | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 104 | Introduction to Political Philosophy b | 3 |
| Political Science | ||
| POLS 101 | Introduction to American Government and Politics b | 3 |
| Public Administration | ||
| PPOL 210 | Introduction to Policy Process | 3 |
| PPOL 212 | Evidence-Based Public Policy | 3 |
| PPOL 230 | Nonprofit Organizations in U.S. Society c | 3 |
| PPOL 231 | The American Safety Net | 3 |
| PPOL 240 | Environmental Policy | 3 |
| Public Health | ||
| PUBH 100 | Health and the Public b | 3 |
| Religious Studies | ||
| RELS 256 | Religion in American History c | 3 |
| Social Justice | ||
| SJ 201 | Theories and Practices of Social Justice | 3 |
| Sociology | ||
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology b | 3 |
| SOC 105 | Social Problems b | 3 |
| SOC 215 | Sociology of Childhood and Youth b | 3 |
| SOC 224 | Gender and Society (Same as GWS 224) b | 3 |
| SOC 225 | Racial and Ethnic Groups (Same as AAST 225 and LALS 225) b | 3 |
| SOC 228 | Sociology of Asia and Asian Americans (Same as GLAS 228) b | 3 |
| SOC 229 | Sociology of Latinos (Same as LALS 229) b | 3 |
| SOC 241 | Social Inequalities b | 3 |
| SOC 244 | Sociology of Work b | 3 |
| SOC 245 | Marriage and Family b | 3 |
| SOC 246 | Sociology of Religion (Same as RELS 246) b | 3 |
| SOC 251 | Health and Medicine b | 3 |
| SOC 276 | Urban Sociology b | 3 |
| Spanish | ||
| SPAN 224 | Bilingual/Bicultural Hispanic American Writers | 3 |
| Theatre | ||
| THTR 105 | Introduction to American Musical Theatre d | 3 |
| Urban Studies | ||
| US 101 | Introduction to Urban Studies | 3 |
| US 130 | Principles of Urban Sustainability | 3 |
| US 202 | Planning Great Cities | 3 |
| a | also approved for Analyzing the Natural World |
| b | also approved for Understanding the Individual and Society |
| c | also approved for Understanding the Past |
| d | also approved for Understanding the Creative Arts |
| e | also approved for Exploring World Cultures |
| f | also approved for Understanding U.S. Society |