LAS - Social Science

This course explores the diversity and commonality of experiences among Asian Americans in both the United States and transnational contexts. In moving beyond traditional notions of American communities, students examine the multiple facets of life, history, and experiences of Asian Americans, as well as the dynamics behind identity and community formation. Topics covered generally include: Asian American culture, institutions, and organizations; diaspora, migration, population, and settlement patterns; class, labor, occupations, and poverty; family and ethnic identification; inequality and politics; prejudice and discrimination; and social movements and collective action. Pre-requisite(s): LAS 105, or LAS 110, or LAS 118; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Historical and contemporary affairs in Africa south of the Sahara, indigenous culture areas, types of colonialism and acculturation, economic and political development, independence movements. Prerequisite: Introductory social science course. 5 quarter hours

Backgrounds in contemporary affairs in Middle South America, pre-Columbian culture area, colonialism, varieties of peoples, political and socioeconomic trends. Prerequisite Introductory social science course. 5 quarter hours

This course examines key theories, debates, and empirical examples of social organization related to the construction of race and ethnicity. Students explore racialized experiences, prejudice, discrimination, dominant and subordinate statuses, and various sites of racial/ethnic inequality (such as labor, education, and immigration status). Students analyze how notions of race and ethnicity are created and sustained in the public imagination and in social institutions, in turn influencing systems and interpersonal relationships. Topics include: dynamics of racialization in public and private discourse; intersections of race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class; white privilege; and historical and contemporary marginalization of people and communities of color. Counts in the Social Science or Humanities Area of General Education Requirements. Pre-requisite(s): LAS 105, or LAS 110, and LAS 118; or permission of Program Chair. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This survey course introduces students to the cultural complexity and diversity among indigenous peoples of North America. Students examine the sociopolitical organization, art, history, religion, gender, and economic dynamics of various Native American groups. Specific focus is on the impact of colonialism, cultural change, globalization, and identity politics affecting relationships between Native Americans and various cultural groups. The course highlights contemporary issues important in shaping the experiences of indigenous peoples, such as tribal sovereignty, environmental, political, and legal influences. Students learn to identify the methods used to understand the pre-history, history, and contemporary life of indigenous peoples of North America. Pre-requisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Through a multidisciplinary approach using concepts drawn from sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, psychology, and history, students will explore the dimensions and interconnectedness of social problems primarily in the United States. Ways to remedy these problems will be addressed. Prerequisite: Recommended introductory Social Science course. 5 quarter hours Counts in the Social Science Area of General Education Requirements.

This course examines important social, cultural, economic, and political forces that contribute to the purposes and uses of media. Some topics in this course include: critical media literacy, media consumption, and engagement with technology, and how individuals and institutions shape and are shaped by media. Students consider how media practices have historically and contemporarily perpetuated stereotypes of social class, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. Additionally, students use theory to enrich their experiences and understanding of film, radio, TV, digital formats, and social media and networks. Counts in the Social Sciences Area of General Education Requirements Pre-requisite(s): LAS 105, or LAS 110; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This course recognizes that gender must be addressed in public policy to achieve equality. Readings focus on how constructions of gender inform and are informed by civil society, political discourse, and economic and political structures. The course considers a range of theories and case studies, including: health care, child care, minimum wage, affordable housing, gender gaps in education, property rights, international migration, reproductive labor, and reproductive social justice. Pre-requisite(s): LAS 105, or LAS 110; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 semester hours

This course introduces students to the key theories, concepts and practices in the field of public administration. Students will learn about the history, traditions and controversies in the field; explore how politics and policy may interact effectively and examine the changing nature of public policy and administration in the U.S. Major topics include organizational theory and behavior, the role of bureaucracy in the political process, human resource management, and issues of discretion and accountability. Students will also explore their personal and professional commitment to public service. Pre-requisite(s): LAS 105, or LAS 110, or LAS 118; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This course provides an overview of community planning and urban development. The course focuses on the historical and contemporary relationships between urban social patterns, federal policies, and neighborhood initiatives. Students examine factors that contribute to disparities in communities and the challenges of managing, planning, and implementing policy across diverse groups. Students analyze and evaluate how metropolitan development, proposed and implemented projects, and socio-political dimensions of community programs affect planning and development. Students also examine initiatives in the Chicago metropolitan area and propose a planning initiative on a topic of the student’s choosing. Pre-requisite(s): LAS 453, permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This course examines the origins of social theory and its contributions to understanding social structures, processes, and contradictions in modern capitalist societies. Students learn to distinguish among the main theories in the classical, modern, and contemporary periods and to describe the major frameworks and concepts used by theorists to explain patterns in society. Students synthesize and evaluate the major sociological theories that help explain racial, economic, and gender inequality. Pre-requisite(s): LAS 105; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Political theory is concerned with fundamental questions of public life such as, What is justice? Is there an ideal form of government? Can we conceive of, and constitute, the best political order? The answers to many of the most important political questions still remain essentially contested today. Major topics in this course include justice, freedom, equality, political ideology, liberalism, socialism, libertarianism, and conservatism. 5 Quarter Hours. Counts in the Social Science Area of General Education Requirements.

This course explores how ideas of difference with regard to race/ethnicity, social class, sex and gender, and sexuality are experienced and constructed into systems of inequality. The course investigates how these systems of inequality are intertwined with power and opportunity as well as how these categories are constructed. Students examine how various social institutions contribute to the creation and maintenance of these systems of inequality. Students also explore how these systems are embedded in ideology, law, media, and culture. Counts in the Social Sciences Area of General Education Requirements. Pre-requisite(s): LAS 105, or LAS 110, and LAS 118; or permission of Program Chair. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This course examines the decision-making process within the government's administrative agencies. It discusses competing goals that agencies face and their effects on policy. The primary goal is to introduce theories and practical mechanisms that will allow the student of public policy to be successful in understanding the challenges that the executive branch of government faces in administering programs. Counts in the Social Sciences Area of General Education Requirements. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing and minimum of two Social Science courses or consent of department. 5 quarter hours

This course is a social science offering of special interest to be studied in depth. The course will cover any topic or topics in the field of social science which are not taught within the regular course offerings. The course may be registered for more than once, since topics vary each term. The combined total quarter hours of LAS495 topics taken cannot exceed 20 quarter hours unless permission is given by the department. Specific topics may count in different areas of social science. Depending on content, this course may count towards the Social Science Area of General Education Requirements. Prerequisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 1-5 quarter hours

Varying in content each term. Open to qualified students in a social science concentration and to other students upon consent of department. Prerequisite: advanced standing 3-5 quarter hours

This course investigates the various aspects of neighborhood and community-based development and the roles that community psychologists can play in facilitating relevant planning initiatives. Students will learn how changing urban structures such as neighborhood gentrification and displacement can impact community development and influence resident management practices. In addition, students will identify and evaluate the effectiveness of different planning approaches including asset mapping, advocacy and equity planning within the context of policymaking. Prerequisite(s): For the Ph.D. in Community Psychology program, the following courses are prerequisites: LAP 600, LAP 605. 3 semester hours

This course will explore advanced strategies for leading change in government and nonprofit organizations that maximize benefit to the community. The focus will be on understanding how organizations must adapt to outside changes and the demands of stakeholders. It will also focus on how organizations can improve their performance and efficiency while staying current on best practices and continuous quality improvement. Students will learn how to plan for and lead these changes in a way that aligns the design of such changes with the organization's goals for community improvement. Prerequisite(s): For the Ph.D. in Community Psychology program, the following courses are prerequisites: LAP 600, LAP 605. 3 semester hours

This course examines the impact of the distribution of power and the tensions that drive modern cities on community areas. Consideration will be given to racial and ethnic divides. The relationship between government, private economic interests and resident's interests will be explored. Theoretical and policy issues as they relate to urban politics that help and/or hinder community residents will be explored. Prerequisite(s): For the Ph.D. in Community Psychology program, the following courses are prerequisites: LAP 600, LAP 605. 3 semester hours