Learning Communities
Social Justice Course Descriptions
HUS 213 Ethnic Diversity and Human Values, Instructor: Vince Lowery (TR 2:00-3:20)
This course is intended to highlight the diverse cultures and experiences that have shaped the American landscape. We will focus our attention on the experiences of African Americans, First Nations, and Hmong refugees and Hmong Americans. Their struggles against discrimination, racial and ethnic stereotypes, and cultural “imperialism†have yielded a variety of casualties, and we will document survival and loss in human, political, social, and cultural terms. By the end of the semester, we will have a greater appreciation for the diversity of American peoples, the extent to which that diversity has been embraced, and the distance remaining to accept and understand the nation’s diverse composition.
MUSIC 224 Popular Music Since 1955, Instructor: Michelle McQuade Dewhirst (MWF 11:40-12:35)
This course examines the origins of various genres of American popular music from the beginning of the rock 'n roll era to the present. Along the way, students will examine the larger context of musical eras and genres through discussions of cultural identity as expressed through music.
EDUC 295 Phuture Phoenix: Social Justice in Schools, Instructor: Kim Desotell (MW 2:15-3:35)
This course is a component of the award winning Phuture Phoenix program and serves as an introduction to service-learning mentoring. The course provides mentoring to 5th-12th grade students and is designed to encourage first generation and diverse students to graduate from high school and pursue post-secondary education. The purpose of this course is to change expectations of young students through awareness and personal connections with college students who are trained as mentors to provide academic tutoring, appropriate relationships and inspiration. In turn, the college students learn communication, teaching and leadership skills.
HUS 283X Social Justice Learning Community Discussion (F 12:45-2:05)
This course will be the required discussion component of the pilot Social Justice Learning Community.The discussion credit hour will serve as a time for the instructor(s) to meet with students to discuss their experiences in the Learning Community, to include discussions of the relationship between their courses and their activities as mentors and tutors in area high-need schools.