Courses in Humanities
HUM 1104 (AINS 1104): INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES
Introduces students to the richness and complexity of American Indian societies past and present. The course begins by considering the critical question of what it means to be "American Indian" or "Native American," comparing externally produced stereotypes with a wide variety of indigenous discourses and narratives. Through a special focus on specific indigenous groups and regions, the course examines American Indian experiences with and reactions to colonial confrontations, government policies, and cultural interchanges with non-Indians. (3H,3C)
HUM 1114: INTRODUCTORY HUMANITIES: THE CLASSICAL AGE
The world of classical Athens through its embodiments in the arts, philosophy, politics, history, literature, and religion. Emphasis on the interrelationships among the various forms of cultural expression and their contributions toward shaping the values and aspirations of the age. (3H,3C)
HUM 1124: INTRODUCTORY HUMANITIES: THE ROMAN WORLD AND EARLY CHRISTIANITY
The Roman world and early Christian culture. Emphasis on the interrelationships among the arts, literature, philosophy, history, religion, and their contributions toward shaping the values and aspirations of the age. (3H,3C)
HUM 1214: INTRODUCTORY HUMANITIES: THE MEDIEVAL WORLD
The medieval synthesis in Western European thought and the transition to the world of the Renaissance. Emphasis on the interrelationships among the arts, literature, philosophy, history, religion, and science, and their contributions toward shaping the values and aspirations of the age. (3H,3C)
HUM 1224: INTRODUCTORY HUMANITIES: THE RENAISSANCE
The interrelationships among the arts, literature, philosophy, history, religion, and science of the Renaissance in Western Europe, and how they reflect and contribute to the shaping of the values and aspirations of the age. (3H,3C)
HUM 1314: INTRODUCTORY HUMANITIES: ENLIGHTENMENT AND ROMANTICISM
Major notions and cultural expressions of the Enlightenment and of Romanticism. Emphasis on the interrelationships among the arts, literature, philosophy, history, religion, and science. (3H,3C)
HUM 1324: INTRODUCTORY HUMANITIES: THE MODERN WORLD
The shifts in thought and values over the past century in the Western imagination. Emphasis on the interrelationships among the arts, literature, philosophy, history, religion, and science, and their contributions toward shaping the values and aspirations of the age. (3H,3C)
HUM 1604: INTRODUCTION TO HUMANITIES AND THE ARTS
Explores the verbal, visual, and aural arts of several important periods in Western history, setting them in the context of their times. Introduces the structural principles of each art form. (3H,3C)
HUM 1704: INTRODUCTION TO APPALACHIAN STUDIES
Traces the idea of Appalachia in American and world consciousness and its expression in the humanities and arts. Through comparison with other cultural groups, explores humanistic problems of cultural identity, assumptions, change, and manipulation. (3H,3C)
HUM 1914: EXPLORATIONS IN TRADITIONAL ASIAN CULTURES
An introduction to salient cultural characteristics of the major premodern Asian civilizations of the Middle East, India, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. Differing visions of the human condition represented by these traditions are compared in case studies incorporating historical, literary, philosophical, and artistic works. (3H,3C)
HUM 1924: EXPLORATIONS IN MODERN ASIAN CULTURES
An introduction to the cultural modernization of major Asian societies since the eighteenth century. The cultural transformation of the Middle East, South Asia, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia are exemplified and compared in case studies that incorporate modern Asian historical, literary, philosophical, sociopolitical, and artistic works. (3H,3C)
HUM 2004: RESEARCH STRATEGIES AND LIBRARY RESOURCES
Focuses on familiarity with specific research tools and construction of logical, efficient methods to research a major paper. Open to all students and tailored to their majors. Concept of library as a learning laboratory. (3H,3C)
HUM 2104 (AINS 2104) (COMM 2104): ORAL TRADITIONS AND CULTURE
Examination of the world's great oral traditions, both ancient and contemporary. Emphasis on performance contexts, relationships among multicultural traditions, including American Indian oral traditions, and the relationships among orality, literacy, technology, media, and culture. I (3H,3C)
HUM 2204: HUMANITIES AND THE ARTS: THE CREATIVE PROCESS
Explores the theory and the experience of the creative process. Studies both essays on the process of creative activity and examples of its product. Includes a personal creative project. (3H,3C)
HUM 2214: EXPERIENCES IN THE ARTS
Guided exposure to selected works of art, including painting and sculpture, literature, and the performing arts as well as participation in arts events; exploration of ways in which individual works of art embody and help explain human experience. May not be repeated for credit. Pass/Fail only. (1H,1C)
HUM 2444 (CLA 2444) (ENGL 2444): ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY
Survey of Ancient Greek and Roman mythology and modern interpretations. In English. No knowledge of Ancient Greek or Latin required. Not for credit toward a Latin Minor. (3H,3C)
HUM 2454 (CLA 2454) (ENGL 2454): ANCIENT GREEK AND LATIN LITERATURE IN ENGLISH TRANSLATION
A variable content course devoted to the study of major works of Ancient Greek and Latin literature in English translation. May be repeated for credit with different content. In English. No knowledge of Ancient Greek or Latin required. Not for credit toward a Latin Minor. (4H,3C)
HUM 2504: INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN STUDIES
Methodology and tools of American Studies, emphasizing interrelations among social, cultural, and technological history, values, and artistic creation. Intensive study of a specific topic or period in American culture since 1850. (3H,3C)
HUM 2514: ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
Critical overview of diverse Asian-American experience, the complexity of minority status, and meaningful citizenship in the USA. Topics include different historical tracks of various Asian ethnicities, experience of racism, activism, cultural adaption and conflict, and economic survival and success. (3H,3C)
HUM 2714 (FR 2714): INTRODUCTION TO FRENCH CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
French culture and civilization from the Middle Ages to the present. Interdisciplinary approach to literature, film, art, architecture, and theatre in the context of French cultural history. In English. (4H,3C)
HUM 2724 (GER 2724): INTRODUCTION TO GERMAN CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
German culture and civilization from the earliest period to the present. Interdisciplinary approach to literature, film, art, architecture, music, and theatre in the context of German cultural history. In English. (3H,3C)
HUM 2734 (RUS 2734): INTRODUCTION TO RUSSIAN CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
Russian culture and civilization from the Middle Ages to the present. Interdisciplinary approach to Russian literature, art, architecture, music, film, and theatre in the context of Russian cultural history. In English. (4H,3C)
HUM 2744 (SPAN 2744): INTRODUCTION TO SPANISH CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
Introduction to Spanish culture and civilization from the Middle Ages to the present. Interdisciplinary approach combining the study of literature, the arts, architecture, music, theatre, and film in the context of Spanish cultural history. In English. (4H,3C)
HUM 2754 (SPAN 2754): INTRODUCTION TO SPANISH-AMERICAN CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
Spanish-American culture and civilization from the discovery of the New World to the present. Interdisciplinary approach to literature, film, art, architecture, music, and theatre in the context of Spanish-American cultural history. (3H,3C)
HUM 2964: FIELD STUDY
Pass/Fail only. Variable credit course.
HUM 2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
HUM 2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
HUM 3014: HUMANITIES AND THE ARTS: RENAISSANCE AND EARLIER
Focuses on interdisciplinary topics involving interrelationships among various arts and/or artists (to the end of the Renaissance). (3H,3C)
HUM 3024: HUMANITIES AND THE ARTS: POST RENAISSANCE
Focuses on interdisciplinary topics involving interrelationships among various arts and/or artists (from the end of the Renaissance). (3H,3C)
HUM 3034 (COMM 3034): THEORIES OF POP CULTURE
Relationship of popular culture to communication; ways to classify, analyze, and evaluate popular culture; history of main themes with emphasis on the United States; cultural evolution of the electronic revolution. Junior standing required. I (3H,3C)
HUM 3204 (COMM 3204): MULTICULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Exploration of communication in various cultural groups through the medium of performance. Emphasis on understanding cultural differences and similarities in styles of communication, aesthetics, worldviews, and values. (3H,3C)
HUM 3464 (AHRM 3464) (EDHL 3464) (GEOG 3464) (HD 3464) (SOC 3464) (UAP 3464): APPALACHIAN COMMUNITIES
The concept of community in Appalachia using a multidisciplinary approach and experiential learning. Interrelationships among geographically, culturally, and socially constituted communities, public policy, and human development. Must have completed one 2000-level course in any cross-listing department. (2H,3L,3C)
HUM 3684 (HIST 3684): CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE SOVIET UNION AND THE SUCCESSOR STATES
History and main characteristics of cultural life and the arts in the former Soviet Union, with emphasis on film, music, literature, and the relationship between elite and popular culture. Taught alternate years. (3H,3C) II.
HUM 3954: STUDY ABROAD
Variable credit course.
HUM 4004 (AINS 4004): TOPICS IN AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES
A variable topics course in which students will engage an interdisciplinary methodology to pursue a critical and in-depth examination of various topics concerning and pertinent to American indigenous peoples. This course is repeatable for up to 6 hours credit with different topics. Must meet prerequisite or have permission of the instructor. Pre: AINS 1104. (3H,3C)
HUM 4034 (COMM 4034): FUNCTIONS OF POPULAR CULTURE
Popular culture as a humanistic discipline; emphasis on archetypes, formulas, and genres; the function of ideas, images, and icons on the popular imagination. Senior standing required. (3H,3C)
HUM 4044: TOPICS IN HUMANITIES AND FILM
This course introduces students to critical issues in film from a humanistic but interdisciplinary perspective, examining its production, consumption, and effects on various societies. The specific thematic content is variable. Course may be repeated for up to 9 credits. Pre: 2504, 3034 or COMM 2054. (3H,3C)
HUM 4104: EXPLORATIONS IN ADVANCED HUMANITIES TOPICS
In-depth study of special interdisciplinary topics. Topics vary but involve a close and extensive study of the interrelationship between important cultural ideas and movements, and formative myths and values, and their expression in several of the following forms: literature, philosophy, religion, art, music, drama. May be taken only once for credit. (3H,3C)
HUM 4324 (REL 4324): TOPICS IN RELIGION AND CULTURE
Selected topics from the religions of the world such as time and the sacred, preliterate religions, women and religion, religion and science, mysticism. May be taken three times for credit with different topics. Pre: 3 REL credits. (3H,3C)
HUM 4404: APPALACHIAN FOLK CULTURE
Examination of informal learning systems and traditional aesthetic expressions in Appalachia. Investigation of worldview and cultural premises as expressed in traditional artifacts. (3H,3C)
HUM 4414: CRITICAL ISSUES IN APPALACHIAN STUDIES
Examination of dominant value conflicts in contemporary Appalachia, focusing on questions of exploitation of human and natural resources. Comparative study of Appalachia, other mountain cultures worldwide, and the Third World. Pre: 1704. (3H,3C)
HUM 4554: SCIENCE CAPSTONE SEMINAR
Seminar for advanced undergraduates majoring in the natural sciences. Students and faculty representing several natural science disciplines (including biochemistry, biology, chemistry, geology, physics) participate in the preparation, presentation, and discussion of topics representing a wide range of interdisciplinary scientific interests. Invitation of student's major department required. Pass/Fail only. (3H,3C)
HUM 4964: FIELD STUDY
Pass/Fail only. Variable credit course.
HUM 4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
HUM 4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
HUM 4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.
For Current Course Offerings, see the Timetable of Classes.