2016-2017 Academic Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Search
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To search for a course satisfying the Distribution Requirements in effect for students who entered Allegheny College in Fall 2016 or after please do the following:
- In the “Keyword or Phrase” box below, enter one of the eight Distribution Requirement abbreviations as a search term in quotation marks: “CL”, “HE”, “IP”, “ME”, “PD”, “QR”, “SB”, or “SP”.
- To search within a specific department or program, select the desired department from the “Rubric” drop down menu and enter the Distribution Requirement abbreviation in quotation marks in the “Keyword or Phrase” box (i.e., “HE”).
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Psychology |
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PSYCH 592 - Teaching in the Elementary or Secondary Schools
Credits: 1-4
May be repeated for credit.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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PSYCH 593 - Peer Mentoring
Credits: 1-4
May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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PSYCH 600 - Senior Project
Credits: 2
First semester of a two-semester senior project.
Prerequisite: PSYCH 207 , one Advanced Topics course, the Junior Seminar, and permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
Students must submit a one-page research proposal that must be approved by the faculty readers for the Senior Project before registration will be permitted.
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PSYCH 610 - Senior Project
Credits: 4
Second semester of a two-semester senior project.
Prerequisite: PSYCH 207 , one Advanced Topics course, the Junior Seminar, and permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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PSYCH 620 - Senior Project
Credits: 4
A one-semester senior project.
Prerequisite: PSYCH 207 , one Advanced Topics course, the Junior Seminar, and permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
Students must submit a one-page research proposal that must be approved by the faculty readers for the Senior Project before registration will be permitted.
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PSYCH 630 - Senior Project Seminar
Credits: 4
A one-semester senior project or the second semester of a two-semester project, completed with a group of students with similar research topics.
Prerequisite: PSYCH 207 , one Advanced Topics course, the Junior Seminar, and permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
Students must submit a one-page research proposal that must be approved by the faculty readers for the Senior Project before registration will be permitted.
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Religious Studies |
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FSREL 201 - Communication in a Discipline: Religious Studies
Credits: 4
An introduction to writing and speaking in the discipline of Religious Studies. Must be taken on the letter-grade basis.
Prerequisite: FS 102 .
Distribution Requirements: none.
The topical material covered in this sophomore seminar varies from section to section and year to year. Some sections of this course may have additional prerequisites.
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RELST 111 - Biblical Hebrew (also listed as CLC 111 )
Credits: 4
An introduction to Biblical Hebrew. Students learn the Hebrew alphabet, become familiar with the basic paradigms of Hebrew nouns and verbs, and acquire at least 300 common Hebrew words. They apply their learning to prose passages taken from the Book of Judges and Genesis. In addition to learning the structure and grammar of Biblical Hebrew, students focus on key passages of the Biblical text that have been set to music in order to gain a cultural understanding of the passion and religious fervor of the ancient Biblical writers. Parallels to modern Hebrew vocabulary and syntax are noted.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
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RELST 115 - Religion in the Ancient Near East
Credits: 4
An examination of religious beliefs, trends, and practices in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Syria-Palestine, from prehistory to the conquests of Alexander the Great. Topics include the history and development of the different religious cultures, the role of sacrifice, kingship, prophecy, mythology, different ideas about the nature of the divine world, and the distinctions between “official” and “popular” religious culture. Students have an opportunity to read primary sources reflecting the diversity of religious beliefs and practices among the civilization of the ancient Near East.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 117 - Religion in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
Credits: 4
An examination of religious beliefs, trends, and practices in ancient Greece, the Hellenistic empire founded by Alexander the Great, and Rome and its empire, from prehistory to the reign of Constantine. Topics include the history and development of the religious cultures of Greece and Rome, the role of augury, astrology and magic, the philosophical challenge to traditional religion, the spread of the mystery religions in the Hellenistic era, and the origins and growth of the Jesus movement. Students have an opportunity to read primary sources reflecting the diversity of religious beliefs and practices among the Greeks and Romans.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
This course counts toward the Classical Studies minor.
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RELST 120 - The Faith of Ancient Israel
Credits: 4
An investigation of the faith and history of ancient Israel as chronicled in the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament). Both literary and historical critical methods are used to understand ancient Israelite religion and its gradual evolution into the faith that is the basis of Christianity as well as modern Judaism.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 130 - The New Testament
Credits: 4
A literary and historical critical examination of the various interpretations of Jesus Christ, his life and mission, as preserved in the writings of the New Testament. The New Testament is also investigated as an expression of the faith of the earliest Christian communities and as a reflection of the issues that concerned them.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 140 - Islam: Faith, History, and Culture
Credits: 4
An introduction to the Islamic faith through its history and its practices from the seventh century to the present. We consider the way Islam has adapted and changed through time and over different regions, balancing universal aspects of the faith with the particular adaptations encountered in the lived experience of Muslims. Using a variety of media, including music and art, we examine the voices of Arabic-speaking Muslims (in translation), but also Persian, Turkic, and American expressions.
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
This course counts toward the International Studies major.
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RELST 144 - Modern Islamic Movements
Credits: 4
A study of modern Islamic movements arising in the 18th and 19th centuries as well as those that have appeared more recently. We examine the various movements’ organizations, ideologies, evolution, and effectiveness. Special attention is paid to how various Islamic movements have attracted wide support and are similar to other social and religious movements. In particular, we study movements that receive significant recent media attention.
Distribution Requirements: IP, SB.
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RELST 146 - Islam in America
Credits: 4
A survey of the variety of Islamic adaptations in North America from the forced migrations of the first Muslims from Africa through present-day American Muslim youth cultures. The course examines the practices and self-understandings of the Nation of Islam and other so-called “Black Muslim” movements, as well as the impact of changes over time of racial constructions.
Pre- or Corequisite: RELST 140 is recommended.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
This class counts towards the Black Studies minor.
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RELST 147 - Judaism
Credits: 4
A survey of the Jewish experience, examining the historic forces that shape the belief and practices of Judaism. We examine issues in Jewish life such as the relationships among God, Torah, and (the people) Israel through ritual, sacred literature, and theology. Topics include Jewish faith and practice, the Bible from a Jewish perspective, rabbinic literature, the importance of Zionism and the State of Israel, and movements within American Judaism.
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
This course counts toward the International Studies major.
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RELST 150 - Hinduism
Credits: 4
An examination of the Hindu way of life from its origins to modern sectarian movements. Emphasis is given to the fundamental problems of human existence and their solution in the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Puranic literature. Includes an examination of the importance of sacrifice, the sacramental and social structure of life, myth, the Hindu temple, puja, festivals and pilgrimage.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
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RELST 160 - Buddhism
Credits: 4
An examination of the life and teachings of the Buddha, the rise of the Therevada and Mahayana schools, and the spread of Buddhism to Tibet and Japan (e.g. Pure Land and Zen sects). Major consideration is given to such issues as suffering, non-self, dependent origination, karma, rebirth, world renunciation, meditation and nirvana.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
This course counts toward the International Studies major.
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RELST 165 - Zen Buddhism and Japanese Culture
Credits: 4
An examination of the origin of Zen, its development in China, and its transmission to Japan forms the historical background for an investigation of the nature of Zen, its philosophy, method of attaining enlightenment, monastic life and important masters (e.g. the Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Basho, Hakuin). The course also examines the influence of Zen on Japanese cultural phenomena like poetry, tea, painting, rock gardens and the martial arts.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
This course counts toward the International Studies major.
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RELST 170 - Religions of China
Credits: 4
A study of the major traditions of China, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and folk religion. The Chinese religion is considered on four levels: the personal, the family, community, state. The course concludes with a look at religion in contemporary China: Maoism and its decline and the Buddhist struggle to survive.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
This course counts toward the International Studies major.
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RELST 171 - Islam and Other Religions
Credits: 4
A study of Islam’s interaction with major world religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. We examine how Islam theologically contrasts with other religions and how Muslim communities have lived among other religious communities for centuries. Special attention is given to how politics and the rise of the modern nation-state affect the relationship between various communities. A key question is how the different religions can be true to their own faiths while living in a peaceful pluralistic world.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 175 - Contemporary Religious Thought
Credits: 4
An introductory course exploring the basic issues and concerns in 20thcentury religious thought around the world and across traditions. Topics include: key religious figures; the place of religious thought in the contemporary world; religion, skepticism, and secularization; religion, violence, and conflict; religion and globalization; religious social ethics and political liberation; religious pluralism and diversity; religion and ecological crisis; religion and technology.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 180 - Religion in American Life
Credits: 4
A social history of Protestant, Catholic, and non-Christian groups in the U.S. context; the role of women and African Americans in various religions is included along with the emergence of sects and denominations, and the religious faiths of immigrant and ethnic populations. The course examines the inherent tension between the Protestant mainstream and the religious diversity resulting from the First Amendment guarantee of religious freedom.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 188 - Encountering the Other: Judaism’s Relations with Christianity and Islam
Credits: 4
An investigation into the dynamics of Judaism’s interactions with Christianity and Islam. We examine the ways in which these encounters influence the trajectory and the character of theology, religious doctrine, liturgy, and religious law in all three monotheistic traditions. Special attention is given to examining the interface between religion and politics as it affected Jewish communities living under Christian and Islamic rule. We also investigate the causes precipitating religious conflict and how these three traditions can remain authentically connected to their past while enhancing their relevance in the 21st century.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 200 - Christian Ethics
Credits: 4
An introduction to the study of Christian ethics considered within an ecumenical framework and across the broad span of the history of theology. Focusing on the primary issues that arise for any ethic that is identifiably Christian, this inquiry also involves learning to analyze and construct moral arguments.
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
This course counts towards the Community and Justice Studies major and minor.
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RELST 204 - Introduction to Sociology of Religion
Credits: 4
A study of the religious roots of sociology and the religious application of the discipline since then. Students examine the work of Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx, for whom religion was foundational subject matter, and then trace the evolution of the field, examining current theoretical models, recent case studies, and intersections with race, ethnicity, and gender. Students engage in fieldwork by making site visits to congregations in the area.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 212 - The Problem of the Self: East and West (also listed as PHIL 212 )
Credits: 4
An examination of the problem of the self in a cross-cultural context. The Eastern traditions are represented by early Buddhism, the Advaita Vedanta philosophy of Sankara, Taoism and Zen Buddhism. The Western tradition is represented by the existential thought of Soren Kierkegaard, the dialogical philosophy of Martin Buber, the deconstructive theology of Mark C. Taylor, and others.
Prerequisite: At least one course in Philosophy or Religious Studies.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
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RELST 215 - Marriage and Sexuality in Islam
Credits: 4
A study of the various marriage and sexual practices in Islamic history beginning with pre-Islamic Arabia and ending with the modern Muslim world. We examine how Muslims understood sex, arranged sexual relationships, and structured marriage contracts. Special attention is paid to how Muslim women were placed within sexual relationships and how they navigated different cultural and religious rules to their advantage. Attention is also paid to modern attempts to reform Islamic law in an effort to seek greater gender equality.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 222 - The Qur’an
Credits: 4
An examination of one of the dominant scriptural sources in Islam, the Qur’an, in English translation. Through a close reading of the text, students study the ways Muslims draw on the text in prayer, find meaning from the text, and have used interpretations to provide meaning to new generations.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
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RELST 224 - Jewish Theology and the Holocaust
Credits: 4
An examination of the character of God, revelation, and redemption by exposure to the enormous range of theological viewpoints and methods that have characterized Jewish theological reflection in modern times. Students study Holocaust theologians and theological reflections on the significance of the modern State of Israel as well as essays by prominent Jewish feminist theologians.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 226 - Religion, Education, and Gender in the Middle East and North Africa
Credits: 4
An examination of religion, education, and gender in the Middle East and North Africa. By reading ethnographic accounts of religious communities in the region, students explore how these communities grapple with issues of education and gender.
Distribution Requirements: IP, SB.
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RELST 227 - Religion and the Challenge of Modernity (also listed as PHIL 227 )
Credits: 4
An exploration of the philosophical study of religion, particularly in light of the contest between traditional modes of religious expression and the rise of a critical mentality in the modern West. Issues to be addressed may include the ethics of belief, theories of rationality and their relevance to religion, the problem of evil, religious experience, and the epistemic status of belief in God.
Distribution Requirements: HE.
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RELST 229 - The Jewish Bible: How the Rabbis Read It
Credits: 4
An examination of the Hebrew Bible and the rabbis’ unique process of interpretation called midrash. This course encourages a multi-faith conversation on the challenges posed by these texts to people of the twenty-first century and cultivates awareness of the contemporary relevance of the so-called “Old Testament.” Scripture is approached as a source of practical wisdom that may form a basis for personal and collective self-understanding.
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
This course counts toward the International Studies major.
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RELST 250 - Medieval and Reformation Christianity
Credits: 4
A study of various aspects of Western Christianity during the period from the 8th to the mid-17th century. The political, intellectual, and cultural developments of the medieval era and the Renaissance in Western Europe are studied in terms of how they affected, and were in turn affected by, the theological and institutional development of the Latin Church. The ideas of specific medieval and Reformation theologians are explored in depth to determine their contribution to the evolution of Western self-understanding.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
This course counts toward the Medieval and Renaissance Studies minor.
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RELST 265 - Theory and Method in the Study of Religion
Credits: 4
A critical examination of the different theories about the nature of religion and methodological approaches to the study of the subject from the 19th to the 21st centuries. Students study the origins of the discipline of Religious Studies in the quest for the origin of religion and the possibility of a science of religion as well as the various methods applied to the study of religion, including phenomenology, history, sociology, anthropology, psychology, ecology, biology, feminism, and postmodernism.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 341 - Jewish Ethical Perspectives
Credits: 4
A study of the ways that rabbinic Judaism is utilized by contemporary ethicists to challenge and stimulate thinking about what it might mean to be an ethical person in a post-modern age. In addition to examining conservative to liberal Jewish perspectives, we take a holistic approach that includes the views of Christian ethicists to illustrate commonalities and provide contrasts with a variety of Jewish ethical perspectives. Topics include abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, ethics after the Holocaust, the ethics of exercising power, and other critical issues of our time.
Prerequisite: RELST 147 is recommended.
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
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RELST 350 - Paul the Apostle
Credits: 4
An examination of the life, works, and legacy of Paul of Tarsus within the context of the Jesus movement and early Christianity in the eastern Mediterranean during the first centuries of the Roman Empire. Students examine Paul’s letters as literary products that reveal both the teachings and the personality of their author. Paul’s influence on the Christian movement is considered through letters written by others but attributed to Paul, and through second, third, and fourth-century oral and literary traditions about Paul’s missionary activities.
Distribution Requirements: HE, SB.
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RELST 360 - Religion and Ecology (also listed as ENVSC 360 )
Credits: 4
An exploration of the intersection between religion and environmentalism, and how religion can both contribute to and help address environmental problems. Topics include religion’s role in shaping human relationships with nature, and ecological themes that cut across religions and world views. In considering how religious communities can address environmental problems, students take part in service learning projects with local congregations or environmental groups.
Prerequisite: ENVSC 110 or at least one course in Religious Studies.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
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RELST 475 - Psychology and Religion (also listed as PSYCH 475 )
Credits: 4
An examination of the Judeo-Christian religious belief and experience from psychological and religious studies perspectives. Cognitive, theological, historical-critical, and psychodynamic theories are explored and applied to empirical studies and biographical accounts of the faith lives of men and women, past and present. The course is mainly discussion, based on primary sources.
Prerequisite: One course each in Psychology and Religious Studies.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
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RELST 529 - Internship: Religious Studies
Credits: 1-4
Academic study completed in support of an internship experience with a partner institution. An Allegheny faculty member assigns and evaluates the academic work done by the student. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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RELST 580 - Junior Group Tutorial
Credits: 4
Must be taken on the letter-grade basis.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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RELST 590 - Independent Study
Credits: 1-4
May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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RELST 591 - Group Study
Credits: 1-4
May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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RELST 600 - Senior Tutorial
Credits: 2
A course involving preparation for the Senior Project such as preliminary research and project proposal. Must be taken Credit/No Credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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RELST 610 - Senior Project
Credits: 4
A course consisting of the presentation and defense of the Senior Project. Must be taken on the letter-grade basis.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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Sociology and Anthropology |
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SOCAN 200 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Credits: 4
An introduction to cultural anthropology: the study of human cultural variation across time and space. Topics include kinship, religious, economic, and political institutions. In addition, mechanisms and processes of social change are studied as well as such issues as colonialism, development, and modernization. Although a cross-cultural perspective is emphasized, a framework for examining western culture is also provided.
Distribution Requirements: IP, SB.
This course counts as Social Science for the purpose of satisfying the College distribution requirement for students who matriculated before Fall 2016.
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SOCAN 201 - Introduction to Sociology
Credits: 4
An introduction to sociology, its history, language, and major subfields. Emphasis is placed upon sociological methods as the key to grasping the contributions of sociology to our understanding of human societies.
Distribution Requirements: PD, SB.
This course counts as Social Science for the purpose of satisfying the College distribution requirement for students who matriculated before Fall 2016.
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SOCAN 529 - Internship: Sociology/Anthropology
Credits: 1-4
Academic study completed in support of an internship experience with a partner institution. An Allegheny faculty member assigns and evaluates the academic work done by the student. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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Spanish |
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SPAN 110 - Beginning Spanish I
Credits: 4
A study that stresses the spoken language while introducing the basic structural grammatical patterns of Spanish. It focuses on the acquisition of daily life vocabulary and basic communication skills. Students also begin to develop basic cultural awareness through the study of selected Spanish-speaking countries and authentic cultural materials. Three class meetings; one oral practice period a week.
Distribution Requirements: IP.
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SPAN 120 - Beginning Spanish II
Credits: 4
A study that stresses the spoken language while continuing to introduce more complex structural grammatical patterns of Spanish. It furthers the acquisition of vocabulary and basic communication skills. Students continue to develop basic cultural awareness through the study of selected Spanish-speaking countries and authentic cultural materials. Three class meetings; one oral practice period a week.
Prerequisite: SPAN 110 or appropriate score on placement test.
Distribution Requirements: IP, ME.
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SPAN 130 - Accelerated Beginning Spanish
Credits: 4
A review of basic structural patterns of Spanish language that combines material from SPAN 110 and SPAN 120 . Designed for students with previous experience with the language, our study reviews the use of daily life vocabulary and reinforces communication skills and cultural awareness through an examination of selected Spanish-speaking countries and authentic cultural materials. Three class meetings; one oral practice period a week.
Prerequisite: SPAN 110 or appropriate score on placement test. Instructor permission required.
Distribution Requirements: IP, ME.
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SPAN 215 - Intermediate Spanish
Credits: 4
A review of communication skills with an emphasis on the application of acquired structures for more advanced language production. Students study Spanish-speaking regions through texts and movies. Three class meetings; one oral practice period a week.
Prerequisite: SPAN 120 or SPAN 130 or appropriate score on placement test.
Distribution Requirements: IP, ME.
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SPAN 220 - Issues in Contemporary Spanish and Spanish American Culture
Credits: 4
A continued study of Spanish language through issues in contemporary Spanish-speaking societies. Students acquire vocabulary and develop facility with the language by discussion of present-day topics such as education, sports, music, crime, the environment, or religion as related to daily life. Phonetics and pronunciation skills and the use of grammatical structures necessary for improving written and oral fluency form an integral part of the content studied.
Prerequisite: SPAN 215 or appropriate score on placement test.
Distribution Requirements: IP.
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SPAN 225 - Hispanic Texts
Credits: 4
Reading and discussion of selected texts by modern Spanish and Spanish American authors. Through an introduction to literary analysis, students develop reading, writing, and speaking skills in preparation for upper-level classes in literature and culture.
Prerequisite: SPAN 215 and either SPAN 220 or SPAN 230 .
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
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SPAN 230 - Imperial Cultures
Credits: 4
A study of Pre-Colombian and Spanish Empires designed to further develop students’ speaking, reading, and writing abilities. The study of topics such as social structures and daily life, religion and agriculture, encounter and conquests, “courtly” life, syncretism, and the baroque helps students to develop an extensive vocabulary and make comparisons between social life in the past and today.
Prerequisite: SPAN 215 or appropriate score on placement test.
Distribution Requirements: IP.
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SPAN 245 - Spanish for Heritage Speakers
Credits: 4
Designed specifically for native or heritage speakers of Spanish with oral proficiency but little or no formal training in the language. Our goals are to expand professional/academic vocabulary, to develop and improve writing and reading skills, and to provide bilingual students with linguistic tools that help them use their language skills in both English and Spanish to increase overall proficiency. Language skills are developed through an exploration of Latino culture and literature in the United States.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Distribution Requirements: CL, PD.
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SPAN 305 - Conversation and Composition
Credits: 4
Intensive discussion and writing on a variety of topical subjects in conjunction with readings of literary texts or periodicals. Includes exercises in phonetics. Designed to provide greater breadth and fluency in spoken and written Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 225 .
Distribution Requirements: IP, ME.
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SPAN 315 - Advanced Spanish Language Study
Credits: 4
A close study of complex Spanish language structures and how to use them to improve comprehension and writing skills. Students develop language specific to the study of Spanish and demonstrate those skills in interpretative essays and class discussion.
Prerequisite: SPAN 225 .
Distribution Requirements: IP, ME.
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SPAN 320 - Stories and Storytelling
Credits: 4
An exploration of stories told in Spanish. Students study narrative form in a variety of genres in an examination of the important elements of storytelling, the relationship between a story and its historical context, and the importance of stories and storytellers to society. Texts and historical periods and themes may vary. As part of a final project, students may produce a story in their textual form of choice in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 225 .
Distribution Requirements: HE, ME.
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SPAN 325 - Civilization and Culture of Spain
Credits: 4
Readings and discussions concerning principal currents of Spanish civilization and culture across the centuries.
Prerequisite: SPAN 225 .
Distribution Requirements: none.
Recommended prior to study abroad in Spain.
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SPAN 330 - Topics in Hispanic Popular Culture
Credits: 4
An introduction to significant genres of contemporary Latin American or Spanish popular culture in three media: music, television, and print. Genres and countries vary according to instructor.
Prerequisite: SPAN 225 .
Distribution Requirements: HE.
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SPAN 335 - Spanish American Civilization I
Credits: 4
A study of the historical evolution of Spanish America from pre-Columbian times to 1810, providing both a political and cultural perspective.
Prerequisite: SPAN 225 .
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
Recommended prior to study in Latin America.
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SPAN 345 - Spanish American Civilization II
Credits: 4
A study of the historical evolution of Spanish America from 1810 to the present, providing both a political and cultural perspective.
Prerequisite: SPAN 225 .
Distribution Requirements: none.
Recommended prior to study in Latin America.
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SPAN 360 - Contesting Authority
Credits: 4
A study of cultural production under authoritarian regimes in Spain and/or Latin America. Students examine the characteristics of cultural production created under these historical conditions through an analysis of texts that affirm and contest the dominant authority. Topics and texts vary according to instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: SPAN 225 .
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
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SPAN 365 - Special Topics in Spanish Peninsular or Latin American Culture
Credits: 4
An examination of Latin American or Spanish literary and cultural texts to enrich cultural knowledge, increase vocabulary, and reinforce grammatical and communicative structures with an emphasis on the craft of cultural commentary.
Prerequisite: SPAN 225 and one 300-level Spanish course.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
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SPAN 385 - Introduction to Hispanic Culture through Film
Credits: 4
An introduction to the study of movies and their representation of Spanish or Latin American culture. Through the study of influential films, students acquire the pertinent language to narrate and analyze cinematographic texts in Spanish and discuss them in their cultural context. Films vary according to instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: SPAN 225 .
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
Limited to sophomores and juniors.
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SPAN 405 - Translating Language and Culture
Credits: 4
A study of the practice of translation from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. Students translate and compare translations of different types of texts in order to better understand differences in language structure and cultural expression. Assignments may include translating business letters, advertisements, essays, stories, and poetry; subtitling video; summarizing critical articles; and critiquing peers’ translations.
Prerequisite: Three 300-level Spanish courses or permission of the instructor.
Distribution Requirements: IP, ME.
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SPAN 420 - Nationalisms
Credits: 4
A study of the emergence and establishment of cultural nationalisms in Spain or Latin America from the nineteenth century to the present. Students analyze the way in which writers and filmmakers portray the conflict between the state and its minority cultures. Students apply basic theoretical concepts to the representation of nationhood shown in each cultural text to develop advanced communication skills.
Prerequisite: Three 300-level courses in Spanish.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
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SPAN 430 - Race, Gender and Power
Credits: 4
A close examination of Latin American and/or Spanish texts (literature, film, and music, for example) to introduce students to the way in which gender and race are integral components in the struggle for power (including political, social, cultural, and economic power). Students continue to develop close reading skills and language proficiency as they analyze a range of power dynamics as represented in different cultural texts.
Prerequisite: Three 300-level courses in Spanish.
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
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SPAN 440 - Narrating Selves: Hispanic Literature in Contemporary Cultural Context
Credits: 4
A study of the narrative form as vehicle for identity formation in Spain or Latin America. Through close readings of autobiography, testimonio, or novel, students analyze the rhetorical techniques used in exploring the formation of individual, minority group, national, or globalized identities. Topics vary according to instructor.
Prerequisite: Three 300-level courses in Spanish.
Distribution Requirements: HE.
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SPAN 445 - Topics in Hispanic Film
Credits: 4
A study of significant filmmakers, national cinematographies, periods, and/or themes in Hispanic cinema. Topics vary according to instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: SPAN 385 and two additional 300-level courses in Spanish.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
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SPAN 485 - Hispanic Film, From Text to Screen
Credits: 4
An exploration of the adaptation of Latin American, Spanish, or Caribbean texts brought to the screen. Students examine short stories, journalistic accounts, novels, and/or screenplays and their filmic counterparts as an inquiry into the nature of verbal and visual representation. Special thematic focus may be given to the importance of construct of gender, class, or national identity in relation to the film’s or text’s specific context. Projects include book and film reviews, textual adaptation, or the shooting of a short film with digital cameras.
Prerequisite: Three 300-level courses in Spanish.
Distribution Requirements: HE, ME.
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SPAN 529 - Internship: Spanish
Credits: 1-4
Academic study completed in support of an internship experience with a partner institution. An Allegheny faculty member assigns and evaluates the academic work done by the student. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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SPAN 580 - Senior Seminar
Credits: 4
An in-depth study of a significant author, theme, or text from Hispanic literature or culture. Topic varies from year to year. Readings and discussion in a seminar format model the process for completing a research project, which students prepare as a final assignment.
Prerequisite: Three 300-level courses in Spanish.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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SPAN 590 - Independent Study
Credits: 4
May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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SPAN 592 - Teaching in the Elementary or Secondary Schools
Credits: 2-4
A field experience in education during which students work with teachers and students in elementary or secondary schools. Relevant readings, as well as discussions with the instructor and the supervising teacher, provide the background and context for the fieldwork. Students are required to keep a reflective journal and to complete a culminating project based on their experiences in the classroom. May be repeated for credit. Must be taken Credit/No Credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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SPAN 594 - Teaching at College
Credits: 2-4
A field experience in which students work with a language professor and college students learning Spanish at Allegheny. Relevant readings, as well as weekly discussions with the instructors, provide the background and context for the fieldwork. Students are required to keep a reflective journal and complete a final project on their experiences in the classroom. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: At least one 300-level Spanish course and permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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SPAN 600 - Senior Project I
Credits: 2
Preparation of a Senior Project proposal based on the development of a thesis statement, a short description of the project, and a relevant annotated bibliography. Must be taken Credit/No Credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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SPAN 610 - Senior Project II
Credits: 4
Completion and oral defense of the Senior Project. Must be taken on the letter-grade basis.
Prerequisite: SPAN 600 and permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies |
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WGSS 100 - Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Credits: 4
An introduction to the field of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies that delineates some of the parameters and interdisciplinary connections in feminist and queer scholarship. Alongside discussions of women’s contemporary lives, students explore key social institutions and systems of power, oppression, and difference. We focus on the ways in which gender and sexuality are culturally constructed, with an emphasis on the intersections of identities, including gender, class, race, sexuality, ability, religion, and nationality.
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
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WGSS 207 - Human Sexual Identities
Credits: 4
An examination of the psychological and biological factors that influence human sexual development and identity. Concepts and expressions of human sexuality are considered from psychological and anthropological perspectives. The biological (e.g. evolutionary, physiological, neurobiological, and genetic) influences on human sexual development and function will also be addressed.
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
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WGSS 210 - Social Movements in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Credits: 4
A consideration of women’s, gendered, and queer identities, roles, experiences, and ideologies in order to understand the foundations of historical and contemporary U.S. social movements. Students explore the ways in which events, institutions, politics, economics, the law, and/or cultures have both influenced and been influenced by public demands for social change. Topics may include: History of Sexuality, History of Feminism in the United States, Gay Liberation Movements, Women of Color in the United States, Black Women and Activism, Comparative Social Movements, Feminist Media Activism, Feminist Art Activism, and Women and Labor Movements.
Distribution Requirements: CL, PD.
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WGSS 211 - Queer Lives
Credits: 4
An exploration of a broad range of queer issues and the lived experiences of sexual minorities in the United States. Students examine major events in the history and social construction of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, and queer communities, with the goal of understanding the role of power and privilege in constructing sexual identities. We consider how queer lives have been inflected by differences like race and class and how the struggles of sexual minorities have shaped larger cultural discourses around family, intimacy, law, and social change.
Distribution Requirements: CL, SB.
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WGSS 255 - Women and Migration
Credits: 4
An introduction to why women migrate, how they experience life in a new culture, and their contributions to the receiving country. The United Nations reports that “one of the most significant trends in migration has been the entry of women into migration streams that had heretofore been primarily male” and that half of migrants today are women. We examine who is moving around the most and why, how belonging and a sense of “un-belonging” structure women’s citizenship, how immigrant status is tied to work and family, how political policies affect where and how women move, and how policies are tied to race, class, sexuality, and nationality.
Distribution Requirements: IP, PD.
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WGSS 275 - Bodies in American Culture
Credits: 4
An introduction to how we understand the gendered, sexualized, and racialized body in American culture, examining the socio-cultural and political forces that shape bodies and bodily experiences; how different bodies are perceived, valued, and treated; and how people resist. In addition to core readings in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, we draw on sociology, science/medicine, history, art, cultural studies, media studies, ethnic studies, and black studies to explore how the body is constructed in scientific and medical discourse, fat studies, disabled bodies, transgendered bodies, and women’s sport culture in the United States.
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
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WGSS 300 - Feminist and Queer Theory
Credits: 4
A study of contemporary feminist and queer theories with an emphasis on their shifting conceptualizations of gender, race, class, sexuality, and nationality. Students engage with key, original theoretical texts that examine core concepts of identity and difference, power and privilege, social structures and agency, and institutional and grassroots change. Emphasis is placed on putting feminist and queer theories into conversation with one another in order to understand their interdependent relationship.
Prerequisite: WGSS 100 , and WGSS 210 or WGSS 211 .
Distribution Requirements: HE, PD.
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WGSS 306 - Cultural and Evolutionary History of Sexuality
Credits: 4
An examination of sexuality from evolutionary, historical, and cultural perspectives. This discussion-based class takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the biological and cultural bases of human sexuality, sexual identities, and sexual practices. Topics include homosexuality, bisexuality, intersexuality, transgender and transsexuality, heterosexuality, female orgasm, and adultery.
Distribution Requirements: PD, SB.
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WGSS 310 - Gendered Violence
Credits: 4
An exploration of how identity, socio-historical shifts, cultural production, and geo-political systems provide frameworks for understanding gendered violence. Violence is accomplished through a wide range of socially institutionalized and individually perpetuated events and circumstances and takes place across (and within) racial, ethnic, sexual, and national communities. We examine theoretical frameworks that discuss these differences in U.S. and transnational contexts, how violence is represented in popular culture, and the role the state plays in maintaining and intervening in violence. We conclude with examples of how scholars, artists, and activists take action to create social change.
Prerequisite: WGSS 100 .
Distribution Requirements: PD, SB.
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WGSS 400 - Global Feminisms
Credits: 4
A study of feminisms from around the world that analyzes transnational theory and practice and/or interrogates global politics through feminist lenses. We raise questions about systems of power based on investigations of nationality, race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion by drawing on feminist theory and specific case studies. Possible topics include colonialism and postcolonialism, imperialism, genocide, sex trafficking and slavery, sex work, violence against women, reproductive health, migration and citizenship, war and its attending peace movements, women and labor, global queer communities and movements, environmental issues, women in politics, and religious and artistic expression.
Prerequisite: WGSS 100 , and WGSS 210 or WGSS 211 ; or permission of the instructor.
Distribution Requirements: IP, PD.
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WGSS 410 - Critical Perspectives in Global Women’s Health
Credits: 4
An overview of the theoretical foundations for framing global women’s health issues. We examine the systemic and cultural barriers that prevent access to health care and well-being as well as how professionals, community justice workers, and women themselves advocate for more than mere access. We synthesize approaches in women’s studies, global health, political science, environmental studies, sociology, anthropology, political economies, art, and history to think transnationally about global women’s health. We pay particular attention to medical models, education, reproduction/sexual health, the environment, and sex work.
Prerequisite: WGSS 100 .
Distribution Requirements: IP, PD.
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WGSS 501 - Internship: Women’s Services I
Credits: 2
A two-semester internship at Women’s Services, a non-profit social service agency for women and children in Crawford County. Students complete the Women’s Services volunteer training during part one of the internship and participate in one or more aspects of the organization’s program: advocacy, support, information and referral, community education and crisis intervention. The intern meets regularly with the agency administration for discussion and supervision and has regular conferences with the internship instructor. The intern’s performance is evaluated by the on-site supervisor in consultation with the supervising faculty member. In addition, the supervising faculty member evaluates the student’s written work consisting of a journal integrating on-site experience with assigned readings. In the context of the corequisite, PSYCH 540 , the student develops an in-depth research project.
Prerequisite: WGSS 100 , PSYCH 102 or PSYCH 160 , and permission of instructor. Corequisite: PSYCH 540 .
Distribution Requirements: none.
Students are expected to take WGSS 502 - Internship: Women’s Services II the following semester.
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WGSS 502 - Internship: Women’s Services II
Credits: 2
An extension of Women’s Services Internship I in which the student continues participation in the agency’s program and completes the research project begun in WGSS 501 .
Prerequisite: WGSS 501 and permission of instructor. Corequisite: PSYCH 540 .
Distribution Requirements: none.
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WGSS 503 - Internship: Women’s Prison
Credits: 2
An internship at the State Correctional Institution at Cambridge Springs (SCICS), a minimum-security women’s prison. The intern works with the prison’s treatment staff, interacts with inmates, observes group therapy and other group counseling techniques (such as those for learning parenting skills or treating substance abusers or sexual offenders) and learns about the issues involved in the incarceration of women, as well as the multidisciplinary approach to inmate rehabilitation.
Prerequisite: WGSS 100 and approval of the internship liaison. Corequisite: PSYCH 540 .
Distribution Requirements: none.
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WGSS 529 - Internship: Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Credits: 1-4
Academic study completed in support of an internship experience with a partner institution. An Allegheny faculty member assigns and evaluates the academic work done by the student. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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WGSS 580 - Junior Seminar in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Credits: 4
A capstone seminar that engages selected topics (based on the instructor) relating to the field of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from interdisciplinary and feminist perspectives. Students research foundational and emerging secondary scholarship in the field and are expected to complete a major research project, as well as formally present their findings orally to the seminar. The junior seminar is intended to prepare students for their senior project by giving them an opportunity to practice their research skills in a particular subject and on a smaller scale.
Prerequisite: WGSS 100 , WGSS 210 or WGSS 211 ; WGSS 300 ; and permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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WGSS 620 - Senior Project
Credits: 4
Research, presentation and defense of the Senior Project.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: none.
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Modern Languages |
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CLC 100 - Sign Language I
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: ME.
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CLC 111 - Biblical Hebrew (also listed as RELST 111 )
Credits: 4
An introduction to Biblical Hebrew. Students learn the Hebrew alphabet, become familiar with the basic paradigms of Hebrew nouns and verbs, and acquire at least 300 common Hebrew words. They apply their learning to prose passages taken from the Book of Judges and Genesis. In addition to learning the structure and grammar of Biblical Hebrew, students focus on key passages of the Biblical text that have been set to music in order to gain a cultural understanding of the passion and religious fervor of the ancient Biblical writers. Parallels to modern Hebrew vocabulary and syntax are noted.
Distribution Requirements: HE, IP.
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CLC 130 - English as a Second Language through Topics in American Culture I
Credits: 4
For Allegheny international students who need English language development. The course stresses development in reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing, elements of grammar, and listening and speaking skills. Using topics related to American culture, the course offers individualized instruction based on student competency in English.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: ME.
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CLC 200 - Sign Language II
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Distribution Requirements: ME.
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