College of Liberal Arts

AAS 2310. Introduction to African American Studies.

This course provides students with an interdisciplinary overview of black culture in America using scholarship from history, literature, music, visual and performing arts, folklore, religion, sociology, psychology, philosophy, economics, and political science. It introduces students to epistemological considerations, theories, and methods that form the field of African American and African Diaspora Studies.

AAS 3301. Black Cinema.

This course examines Black cinema from 1919 to the present, emphasizing historical, social, and cultural contexts of representation in film. Students analyze contributions of Black filmmakers and explore relationships between cinematic portrayals and societal developments. The course applies film theory and critical approaches to evaluate cinematic texts and assess African American participation in the film industry across time. Topics include major film movements, evolving aesthetics, and the interplay between cultural narratives and visual storytelling.

AAS 3399. Literature and Social Contexts in 19th and 20th‑Century America.

This course examines such books as Richard Wright’s Native Son, Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, and other canonical writings in African American literature and cultural history. Students study each novel’s themes, narrative strategies, and historical contexts, including debates about identity, inequality, and the literary responses of major Black writers and thinkers in the 19th and 20th centuries. Through readings, films, and secondary scholarship, the course analyzes how each text engages questions of race, agency, and representation. Emphasis is placed on developing interpretive skills, evaluating scholarly arguments, and exploring how these works contributed to national conversations about race in the United States.

AAS 4320. Global Perspectives on the African Diaspora.

This course examines the historical, cultural, social, and political experiences of African descended communities across global contexts. Students study the development of the African diaspora through literature, film, and interdisciplinary scholarship, with attention to how groups in regions such as Senegal, Haiti, Kenya, Nigeria, and Somalia navigate identity, culture, migration, and representation. The course emphasizes comparative analysis and critical interpretation of diaspora experiences while situating them within broader historical and cultural processes, such as the transatlantic slave trade. Students analyze how people of African descent negotiate continuity, change, and connection across diverse geographical and cultural settings.

AAS 4388. Independent Research in African American Studies.

This independent study course is open to advanced students on an individual or small group basis to research and explore topics in African American Studies. Projects will be approved by the instructor. Students examine relevant scholarship, interpret sources, and construct analytical frameworks appropriate to their chosen subject. Under faculty guidance, students design a research plan, develop written analyses, and evaluate methodological approaches used within the discipline. The course supports sustained inquiry and iterative revision through faculty instruction and feedback.

DVST 3301. Introduction to Social and Cultural Diversity.

This course examines U.S. diversity through a multi-disciplinary lens, focusing on historical and contemporary patterns among major racial and ethnic groups, including African Americans, Asian Americans, Latina/os, Native Americans, and European Americans. Students analyze theoretical frameworks used to study social categories such as culture, language, age, gender, and ability/disability. Emphasis is placed on understanding how these dimensions shape social structures and interactions. The course encourages critical evaluation of scholarly approaches to diversity and their implications for interpreting social dynamics.

DVST 3320. Introduction to Global Social and Cultural Diversity.

This course examines the economic, political, and cultural relationships between the United States and other nations. Students analyze historical and contemporary factors shaping global interactions, including the impact of colonialism on patterns of development. The course evaluates how policy decisions in one country influence international systems and explores responses to globalization through social and institutional change. Emphasis is placed on applying interdisciplinary frameworks to interpret global interdependence and its implications for economic and political structures.

DVST 3325. Foundations of Social Organization and Difference.

This course explores theories of social difference and their application to understanding social interactions in diverse contexts. Students examine categories such as race, class, gender, sexuality, age, and ability/disability through case study analysis. The course investigates institutional and organizational processes that shape social structures and evaluates their effects on patterns of participation and resource distribution. Emphasis is placed on analytical reasoning and evidence-based interpretation of complex social phenomena. Prerequisite: DVST 3301 with a grade of a "B" or better.

DVST 4375. Directed Research.

This course provides an advanced, supervised research experience for individual students or groups focused on a selected topic in diversity studies, emphasizing scholarly inquiry, appropriate methodologies, and evidence-based analysis. Approved projects may include, but are not limited to, scholarly papers, abstracts, articles, poster presentations, oral presentations, and field-based research. Permission to enroll and project approval must be obtained from the instructor prior to registration. This course may be repeated once for credit with permission of the instructor.

DVST 5310. Social Groups and Society: Theories & Issues.

This course analyzes major frameworks for the study of race, ethnicity, and class in U.S. society. Focusing on Native American, African American, Mexican American, and Asian American communities, students investigate historical developments, cultural representations, and social structures in the U.S. The course integrates theoretical readings with literary works to assess how social categories are constructed and contested in society by applying interdisciplinary perspectives and fostering an evidence-based understanding of diversity as a subject of scholarly inquiry.

DVST 5320. Global Perspectives: Race, Ethnicity, and Social Stratification.

This course examines global issues of race, ethnic and cultural groups through the lens of political, economic, and social transformations affecting developed and developing nations. Students analyze how structural changes influence international relations, resource distribution, and cultural dynamics. Using interdisciplinary frameworks and case studies, the course evaluates competing explanations for global disparities and interconnected challenges. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based reasoning and comparative analysis to understand patterns of change and continuity in a global context.

DVST 5388. Directed Research.

This course provides graduate students an advanced, supervised research experience focused on a selected topic in diversity studies, emphasizing scholarly inquiry, appropriate methodologies, and evidence-based analysis. Approved projects may include, but are not limited to, scholarly papers, abstracts, articles, poster presentations, oral presentations, and field-based research. Permission to enroll and project approval must be obtained from the instructor prior to registration. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

WS 3376. Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

This course explores core ideas and analytical frameworks in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, focusing on cultural contexts within the United States. Students investigate how gender and sexuality have been constructed and represented across different historical and social settings. Using interdisciplinary approaches, the course examines theoretical perspectives and research methods employed in the field. Through readings and discussion, students evaluate how these concepts intersect with race, class, and other dimensions of identity. The course emphasizes critical analysis and interpretation rather than prescriptive conclusions.

WS 3377. Gender and Sexuality in Comparative Cultural Contexts.

This course examines the intersections of gender, sex, and power across diverse cultural contexts, emphasizing comparative and historical analysis. Students explore key debates and current research within Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, focusing on how these concepts are constructed and understood in different societies. Through readings, discussion, and case studies, the course evaluates theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches used to analyze gender roles and social structures. Special attention is given to examples from societies outside the United States to develop a global perspective on gender and sexuality.

WS 4388. Independent Research in Women and Gender Studies.

This course provides an opportunity for students to conduct independent research in Women’s and Gender Studies. Working individually or collaboratively, students identify a research topic, design a study plan, and compile a bibliography for instructor review. The course emphasizes methodological rigor and theoretical analysis, supporting students in developing an analytical framework for their project. Course outcomes include a detailed research outline and a research paper demonstrating evidence-based evaluation of sources and engagement with scholarly debates in the field.

WS 5376. Representations of Women in U.S. Culture: 1800 to Present.

This course analyzes shifting representations of women in U.S. culture and other contexts from 1800 onward, drawing on sources produced by historians, writers, artists, educators, and media. Students examine scholarly interpretations of how these portrayals relate to historical developments and cultural ideologies, using comparative and interpretive methods. The course emphasizes inquiry into the relationship between representation and social change, guiding students to assess scholarly debates and evaluate evidence from multiple genres and historical periods.

WS 5377. Gender, Sex, and Society: Comparative Perspectives.

This course examines social, political, and cultural factors examined by scholars in the study of gender roles and women’s experiences in the United States and other contexts. Topics include biological and psychological research on sex differences, legal and political institutions, labor and family dynamics, and representations of gender. Students analyze theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches used in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Comparative perspectives are incorporated through case studies of societies outside the United States to support analysis of global patterns and cultural variation.

WS 5388. Independent Research in Women and Gender Studies.

This graduate course provides an opportunity for students to conduct independent research in Women’s and Gender Studies. Working individually or collaboratively, students identify a research topic, design a study plan, and compile a bibliography for instructor review. The course emphasizes methodological rigor and theoretical analysis, supporting students in developing an analytical framework for their project. Course outcomes include a detailed research outline and a research paper demonstrating evidence-based evaluation of sources and engagement with scholarly debates in the field. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.