Sections Satisfying the Global Perspective Requirement Are Highlighted in Yellow
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Intellectual Inquiry Courses for Fall 2016 rev July 21, 2016 Sections satisfying the Global Perspective requirement are highlighted in yellow. INQ 110 Intellectual Inquiry
INQ 110-AA Exploring “Sense of Place” Dr. Rob Emmitt MW 2:20-3:50 PM We have lifelong interaction with the landscape—we conduct our daily lives in it, we seek both the familiar and the exotic in it, and it holds our memories and reveals our values—yet these relationships often go unexamined. What does it means to know a place? How can we study or “read” it? Does place shape us or do we shape it? How does place change over time? This course will focus on an inherently interdisciplinary topic, “sense of place,” using a variety of methods (verbal, physical, visual, etc.) and approaches (literature, history, geography, visual art, etc.) in an effort to comprehend a difficult but powerful subject. Our critical investigation of place/landscape may include the dynamics of insider/outsider, subjectivity/objectivity, and real/ideal—themes that are both personal and universal. By learning to read the landscape, we will better understand our place in it. Use your eyes, be curious, seek answers.
INQ 110-B Marriage and Family Dr. Kristi Hoffman T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM An examination of some of the challenges facing individuals and American society as we seek to maintain and support marriages and families in the 21st century. Course topics covered help students answer the following questions: How will marriages and families be structured in the future? What will it be like to have a marriage, children, and a career? What are the benefits of being married, having a family, or remaining single? What social policies and laws are needed to support individuals and families as they face the challenges of the future? To address these questions, we review social trends associated with cohabitation, inter-racial marriage, gay and lesbian partnerships, blended and single parent families, and parenting practices.
INQ 110-BB Women in the Workplace Dr. Sweet MWF 9:40-10;40 AM Do men and women lead differently? Do people have different reactions to male and female leaders? Which company policies and organizational cultures help or hinder men and women leaders? Why do family responsibilities to children and elders hold both men and women back from upper management? In this course, we will study gender issues in leadership using an interdisciplinary approach, by integrating research from psychology, sociology, economics, management, and related fields. INQ 110-C1 Who or What is God? Prof. Jordan MWF 12:00 – 1:00 AM INQ 110-C2 Who or What is God? Prof. Jordan MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM This course asks the question, Who or What is God? We will use foundational texts from four of the largest religious communities of the world (Confucius’ Analects; the Buddha’s Dhammapada; portions of the Qur’an; and the gospel of Luke), to compare and contrast how these four texts answer this and related questions. Our principal methods will be discussion and writing. In the process, students will join a millennia-long conversation, learn to think critically, and improve their writing skills.
INQ 110-CC Life in the Ancient City Dr. Warden T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM The history of city life is of particular interest because of the importance of the cities in our own lives as centers of politics, culture and commerce. Scholars agree that the emergence of cities was an integral moment in human history. The urbanized civilizations of the ancient world represent some of the earliest flourishing of the urban form. By engaging with case studies from the ancient world, we will ask: How did city living impact and shape ancient societies? How were cities sustained and constituted socially, economically, and politically? From the start, we will work with the archaeological evidence and the ancient textual sources and learn methods for their analysis. Writing and research assignments will aid us in formulating our own questions and interpretations as we unpack the multi-layered features of the ancient city.
INQ 110-D Mind and Body Dr. Zorn MWF 10:50 – 11:50 AM This course deals with the perennial question of who we are and how we relate to the rest of the world: are we highly sophisticated bodies, immaterial minds, or something else? Dealing with the relation between mind and body prompts us to consider other topics at the core of our sense of what it means to be a human being: the nature of consciousness, the possibility of freedom, death, human destiny, and the existence of God.
INQ 110-F Animals-Humans-Robots Dr. M. Larson-Harris MWF 1:10 – 2:10 PM In the 21st century some people look towards animals and the natural world for inspiration, and others towards robots and artificial intelligence. This class explores how both groups define the human condition in starkly different ways. The first group wants to orient our sense of ourselves towards organic diet, finding common ground with animals, and seeing humans as merely another animal species. The second group looks for inspiration to technology, and seeks to augment human potential through biophysical modifications, artificial enhancements, and human- computer symbioses. We will examine the aspirations of both groups as they are represented in essays, novels, short stories, and films. This class is an historical, literary, and philosophical exploration of how we have come to view the human condition in the early 21st century—as demonstrated by our concepts of animals and artificial life. The many questions we will consider include, are we a part of or apart from nature? and who are we?
INQ 110-FF Everything’s an Argument Prof. S. Rambo T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM Why is it important to recognize that everything is an argument? In this course we will answer that question by studying specific types of arguments in detail, considering complex argumentation, and questioning factual assertions made by journalists, scientists, and politicians, among others. As we explore and examine formats ranging from essays to billboards students will be given a firm grounding in the central concepts of rhetoric. This course will also help students further develop their skills in critical thinking, writing, reading, speaking, and researching as well as prepare them for academic and personal success by awakening their intellectual curiosity. Our classroom will serve as a place to think rhetorically and with self- awareness about the beliefs and opinions that inform their actions in the Roanoke College community and beyond.
INQ 110-I Strange Tales from the Bible Dr. Hinlicky T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM After an introduction to a scholarly understanding of the origin and interpretation of the Bible, we will address the questions: Why have some tales from the Bible been deemed strange, sparking the interest and imagination of believers and non-believers of various time periods? How have these readers responded to these stories? What significance have they attached to them? This course will investigate a variety of stories—some well-known and others more obscure—from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament writings.
INQ 110-II1 A Study of American Film Dr. L. Garrison T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM INQ 110-II2 A Study of American Film Dr. Z. Ingle T TH 2:50 – 4:10 PM INQ 110-II3 A Study of American Film Dr. Z. Ingle T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM Have you ever wondered what makes a film a classic? Who decides what is the “best movie of all time?” How is that decision made? By examining American Film from a literary, technical and commercial perspective, we will attempt to answer these questions. By viewing the American Film Institute’s top ten film of all time, we will examine film as literary texts and visual art. You will learn to analyze the formal aspects of films—including scenes, shot selection, and dialogue—and will be introduced to genre and theoretical approaches to film study. You will learn to discuss films from a thoughtful and informed perspective, and write critically and analytically about how they work and what they accomplish as films. Film viewing times: Tuesday 7-9 for Dr. Ingle’s section; Wednesday 7-9 for Dr. Garrison’s section.
INQ 110-JJ1 Finding Ourselves in Folktales Dr. Stoneman TTH 10:10 –11:40 PM INQ 110-JJ2 Finding Ourselves in Folktales Dr. Stoneman TTH 1:10 – 2:40 PM Who are the “folk” in folktales? How are these “folk” constructed by their cultures? Can we, as modern people, relate to any of the issues facing these “folks” from long ago? How has culture constructed us? How has it impacted the decisions we make in our daily lives? As we read folktales from a variety of cultures and critical materials that help students engage the primary texts, we will use class discussion, writing assignments, and research projects to meet our course goals: 1) to use the knowledge of cultural perspective gained through analysis of select folktales to evaluate how our own lives are impacted by culture; 2) to assess how our cultural perspectives may impact our daily decision-making.
INQ 110-K1 Scientific Pursuit of Happiness Dr. Whitson MWF 12:00 – 1:00 PM INQ 110-K2 Scientific Pursuit of Happiness Dr. Whitson MWF 1:10 – 2:10 PM From the perspective of psychological science this course examines the nature of happiness and explores strategies that have been proposed for the pursuit of happiness. Critical inquiry will be made into several questions, including the following: What is happiness? How happy are people in general? Who is happy, and why? Is it possible to become happier? What happiness strategies or skills are supported by scientific research and which are not? Students will examine and evaluate the contemporary scientific research on happiness and its correlates, and will evaluate strategies purported to increase happiness. Students will also be asked to apply their knowledge of skills derived from happiness research in some dimensions of their everyday lives, and to appraise the outcomes of applying these specific happiness strategies.
INQ 110-KK Biology in Music Dr. Poli MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM Using Victorian literature to set the stage, this course will explore how taboos are discussed in American culture. In popular culture, American music lyrics have shed light (and even misunderstandings) about sex and drug use to the common person. Introducing students to the science behind music, the brain, and drug production will help the student appreciate how popular culture can affect scientific literacy and acceptance.
INQ 110-M1 Stories from the World Dr. Almeder MW 2:20 – 3:50 PM INQ 110-M2 Stories from the World Dr. Mallavarapu T TH 2:50 – 4:20 PM INQ 110-M3 Stories from the World Dr. Mallavarapu T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM INQ 110-NN Stories from the World Prof. M. Hancock-Parmer MWF 10:50-11:50 AM In this course we will study variations on classic stories from around the world in multiple genres: oral traditions, fiction, film, poetry and art. We will analyze the structure of individual narratives and, using collaborative research and presentation, we will ask how each of these retellings manifests historical and cultural contexts. How do these stories shift form and logic as they move across the world and across genres? Finally, we will construct our own variation of one of the great stories, being able to articulate how our embodiment of the story engages the history and cultural context of the narrative.
INQ 110-N Ghosts & Human Perception Dr. Carter MWF 8:30 – 9:30 AM What do our beliefs about ghosts tell us about our perceptions of truth? What are the distinctions between beliefs and knowledge? This interdisciplinary examination of ghost lore and research into haunting experiences will range from religious notions of the afterlife to psychological studies of such phenomena as schizotypal hallucinations to scientific knowledge of how environmental factors such as infrasound and electromagnetism affect our perceptions of the world around us. The class even gives a brief nod to quantum physics. The students will not be sitting around scaring themselves silly with campfire ghost stories but examining how their beliefs about ghosts provide clues to their most basic assumptions about what it means to be human.
INQ 110-O Other Places Dr. Hanstedt T TH 8:30 – 10:00 AM Why do we leave home? What drives us to leave behind the familiar (and often comfortable) for other places that are new to us, challenging to us, sometimes dangerous to us? What images/fantasies rise to the surface when we contemplate the possibility of visiting Egypt or Rome or Bangkok or Istanbul? And what happens when we get there? Can the reality rise to our expectations? Are we changed? Is the place we’re visiting changed? Students in this class will read widely and discuss actively literary works relating to this topic, seeking, finally, to answer these questions for themselves in a manner that reflects an intellectual engagement with the questions at hand.
INQ 110-Q Are Virtual Realities for Real Dr. Shende MWF 2:20 – 3:20 PM Most futuristic, and sometimes even present-day, fictional scenarios involve computational devices with abilities far beyond what we actually see today. Often, these devices are artificially intelligent beings that can pass off as humans. In this course, we will encounter several such scenarios in our readings. Are such scenarios simply fantasy, or do they have the potential of becoming reality in the future? Is it possible to create an artificially intelligent being that is indistinguishable from a human being? We will learn as much as we can about computation to try and answer these questions.
INQ 110-R Graphic Novels Dr. McGraw MWF 10:50 – 11:50 AM This course serves as an introduction to critical methods in popular culture studies, with a focus on the graphic novel as cultural product and practice. Together, we will explore the ways in which meanings emerge in several celebrated texts of the graphic novel genre, as well as some emerging classics. The exploration of visual culture, the image as text and the graphic novel genre will lead us to interesting questions. How do we make meaning out of the image? How do images speak to us? What is Visual Culture? What is a graphic novel? Where are graphic novels situated in popular culture? What does it mean to claim that graphic novels are both marginalized genre and marginalized subject? How do graphic novels work? These questions and many others will guide our investigations of the graphic novel.
INQ 110-S Race and Media Dr. Melican MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM Through our readings, discussion, and written assignments we will consider how television, film, and newspapers represent different racial and ethnic groups. Looking specifically at representations of African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, and Native Americans, we will ask: What images are being presented? How do they compare to reality? Does it matter what we see? Readings will include cultural studies and social science analyses as well as consideration of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
INQ 110-U1 Other People’s Stories Dr. Stewart T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM INQ 110-U2 Other People’s Stories Dr. Turpin T TH 8:30 – 10:00 AM In this course you’ll read a wide range of fiction and non-fiction about people—in order to think and write about different identities, including your own. Which people can you “identify” with? Which seem too “other”? Why? Which stories “ring true” to you? And which are less compelling? Why? When you look closely at different beings you “relate to,” what can you learn about yourself? What can you learn from those who seem too “other”?
INQ 110-V Atlantic Slave Trade Dr. Bucher T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM How was the Atlantic Slave Trade formed? What were the social and cultural effects of its formation and subsequent decline? This course traces the ways in which the Atlantic Slave Trade brought people and ideas from Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas together through the largest system of forced migration in human history. Students will analyze and discuss the major themes in the history of the Atlantic Slave Trade including: the economic history of the trade, the forms that slavery took within African societies, the demographic changes brought on by the trade, the forms of cultural and intellectual exchange that took place in the Atlantic World, and the emergence of the global abolitionist movement. Finally, all students will both learn and utilize the essential skills of the academic historian.
INQ 110-W Finding Kennedy Dr. Selby T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM John F. Kennedy has been the most consistently popular president of the past 55 years. Whether it is the mystery surrounding his assassination, the stirring events of his brief presidency, the soap opera aspects of his large family, or the spirit of optimism he brought to the country, the interest in Kennedy has not waned over time. This course will examine his life, presidency, and impact. The readings will focus on Kennedy, but the research will be more expansive, allowing students to use primary sources to study either some aspect of Kennedy’s life and decisions, or branch out to another topic on the 1960s that ties into Kennedy. Three questions will guide discussions all semester: what did Kennedy and his followers actually do? What impact did the actions have? Why does the man with one of the briefest presidencies on record continue to be so intriguing?
INQ 110-X The Age of the Model T Dr. Henold MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM What can the Model T Ford, the moving assembly line, and the man who developed them both reveal about how the United States was changing in the 1920s? The Model T, a wildly popular and affordable invention of the 19-teens, symbolizes tensions about the modern world that the nation would be forced to confront in the 1920s. For every seemingly positive development (efficiency, increased production, better wages, freedom of movement, cheaper goods) came troubling consequences (numbing working conditions, corporate interference in workers’ lives, the proliferation of advertising, changing sexual mores, standardization). Henry Ford himself was a walking contradiction, championing modern technology as he longed to preserve a “simpler” American past. In this class we will concentrate on building reading, writing, and critical thinking skills as we explore the tensions of the 1920s from the perspective of the discipline of History.
INQ 110-Z Myths of Artistic Genius Dr. Hardwig MWF 10:50 – 11:50 AM What do we mean when we say an artist is a genius? How can we say single works are “masterpieces” of artistic genius when they arise from shared and widely held beliefs and ideas? What about truly collaborative ventures (such as ballet) that combine the efforts of artists, dancers, musicians, and the theater crafts? This course covers four myths of genius—four case studies about originality in art--- from Europe and the United States, from 1787 to the present day. For each of these stories we’ll consider how other artists and collaborators and the artistic milieu of each artist’s epoch actually shaped the “genius” attributed to them and their work. And finally we’ll explore the meanings of the words “genius,” “originality,” “novelty,” and “transgression” as they pertain to the particular artists and works above, and what constructs offer the most satisfying explanation for each.
INQ 120 Living an Examined Life
INQ 120-A Do the Right Thing? Dr. Garrison T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM Can a person be good and disobey the law? Can a person use “evil” means to pursue moral ends in politics? This course is organized around a semester-long inquiry into theoretical and literary sources addressing different aspects of the relationship between ethics and politics, especially in times of political crisis. Students will learn how to explain, apply, and evaluate different notions of political morality. Rigorous writing assignments and oral presentations on course readings will be required.
INQ 120-B Choosing the Good Life Dr. Partin T TH 2:50 – 4:20 PM The premise of this course is that life, like art, is about making choices, good and bad. Focusing on several dramas and supplemental, relevant readings, students in this course will examine choices made by playwrights and by the characters in their dramas and will then reflect on those choices and their consequences and the relevance of both to their own lives. Students will consider the choices made by playwrights from Sophocles to Ionesco and from non-dramatic writers from Plato to Sartre and will be then asked to reflect not only on their own reactions to those writers but also on the reactions of their peers. The overarching ethical questions that will form the thematic core of the course will include: What is the good life? How is the good life achieved? How do we connect our choices to our personal search for the good life?
INQ 120-C Business Ethics in Absentia Prof. Baker MW 4:00 – 5:30 PM This course examines business ethics from a historical and prospective basis. Students will be challenged to evaluate their own view of business ethics and reflect on how that preconception has changed by the end of the course. We will establish what is meant by ethics in the business community, review some examples of ethics violations and what the business world is doing to address the concerns that those ethics breaches have uncovered. Throughout the course we will also look at examples of companies that are doing things the ethical way, and how they should be emulated. We will analyze case studies, topical readings, films and video clips to formulate our base of understanding, and reflect on that knowledge in written papers and in oral debate. INQ 240 Statistical Reasoning INQ 240-A1 Here’s to Your Health Prof. Bauman MWF 8:30 – 9:30 AM INQ 240-A2 Here’s to Your Health Prof. Bauman MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM INQ 240-A3 Here’s to Your Health Dr. Robbins MWF 12:00 – 1:00 PM INQ 240-A4 Here’s to Your Health Prof. Minton MWF 1:10 – 2:10 PM INQ 240-A5 Here’s to Your Health Dr. Robbins MWF 1:10 – 2:10 PM INQ 240-A6 Here’s to Your Health Prof. Minton MWF 2:20 – 3:20 PM INQ 240-A7 Here’s to Your Health Prof. Staniunas T TH 8:30 – 10:00 AM INQ 240-A8 Here’s to Your Health Prof. Staniunas T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM Newspapers, magazines, television, and websites frequently announce the latest health findings regarding nutrition, lifestyle, diseases, disorders, syndromes, treatments, medications, exercise, weight control… the list goes on and on. We do not lack for health information, but is the information presented to us good information? When reports are contradictory, what can we reasonably believe? We will learn the methodologies of modern statistics to address these questions. In the face of uncertainty, we must recognize the importance of basing decisions on evidence (data) rather than anecdote. Care must be taken to construct studies that produce enough meaningful data from which results can be trusted.
INQ 240-B Free Will on the Internet Dr. Lee MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM As we surf the web, are we really exercising free will? Whether it be reading, shopping, or interacting socially, we’d like to think that we are in control of our choices. The reality is that web designers and marketers use conclusions drawn from vast amounts of data to carefully craft and control our web experiences and actions. This course provides an inquiry-focused introduction to the statistical methodologies necessary to successfully explore and answer this question. Along the way students will develop an understanding of how data is collected and used in relation to virtually everything we do on the internet.
INQ 240-E Statistics & Sports Industry Prof. Browning MW 5:45 – 7:15 PM In the western world, the sports industry is a multibillion dollar entity that generates some extremely interesting questions about quality assessment, business, ethics, and health issues. Some of the questions we will ask are: What type data are necessary to assess the quality of a player and how can we use that data to determine the value of a player? What are the long term health risks associated with playing full contact sports and how do we determine the prevalence of these injuries and their impact on the player’s lives. The key to answering these questions is putting aside preconceived opinions and emotion and using statistical analysis to see what the data say. Under the broad umbrella of statistics, this course will use an abundance of rich data sets to uncover the enormous impact that statistical analysis has on the sports industry.
INQ 241 Mathematical Reasoning
INQ 241-A Digital Media Prof. S. Smith T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM Digital pictures, digital music, web pages, and other information stored in a computer are all just bits – 0s and 1s – as far as the computer is concerned. The computer's ability to process these bits has led to informative graphics, mind boggling animations, and creative music on the positive side as well as, on the negative side, doctored photos and sounds designed to mislead. In this course students will learn how the information we are surrounded by – pictures, sounds, words, numbers – is represented in bits and how to write computer programs (in the programming language Python) that process the bits. Emphasis will be on processing pictures and sound. Students will examine the social and ethical consequences of this easy manipulation of bits.
INQ 241-B Mobile Apps Dr. Bouchard T TH 2:50 – 4:20 PM At the core of every smart phone is a computer that functions by manipulating bits, 0s and 1s. So, how can these diminutive computers allow users to play music, share photos, and play games by manipulating bits? In this course students will learn how data is represented with bits and how to manipulate the bits to create mobile apps for smart phones. Students will also examine the social and ethical consequences of a society where individuals carry a device that can collect, manipulate, and transmit personal information in the form of bits. Prerequisite: INQ 240 or a Mathematics or Statistics course
INQ 250 Scientific Reasoning I
INQ 250BI-A and 250BIL-1 Living in a Microbial World & Lab Dr. Steinweg T Th 10:10- 11:40 AM & T 1:10 – 4:10 PM Have you ever thought about what the full impacts of microorganisms are on your life? Sure, you think about them when you get sick but what are they good for? The answer isn’t “absolutely nothing.” Based on size alone, microorganisms arguably have the greatest impact on humans compared to any other living organism. How can we find out where microorganisms are located and how they can be useful or harmful to us? From their beneficial use in producing some of your favorite foods and beverages to their ability to cause sexually transmitted infections, we find them on almost every spot on Earth because we are living in a microbial world! This course is focused on how microorganisms influence humans and the challenges facing us today in biology that have global implications with topics including food and beer production, sexually transmitted infections, and antibiotic resistance.
INQ 250BI-B and 250BIL-2 How Organisms Evolve & Lab Dr. Bosch MWF 10:50 – 11:50 AM & TH 8:30 – 11:30 AM A focus on the central question “How do living organisms evolve?” and how science works to answer this question. Components of evolutionary theory from the molecular to the ecosystem level will be examined by comparing predictions of evolutionary theory to empirical findings and the implication on our understanding of life. The lab component of this course will focus on the role of water in life and the interaction of water and humans.
INQ 250CH-E and 250CHL-1 Chemistry & Crime Harris/Livingston T TH 6:00 - 7:30 PM & TH 1:10 - 4:10 PM INQ 250CH-B and 250CHL-2 Chemistry & Crime Livingston T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM & T 1:10 - 4:10 PM How can chemistry contribute to the investigation of crime? The evening news, the primetime TV lineup, and the local bookstore are all filled with examples of the work of forensic scientists. This course will emphasize fundamental chemical principles that allow us to understand the techniques used to analyze evidence from a crime scene. From bloodstains to drug identification to DNA fingerprinting, commonly employed techniques of the forensic scientist will be studied. In the laboratory, students will perform some of these same analyses used by professional criminologists to solve simulated crimes. Students will also use general chemistry principles to design their own analysis methods.
INQ 250PH-A Take a Dive: The Way Things Work Dr. Balasubramanian MWF 10:50 – 1:00 PM The focus of this scientific reasoning course is to understand the way things work in our natural world. To that effect, fundamental questions that will be addressed are “why study motion, what factors contribute to the motion of an object and how do these contributing factors produce the observed motion of a sky diver and a deep sea diver”. The basics laws of physics applicable to sky diving and deep sea diving will be understood through a suite of laboratory experiments that are exploratory in nature. In this course, the focus will be on the process of science as it is motivated through measurements and inquiry. Cooperative learning groups, computer-assisted activities, and exploratory worksheets will facilitate the conceptual understanding process. Two group projects will provide opportunities for further scientific investigations into each of these topics.
INQ 251 Scientific Reasoning II
INQ 251-A Science, Pseudo-Science, and Nonsense Dr. Cook T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM In modern society we are inundated with all kinds of information: the Internet, TV, the radio, the newspaper, magazines and books, and in our daily contact with others. Unfortunately, much of this information is incomplete, biased or just outright false, and since we base many of our actions on what we learn from these sources, it is important to have skills to critically evaluate this information. We will discuss and apply the main kinds of deductive and inductive arguments, and be able to recognize them as they are used to influence all of us every day. Students will also understand the role of evidence in rational inquiry and be knowledgeable of the many pitfalls of human “common sense” intuition, as well as the proper interpretations of probabilities, in the evaluation of such evidence. We will utilize and explore many popular mysteries, such as ESP, Astrology, the Bermuda Triangle, visitation by extraterrestrial beings (UFOs), etc. in our discussions.
INQ 260 Social Scientific Reasoning
INQ 260AN-G1 Things in Contact-Global Dr. D. Anderson T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM INQ 260AN-G2 Things in Contact-Global Dr. Leeson T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM This course offers students an introduction to the study of material culture —“things.” In their social life, “things” do more than communicate meaning, they also create meaning by shaping the lived experiences of the people who make, use, and exchange them. Using the material culture of colonies, we will explore the ways in which natives and newcomers alike crafted a social persona using the “things” circulating between and among them as gifts and commodities. To fully understand how things made people in a complex and changing, colonial economy, students will grapple with several related questions—How do objects acquire value?; How do things-in-motion make reputations and memories?; How do they respond to historical transformations?; and lastly, How do they develop their own form agency?
INQ 260CO-A Media Effects Dr. Cooper MWF 12:00 – 1:00 PM How does media use affect people? Aside from working and sleeping, individuals in the US spend more time consuming media than any other single activity. By the time the average person reaches 65, he or she will have spent over six full years of life watching television – not to mention the additional time spent on the Internet, mobile communication devices, and playing video games. The importance of media in people’s lives makes it crucial for us to comprehend and critically examine our perception of media messages and their influences. This course will introduce students to the study of the effects of media on individuals and society. By introducing media theories through several key research areas, this course will explore such inquiries as “does exposure to media violence increase aggression?,” “does consuming sexual content lead to callousness against members of the opposite sex?,” and “does media stereotyping breed out-group intolerance?
INQ 260PS-G1 Global Politics & Globalization Dr. Snow MWF 2:20 – 3:20 PM INQ 260PS-G2 Global Politics & Globalization Dr. Snow MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM This course will focus upon the nature and dynamics of contemporary globalization. How globalization impacts both the conduct of international politics and the lives of individuals will be examined. Political science methodologies and perspectives will be used to study the continuing evolution of the nation-state system. We will examine what factors drive globalization; whether the effects of globalization are positive and/or negative as well as why they would be so judged; and what students, as either individuals or members of communities, might do to affect the course of globalization. Focus will be not only on how global, macro level processes impact people, but on how micro level action and thinking influences the nature and understanding of global, systemic trends and behavior.
INQ 260PS-G3 Human Security-Global Dr. Mihalache-O’Keef T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM This course encourages students to think critically about human security, which has recently become an important topic in the field of International Politics. Based on a set of readings, lectures, and discussions, students will first develop their own understanding of a secure life. Subsequently, they will explore how reality in the US and around the world matches up to their definitions and will also examine some of the political and economic determinants of human security. Throughout the course, we will emphasize the multidimensional nature of human security, reviewing topics like political violence, human development, poverty, food security, environmental threats, human trafficking, and gender-based violence.
INQ 260PY-A1 Psychology in the Media Dr. Buckthought MWF 2:20 – 3:20 PM INQ 260PY-A2 Psychology in the Media Dr. Buckthought MWF 12:00 – 1:00 PM How accurately do popular media portray current psychological knowledge? Movies, sitcoms, newspapers, magazines, and blogs often report findings from psychological science. How often do they get it right, and how often do they get it wrong? Do they manipulate findings in order to make their points? This course explores the core methodologies of psychological science by comparing and contrasting popular vs. scientific treatments of current and perennial topics within psychology. Topics will vary, but may include amnesia, school shootings, effects of Facebook use, antidepressant effectiveness, Dissociative Identity Disorder, ADHD prevalence, and self-esteem.
INQ 260PY-B1 How Does Technology Impact Us? Dr. Galluch MWF 9:40-10:40 AM INQ 260PY-B1 How Does Technology Impact Us? Dr. Galluch MWF 12:00-1:00 PM This course will use multiple methods to examine how modern technology impacts human cognition and behavior. Students will engage in a critical examination of current empirical research and will work together to investigate new questions using various research techniques. Students will be required to engage in critical thinking, scientific writing, quantitative reasoning, and oral presentation assignments.
INQ 260PY-G1 Love, Lust & Limerence-Global Dr. Pranzarone MW 4:00 – 5:30 PM INQ 260PY-G2 Love, Lust & Limerence-Global Dr. Pranzarone T TH 8:30 – 10:00 AM “Love makes the world go ‘round” as lyricists proclaim. With the development of fMRI brain scans cognitive neuroscientists now have a window into minds as persons enter an altered state of consciousness called “limerence” or “being-in- love.” Love is now a scientifically describable phenomenon. Cross-culturally, romantic love is questioned as a valid basis for socially sanctioned marriage. Examined will be the biological and psychosocial variables of proceptivity that determine the definition of beauty, flirtation, attraction, falling-in-love and pair- bond establishment. Are these factors universally human or culturally and socially specific? Examined will be at least six species of love and various psychological theories on love. How can pair-bonds and marriages endure? Need marriage always be monogamous or can it be successful in alternate forms as is seen in other cultures? What is jealousy and is it helpful or destructive to relationships?
INQ 260SO-A Culture & Society Dr. Berntson MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM Using a combination of lectures, readings, films, writing, projects, and discussions, this course explores the concepts of culture and society from a sociological perspective and teaches students how sociologists conduct their research. Through various aspects of social life, we will ask: What is the individual’s relationship to culture and society? How do we acquire our values, norms, laws, and ways of life? How do we form our individual and cultural identities? How do our interactions with others in groups and organizations affect our own sense of self?
INQ 260SO-C Paranormal America Dr. D. Anderson MWF 2:20 – 3:20 PM Paranormal phenomena pervade contemporary American culture. TV shows such as Finding Bigfoot and Ancient Aliens have achieved notable commercial success; a summer street carnival is hardly complete with a tarot reading; we even ask our presidential candidates about their beliefs in psychic powers and UFO abductions. Regardless of whether these phenomena are "real," they have a very real effect on our society. In this course we will explore the historical and cultural roots of these phenomena, to engage with how knowledge and belief are constructed, and to make use of the social science tool kit to explore the extent of these beliefs in modern America. The ghost of Monterey House may not make an appearance, but regardless our ghost is a part of the larger story that is Paranormal America.
INQ 260SO-G1 Pursuit of Social Justice-Global Prof. Fisher T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM Because debates on social problems occur in a socio-cultural context, this course examines how ideology shapes both perceptions and realities of justice, inequality, and exploitation. A major focus is the importance of culture and power to definitions of justice. What is justice? Who gets to decide its definition? Is justice the same for all? In today’s global society, we are witnesses to ideological movements that shape policy debates, electoral politics, and discussions on societal ills. Drawing on sociological concepts, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks the course addresses the causes and reactions to environmental and social problems while considering visions for a just or compassionate society.
INQ 270 Human Heritage I
INQ 270-A What’s True about the Bible? Dr. Wisnefske MWF 2:20 – 3:20 PM No book has had greater impact on Western civilization than the Bible, and no book has been more intensively analyzed. This course poses the question, "What's true about the Bible?" and helps students answer it by teaching them critical tools scholars have employed: historical and archaeological; literary--text, source, form, and redaction criticism; and theological. Students will learn to read biblical texts knowing their historical and literary background, and understanding their religious insights. They will then be able to enter into critical conversations concerning what biblical texts mean for us today. INQ 270-B Men, Women, and Monsters Dr. Whiteside MW 2:20 – 3:50 PM In this course we will examine the formation of gender identity and anxiety through a variety of works representing pre-modern cultures. Fields of study represented include literature, music, religion, philosophy, art, and history, and the cultures we will encounter include ancient Sumeria, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, as well as medieval Europe, Japan, and India. Our studies will focus on how the works we examine use gender to create and express categories of social and sexual identity yet at the same time both emphasize and distort those categories with the addition of the monstrous. Students will be asked to confront and evaluate the questions and conundrums raised by these works, consider ways the artists tried to answer these questions, and determine why these questions are relevant to their lives today.
INQ 270-C Animals in the Humanities Dr. M. Larson-Harris MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM This is a course on the history, philosophy, and religious culture of animals and is concerned with how humans have conceived of and interacted with animals and how they have expressed this in the Humanities. It examines how human society has been inseparably involved with animals—dependent on, fascinated with, horrified by, lord and master over, contemplative of, and caring for them. Animals have been food, have provided amusement and sport, and have been workers, therapists, and test subjects. Without the help of animals—from the earthworm to the elephant and horse—human civilization is unthinkable. But the humanities would also be unthinkable: animals have been always present in our reflections on the human condition in literature, art, and religion.
INQ 270-G1 Ancient Latin America-Global Dr. Wallace Fuentes MWF 1:10 – 2:10 PM INQ 270-G2 Ancient Latin America-Global Dr. Wallace Fuentes MWF 2:20 – 3:20 PM Human societies from across the globe exhibit tremendous diversity in their forms of political organization. Why do we see such vast differences in the ways that societies organize themselves? What factors lead to the origins and development of these systems? How do we understand the political organization of a foreign culture? And, what can we learn about our own society in that process? This course will seek answers to these questions by looking at a sample of the cultures found in Pre-Columbian Latin America. While teaching students to make use of archaeological and ethnohistorical methodologies, this course will explore questions of human organization. In the process, students will develop analytical and comparative skills through the examination of Pre-Columbian Latin America. Students will have the opportunity to hone their writing and research skills, as well their communication skills as they present the findings of their research to the class. INQ 270-G3 Gods & Monsters-Global Dr. Hawke MWF 10:50 – 11:50 AM Asian literature abounds with supernatural beings of all sorts—gods who hold grudges, monsters with 12 heads, hungry ghosts that wander the earth, and spiritual masters who can conquer all of them. These tales offer an excellent window into Asian religion and literature, because while they are fantastic (and fun to read), they make sense when read in the context of Asian belief systems. This class will survey Indian, Chinese, and Japanese religious and ethical world views as a foundation for reading the many genres of Asian literature. The class will consider the following questions: What ethical and religious beliefs help explain the nature of these gods and monsters? Why are people, gods, and monsters punished under these belief systems? What do the human protagonists learn about themselves? What do the supernatural characters teach us about the human condition?
INQ 270-G4 Silk Road-Global Dr. Xu T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM Did globalization exist in the pre-modern period? How did people travel, exchange ideas, and manage business two thousand years ago? Can contemporary globalization be traced back to the ancient and medieval period? We will approach these questions through the examination of the Silk Road across Eurasia. The Silk Road was the first transcontinental trading route between East and West, connecting the eastern end of the Asian continent (China, Japan, and Korea) to the Roman Empire as it passed through Mongolia, Central Asia, Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean area. Through this long- lasting transportation channel, people not only traded luxury goods and commodities, but also exchanged ideas, religious beliefs, artifacts, various foodstuffs, and forms of entertainment.
INQ 271 Human Heritage II
INQ 271-A Science vs. Religion? Dr. Wisnefske MWF 8:30 – 9:30 AM Does science make religion obsolete? This course examines the clash between modern science and religion in the Western world. It will focus on the debates between the natural sciences and Christian thought over questions such as evolution, the nature and destiny of the physical universe, and the status of our knowledge of nature. The rise of modern science set off a revolution in thinking which religion and philosophy are still adjusting to, and it has largely been responsible for setting Western life and thought on its distinctive course. We will examine in particular how contemporary physicists, biologists, and theologians understand the controversies that arose during this time, and what room for compatibility they see between science and religion today.
INQ 271-B Chicano Novel in Action Dr. Flores-Silva MWF 10:50 – 11:50 AM This course examines the relevance of historical events in the fusion of Mexican and American culture and how this amalgamation created an entirely new cultural identity: the Chicano. Using literary texts and historical documents, the course points out the significance of Chicano culture in the United States and how it evolved to find its own voice and place within the larger American society.
INQ 271-C The Golden Age of Spain Dr. Kalinoski MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM Spain’s political power in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was accompanied by an impressive cultural development in literature and in the arts, and is known as its golden age, a term that attests to both high quality and innovation. We will study Spain during this period principally through selected literary works of various genres observing their formal literary aspects and studying their larger historical and cultural contexts. Like all great writers, Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, Calderón de la Barca, María de Zayas y Sotomayor, and others captured the spirit of their age, but also created works whose characters and themes are always relevant regardless of time and place. The literary expression of the golden age gives testimony to the vitality and resilience of Spain as it experienced both triumph and failure during the Western early modern period. The methodologies employed will consist of the basic elements of literary criticism as applied to genre combined with historical and cultural contexts in order to arrive at a fuller understanding of the works we will read.
INQ 271-D Henry VIII Dr. Gibbs MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM This course is about Henry VIII, his wives, ministers, and the rest of the people in his kingdom(s). The course is about us too. It is also about some Victorian authors; and about some twentieth-century authors; and even some twenty-first- century authors. We will examine how texts have represented different events from Henry’s reign. Historians writing in the late Victorian period, the modern era, and the post-modern era have presented the period and the main historical figures in strikingly different fashions. In order to comment upon how contemporary concerns have influenced the “image” or “construction” of Henry VIII, his wives, and ministers, we will compare and contrast these representations in our search for a wiser understanding of historical methodology.
INQ 271-F Dear Old Roanoke College Dr. Miller T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM What gives a college its identity? Is it the college’s history and traditions? A college’s curriculum and planning? The success of its members and alumni in academics, sports, business, service, and professions? Or is it a mixture of these elements, in a special and distinctive manner? This course will explore answers to each of these questions in a historical and contemporary study of Roanoke College as a national liberal arts institution of higher learning. The course will focus on this history of the college in particular and the history of higher education in general in the past 170 years. Students will form into groups to analyze issues confronting the college.
INQ 271-I Images of Power Dr. Hargrove MW 2:20-3:50 PM This course explores the subject of “power” – political and social – as it is visually manifested in a variety of western cultures at various points in the modern period. Specifically, we will be looking at works of art (including painting, sculpture, photography, and mass media imagery, along with architecture) to uncover ways in which power is constructed, reflected, imposed, and reified within the objects and products of western societies. The broader aim of this course is to alert students to the way in which the material products of human civilization do not simply passively reflect who we think we are, but actively and sometimes manipulatively, instill and reinforce a broad spectrum of ideas that serve the agendas of individuals and or societies.
INQ 271-J Women Playwrights Dr. Warren T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM This class will examine select works of female playwrights from different eras and analyze the characters, plots, themes, and concerns to see if there are any patterns in these that represent a standpoint that is uniquely a woman’s. We will ask if the playwright’s experiences as a woman offer us a perspective of the world that is somehow different than a male playwright might show us. The course introduces work from the first known female playwright and then focuses on select plays from the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
INQ 271-K Photography: Silver to Silicon Prof. Heil T TH 2:50 – 4:20 PM What is Photography? How is it a combination of art and science, reality and artifice? The medium and history of photography provides a rich field of inquiry that has been studied since the mid-nineteenth century. This course will examine the photograph as a cultural document and as an aesthetic object. We will be engaged in how photography has influenced our perception of reality from a western perspective. How are photographic images significant in our understanding of war, anthropology, social reform, art, portraiture, personal identity, pornography, and the repertoire of visual information in the media? Do they present a reality of history, of culture and do they represent truth? Or do photographs simply document change as it happens in a particularly powerful way? These are just some of the questions we will take up, as we work our way through the course material. Students can expect some costs for film, printing and presentation materials in the range of $10-$50.
INQ 300 Contemporary Issues INQ 300-B What are the Chances? Dr. Taylor MWF 12:00 – 1:00 PM We live in a world where numerical information floods our news reports, our newspapers, and the Internet. Access to this information is becoming easier and quicker for most of us; with a quick visit to the Google or CNN website, any search or article presents information quantitatively in many forms, ranging from graphs, data tables and summaries, and to statistical results. Is this ease of access to numerical information and statistics tainting our truth? Does misuse of quantitative reasoning provide any answer desired to almost any question? We will explore these questions and learn how to properly argue using numerical information. You will explore a popular contemporary, possibly controversial, issue and decide how one should properly argue for or against that issue. How should one argue for or against global warming? Supporting for arts in the schools? Let's give it a try!
INQ 300-C Powerful Medicine Dr. Hollis MWF 9:40 – 10:40 AM How do drugs affect our life? The pharmaceutical industry projects that worldwide drug sales will exceed $1 trillion within the next few years. One touchstone of the 20th century was the explosion of the pharmaceutical industry, and the effects of this rapid growth on human health. This course will explore the pharmaceutical industry and its impact on individuals and on society. From drug discovery to clinical trials to marketing and economic implications, we will learn about this industry. Once we have covered the basics in the first half of the course, groups will choose a contemporary problem related to the pharmaceutical industry, carry out research on the problem, analyze possible approaches to the problem, and propose a solution in a final paper and oral defense.
INQ 300-D Haiti and US Dr. Stewart T TH 1:10 – 2:40 PM Though Haiti is one of our closest neighbors and our policies affect its citizens in almost every aspect of their lives, most Americans know precious little about the nation. Its disastrous 2010 earthquake hurled it into our media spotlight for a spell; suddenly anyone could tell you one thing about Haiti: “It’s the poorest country in the western hemisphere.” Anderson Cooper, Sean Penn, and Wyclef Jean flashed images at us, and we sent money to the agencies that rang most convincing in our ears. But then what? Because Haiti’s current conditions can be understood only by first understanding its extraordinary history, the energy poured into “helping Haiti” could be far more effective were it better informed. Haiti’s complex past and present begs analysis from multiple disciplinary perspectives, so you can bring your own knowledge and skills to the table as we work together to better understand the issues and begin framing approaches to “aid” that could be more promising. In addition, this course will offer a fascinating glimpse into the relations between the New and Old Worlds, the legacy of colonialism and slavery in the Americas, and the story of a remarkably courageous and creative people.
INQ 300-I Contemporary Science Problems Dr. Collins MWF 12:00 – 1:00 PM You are about to complete your college education and enter the workforce, create your own business, run for political office, develop the next invention, or enter a graduate-level program. You have been exposed to facts and theories, but you will soon be engaged in life as an actively participating person in the human community. How did you learn college- level material best? What do you really remember from your classes? Can you act upon or really make critical decisions about what you have learned? How did you learn information in the sciences? Could you explain solutions to scientific problems to someone else? How will you become informed about difficult or controversial topics outside the classroom and help others learn about that topic? In this course you will learn about learning and use those skills to help solve a contemporary problem in the sciences.
INQ 300-J Advocating for the Arts through Community Engagement Dr. Marsh
MW 2:20 – 3:50 PM Do we need the arts? If so, why? What kind of support is required? Who is responsible? Is it the government? What about schools . . . businesses, corporations? Are we all responsible? Or should support for the arts be left to the free market? What can we do to advocate for the arts? Where can we go for help? This course asks students from all disciplines to work in teams as “arts organizations” formed to produce a “community engagement” event. This event will effectively promote arts and culture in the Roanoke Valley and/or on the RC campus. As they develop their projects, students will mirror the artistic process in a collaborative environment, using each other’s strengths, ideas, and imagination to “think out of the box.”
INQ 300-L1 Issues in Education Dr. Earp T TH 10:10 – 11:40 AM INQ 300-L2 Issues in Education Dr. Whitt T TH 2:50 – 4:20 PM
What is the role of formal education in preparing students for life in the 21st century? What knowledge and skills must be a part of the educational canon? What challenges does the U.S. face as it tries to meet the changing needs of a global society? Student will research the latest trends in and historical foundations of education policy. Through an inquiry process they will engage with cross- disciplinary texts that offer a variety of views of what life in the 21st century requires of U.S. citizens. Assignments will require students to read and reflect on a wide range of perspectives as well as engage in both individual and collaborative research, writing, and presentation. INQ 300-M Sex and Storytelling Dr. Rosenthal T TH 2:50 – 4:40 PM If there is one thing people have trouble talking about in public, it is sex. Sex is considered taboo, risqué, or just plain awkward. But if we talk more openly and candidly about sex and sexuality in public, we just might create a safer and more celebratory world for people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, and relationship styles. This is the contemporary issue we tackle in “Sex and Storytelling”: how to craft engaging and effective narratives about gender, sex, and our bodies. This type of storytelling will involve research and data analysis in the health sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Students will work in groups, and partner with LGBT+, reproductive health, and sexual health organizations in the Roanoke Valley to research and disseminate narratives about sex and sexuality. Final presentations will include an oral defense as well as the production of a deliverable to share with partnering community organizations.