Detailed course offerings (Time Schedule) are available for
To see the detailed Instructor Class Description, click on the underlined instructor name following the course description.
CHID 101 Introduction to the Comparative History of Ideas (2)
Provides a methodological, curricular, and intellectual introduction to comparative history of ideas. Teaches the importance of interdisciplinary inquiry in research and provides models for how to formulate, undertake, and present interdisciplinary research projects. Credit/no credit only. Offered: AWSp.
CHID 110 The Question of Human Nature (5) I&S/VLPA
Considers the relationship between the individual and his/her culture. Traces the evolution of the notion of human nature in Europe and the United States and compares this tradition with representations of the human being from other cultural traditions.
Instructor Course Description:
Terrence E Schenold
CHID 205 Method, Imagination, and Inquiry (5) VLPA Searle
Examines ideas of method and imagination in a variety of texts, in literature, philosophy, and science. Particularly concerned with intellectual backgrounds and methods of inquiry that have shaped modern Western literature. Offered: jointly with ENGL 205.
Instructor Course Description:
Leroy F Searle
CHID 207 Introduction to Intellectual History (5) I&S Toews
Ideas in historical context. Comparative and developmental analysis of Western conceptions of "community," from Plato to Freud. Offered: jointly with HIST 207.
CHID 210 The Idea of the University: Ways of Learning, Exploring, and Knowing (5) I&S
Considers different ways of learning, exploring, and knowing in the context of the historical development, social context, and impact of universities in general and of the University of Washington in particular. Includes reflective workshops on choosing areas of study (majors) in collaboration with Undergraduate Advising.
Instructor Course Description:
James Soto Antony
CHID 222 BioFutures (5) I&S/NW
Explores key legal, ethical, cultural, scientific, and commercial aspects of the rapidly changing world of biotechnology and bioinformatics. Specifically asks how new discoveries in biology encourage us to rethink issues of ownership, communication, geography, identity, and artistic practice.
Instructor Course Description:
Phillip S Thurtle
CHID 230 Introduction to Disability Studies (5) I&S
Introduces the field of disability studies. Focuses on the theoretical questions of how society predominattly understands disability and the social justice consequences. Examines biological, social, cultural, political, and economic determinants in the framing of disability. Offered: jointly with DIS ST 230/LSJ 230.
CHID 250 Special Topics: Introduction to the History of Ideas (5, max. 15) I&S Thurtle
Examines a different subject or problem from a comparative framework. Satisfies the Gateways major/minor requirement. Offered: AWSp.
Instructor Course Description:
Adam Nocek
Anupama Taranath
Edmond Y Chang
Christina D Wygant
Karen Emmerman Mazner
Gregory Keith Harris
Georgia M. Roberts
Kathryn Anne Gillespie
Mary Childs
Maria E Garcia
Naomi B. Sokoloff
Naraelle Kristin Hohensee
Nancy C. White
David Giles
Jeanette M. Bushnell
Third Andresen
Rahul K Gairola
Terrence E Schenold
Stacey C. Moran
Phillip S Thurtle
Wendy A. Wiseman
CHID 260 Re-Thinking Diversity (5) I&S Bushnell
Considers the notion of diversity from many scholarly perspectives and from personal engagements. Critically visits historical thinking about diversity and examines contemporary issues such as racism and other oppressions.
Instructor Course Description:
Kanna M. Hudson
Jeanette M. Bushnell
Rahul K Gairola
Tamara L Myers
CHID 270 Special Topics (5, max. 15) I&S
Each special topics course examines a different subject or problem from a comparative framework.
Instructor Course Description:
Anupama Taranath
Richard Block
Paul Boynton
Giorgia Aiello
Georgia M. Roberts
Joanne D Woiak
Jeanette M. Bushnell
Steven M. Tobias
Brigitte Prutti
Wendy A. Wiseman
CHID 280 Indigenous Encounters: Politics, Culture, and Representation in Latin America (5) I&S Garcia
Explores the contemporary cultural and political transformations advanced by indigenous groups and their advocates in Latin America. Examines the concept of indigeneity, the cultural politics of indigenous mobilization, and the effects of international development policies on indigenous communities. Offered: jointly with JSIS A 280.
Instructor Course Description:
Maria E Garcia
CHID 298 Pre-Departure Seminars (2) I&S
Prepares students to participate in CHID international programs. Prerequisite: students must be accepted to an international program prior to registration. Offered: AWSpS.
CHID 300 Ideas in Art (5) VLPA Opperman
Selected monuments of art and architecture in the Western tradition, from the Greeks to the twentieth century, studied in relation to the intellectual background of the ages and civilizations that produced them. Slide lectures accompanied by discussion of assigned readings in philosophical, religious, scientific, political, literary, and artistic texts. Offered: jointly with ART H 300.
CHID 309 Marx and the Marxian Tradition in Western Thought: The Foundations of Modern Cultural Criticism I (5) I&S
Critically examines the formation of modern Western culture, politics, and society through an historical analysis of the work of Karl Marx and the thinkers, artists, and activists who assimilated and transformed Marxian concepts from the late nineteenth century to the present. Offered: jointly with HIST 309.
Instructor Course Description:
John E Toews
CHID 314 The Psychoanalytic Revolution in Historical Perspective (5) I&S
Genesis and evolution of Freudian theory in context of the crisis of liberal-bourgeois culture in central Europe and parallel developments in philosophy, literature, and social theory. Emergence and division of the psychoanalytic movement. Transformation of psychoanalysis in British, French, and especially American cultural traditions. Offered: jointly with HIST 314.
CHID 319 Nietzsche and the Nietzschean Legacy in Western Thought: Foundations of Modern Cultural Critique II (5) I&S
Critically examines the formation of modern Western politics, society, and cultures through historical analysis of the thought of Freidrich Nietzsche and the thinkers, artists, and activists who assimilated and transformed the Nietzschean perspective during the twentieth century. Offered: jointly with HIST 319.
CHID 332 Disability and Society (5) I&S
Concentrates on contemporary issues in disability studies, focusing on the thematic frameworks of rights, identities, values, and science/medicine. Recommended: DIS ST 230/LSJ 230/CHID 230. Offered: jointly with DIS ST 332/ LSJ 332.
Instructor Course Description:
Dennis Lang
Joanne D Woiak
CHID 350 Women in Law and Literature (5) I&S/VLPA
Representations of women in American law and literature. Considers how women's political status and social roles have influenced legal and literary accounts of their behavior. Examines how legal cases and issues involving women are represented in literary texts and also how law can influence literary expression. Offered: jointly with GWSS 350.
CHID 370 The Cultural Impact of Information Technology (5) I&S/VLPA Thurtle
Utilizing approaches from the history of technology, cultural studies, and literary theory, seeks to analyze the cultural and social impact of information technology. Considers how information technologies impact our relationships with others, our concept(s) of self, and the structure of the communities to which we belong. Offered: jointly with COM 302.
Instructor Course Description:
Gina S Neff
Terrence E Schenold
CHID 380 Theories In the Study of Religion (5) I&S Jaffee, Novetkze, Wellman
Provides a variety of approaches to the study of religion centered on examining the relationship between religion and modernity in the tradition of post-enlightenment, Euro-American scholarship. Examines theories of religion across disciplines: history, anthropology, sociology, Marxism, feminism, postmodernism, political theology, and Freudian psycho-analytical theory. Offered: jointly with JSIS B 380.
Instructor Course Description:
Christian L. Novetzke
Charles L. Richter
CHID 390 Colloquium in the History of Ideas (5) I&S Garcia, Thurtle, Toews
Basic theoretical issues in the comparative history of ideas as a disciplined mode of inquiry; examination of representative historical figures and problems. Primarily for majors.
Instructor Course Description:
Anupama Taranath
Maria E Garcia
Ryan E. Burt
Rahul K Gairola
Terrence E Schenold
Stacey C. Moran
Phillip S Thurtle
CHID 399 Internship (5, max. 10) I&S
Off-campus fieldwork with a local, national, or international organization, in an apprenticeship or internship situation. Supervised by on-site field supervisor and Comparative History of Ideas faculty member.
Instructor Course Description:
Erin Clowes
CHID 417 Enter the Dragon: Seminar on World Cultures Through the Asian Martial Arts (5) I&S Novetzke
Examines how the martial arts have preserved religious, cultural, and philosophical aspects of the world areas of their origin, as well as the new cultures and international communities that have adopted and reinvented their practices and philosophies, including India, China, Japan, Korea, Brazil, and Euro-America. Offered: jointly with JSIS B 417.
CHID 430 Topics in Disability Studies (1-5, max. 15) I&S
Theoretical, critical, analytical, or comparative examination of an issue or issues in Disability Studies. Topics vary. Prerequisite: either DIST ST/CHID/LSJ 230, DIST ST 332, DIS ST 433, or DIS ST 434. Offered: jointly with DIS ST 430/LSJ 430.
Instructor Course Description:
Sara L. Goering
CHID 433 Disability Law, Policy, and the Community I&S (5)
Addresses the history of legal rights of disabled people, U. S. disability policy, and the role of community activism and other forces in policy development and systems change. Introduces the existing social service system that affects disabled people. Recommended: LSJ 230/CHID 230/DIS ST 230. Offered: jointly with DIS ST 433/LSJ 433.
CHID 434 Civil and Human Rights Law for Disabled People (5) I&S
Expands knowledge of civil and human rights for disabled people. Examines the American perspective (ADA) as well as various international models including the United Nations' International Human Rights treaties as they relate to disabled people. Recommended: LSJ 230/CHID 230/DIS ST 230. Offered: jointly with DIS ST 434/LSJ 434.
CHID 442 Roma Eterna (5) VLPA/I&S
Explores the historical layers of meaning in the artifacts and monuments of Rome to reflect on its transformation over time as a symbol of the human aspiration for both temporal order and spiritual and aesthetic transcendence. Specific periods considered for reading and daily site visits include Ancient Rome; Imperial Rome; Medieval Rome, Renaissance Rome; Baroque Rome; Romanticism, The Grand Tour and the Risorgimento; and Fascist Rome.
CHID 444 Eye and Mind (5) VLPA/I&S/NW Thurtle
Investigates life as an emergent phenomenon across the disciplines of biophilosophy, art, art history, literary criticism, and information studies with an emphasis on interdisciplinary methods. Addresses key issues in phenomenology, social theory, contemporary bioart, and complexity studies.
Instructor Course Description:
Phillip S Thurtle
CHID 459 Narrative Journalism (5) VLPA/I&S Kaplan
Introduces the rigorous reporting and literary writing techniques involved in narrative journalism. Concentrates on producing three narrative articles for publication in the online, reader-interactive magazine, Narrative Journalist.
Instructor Course Description:
Joanne Marcia Silberner
CHID 461 Democracy and Development in Central and Eastern Europe: Study Abroad (5) I&S Smith
Examines the relationship between democratization, economic development, and social transformation in Central and Eastern Europe. Offered on CHID study abroad programs in Central and Eastern Europe. Offered: ASpS.
CHID 470 CHID Study Abroad (5, max. 15) I&S
For participants in study-abroad program. Specific course content varies.
CHID 471 Europe Study Abroad (5, max. 15) I&S
For participants in study-abroad program. Specific course content varies.
CHID 472 Latin America Study Abroad (5, max. 15) I&S
For participants in study-abroad program. Specific course content varies.
CHID 473 Africa Study Abroad (5, max. 15) I&S
For participants in study-abroad program. Specific course content varies.
CHID 474 Asia Study Abroad (5, max. 15) I&S
For participants in study-abroad program. Specific course content varies.
CHID 475 East Asia Study Abroad (5, max. 15) I&S
For participants in study-abroad program. Specific course content varies.
CHID 476 South Pacific Study Abroad (5, max. 15) I&S
For participants in study-abroad program. Specific course content varies.
CHID 477 Middle East Study Abroad (5, max. 15) I&S
For participants in study-abroad program. Specific course content varies.
CHID 480 Special Topics: Advanced Study of the History of Ideas (5, max. 15) I&S Thurtle
Examines a different subject or problem from a comparative framework with an interdisciplinary perspective. Offered: AWSp.
Instructor Course Description:
Adam Nocek
Anupama Taranath
Amy R. Peloff
Neil S. Banas
Sahera R Bleibleh
Edmond Y Chang
Lawrence J Cushnie
Douglas Merrell
Georgia M. Roberts
Max A. Hunter
Kathryn Anne Gillespie
Michael P. Cepress
Mary Childs
Maria E Garcia
Naraelle Kristin Hohensee
Nancy C. White
David Giles
Jeanette M. Bushnell
Rahul K Gairola
Terrence E Schenold
Steve Gilbert
Stacey C. Moran
Phillip S Thurtle
Tamara L Myers
Wendy A. Wiseman
CHID 484 Colonial Encounters (5) I&S
History of European colonialism, focusing on British, French, and Dutch colonial encounters from 1750s to 1950s. Units on colonial law, medicine, religion, sexuality, and commodity culture. Offered: jointly with HSTEU 484.
CHID 487 The Cultural Politics of Violence in Contemporary Latin America (5) I&S Garcia
Examines notions of "otherness" and the power to label as central to understanding the construction of political order, human rights, and social struggle. Uses academic texts, films, documentaries, historical fiction, plays, and testimonials to interrogate the complexities of violence and social justice in Latin America. Offered: jointly with JSIS A 485.
CHID 488 Encountering Animals: Ethics, Culture, and Politics (5) I&S Garcia
Explores some ethical, political, and cultural questions regarding non-human animals and invites student to engage in debates about companion animals, the industrial food complex, zoos, and links between race, class, gender, sexuality, and species.
CHID 490 Research Seminar (5) VLPA/I&S Thurtle, Toews
Intensive readings in specific topic. Students complete individual research projects. Satisfies the CHID senior thesis requirement. Prerequisite: CHID 390.
Instructor Course Description:
Georgia M. Roberts
Maria E Garcia
Naraelle Kristin Hohensee
Rodrigo A. Valenzuela
Terrence E Schenold
CHID 491 Senior Thesis (5-) I&S
Critical and methodological issues. Required of candidates for an Honors degree.
Instructor Course Description:
Christina D Wygant
CHID 492 Senior Thesis (-5-) I&S
Critical and methodological issues. Required of candidates for an Honors degree.
CHID 493 Senior Thesis (-5) I&S
Research and writing of thesis under supervision of a faculty member. Required of candidates for an Honors degree.
CHID 495 Close Readings in Theory (1-5, max. 15) I&S
Close readings of a specific work, author, artist, or body of work.
Instructor Course Description:
Adam Nocek
Douglas Merrell
Jeanette M. Bushnell
Terrence E Schenold
Phillip S Thurtle
CHID 496 Focus Groups (1-2, max. 4)
Credit/no-credit only.
Instructor Course Description:
Amy R. Peloff
Edmond Y Chang
Erin Clowes
Dennis Lang
Georgia M. Roberts
Michael Heyes
Irene Mcmanman
Jennifer M. Self
Kanna M. Hudson
Cynthia M. Anderson
Jason L Patterson
Terrence E Schenold
CHID 497 Peer Facilitators (5, max. 20)
CHID 498 Special Colloquia (1-5, max. 20) I&S
Each colloquium examines a different subject or problem from a comparative framework. A list of topics is available from the CHID office.
Instructor Course Description:
Max A. Hunter
Amy R. Peloff
Neil S. Banas
Neil S. Banas
Britt T Yamamoto
Deborah Porter
Dennis Lang
David M Silver
Georgia M. Roberts
Guntis I. Smidchens
Matthias Scheiblehner
Heidi Taylor Magi
Jentery F Sayers
Jess J Olson
Kathleen Noble
Karen E. Rosenberg
Max Savishinsky
Nicole Calian
Christian L. Novetzke
Timothy Lawrence Harris
Rahul K Gairola
Terrence E Schenold
Selim Sirri Kuru
Steven M. Tobias
Theron P. Stevenson
Tamara L Myers
Theresa M Ronquillo
Wendy A. Wiseman
Todd H. Weir
Richard T Gray
CHID 499 Undergraduate Independent Study or Research (1-5, max. 10)
Supervised independent study for students who wish to pursue topics not available in regular course offerings.