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.
TCSIG 100 Introduction to Anthropology (5) I&S
Introduction to the subfields of archaeology, biocultural anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology through the examination of selected problems in human physical, cultural, and social evolution. Not recommended for students who have had other courses in anthropology, archaeology, or biocultural anthropology.
Instructor Course Description:
Geoffrey C. Kushnick
TCSIG 165 Introduction to Sociology: Developing the Sociological Imagination (5) I&S Ignacio
Surveys social issues such as race, social class, and gender using sociological theories and perspectives. Introduces sociological methods and the relationship between research and public policy. Examines how individuals and organizations have used sociological theories to institute social change. Offered: AWSp.
TCSIG 201 Principles of Biological Anthropology (5) NW
Evolution and adaptation of the human species. Evidence from fossil record and living populations of monkeys, apes, and humans. Interrelationships between human physical and cultural variation and environment; role of natural selection in shaping our evolutionary past, present, and future.
TCSIG 265 Race and Ethnicity in the United States (5) I&S Ignacio
Introduces issues of race and ethnicity in the United States, particularly the social construction of race, and its effects on policies throughout history. Examines social movements (from the mid-1800s - present) and explores how ideas of racial justice and equality are articulated in relation to economic, political, and cultural contexts.
TCSIG 330 Inquiry and Research in the Social Sciences (5) I&S
Forms of inquiry from empirical laboratory or bench research to field work and phenomenological methods discussed in relationship to types of problem and research questions. Discusses quantitative and qualitative methods for gathering and reporting data as well as design, control, and the problem of interpretation and bias.
TCSIG 333 Organizational Culture and Leadership (5) I&S
Inspects theories and research regarding organizations and their development. Examines the concept of culture in organizations, asking how organizations develop, how they recruit and acculturate individuals, and how they manage people. Examines and analyzes the work experience of students.
TCSIG 339 Psychology of Women (5) I&S
Focuses on psychological and feminist framework to the examination of women's lives and development. Emphasis on how gender and sexism interact with ethnicity, class, and age to influence women's understanding of themselves. Topics include gender differences, images of women, motherhood, and violence against women.
TCSIG 343 Vietnam and the 1960s (5) I&S
Examines the dissent and radicalism of the 1960s stemming from the Vietnam War, as well as civil rights and other causes. Explores various political questions pertinent to the 1960s through readings, films, music, and intensive discussion.
TCSIG 348 Film and Human Values (5) I&S
Examines contemporary and classical films in order to explore how they might disclose different dimensions of human meaning, value, virtue or their opposites. Analyzes how film has become a major part of twentieth-century existence, experience and expression. Views, discusses and analyzes selected films.
Instructor Course Description:
Joanne Clarke Dillman
TCSIG 349 Sexual Identities (5) I&S
Explores the lives and current issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons, with particular attention to developmental, community, and political issues and their intersections. Emphasizes current areas of consensus and discord among members within, across, and outside these communities
TCSIG 431 Organizational Development (5) I&S
Explores theory and research regarding developmental stages in the life of organizations, the role of structure from bureaucracy through modern down-sized, entrepreneurial forms, the relationship of management style and practices to growth in organizations, and the role of the human relations and organizational development practitioner.
TCSIG 432 Group Process (5) I&S
Illustrates and explores the principles of group function. Examines theories concerning stages of group development, emergence of both formal and informal leadership, and conflict negotiations. Discusses social role theory, developmental theory, and psychoanalytic theory.
TCSIG 433 Household and Family in Comparative Perspective (5) I&S
Explores cross-cultural changes and continuities in family life and household organization in selected societies. Examines creation of various family and household forms and their relation to wide-scale economic, political, and social change. Studies the impact of power relations (gender, generation, class, ethnicity/race, etc.) within and beyond the family.
TCSIG 435 Migration in the Modern World: Migrants, Immigrants, and Refugees (5) I&S
Examination of the dynamics of international migration in the modern world, with a focus on selected sending and receiving societies (western and non-western). Investigates both macro-economic and political influences on migration, as well as the involvement of social networks and households. Explores the diversity of population movements in historical perspective and in the context of competing theories of migration, settlement, and adaptation.
TCSIG 436 North American Regions I&S (5)
Examines the various regions of North America in comparative fashion. Topics may include the characteristics of the New England, Southern, frontier, Mississippi Valley, Canadian, Pacific Northwestern, and Southwestern regions of North America.
Instructor Course Description:
Michael Allen
TCSIG 437 Immigration Today (5) I&S
Examines changing causes and patterns of post-1965 immigration from global and interdisciplinary perspectives. Topics may include: role of immigrants in changing global economy; interactions between immigrants and residents in communities, schools, workplaces; challenges of adaptation for immigrant children; new forms of citizenship and national identity. Compares Europe and United States.
TCSIG 444 The Pacific Northwest (5) I&S
Examines the history and society of the Pacific Northwest -- that region encompassing modern Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana, British Columbia, and Alaska. Includes topics such as native peoples, exploration and settlement, natural resources, economic development, government, folk culture, ethnicity, and modern problems.
TCSIG 445 The Metropolis (5, max. 10) I&S
Examines the problems and opportunities associated with the development of the metropolis. Focuses on the 20th century, and the individual city selected changes, depending on quarter. Begins with an examination of such general issues associated with large cities as economic base, transport, social conditions, culture, and government, moves on to consider in detail one city.
Instructor Course Description:
Michael Kucher
TCSIG 451 The Enlightenment (5) I&S
Examines the Enlightenment as historical epoch, philosophical attitude, and social and political project. Explores ideas of selected thinkers (e.g., Jefferson, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Kant, Hume, Voltaire) and the reactions they inspire. Highlights themes such as liberalism, human rights, rationalism, republicanism, and neoclassicism.
Instructor Course Description:
Amos Nascimento
Michael Forman
TCSIG 452 Political Theory of Human Rights (5) I&S
Examines understandings and influence of idea of human rights. Considers conflicts and contradictions between human rights claims and national sovereignty, cultural difference, democracy.
Instructor Course Description:
Michael Forman
TCSIG 490 Special Topics (3-5, max. 15)