College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 2015-2016 Catalog

144 CARD 6651- Theories of Ethnicity and Nationalism This course is foundational for theoretical understandings of ethnicity and nationalism. Students will analyze general theories from key debates and critically examine various points of view in relation to defining boundaries, conflict, context, difference, identity, migration, minority/majority, race, and tribalism in regard to ethnicity, as well as community, fantasy, ideology, neo-Marxism, modernism, perennialism, political, primordialism, semiotic, sociocultural, socioeconomic, imagination, invention, and tradition in association with nationalism and nationalists, and the entwinement and interrelation between all of these prevalent notions and themes. Upon completion of the course students will better grasp ethnic belonging, ethno-nationalist conflict, and intra/inter-group disputes from the standpoint of applied theory, cultural relativity, and humanism. Offered yearly. CARD 6652- History, Memory & Conflict Why do certain cycles of violence and revenge seem to be passed down from generation to generation? How do we in the present remember and interpret the traumas and conflicts our society endured in the past, and how might this lay the groundwork for the conflicts of today? By exploring the significance of history, memory, and cognition, this course provides the most recent theoretical debates on these issues and their significance for understanding why populations persist in a state of violence. Questions to be considered include: how does the past become relevant to the present, and how do we as peace-builders respond to interrupt cycles of historical violence? Others are: how is the past re-invented, mythologized about, and re- imagined? How do the powerful manipulate collective memory to perpetuate cycles of violence? Why does memory have such an important role in the persistence of intractable hostilities and how does the learning of violence become transmitted from one generation to the next? Using cutting-edge theories and case studies from today’s headlines, and incorporating tools of practice such as art and storytelling, this course will empower students to be a part of peace-building in the context of entrenched historical conflict . CARD 6653 – Conflict in Conservation and Development This course examines conflict in conservation and development. It covers theoretical frameworks and introduces participatory tools that will enable students to more effectively analyze and address situations of conflict in conservation and development initiatives. The course familiarizes students with concepts and methods from natural resource management, sustainable livelihood systems and collaborative learning approaches. Offered occasionally. CARD 6654 - Islam, Conflict, and Peacemaking This course will provide a historical overview of Islam, including an introduction to belief systems, the different branches of the faith and schools of Islamic law with a special emphasis on Muslim doctrines related to conflict and peace. It will include the contemporary era and investigate Muslim engagements with modernity and discuss the varied responses and perspectives. There will some discussions of international relations, but the course will also emphasize micro level issues. Students will have the opportunity to develop research projects designed to extend their understanding of Islam and its potential as a resource for peace building. Offered occasionally. CARD 6655 -The Interdisciplinary Writer This course is designed to assist graduate students in creating essays, thought papers, and other pieces of writing that reach an intended audience with clarity, skillful craft, and purpose. It includes reading and writing assignments for an academic setting focused on interdisciplinary perspectives. Students will be expected to participate in class discussions