Class #: 15202

Meeting Time: Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri, 1:15pm-3:25pm

Location: Hybrid-Distance Video & Online

Instructor: Betty Dlamini

Gumboot Dance: Beauty from Pain is an interdisciplinary course that includes the history, culture and performing arts (chants, songs, and dances) of Southern Africa. It explores how the early gold mine workers in South Africa transformed an oppressive and painful situation into a beautiful and enjoyable experience by drawing from their various cultural practices. The class emphasizes diversity and inclusivity as portrayed in the communal lifestyles of African cultures and gives you the opportunity to create your own small teams or communities within the class. In your team you contribute in creating chants, songs, and dances, one at a time. You discuss the issues faced by the early mine workers and identify similar current issues that are relevant to us and our own local communities here where we live. We chant, sing and dance together, and later you chant, sing, and dance with your team. You perform your own composed chants and songs and choreographed dances that have the core traits of gumboot dance. Through chants and songs, you learn a few words in some of the languages of South Africa as well as words in the languages that are represented in the class.

Class #: 15662

Meeting Time: Arranged

Location: Online

Instructor: Jacob Bower-Bir

Explore a variety of different perspectives for studying and making sense of the world and global issues in the past and present. We will learn how these different perspectives portray the world, interpret events, and often shape human actions. Lecture material and key concepts are organized around the International Studies thematic concentrations, thereby introducing a variety of analytical approaches from the natural and social sciences and the arts and humanities. Assignments and discussion will also incorporate a geographic dimension for analysis. Case studies from different historical periods and parts of the world will illustrate these approaches and key issues.

Class #: 14403

Meeting Time: Mon/Wed/Fri, 10:35am-12:45pm

Location: Distance Synchronous Video

Instructor: Isak Nti Asare

Explores the rapid improvement of Artificial Intelligence, the widespread use of AI in every sector of the economy and society, and the impact its adoption is having on global and international politics and economies. No prior knowledge of AI needed.