This cluster combines courses in political science, US history, and modern international literature to introduce students to the long history of debates about this foundational political system in multiple national contexts. Because of its interdisciplinary nature, this cluster allows students to fulfill breadth requirements in Historical Studies, Philosophy & Values, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Arts & Literature, while also satisfying their American Cultures and American History requirements.
Course Descriptions
Click on the courses below for more detail.
POLSCI 41C: Pathways: Democracy Ancient & Modern (4 Units)
Dêmokratia, democratia, democracy. What did this term mean to the ancient Greeks who coined it, to the Romans who borrowed it, to the early modern Europeans who discussed it—and what does it mean today? Who or what was the original dêmos, how did it rule, and how different is the interpretation of “rule by the people” that now predominates? Starting with the first attestations of da-mo in the 12 th century BC and ending with the recent attempts by Iceland and Chile to reform their constitutions by crowdsourcing and a citizen convention respectively, this course offers a chronological exploration of the idea and practice of democracy, intended to broaden our imaginative horizons with respect to what democracy has been, is, and could become.
HISTORY 7A: Introduction to the History of the United States: The United States from Settlement to Civil War (4 Units)
This course surveys the central ideas and events that shaped American history from the colonial period to the end of the Civil War era. Major issues to be covered in this course include the European colonization of the Americas; encounters and interactions among Africans, Europeans, and Native Americans; the formation of English colonies in North America; the development of American slavery; the origins and consequences of the American Revolution; the geographic, demographic, and economic expansion of antebellum America; Indian removal; the debate over slavery; and the Civil War and Reconstruction.
GERMAN 39P: Law & Literature (4 Units)
For many people, law is the subject of law school, while literature belongs to the humanities. In this seminar, we will see that law and literature, professional school and the humanities are in fact closely related. We will read some great authors in world literature (including Aeschylus, Sophocles, Shakespeare, Melville, Kleist, Kafka), watch a number of classic films, and discuss how they engage with the key issues of law – legitimacy and legality, justice and equity, rights and obligation, crime and punishment. At the same time, we will read legal texts and see how law operates by telling stories.
No German language familiarity is required for this course, all texts will be read in English.
Meeting Schedule
- POLSCI 41C: W 2-5 PM
- HISTORY 7A: TR 9:30-11 AM; Discussion T 2-4 PM; W 11-1 PM
- GERMAN 39P: TR 11-12:30 PM
Major Prerequisites and L&S Breadth/General Requirements
Course | Major Prerequisites | Major Lower Division | L&S Breadth/General Requirements |
---|---|---|---|
POLSCI 41C | N/A | N/A | Historical Studies Philosophy & Values |
HISTORY 7A | American Studies* History* Legal Studies |
N/A | Historical Studies Social & Behavioral Science American Cultures Requirement American History Requirement |
GERMAN 39P | N/A | N/A | Art & Literature Philosophy & Values |
* = one of several classes that can satisfy requirement
+ = recommended, not required
^ = lower division requirement, not required for declaration