This cluster combines courses in the humanities, French culture, and performance studies, providing an engaging introduction to various studies in the Division of Arts and Humanities. You will improve their writing skills, learn about global cultures, and explore the dynamics of social institutions. You will also fulfill many requirements: Arts & Literature breadth, Historical Studies breadth, Philosophy & Values breadth, and American Cultures requirement.
Course Descriptions
- FRENCH 80: The Cultural History of Paris, 3 Units. An in-depth “forensic” exploration of the urban artifact that is Paris through the study of a variety of texts, films, paintings, engravings, and maps. The course will explore competing ambitions, economic pressures, and ideologies that have, over centuries, produced one of the most visited cities in the world.
- HUM 10: A.I. and Writing, 4 Units. The Compass Courses offer you an opportunity to explore the division of Arts and Humanities. They are offered on different themes each year, but they share a unique structure. The class is taught by three professors in three modules of study. You will have a chance to study with each professor, experience a range of approaches to the theme, and learn the methods and structures of different disciplines. Compass Courses are designed to guide you through various options for study in Arts and Humanities and to serve as a gateway to the rich offerings at Berkeley. They are part of the freshman experience, advancing a common journey of discovery and building an intellectual cohort among students new to Berkeley’s expansive possibilities.
- THEATER 52AC: Dance in American Cultures, 4 Units. Dance as a meaning-making expressive form. Develop the tools necessary for looking at dance, analyzing it, writing about it, and understanding its place in larger social, cultural, political structures. We will look at a variety of U.S. American dance genres, understanding them through their historical and cultural contexts, to explore how issues of race, gender, sexuality and class affect the practice and the reception of different dance forms, and how dance might help shape representations of these identities. Ethnic groups that the course studies include African, Asian, and European Americans, indigenous peoples of the U.S., and Chicanos/Latinos. Accessible to students with no dance experience. Not a studio-based class.
Meeting Schedule
- FRENCH 80: MWF 3:00-4:00 PM
- HUM 10: TR 4:00-5:00 PM; Discussion F 1:00-2:00 PM
- THEATER 52AC: MWF 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM; Discussion F 10:00-11:00 AM
Major Prerequisites and L&S Breadth/General Requirements
| Course | Major Prerequisite | L&S Breadth/General Requirement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRENCH 80 | N/A | Arts & Literature L&S Breadth, Historical Studies L&S Breadth | |
| HUM 10 | N/A | Arts & Literature, Philosophy & Values L&S Breadth | |
| THEATER 52AC | Requirement for Theater and Performance Studies, Dance and Performance Studies | Arts & Literature L&S Breadth, American Cultures Requirement |
|
* = one of several classes that can satisfy requirement
+ = recommended, not required
^ = lower division requirement, not required for declaration
