WCore Social and Behavioral Sciences (WCSBS) Courses
WCSBS - WCore Social and Behavioral Sciences (WCSBS) Courses
WCSBS-103: Communicating Across Cultures (Credits: 4)
Student explore intercultural communication concepts and theories. Students learn to become flexible communicators by: understanding concepts such as cultural value patterns and cultural-ethnic identity; exploring the process of crossing boundaries such as the development of culture shock; knowing how attitudes and beliefs influence behaviors and how cultural values are expressed through language. Cultural boundaries examined in this course include culture, race, and ethnicity. (WCore: WCSBS, DE)
WCSBS-107: Exploring Global Challenges (Credits: 4)
This course explores the complex interaction among global issues and challenges across multiple fields like ecology, economy, culture, society, politics, and health. (WCore: WCSBS and DE)
WCSBS-110: Immigration, Education, and Equality (Credits: 4)
This Social and Behavioral Sciences WCore course will explore ways in which environment, race, culture, and social class shape immigrants' educational experiences. We will read and analyze accounts of immigrants' experiences in public schools, and critique perspectives regarding immigrant success in United States society and interact directly with immigrant students at a local school. We will explore differences in the educational outcomes of older and newer immigrants and look at the role of schools and other community organizations in the lives of immigrant youth. (WCore: WCSBS and DE)
WCSBS-113: The Nature of Language (Credits: 4)
Examines ongoing issues concerning cognitive and social aspects of language. In exploring both popular and scientific perspectives on language, students develop skills in critical thinking while exploring elements of linguistic analysis. This course is framed around the following questions: What are the components of the language system? How do we acquire this system? And, how is this system used in society? In short: this course uses the lens of linguistics to examine real-life experiences. (WCore: WCSBS)
WCSBS-130: Restorative Justice (Credits: 4)
This Social and Behavioral Sciences WCore course will examine practices in policing, adjudication, incarceration, and methods of school discipline both nationally and locally, and explore the efficacy of restorative justice practices as an alternative to punitive discipline and sentencing in these settings. Through site visits to the Salt Lake Peer Court and local schools, work with the Restorative Justice Collaborative of Utah, the examination of case studies, and participating in restorative justice circles, students will examine the impact that these practices can have on individuals and communities and make suggestions for real-world change. (WCore: WCSBS)
WCSBS-131: Folklore of Many Americas (Credits: 4)
This class is an introduction to the study of folklore, which celebrates the art of the everyday. Folklorists study stories, songs, sayings, legends, folk beliefs, and other aspects of traditional culture. Although a lot of folklore reinforces the status quo, this course focuses on the folklore of minority groups in America and asks if and when folklore can be an act of resistance. (WCore: WCSBS, RE)
WCSBS-132: The Art of Adulting (Credits: 3)
You're in college, now what? This course discusses personal wellness, career selection, developing emotional resiliency and coping skills, and finding your path through ethics, leadership, diversity and mindfulness . all important topics of "adulting". The journey is yours - what will you do with it? As adults in a society struggling to grasp issues of personal and social responsibility, how do we prepare to contribute to necessary solutions and fulfill our roles as leaders? In other words, how do we become adults? This course is designed to help students answer this question and consider some of the more complex issues of adulting. The Art of Adulting guides students through the development of a framework for assuring a future of self-reliance, personal satisfaction and social contribution through a survey-level course including modules on Education for Life, Career and Job Search Skills, Emotional Resilience, Personal Ethics, Pluralism, Mindfulness and Leadership. Each module includes selected readings, participation in group discussions, preparing personal reflections, and developing personal action plans. Students will be expected to articulate select action plans in sufficient detail as to put their plans into motion and report on both short-run outcomes and long-run expectations. Students will be required to select a focal topic from the course modules on which they're prepared to offer a research project resulting in a paper, presentation, and video. The project requires exploration of existing frameworks and the selection of structural elements useful in constructing a framework applicable to a range of disciplines. Through the paper students will evidence how their proposed framework's utility may lead to the types of social contribution and personal satisfaction associated with productive leadership in the campus community and beyond. The production of the personal video is intended to offer students an opportunity to reflect on their journey through the course and how they expect to utilize their proposed framework to influence the fabric of their lives. The course includes coordination with Giovale Library staff to provide students with necessary information literacy instruction. Students will be expected to use this in the preparation of their research paper and as a useful foundation for structuring future critical writing projects and assignments. (WCore: WCSBS, WE)
WCSBS-205: People, Power, and Protest (Credits: 4)
This course on social movements investigates key questions such as: How do social movements emerge? What do social movements do? Why do some movements succeed while others fail? To answer these questions, we draw from sociology, inter-disciplinary perspectives and cross-national approaches. This course will familiarize students with key concepts of this field - with a special focus on power and resistance - while exposing them to case studies of protest and social movements across the Americas and over time. (WCore: WCSBS, DE)
WCSBS-206: Social Entrepreneurship (Credits: 4)
Are you interested in contributing to the greater good through the career you choose? Do you want to do 'good' for others without sacrificing your own economic well-being? Well, now you can. In this course you will learn about the growing phenomenon known as social entrepreneurship. In this class you will learn the theory behind social entrepreneurship and you will immerse yourself in the local economy of mission-driven startups in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. (WCore: WCSBS and WE)
WCSBS-220: Social Justice by the Numbers (Credits: 4)
How can we measure and analyze justice, fairness, and equity in our society? How can we use such analysis to determine how to better ourselves and the society in which we live? Jordan Ellenberg describes math as "an atomic-powered prosthesis that you attach to your common sense"; in this course, you will develop your prosthesis and use it to analyze and improve the world around you. (WCore: WCSBS & QE)