Course Descriptions

Humanities, Social Sciences, AND THE ARTS

AREAS OF STUDY

• See Thematic Categories, below.

MAJORS

• International Studies (second major only)

Certificates

• German Technical Translator

MINORS

• Anthropology
• Art
• Cognitive Science
• East Asian Studies
• Economics
• European Studies
• Geography
• German
• History
• Japanese
• Language and Literature
• Latin American Studies
• Music
• Political Science
• Philosophy and Religion
• Psychology
• Spanish
• Theatre and Drama

MISSION STATEMENT

To enable our students to become creative, sophisticated thinkers, active citizens, and effective leaders in the global community, the department contributes to a broad liberal education, introducing students to a wide array of disciplines and traditions in the humanities and social sciences. In doing so, it provides learning experiences that, in addition to their intrinsic value, enrich a scientific and technical education.

Educational Objectives

Within the context of a liberal education, the department fosters in its students the desire and the ability to:

1. think critically, forming cogent, informed opinions, defining and solving problems with an awareness that societal processes are complex and interactive;
2. communicate effectively to diverse audiences, including those from other cultures and communities;
3. succeed in a global context by understanding and adapting to diverse cultures, alternative points of view, and the challenges of globalization;
4. exhibit ethical and responsible leadership as individuals, citizens, and professionals, committed to lifelong learning and achievement.

AREAS OF STUDY

The following disciplines are represented within the department:

Graduation Requirements

1. General 
   All students must take a minimum of nine courses (36 credits) in Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Arts (HSSA). These courses may be chosen from the HSSA offerings, within the restrictions below. 
   
   Students must take a course in at least two of the three areas of study (Humanities & Arts, Social Sciences, and Modern Languages).

2. Rhetoric and Composition (RH131) and Technical and Professional Communication (RH330)
Rhetoric and Composition is a requirement for all Rose-Hulman students and Technical and Professional Communication is a requirement for most majors.  Both count toward the total requirement of 9 HSSA courses.

1. A minimum of two terms of the same language (or the equivalent thereof) must be completed in order to apply modern language credits toward Humanities and Social Sciences requirements. If only SPAN L111, JAPN L111 or GER L111 is completed, that course will not be allowed to satisfy an HSSA requirement.  For transfer credit, a single modern language course at 4 credit hours may be used to satisfy an HSSA requirement if it is higher than the entry level course (L111) in that language. Example: Transfer credit awarded for SPAN L113 could be used to satisfy one HSSA course requirement.

2. HSSA credit will not be awarded for a lower-level language course until the student takes and passes the next course in the language sequence with a grade of C or better.

3. No more than 16 credits of modern language may be counted toward HSSA requirements.  
4. Students may not earn modern language credit in their native languages.
5. Note: Students planning to study abroad should be sure to have their program approved ahead of time by the head of the HSSA Department and by the head of the Department in which they are majoring.

Minors

Minor

A student may elect to take an Minor in Anthropology, East Asian Studies, Economics, European Studies, Geography, German, History, Japanese, Language and Literature, Latin American Studies Philosophy and Religion, Political Science, Psychology, Spanish or Theatre and Drama by concentrating 5 to 7 HSS courses in that area. NOTE: All Minors require taking one additional HSS course, for a minimum of 40 HSSA credits (44 in the case of foreign languages). See the specific requirements listed under each Minor. Successful completion of the Minor is indicated on the student's grade transcript. A student interested in pursuing a Minor should consult with the appropriate Minor Adviser, listed below, for aid in planning a course schedule. No courses counted toward fulfilling the requirements for one minor may be counted in fulfilling the requirements of another minor.

HSSa MAJORS

The Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts offers one major (second major only):

International Studies Major (IS) (second major only)

In the 21st century, technical work occurs increasingly in an international and multi-lingual arena. The International Studies major provides Rose-Hulman students with the opportunity to complement their primary major with a second major that prepares them for an interdependent, multicultural, and transnational world. Courses in the major focus on economic, cultural, and social processes that take place among nations and world regions. Topics may include globalization, post-colonialism, communication, migration, and environmental change.

The IS major promotes the critical understanding of the historical and contemporary entanglements of diverse cultures around the world. It offers theoretical tools and models practical steps with which to assess competing claims about the world. Students will participate in the analysis of complex situations in which the evidence may be ambiguous and in which there may be no one clear answer. They will learn to devise questions that guide productive research into such situations.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Recognition of cultural diversity requires the comparison and analysis of historical, cultural, political, social, or regional differences.
   
   1. Analyze a socio-cultural artifact, event, or system of a society different from your own.
   2. Compare socio-cultural artifacts or systems in two or more cultures/world regions/civilizations
   3. Carry out a project involving meaningful contact with students, colleagues, clients, or sponsors abroad.
2. Transnational and global awareness requires an understanding of the ideas, systems, processes, or trends that have created a globally interdependent world.
   
   1. Explain the global causes or effects of an action or decision by nation-states, corporations, groups of people, or other actors
   2. Argue for a course of action—political, economic, or otherwise—when given an international situation/case study
3. Independent Study of global issues requires the application of appropriate analytic vocabulary, methodologies, or critical frameworks from the Humanities or the Social Sciences
   
   1. Assemble and evaluate resources for research in international studies.
   2. Design and carry out a research project analyzing a significant international or global issue, system, process, or event.

Requirements for a second major in International Studies (60 cred.)

• Students double majoring in International Studies may use their International Studies courses to satisfy HSSA graduation requirements.
• Courses counted for the International Studies major may not be counted for HSSA minors—except that modern foreign language courses may be used to fulfill modern language requirements in one additional minor.
• Students wishing to pursue a double major in Economics and International Studies may not choose the IPE area of concentration.
• All International Studies majors are subject to approval by HSSA Department Head and the Institute Curriculum Committee.

1. Disciplinary Distribution (4 courses, 16 credit hours that introduce students to key concepts, disciplines, and analytical approaches in international studies).

Students choose one course each from  FOUR of the following six disciplines. The courses have international processes, comparisons, or other connections as a central focus. They may be substituted with other courses with same focus with consent of IS major director.

Economics
  ECON S151Introduction to Microeconomics
  ECON S152 Introduction to Macroeconomics

Geography
  GEOG S110 World Geography
  GEOG S301 Geography of Europe
  GEOG S302 Geography of Africa

Political Science
  POLS S102 International Relations
  POLS S103Comparative Politics

Literature
  ENGL H233 World Literature
  HUM H311 German Colonialism
  HUM 380 Literature and Human Rights in Latin America

History
  HIST H221 Colonial Latin America
  HIST H233 World History since 1400
  HIST H422 The Industrial Revolution in Global Context

Anthropology
  ANTH S101 Introduction to Anthropology
  ANTH S140 Introduction to East Asia
  ANTH S351Ethnicity and the State in China

2.  Concentration (7 courses, 28 credit hours)
Each student must take seven courses that allow the student to develop advanced area or topic
knowledge and disciplinary analytical skills in a coherent field of concentration. The student must choose these courses in consultation with the IS major director and other faculty, write a statement explaining how those courses fit together, and get it approved by a committee designated by the IS major director by the fall quarter of junior year.

3.  Language (3 courses, 12 credit hours) One full year of a modern language (e.g., German, Japanese, Spanish)

4.  Seminar  in International Studies (2 credits; ARTS H496, HUM H496, or SOC S496) and Senior Project in International Studies (2 credits; ARTS H497, HUM H497, or SOC S497)

Guided study, research, and analytical writing on a topic in international studies, integrating knowledge gained from international experience and/or from course work in the major.  

Senior project proposals will be approved by a committee designated by the International Studies Major Director.

HSSA MINORS

MINOR IN ANTHROPOLOGY

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor.

The Minor in Anthropology has the following requirements:

1. ANTH S101 Introduction to Anthropology and four additional courses in Anthropology (ANTH)
2. A minimum of 40 credits in HSSA courses.
3. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor.

MINOR IN ART

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

The Minor in Art has the following requirements:

1. Five Courses in Art
2. The following three courses are required:
   • ARTS H142  Beginning Drawing
   • ARTS H242  Visual Arts in Civilization
   • ARTS H244  Design and Color
3. A minimum of 40 credits in HSSA courses must be earned to obtain the minor.
4. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor
   Courses
   
   • ARTS H148 Beginning Photography
   • ARTS H340 Art and Mathematics
   • ARTS H360 Watercolor Painting
   • ARTS H442 Art History: Renaissance to Modern

MINOR IN EAST ASIAN STUDIES

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

The Minor in East Asian Studies has the following requirements:

1. Three courses (or proficiency determined by the minor advisor) in Japanese or another East Asian language. (Language courses may be allocated in any of the three thematic categories, but there may be no more than one language course in any category.)
2. Four courses selected from the following:
   
   • ANTH S140 Introduction to East Asia
   • ANTH S151 Modern China
   • ANTH S207 Popular Culture in China
   • ANTH S208 Religions in China
   • ANTH S301 Japanese Society
   • ANTH S302 Japanese Society Seminar
   • ANTH S303 Japanese Popular Culture
   • ANTH S304 Japan: East and West
   • ANTH S350 Islam and Muslim Groups in China
   • ANTH S351Ethnicity and State in China
3. A minimum of 40 credits in HSS courses must be earned to obtain the minor.
4. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

MINOR IN ECONOMICS

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

The Minor in Economics has the following requirements:

1. Five courses in Economics, distributed as follows:
   • Introduction to Microeconomics (ECON S151)
   • Introduction to Macroeconomics (ECON S 152)
   • Intermediate Microeconomics (ECON S251) or Intermediate Macroeconomics (ECON S252)
   • Two additional Economics courses chosen by the student and approved by an Economics Minor Advisor. These shall be selected to provide some depth in the student’s understanding of economic analysis and its applications;
2. A minimum of 40 credits in HSS courses must be earned to obtain the minor.
3. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor
   Courses
   • ECON S151 Introduction to Microeconomics
   • ECON S152 Introduction to Macroeconomics
   • ECON S251 Intermediate Microeconomics
   • ECON S252 Intermediate Macroeconomics
   • ECON S253 Managerial Economics
   • ECON S254 Money and Banking
   • ECON S255 Industrial Organization
   • ECON S350 Health Economics
   • ECON S351 Environmental Economics
   • ECON S352 Corporate Finance
   • ECON S353 Labor Economics 
   • ECON S354 International Trade and Globalization
   • ECON S355 International Finance
   • ECON S356 Game Theory
   • ECON S451 Econometrics
   • ECON S452 Mathematical Economics
   • ECON S399 Special Topics
   •  

MINOR IN GEOGRAPHY

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

The Minor in Geography has the following requirements:

1. Five courses in Geography, one of which must be either World Regional Geography (GEOG S110) or Human Geography (GEOG S210).
2. A minimum of 40 credits in HSS courses must be earned to obtain the minor.
3. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor.
   Courses
   
   •  
   • GEOG S110 World Geography
   • GEOG S210 Human Geography
   • GEOG S301 Geography of Africa
   • GEOG S302 Geography of Europe
   • GEOG S303 Geography of Middle East
   • GEOG S310 The Great Explorers
   • GEOG S410 Medieval Europe
   • ANTH S151 Modern China
   • HIST H222  Latin America since 1800
   • GEOG S399 Special Topics
   • GEOG S459 Geography Field Studies Abroad
   • GEOG S499 Directed Study

MINOR IN HISTORY

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the
approval of the minor advisor.

The Minor in History has the following requirements:

1. Five courses in History
   • Must include at least one of the following research-based courses: HIST H322, HIST H422, HIST H425.
   • May include one of the “approved courses in related disciplines”
2. A minimum of 40 credits in HSS courses must be earned to obtain the minor.
3. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor

History Courses

• HIST H221 Colonial Latin America
• HIST H222 Latin America since 1800 (formerly Modern Latin America)
• HIST H223 World History since 1500
• HIST H322 Disasters and Modern Society since 1700
• HIST H422 Industrial Revolution in Global Context
• HIST H425 Cities and Technology in the Industrial Age
• HIST H399 Special Topics
• HIST H499 Directed Readings

Approved courses in related disciplines (One of these can count towards the History minor without special permission.)

• ANTH S151 Modern China
  ECON S357 History of Economic Thought
• HUM H413 Nazi Germany: Fact and Fiction
• HUM H311 German Colonialism
• GEOG S410 Medieval Europe
• RELG H342 Christian Antislavery in the UK

MINOR IN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

The Minor in Language and Literature has the following requirements:

1. In addition to RH 131 and RH 330, five courses in Language and Literature, which may include any English course (ENGL) and any of the following:
   • HUM H236 The American Dream
   • HUM H332 Don Quixote o HUM H333 Representations of Reality
   • HUM H334 Gender, Work, and Popular Culture
   • HUM H337 Latin American Fiction: The Boom and Beyond
   • HUM H338 Contemporary Arabic Literature in Translation
   • HUM H345 Presidential Election Rhetoric
   • HUM H380 Literature and Human Rights in Latin America
   • HUM H390 Saints, Sinners, and Swords: Medieval European Literature
   • HUM H410 Communication Lab Fellow Training
2. A minimum of 40 credits in HSSA courses.
3. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor.

MINOR IN LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

The Minor in Latin American Studies has the following requirements:

1. Three courses (or proficiency) in Spanish Language. 
2. Four courses selected from the following:
   • HIST H221 Colonial Latin America
   • HIST H222 Latin America since 1800 (formerly Modern Latin America)
   • HUM H332 Don Quixote
   • HUM H337 Latin American Fiction: The Boom and Beyond
   • HUM H386 Hispanic Culture and Civilization: Latin America
   • XXXX X399 Special Topics
   • XXXX X499 Directed Topics
3. A minimum of 40 credits in HSS courses must be earned to obtain the minor.
4. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor.

MINOR IN MODERN LANGUAGES (GERMAN, JAPANESE, AND SPANISH)

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

The Minor in Modern Languages has the following requirements:

1. Six successive courses, or the equivalent, in German, Japanese or Spanish.
2. RH 131 and 3 HSSA courses, one in each category.  Five additional HSSA courses.
3. This means a minimum of 44 credits in HSS courses must be earned.
4. Students may not earn modern language credit in their native languages.

First Year Courses
GER L111/L112/L113 German Language and Culture I/II/III
JAPN L111/L112/L113 Japanese Language and Culture I/II/III
SPAN L111/L112/L113 Spanish Language and Culture I/II/III

Second Year Courses 
GER L211/L212/L213 German Language and Culture IV/V/VI
JAPN L211/L212/L213 Japanese Language and Culture IV/V/VI
SPAN L211/L212/L213 Spanish Language and Culture IV/V/VI

NOTES:
Credits earned in a first-year, first-term language do not count in satisfying HSSA graduation requirements unless the second course in the sequence is also completed successfully.
Students who have completed high school courses in German, Japanese or Spanish can get credit-by-examination for their knowledge by completing subsequent advanced level courses.
Students may earn credit for third and fourth year language courses taken as part of study abroad.

MINOR IN MUSIC

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor.

The Minor in Music has the following requirements:
1. Twenty credits (the equivalent of five courses) in Music. MUSI H101, MUSI H102, and four credits of MUSI H100 are required.
2. A minimum of 40 credits in HSSA courses must be earned to obtain the minor.
3. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor.

Music Theory courses  (both required):

• MUSI H101 Music Theory I: Fundamentals of Tonal Music
• MUSI H102 Music Theory II: Basic Form and Composition  (pre-requisite: MUSI H101)

Students who have taken music theory before attending Rose‐Hulman must take a Music Theory I placement  test to be granted admittance to Theory II. Students who successfully pursue this option must then substitute for Music Theory I another music‐related course, as approved by the Minor Advisor.

Music History and Culture courses  (students must pick two):

• MUSI H201 Early European Music (Before 1650)
• MUSI H202 Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Music  (required)
• MUSI H203 Modernist and Postmodernist Music
• MUSI H204 Popular Music and Recorded Sound
• MUSI H301 Musics of the Global South

Music Performance  (four credits required):

• MUSI H100 Music Performance  (pre‐requisite: consent of the ensemble director[s])

One credit represents one academic term of satisfactory participation in one accredited Performing Groups (Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Chorus). Maximum of two credits (that is, participation in two ensembles) per term. The four required credits need not be completed consecutively, nor must they all be completed in the same performing group. The specific criteria for “satisfactory participation” will be provided to the candidate by the ensemble directors.

MINOR IN PHILOSOPHY

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

The Minor in Philosophy has the following requirements:

1. Five courses in Philosophy, one of which must be Introduction to Philosophy (IA 101).
2. A minimum of 40 credits in HSSA courses must be earned to obtain the minor.
3. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor.

Philosophy Courses:

• PHIL H101 – Introduction to Philosophy
• PHIL H102 – Critical Thinking & Introduction to Logic
• PHIL H201– Bioethics
• PHIL H202 – Business & Engineering Ethics
• PHIL H301 – Philosophy of Religion
• PHIL H302 – Political Philosophy
• PHIL H301 – Philosophy of Mind
• PHIL H402 – Philosophy of Science
• PHIL H403– Human Nature
• PHIL H399 – Special Topics
• PHIL H499 – Directed Study

Minor in Political Science

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

The Minor in Political Science has the following requirements:

1. Five courses in Political Science, one of which must be Comparative Politics (POLS S103), International Relations (POLS S102), or American Politics and Government (POLS S101)
2. A minimum of 40 credits in HSS courses must be earned to obtain the minor.
3. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor.
   Courses
   • POLS S101 American Politics and Government
   • POLS S102 International Relations
   • POLS S103 Comparative Politics
   • POLS S200 Politics of the Global Economy
   • POLS S301 European Politics and Government
   • POLS S303 The European Union
   • POLS S304 British Politics and Government
   • POLS S400 Seminar on America's Future
   • HUM H345 Presidential Election Rhetoric
   • PHIL H302 Political Philosophy
   • POLS S399 Special Topics
   • POLS S499 Directed Study

Minor in Psychology

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor.

The Minor in Psychology has the following requirements:

1. PSYC S100 Introduction to Psychology and four additional courses in Psychology (PSYC).
2. MA223 Engineering Statistics I or MA381 Introduction to Statistics with Probability.
3. A minimum of 40 credits in HSS courses.

Minor in ReLIGIOUS STUDIES

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

The Minor in Religious Studies has the following requirements:

1. Five courses in religious studies, one of which must be Introduction to Religious Studies (RELG H101).
2. A minimum of 40 credits in HSSA courses must be earned to obtain the minor.
3. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the Minor Advisor.
   
   Religious Studies Courses
   • ANTH S150  Introduction to Islam
   • ANTH S208  Religion in China
   • ANTH S350  Islam in China
   • ENGL H335  Reading the Bible
   • HUM H390  Saints, Sinners, and Swords:Medieval European Literature
   • PHIL H301   Philosophy of Religion
   • RELG H101  Introduction to Religious Studies
   • RELG H201  Nature and Religion
   • RELG H212  Introduction to Religious Ethics
   • RELG H250  Religion and Literature
   • RELG H310  Religions and Empires
   • RELG H311  Women, Religion, and Power
   • RELG H342  Christian Antislavery in the UK
   • XX399  Special Topics
   • XX499  Directed Study

Minor in TheatRe and Drama

Students may apply only one (1) transfer course toward a minor. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor. 

Requirements:

1. Five courses (20 credits) in Theatre and Drama.
2. A minimum of 40 credits in HSSA courses must be earned to obtain the minor.
3. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the minor advisor.

Courses: 

• ARTS H321 Acting: Shakespeare
• ARTS H322 Acting: American Method 
• ARTS H323 Acting: Voice and Movement
• ENGL H240 Introduction to Shakespeare
  ENGL H331 Irish Drama
• ENGL H340 American Drama
• ENGL H341 African American Drama
• ENGL H342 Modern European Drama
• ENGL H347 Shakespeare’s Europe
•