UVa Course Catalog (Unofficial, Lou's List)
Complete Catalog for the Public Health Sciences Department    
Class Schedules Index Course Catalogs Index Class Search Page
These pages present data mined from the University of Virginia's student information system (SIS). I hope that you will find them useful. — Lou Bloomfield, Department of Physics
African-American and African Studies
AAS 150Special Topics in African American Studies (0)
Special Topics in African American Studies.
AAS 1010Introduction to African-American and African Studies I (4)
Offered
Fall 2024
This introductory course surveys the histories of people of African descent in Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean from approximately the Middle Ages to the 1880s. Emphases include the Atlantic slave trade and its complex relationship to Africa; the economic systems, cultures, and communities of Africans and African-Americans in the New World, in slavery and in freedom; the rise of anti-slavery movements; and the socio-economic systems that replaced slavery in the late 19th century.
AAS 1020Introduction to African-American and African Studies II (4)
This introductory course builds upon the histories of people of African descent in Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean surveyed in AAS 1010. Drawing on disciplines such as Anthropology, History, Religious Studies, Political Science and Sociology, the course focuses on the period from the late 19th century to the present and is comparative in perspective. It examines the links and disjunctions between communities of African descent in the United States and in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. The course begins with an overview of AAS, its history, assumptions, boundaries, and topics of inquiry, and then proceeds to focus on a number of inter-related themes: patterns of cultural experience; community formation; comparative racial classification; language and society; family and kinship; religion; social and political movements; arts and aesthetics; and archaeology of the African Diaspora.
AAS 1559New Course in African and African American Studies (1 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
New course in the subject of African American Studies.
Course was offered Fall 2023, Fall 2016, Spring 2010
AAS 2224Black Femininities and Masculinities in the US Media (3)
This course, taught as a lower-level seminar, will address the role the media has played in creating images and understandings of 'Blackness' in the United States, particularly where it converges with popular ideologies about gender.
AAS 2263UVA in Kenya - Swahili Cultures: Then & Now (3)
Located in Kenya as a study abroad experience, this course is aimed at providing students with an immersive, interactive and intellectually enriching experience of the Swahili coast. Some of the main themes covered include language, cultures and practices, a critical understanding of the experience of race and racism, slavery and enslavement in the Swahili coast, and the historical cultural context of the region.
AAS 2450The Health of Black Folks (3)
An interdisciplinary course analyzing the relationship between black bodies and biomedicine both historically and in the present. The course is co-taught by Norm Oliver, M.D. (UVa Department of Family Medicine), and offers political, economic, and post-structuralist lenses with which to interpret the individual and socio/cultural health and disease of African-Americans. Readings range across several disciplines including anthropology, epidemiology/public health, folklore, history, science studies, political science, sociology and literary criticism. Topics will vary and may include: HIV/AIDS; reproductive issues; prison, crime and drugs; and body size/image and obesity; the legacy of the Tuskegee Syphilis Trials. Cross listed as ANTH 2450.
AAS 2500Topics Course in Africana Studies (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Lower-level topics course: reading, class discussion, and written assignments on a special topic in African-American and African Studies Topics change from term to term, and vary with the instructor.
AAS 2559New Course in African and African American Studies (3)
New course in the subject of African and African American Studies
AAS 2657Routes, Writing, Reggae (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
In this course, we will trace the history of reggae music and explore its influence on the development of Jamaican literature. With readings on Jamaican history, we will consider why so many reggae songs speak about Jah and quote from the Bible. Then, we will explore how Marcus Garvey's teachings led to the rise of Rastafarianism, which in turn seeded ideas of black pride and black humanity into what would become reggae music.
Course was offered Fall 2022, Fall 2020, Fall 2018
AAS 2700Festivals of the Americas (3)
Communities throughout the Caribbean, and South, Central and North America celebrate festivals which are rooted in religious devotion, and which serve to mark sacred time and and to assert claims about religious, ethnic, and national identities. The class will read ethnographic accounts and listen to musical recordings of signature religious festivals--such as Saint Patrick's Day in Boston, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and Carnival in Brazil.
Course was offered Fall 2013, Fall 2012, Fall 2011, Fall 2009
AAS 2740Peoples and Cultures of Africa (3)
In this course, students will gain an understanding of the richness and variety of African life. While no course of this kind can hope to give more than a broad overview of the continent, students will learn which intellectual tools and fundamental principles are necessary for approaching the study of the hundreds of cultural worlds that exist today on the African continent. This course will draw from ethnographic texts, literary works and film.
Course was offered Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2019
AAS 2760Empowered Women of Africa (3)
In this interdisciplinary survey course on women leaders in urban areas in Africa, we will examine the experiences of women from diverse societies across the Eastern and Southern regions of Africa during the colonial and postcolonial periods. Of particular importance is how women in these societies have faced challenges and how they emerge as leaders in their communities.
AAS 3000Women and Religion in Africa (3)
This course examines women's religious activities, traditions and spirituality in a number of different African contexts. Drawing on ethnographic, historical, literary, and religious studies scholarship, we will explore a variety of themes and debates that have emerged in the study of gender and religion in Africa. Topics will include gendered images of sacred power; the construction of gender through ritual; sexuality and fertility; and women
AAS 3157Caribbean Perspectives (3)
Breaking with popular constructions of the region as a timeless tropical paradise, this course will re-define the Caribbean as the birthplace of modern forms of capitalism, globalization, and trans-nationalism. We will survey the founding moments of Caribbean history, including the imposition of slavery, the rise of plantation economies, and the development of global networks of goods and peoples.
Course was offered Spring 2024, Fall 2010, Fall 2009
AAS 3200Martin, Malcolm and America (3)
An intensive examination of African-American social criticism centered upon, but not limited to, the life and thought of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. We will come to grips with the American legacy of racial hatred and oppression systematized in the institutions of antebellum chattel slavery and post-bellum racial segregation and analyze the array of critical responses to, and social struggles against, this legacy.
AAS 3231Rise and Fall of the Slave South (3)
A history of the American South from the arrival of the first English settlers through the end of Reconstruction in 1877. Cross-listed with HIUS 3231.
AAS 3245Slavery in the Contemporary Literary Imagination (3)
This course will examine the work of African American authors whose work forms a subgenre of African American letters sometimes called the neo-slave narrative, concerned to explore and expand the historical and creative representation of slavery in the US and the UK. We will explore the limits of literary forms, racial (mis)representation and the historical records that have yielded this compelling production of writing in the past 30 years.
AAS 3280Reading the Black College Campus (3)
Historically Black Colleges and University campuses are records of the process of democratizing (extending to excluded social groups such as African-Americans) opportunities for higher education in America. Through landscapes, we trace this record, unearthing the politics of landscapes via direct experience as well as via interpretations of representations of landscapes in literature, visual arts, maps, plans, and photographs.
Course was offered Fall 2013, Fall 2011
AAS 3300Social Science Perspectives on African American and African Studies (3)
This course will focus on major debates, theories, and methodological approaches in the social sciences that contribute to African American Studies. The course helps students to consider how a multidisciplinary approach enriches efforts to analyze such issues as health disparities, education, and incarceration as they relate to the African Diaspora.
AAS 3351African Diaspora Religions (3)
This seminar examines changes in ethnographic accounts of African diaspora religions, with particular attention to the conceptions of religion, race, nation, and modernity found in different research paradigms. Prerequisite: previous course in one of the following: religious studies, anthropology, AAS, or Latin American studies.
AAS 3356Culture, Race and World Politics (3)
This course explores the role of culture and race in international politics. Cultural and ethnic factors have long influenced international relations, especially in the post Cold War era. These "identity" issues raise new questions about the role of national sovereighty and the prospects for democracy in countries around the world. We focus on several broad themes structured around the pivot of identity and otherness.
AAS 3456The Supreme Court and the Civil Rights Movement (3)
This course explores the role of the United States Supreme Court in defining the legality of racial distinctions in the United States in the post-Civil War era. Special attention is paid to the role of the court's landmark 1954 decision, Brown v. Board of Education. The class will be taught in a discussion format based upon assigned readings.
AAS 3457Issues in Civil Rights Law (3)
An exploration of critical issues in modern civil rights law. We engage competing visions of racial equality through law by examining topics such as school desegregation, affirmative action, urban policymaking, and the crisis of mass incarceration. This course will also highlight the limitations of civil rights law and consider the ways in which the law is often complicit in perpetuating race, gender and class hierarchies.
Course was offered Summer 2011
AAS 3471History of American Labor (3)
This course examines the economic, cultural, and political lives of the US working classes from the end of the Civil War to the present.
AAS 3500Intermediate Seminar in African-American & African Studies (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Reading, class discussion, and written assignments on a special topic in African-American and African Studies. Topics change from term to term, and vary with the instructor.
AAS 3559New Course in African and African American Studies (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
New course in the subject of African and African American Studies.
AAS 3645Musical Fictions (3)
Over the course of the semester, we will explore the genre of the contemporary musical novel in order to better understand why writers and readers are so intrigued by the figure of the musician as a literary trope. Pairing close listening and music theory with close readings of seminal blues, jazz, reggae, mambo, calypso and rock novels set in the US, UK, Jamaica, Trinidad, France and Germany.
Course was offered Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2018
AAS 3652African American History since 1865 (3)
This course surveys the major political, economic, and cultural developments in black America from the end of the Civil War to the present. Through an engagement with various primary and secondary texts, and multimedia, students examine African Americans' endeavors to build strong families and communities, create socially meaningful art, and establish a political infrastructure capable of bringing into existence a more just and humane world.
AAS 3671History of the Civil Rights Movement (3)
This course examines the history and legacy of the African American struggle for civil rights in twentieth century America. It provides students with a broad overview of the civil rights movement -- the key issues, significant people and organizations, and pivotal events -- as well as a deeper understanding of its scope, influence, legacy, and lessons for today.
Course was offered January 2024, Fall 2020
AAS 3710African Worlds through Life Stories (3)
This course examines an array of African cultural worlds from the perspective of a variety of different life story genres. We will be addressing biography, autobiography, autofiction, memoirs, diaries, biographical documentary film and various artistic representations. Some critics claim that such genres, concentrating on the 'individual' in Western terms, are not appropriate for representing African experiences of personhood.
AAS 3745Currents in African Literature (3)
In this course, we will read a sampling of some exciting new works of fiction from Africa's young and established writers. In particular, we will examine the literary innovations that African writers use to narrate issues affecting the continent such as dictatorship, the lingering effects of colonization, the postcolonial nation state, the traumas of war and geo-politics, religion, gender and sexuality, and migration, among others.
Course was offered Spring 2021, Fall 2019
AAS 3749Food and Meaning in Africa and the Diaspora (3)
This course investigates the traditions and symbolics of food and eating in Africa and throughout the African Diaspora -- wherever people of African descent have migrated or have been forced to move. This course will help students to investigate the way the foods people eat' or don't eat' hold meaning for people within a variety of cultural contexts.Topics will include symbol, taboo, sexuality, bodies, ritual, kinship & beauty, among others.
AAS 3760Reading Black Digital Culture (3)
Using a mix of scholarly and popular-press readings and an examination of digital artifacts, we will analyze the creations and contributions of Black digital culture from the mid-90s to the present. Covering topics including the early Black blogosphere; the creation of niche content sites like BlackPlanet.com; the emergence of Black Twitter; the circulation of memes, and the use second-screening.
Course was offered Fall 2023
AAS 3810Race, Culture and Inequality (3)
This course will examine how culture matters for understanding race and social inequality. It will survey social science research about cultural forms such as everyday discourse, styles of dress, music, literature, visual arts, and media as they relate to race and inequality.
AAS 3820Race, Medicine and Incarceration (3)
This intermediate seminar course explores selected topics in the history of race, medicine, and incarceration (broadly defined) and the ways in which the captive black body has functioned as a site of medical exploitation and profit from the period of slavery to the present.
AAS 3830Being Human: Race, Technology, and the Arts (3)
This course is an introduction to Afrofuturism, exploring race and alienness, race and technology, and race and modernity through global futuristic representations of blackness in TV, film, music, art, and literature.
Course was offered Spring 2020
AAS 3853From Redlined to Subprime: Race and Real Estate in the US (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course examines the history of housing and real estate and explores its role in shaping the meaning and lived experience of race in modern America. We will learn how and why real estate ownership, investment, and development came to play a critical role in the formation and endurance of racial segregation, modern capitalism, and the built environment.
AAS 4005Morven's Enslaved and Descendant Communities (3)
This course invites students to explore the complex, multilayered history and evolving interpretation of UVA's Morven Farm, with a focus on the site's 19th century enslaved and descendant communities. The course combines lectures, research, and seminar-style discussions with field trips to area archives and historic sites. Does not count toward 4000-level seminar requirement.
Course was offered Summer 2023
AAS 4070Distinguished Major Thesis I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Students in the Distinguished Majors Program should enroll in this course for their first semester of thesis research.
AAS 4080Distinguished Major Thesis II (3)
Second-semester DMP students should enroll in this course to complete their theses.
AAS 4109Civil Rights Movement and the Media (3)
Course examines the crucial relationship between the Civil Rights Movement and mass media from 1950s through early 1970s, looking at a variety of media forms: Hollywood cinema, network television, mainstream newspapers, photojournalism, the black press, and news as primary documents that can tell us something about American race relations during this period and how the nation responded to challenges posed by a powerful social change movement.
AAS 4471Black Women and Work (3)
This advanced seminar explores selected topics in the history of black women and work (broadly defined) in the United States. Using gender, race, and class as essential categories of analysis, this course is designed to help students better understand the myriad contributions working class black women have made to American history--across time and space--as slaves, convict laborers, domestic servants, sex workers, labor activists, and more.
AAS 4500Advanced Seminar in African-American and African Studies (3)
Reading, class discussion, and research on a special topic in African-American and African Studies culminatiing in the composition of a research paper. Topics change from term to term, and vary with the instructor. Primarily for fourth-year students but open to others.
AAS 4501Advanced Research Seminar in History & AAS (4)
Offered
Fall 2024
Reading, class discussion, and research on a special topic in African-American and African Studies culminating in the composition of a research paper. Topics change from term to term, and vary with the instructor. Primarily for fourth-year AAS and History students--double majors and others. Crosslisted with the History major seminar.
AAS 4559New Course in African and African American Studies (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of African and African American Studies.
Course was offered Summer 2022, Spring 2015, Spring 2014
AAS 4570Advanced Research Seminar in African-American & African Studies (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Reading, class discussion, and research on a special topic in African-American and African Studies culminating in the composition of a research paper. Topics change from term to term, and vary with the instructor. Primarily for fourth-year students but open to others.
AAS 4724Africa in the U.S. Media (3)
This course will address the role the media has played in creating images and understandings of "Africa" and "Blackness" in this country. We will focus primarily on the context of the present-day United States. However, we will also address pre-colonial and colonial periods and touch on the role of popular media in particular contemporary African contexts.
AAS 4725Queer Africas (3)
How does "Africa" shape the contours of queerness? We will explore the complex iterations of afro-queer subjectivities in the the circum-Atlantic world. Importantly, we will examine the extent to which the afterlife of slavery in the Americas intersect with the state of postcoloniality in Africa, and how blackness and queerness get conditioned at these intersections. By providing an introduction to various artists, activists, and intellectuals in both Africa and its myriad diasporas, this interdisciplinary seminar will thus examine what it means to be both black and queer historically, spatially, and contemporarily.
Course was offered Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019
AAS 4845Black Speculative Fiction (3)
This course seeks to explore the world of African American 'speculative' fiction. This genre of writing largely includes science fiction, fantasy fiction, and horror. In this class, we will read, watch, and discuss narratives by black writers of speculative fiction to better understand the motivation, tone, and agenda in the work of black writers. We will also consider the role of black culture and representation in the larger field.
Course was offered Spring 2011, Spring 2010
AAS 4993Independent Study (1 - 12)
Offered
Fall 2024
Allows students to work on an individual research project. Students must propose a topic to an appropriate faculty member, submit a written proposal for approval, prepare an extensive annotated bibliography on relevant readings comparable to the reading list of a regular upper-level course, and complete a research paper of at least 20 pages.
AAS 5559New Course in African and African American Studies (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of African and African American Studies.
AAS 7000Introduction to Africana Studies (3)
This is an introductory course that will survey selected recent and classic texts in the interdisciplinary fields of African American, African, and Caribbean Studies. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to identify and understand major themes that have shaped the development of the discipline of Africana Studies.
AAS 7200Black Environmental Thought (3)
Beginning in the colonial and antebellum periods of American history and moving through the twentieth century into the twenty-first, this class will highlight the myriad approaches black women and men adopted to address shifting manifestations of racialized environmental injustice. At the foundation of the course will be an exploration of the environmental history of slavery in the United States.
Course was offered Fall 2019
AAS 7300Revolutionary Struggles of the African Atlantic (3)
In this course, we will grapple with the concept of struggle as it pertains to Africans' desire to wrestle themselves from the interlocking white supremacist systems of colonialism, enslavement, apartheid and racialized capitalism. How has the desire to be 'free' from these systems of oppression defined Black identities in Africa & its myriad diasporas?
Course was offered Fall 2019
AAS 7310The Imperial Encounter in Africa (3)
This course studies the concept of the "imperial encounter" in Africa -- what it involved, who it exploited, and why today we still grapple with its legacies. This class analyzes the concept of "the encounter" in the period between 1450 and 1950 using a variety of sources: literature, poems, films, maps, voyagers' accounts, artwork, and scholarly works by historians.
Course was offered Spring 2021
AAS 7315Development and the Environment in Modern Africa (3)
Focusing largely on east and central Africa, this class studies ideologies of economic development towards Africa, and the localized responses of rural communities across the continent. Fusing histories of imperialism and capitalism alongside works of literature, philosophy, and activism, the class explores how the global economy has sought to exploit the natural resources of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Course was offered Spring 2021
AAS 7725Queer Africas (3)
How does "Africa" shape the contours of queerness? We will explore the complex iterations of afro-queer subjectivities in the the circum-Atlantic world. Importantly, we will examine the extent to which the afterlife of slavery in the Americas intersect with the state of postcoloniality in Africa, and how blackness and queerness get conditioned at these intersections. By providing an introduction to various artists, activists, and intellectuals in both Africa and its myriad diasporas, this interdisciplinary seminar will thus examine what it means to be both black and queer historically, spatially, and contemporarily.
AAS 9710Woodson Institute Fellows Pre- and Post-Doctoral Research (12)
Offered
Fall 2024
This is a supervised research course without formal classroom instruction.
American Studies
AMST 1050Slavery and Its Legacies (3)
This course examines the history of slavery and its legacy at UVA and in the central Virginia region. The course aims to recover the experiences of enslaved individuals and their roles in building and maintaining the university, and to contextualize those experiences within Southern history.
AMST 1060The Aftermath of Slavery at UVA and in Virginia (3)
This course examines the post-1865 history at UVA and in the region, recovering the experiences of African Americans in building community in the face of racism, and also contextualizing those experiences within U.S. history. The course situates that local history in political and cultural context, tracing the advent of emancipation, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, desegregation, civil rights change, and even twenty-first century racism and inequality.
Course was offered Spring 2022
AMST 1559New Course in American Studies (1 - 4)
New Course in the subject of American Studies
AMST 2001Introduction to American Studies (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course introduces students to American Studies, the interdisciplinary study of US culture. Students will be exposed to the three main categories of American Studies methods, historical analysis, close analysis, and fieldwork and to a broad variety of cultural forms, including films, photographs, music, sermons, journalism, fiction, speeches, court decisions, government documents, and web-based materials including social media sites.
AMST 2130Narratives of Girlhood (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course treats a range of contemporary English language literatures about girlhood. Our comparative analyses of texts will pay particular attention to their play with genre and their use of literary devices -- e.g., structure, voice, point of view, dialogue, temporality, language ¿ to render narratives about girlhood in contexts of (im)migration, loss, displacement, violence, revolution, war, and trauma.
AMST 2155Whiteness & Religion: Religious Foundations of a Racial Category (3)
This class examines the role religion plays in defining a racial category known as whiteness. By reading cultural histories and ethnographies of the religious practices of various communities, we will examine how groups now classified as white (Irish, Italians, Poles, Jews, etc.) and religious images (depictions of Jesus and the Virgin Mary) "became white" and the role that religious practice played in this shift in racial classification.
Course was offered Spring 2017
AMST 2210Arts of the Harlem Renaissance (3)
Studies the literature, painting, photography and prints produced by New York artists based in Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s, and examines their relation to concurrent social, cultural, and aesthetic issues.
AMST 2231Native Americans in Popular Culture (3)
This course interrogates American Indian people in pop culture. Students historicize and analyze the representation of American Indians across such media as print, photography, cinema, music, and more recently in the twenty-first century, social media. This course asks students to think about the ways American Indian people have not only contributed to pop culture, but the desire for American Indians as cultural objects.
AMST 2233Contemporary Native American Literature (3)
In this course we use contemporary Native American literature, authored by individuals from diverse tribal backgrounds, as an accessible avenue to better understand the history of federal Indian policy, its complexity, legal construct, and the ways federal Indian policy influences the lives of American Indian people.
AMST 2321Latinx Fiction and Film (3)
This course explores the diverse and also converging experiences of Latinos in the US. We will read contemporary novels and poetry by Latinx authors from different Latinx groups (Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central American and South American). We will discuss reasons for migration, concepts of the "border" and the impact of bilingualism on group identity. We will view films that depict the Latinx experience in the US.
Course was offered Spring 2022, Fall 2018
AMST 2420Cultural Landscapes of the United States (3)
This course introduces the study of everyday landscapes as cultural spaces that illuminate the history of social and political developments in the U.S. It encourages a broad understanding of landscape across genres-painting, photography, fiction, journalism. Particular focus will be paid to the political economy of landscapes to explore the connections between landscape and public policy from multiple vantage points.
AMST 2460Language in the U.S. (3)
Through diverse academic/theoretical readings and spoken, written, and visual material, students will learn to analyze, evaluate, and construct arguments as related to critical linguistic and cultural analysis of primary and secondary source material. This course examines complex relationships among American language and cultural practices, American history, race, gender, and class ideologies, and social identities.
Course was offered Fall 2017, Spring 2016
AMST 2470Disney (3)
This discussion course examines the cultural role of Disney and its effects on the visual arts in the 20th and 21st centuries. It considers a range of material to interrogate how Disney as both a corporation and a cultural icon promotes and reinforces national ideals. Presented both chronologically and thematically, students engage with aesthetic, ideological and theoretical concerns regarding history, identity, space/place, and popular culture.
Course was offered Spring 2017
AMST 2500Major Works for American Studies (3)
Topics vary according to instructor. The goal of the course is to introduce students to interdisciplinary work in American Studies by juxtaposing works across disciplinary boundaries and from different methodological perspectives.
AMST 2559New Course in American Studies (1 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
New Course in subject of American Studies.
AMST 2660Spiritual But Not Religious: Spirituality in America (3)
What does "spiritual but not religious" mean, and why has it become such a pervasive self-description in contemporary America? This interdisciplinary course surveys spirituality in America, with a particular eye for the relationship between spirituality and formal religion, on the one hand, and secular modes of understanding the self, such as psychology, on the other.
AMST 2753Arts and Cultures of the Slave South (4)
This interdisciplinary course covers the American South to the Civil War. While the course centers on the visual arts- architecture, material culture, decorative arts, painting, and sculpture- it is not designed as a regional history of art, but an exploration of the interrelations between history, material and visual cultures, foodways, music and literature in the formation of Southern identities.
AMST 3001Theories and Methods of American Studies (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This seminar course will introduce majors to various theories and methods for the practice of American Studies. The three goals of the seminars are (1) to make students aware of their own interpretive practices; (2) to equip them with information and conceptual tools they will need for advanced work in American Studies; and (3) to provide them with comparative approaches to the study of various aspects of the United States. Prerequisites: American Studies Major
AMST 3050Critical Ethnic Studies (3)
This core seminar is an introduction to key issues and methods in the comparative and critical study of ethnicity and race. The course highlights an interdisciplinary approach to the studies of systematic oppression in the United States, and the global implication of these structures. We will consider how Ethnic Studies presents a progressive intellectual challenge to global and local configurations of power in the name of global justice.
AMST 3180Introduction to Asian American Studies (3)
An interdisciplinary introduction to the culture and history of Asians and Pacific Islanders in America. Examines ethnic communities such as Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Asian Indian, and Native Hawaiian, through themes such as immigration, labor, cultural production, war, assimilation, and politics. Texts are drawn from genres such as legal cases, short fiction, musicals, documentaries, visual art, and drama.
AMST 3200African American Political Thought (3)
This course explores the critical and the constructive dimensions of African American political thought from slavery to the present. We will assess the claims that black Americans have made upon the polity, how they have defined themselves, and how they have sought to redefine key terms of political life such as citizenship, equality, freedom, and power.
AMST 3221Hands-On Public History: Slavery and Reconstruction (3)
"Public history" is delivered to a non-academic audience, often at historic sites, museums, archives, and on digital platforms. Some films, podcasts, fiction, and poetry might also be considered public history. This course uses all of those formats to investigate how the history of slavery and Reconstruction are presented to the public. Collaboration with local community groups and field trips to historic sites are key components of this class.
AMST 3222Hands-On Public History: Slavery and Reconstruction, Part II (3)
Hands-On Public History is designed as a year-long course. This course continues the curriculum of AMST 3221.
Course was offered Spring 2022
AMST 3250Black Protest Narrative (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course studies modern racial protest expressed through African American narrative art from the 1930s to 1980s, focusing on Civil Rights, Black Power, Black Panthers, womanism, black gay/lesbian liberation movements, and black postmodernism. We begin our study with the most famous protest novel, Richard Wright's Native Son. Then we examine other narratives including works by Angelo Herndon, Ann Petry, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, Jr.
AMST 3280Introduction to Native American Studies: (Mis)Representations (3)
An intro to the broad field of Native Studies, this class focuses on themes of representation and erasure. We read Indigenous scholars and draw from current events, pop culture, and historical narrative to explore complex relationships between historical and contemporary issues that Indigenous peoples face in the US. We examine the foundations of Native representations and their connections to critical issues in Native communities.
Course was offered Fall 2022, Fall 2021
AMST 3300Introduction to Latinx Studies (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
AMST 3300 offers students close study of significant texts and other cultural forms representing the perspective and contributions of the main Latinx populations in the United States--including those of Puerto Rican, Chicano, Dominican, Central American and Cuban American origin--in historical context and within a theoretical, analytical framework.
Course was offered Fall 2022, Fall 2020
AMST 3321Race and Ethnicity in Latinx Literature (3)
This course examines the construction of race and ethnicity in Latinx literature by examining key texts by individuals from varying Latinx groups in the US. We will examine how US-American identity shapes Latinx notions of race and how the authors' connections with Latin America and the Caribbean do the same. We will explore from a hemispheric perspective how race and ethnicity are depicted in Latinx literature and culture.
Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2018
AMST 3323Hemispheric Latinx Literature and Culture (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course offers a survey of Latinx literature and film from a hemispheric perspective. Engaging texts from colonial times to the present day, we explore how the histories of the US, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia come together to produce novels, poems, essays and films that are now referred to as distinctly Latinx.
Course was offered Fall 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2019
AMST 3354Race and Media (3)
We explore issues related to white supremacy, anti-blackness, mixed-race, settler colonialism, immigrant and transqueer phobia, and the production of racial difference. We examine these topics within their historical context and explore representations across all forms of visual culture, predominantly television but with reference to advertising, film, music, and digital media.
AMST 3355Border Media (3)
In this course we consider the depiction of the U.S.-Mexico border from the perspective of popular and mass media cultures. We examine the border as a site of cultural exchanges, resistance and critical negotiation; interchanges that impact the construction of race, ethnicity, sexuality and gender from both sides of the border.
Course was offered Fall 2017
AMST 3407Racial Borders and American Cinema (3)
This class explores how re-occurring images of racial and ethnic minorities such as African Americans, Jews, Asians, Native Americans and Latino/as are represented in film and shows visual images of racial interactions and boundaries of human relations that tackle topics such as immigration, inter-racial relationships and racial passing.
Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2019
AMST 3422Point of View Journalism (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course analyzes 'point-of-view' journalism as a controversial but credible alternative to the dominant model of 'objectivity' in the U.S. news media. It will survey point-of-view journalists from Benjamin Franklin to the modern blog.
AMST 3425American Material Culture (3)
This course will introduce you to the study of material culture, the physical stuff that is part of human life. Material culture includes everything we make and use, from food and clothing to art and buildings. This course is organized into six sections, the first introducing the idea of material culture, and the other five following the life cycle of an object: material, making, designing, selling, using.
Course was offered Spring 2019
AMST 3427Gender, Things, and Difference (3)
This class explores how material culture, the physical stuff that is part of human life, is used to help to construct and express gendered and other forms of difference. We will look at how bodies and clothes shape our understanding of our own and others' identities, how we imbue objects with gender, how the food we cook and eat carries cultural meanings, and how the design of buildings and spaces structures gender.
Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2021, Spring 2020
AMST 3460Reading America at Home and Abroad (3)
This course explores ideas of America, as they are constructed both at "home" in the United States, and "abroad," in and through a number of global locales. It considers a range of representations, in literature, art, film and music, and also the everyday life of American culture. In asking how America has seen itself and how others have seen America, we will effectively theorize the concepts of both nation and globality.
Course was offered Fall 2015
AMST 3463Language and New Media (3)
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to the investigation of how language both shapes and is shaped by American society with a focus on New Media. Draws on critical and analytical tools and socio-cultural theories to examine this dynamic relationship in Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, texting, Instagram, YouTube, and more.
Course was offered Spring 2019
AMST 3465America and the Global South in Literature and Film (3)
Students in this course will examine and interpret conceptions of America from the point of view of novelists, filmmakers, journalists, and scholars in the Global South. American and Global South landscapes will be a focus of the class, as will images, artifacts, and material culture that reveal Global South views of the United States.
Course was offered Spring 2018
AMST 3470Race, Gender, and Empire: Cultures of US Imperialism (3)
In this course we emphasize how U.S. power has been exercised in the world with focus on intersections of cultural, political, and economic power. We analyze how power is produced and contested through language and media, and how hegemonic discourses -- the dominant and most powerful blocs defining U.S. society and empire -- are produced. We are equally concerned with cracks and contradictions in these discourses, and people who challenge them.
AMST 3471American Cinema (3)
This course provides an introduction to film studies through an examination of American film throughout the 20th & 21st centuries. We will learn basic film techniques for visual analysis, and consider the social, economic, and historical forces that have shaped the production, distribution & reception of film in the US Examples will be drawn from various genres: melodrama, horror, sci-fi, musical, Westerns, war films, documentary, animation, etc.
Course was offered Spring 2024, Fall 2022, Fall 2021
AMST 3491Rural Poverty in Our Time (3)
This course will use an interdisciplinary format and document based approach to explore the history of non-urban poverty in the US South from the 1930s to the present. Weaving together the social histories of poor people, the political history of poverty policies, and the history of representations of poverty, the course follows historical cycles of attention and neglect during the Great Depression, the War on Poverty, and the present.
AMST 3500Topics in American Studies (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Topics vary according to instructor.
Course was offered Spring 2024, Fall 2021
AMST 3559New Course in American Studies (1 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
New Course in the subject of American Studies
AMST 3610Asian Americans & Popular Culture (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Asian Americans and Popular Culture surveys a history of Asian American racialization, experiences, and subject formation in the United States through film, comics, TV, theatre, music, public protest, sports, and social media. Students will learn how to analyze and develop creative work to respond to and re/frame debates on the politics of representation, exoticization, cultural appropriation, transnationalism, hybridity, and US immigration laws.
AMST 3630Vietnam War in Literature and Film (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
In the US, Vietnam signifies not a country but a lasting syndrome that haunts American politics and society, from foreign policy to popular culture. But what of the millions of Southeast Asian refugees the War created? What are the lasting legacies of the Vietnam War for Southeast Asian diasporic communities? We will examine literature and film (fictional and documentary) made by and about Americans, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, and Hmong.
Course was offered Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2016
AMST 3641Native America (3)
This course will introduce students to deep history of Native North America. Using primary and secondary sources, we will cover such topics as mutually beneficial trade and diplomatic relations between Natives and newcomers; the politics of empire; U.S. expansion; treaties and land dispossession; ecological, demographic, and social change; pan-Indian movements; legal and political activism; and many, many others.
Course was offered Spring 2018, Spring 2015, Fall 2013
AMST 3710Mapping Black Landscapes (3)
Students will learn to use digital mapping and narratives as tools of reparative history. The class will partner with community organizations documenting Black history in Virginia. Students will do research in historical archives and public records; interview community members; and participate in field work. Readings will address ethical aspects of doing community history and explore approaches to the history of slavery and Reconstruction.
Course was offered Spring 2024
AMST 3740Cultures of Hip-Hop (3)
This course explores the origins and impacts of American hip-hop as a cultural form in the last forty years, and maps the ways that a local subculture born of an urban underclass has risen to become arguably the dominant form of 21st-century global popular culture. While primarily focused on music, we will also explore how forms such as dance, visual art, film, and literature have influenced and been influenced by hip-hop style and culture.
AMST 3790Moving On: Migration in/to the US (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This class examines the history of voluntary, coerced, and forced migration in the U.S., tracing the paths of migrating groups and their impact on urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. We'll dig for cultural clues to changing attitudes about migration over time. Photographs, videos, books, movies, government records, poems, podcasts, paintings, comic strips, museums, manifestos: you name it, we'll analyze it for this class.
Course was offered Fall 2023, Fall 2022
AMST 3880Literature of the South (3)
Analyzes selected works of literature by major Southern writers. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.engl.virginia.edu/courses.
Course was offered Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2018, Fall 2017
AMST 4321Caribbean Latinx: Cuba, Puerto Rico and the DR (3)
In this course we will read texts by Latinx writers from Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. We will explore how their works speak to issues of race, colonialism and imperialism based on their individual and shared histories. We will discuss their different political histories and migration experiences and how these in turn impact their literary and artistic productions in the US.
AMST 4351Aural Histories: Edison to Auto-Tune (3)
This is a course about the role of technology and technological innovation in the production and consumption of 20th and 21st century music. We will begin with the invention of the phonograph and the birth of the recording industry and continue up through the present day.
Course was offered Spring 2020
AMST 4401Literature of the Americas (3)
This course explores a wide range of (broadly defined) fictions from and about the Americas, from writings by Columbus and the conquistadors through modern and contemporary novels, novellas, and short stories. Students consider the intersection of fiction and history through topics that include New world "discovery" and conquest; borderlands and contact zones; slavery and revolution; and the haunting of the global present by the colonial past.
Course was offered Fall 2019, Fall 2017
AMST 4403Transamerican Encounters (3)
This comparative, interdisciplinary course focuses on the encounter between the U.S. and the wider Americas as represented in literature, history, and film. Working across a range of historical periods, it explores the varied international contexts underpinning narratives of U.S. national identity and history. It also considers how cultural forms access histories and perspectives outside of official accounts of the past and present.
AMST 4410Censorship (3)
This course examines the social, legal, aesthetic, and theoretical issues raised by censorship of art, mass media, literature, film, and music in the U.S. While censorship is usually associated with explicit sexuality, we will also look at cases involving racial stereotyping, violence, social disorder, and religion. Our cases will center around novels, art, film, music, mass media, and other cultural phenomena.
Course was offered Fall 2015
AMST 4430Documentary Film and the South (3)
This course explores how documentary filmmakers have represented the US South from the 1930s through the end of the twentieth century and the place of films made in and about the region in the history of documentary film. Students will conduct original research, shape their findings into paper, and make their own documentary short about a topic of their choosing.
AMST 4440Visions of Apocalypse in American Culture (3)
This course examines how Americans have envisioned the end of the world. Through religious and cultural history and contemporary cultural studies, it considers the ways social, political, and economic tensions are reflected in visions of the apocalypse. It explores the impact of imagined futures on previous generations, and how religious and secular ideologies of apocalypticism have shaped social movements, politics, and popular culture.
Course was offered Spring 2016
AMST 4462Harlem Stories (3)
Harlem has been many things to many people - capital of a global African diaspora, an early instance of Italian and Jewish immigrant communities, home to an important "el barrio," a representative site of contemporary gentrification and, above all, a place for racial and ethnic minoritization. This course will explore many of those lived and symbolic Harlems from the early twentieth century to the present.
Course was offered Fall 2022
AMST 4470American Film Noir (3)
This seminar examines the phenomenon of American Film Noir produced during the 1940s and 50s. Using urban culture to frame debates about films noir, it explores the ways in which "the city" is represented as a problematic subject and a frequent resource immediately before and after World War II. The course also discusses the influences of early twentieth-century photography, American Scene art, and Abstract Expressionist painting.
AMST 4472Hollywood Cinema's Golden Age: The 1930s (3)
This course examines American cinema produced in Hollywood during the 1930s. While the Great Depression serves as an important backdrop to our investigation, we will interrogate how issues such as ethnic/racial representation, shifting gender roles, sexuality, and urbanity are mediated in popular cinema in this decade. The course also considers the studio system, the Hayes Code, stardom, and changes within narrative and film techniques.
Course was offered Fall 2017
AMST 4474Stardom and American Cinema (3)
This course examines the role of stardom and star performance in American cinema from the silent era to the present. Using social history, cultural studies and film criticism theory, we will explore topics such as the cultural patterns of stardom, constructions and subversions of star identity, and the ways in which issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality affect the star image both inside and outside cinema.
AMST 4500Fourth-Year Seminar in American Studies (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This seminar is intended to focus study, research, and discussion on a single period, topic, or issue, such as the Great Awakening, the Civil War, the Harlem Renaissance, the Great Depression, or the 1960s. Topics vary.
AMST 4559New Course in American Studies (1 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
New Course in the subject of American Studies.
AMST 4893Independent Study in Asian Pacific American Studies (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
An elective course for students in the Asian Pacific American Studies minor. Students will work with an APAS core faculty member to support the student's own research. Topics vary, and must be approved by the APAS Director. 
AMST 4993Independent Study (1 - 3)
Offered
Fall 2024
An elective course for American Studies majors who have completed AMST 3001-3002. Students will work with an American Studies faculty member to support the student's own research. Topics vary, and must be approved by the Program Director. Prerequisite: AMST 3001, 3002, Instructor Consent.
AMST 4998Distinguished Majors Program Thesis Research (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Students spend the fall semester of their 4th years working closely with a faculty advisor to conduct research and begin writing their Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) thesis.
AMST 4999Distinguished Majors Thesis Seminar (3)
This workshop is for American Studies majors who have been admitted to the DMP program. Students will discuss the progress of their own and each other's papers, with particular attention to the research and writing processes. At the instructor's discretion, students will also read key works in the field of American Studies. Prerequisites: admission to DMP.
AMST 5232Oral History Workshop: A Hands-On Approach to Researching the Past (3)
The course is run as a workshop, a space for students to learn oral history methodologies in a hands-on manner. In partnership with local/regional organizations, students will learn to conduct interviews and related research, which may include completing historical surveys, doing genealogical work, & completing archival or database research. Students will learn new skills while helping expand historical archives and knowledge of regional history.
Course was offered Fall 2023
AMST 5500Graduate Topics in American Studies (3)
Various topics offered in American Studies at the graduate level
Course was offered Spring 2024
AMST 5559New Course in American Studies (1 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
New Course in the subject of American Studies.
Course was offered Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2020
AMST 5710Mapping Black Landscapes (3)
Students will hone their digital mapping and digital narrative skills and learn how to use them as tools of reparative history. The class will partner with community organizations documenting Black history. Students will do research in archives and public records; interview community members; and participate in fieldwork. In addition, students will do a focused set of readings by members of the Black Geographers movement.
Course was offered Spring 2024
AMST 7559New Courses in American Studies (3)
First and one-time graduate course offerings in American Studies.
AMST 8001Approaches to American Studies (3)
This course introduces graduate students to the field of American Studies, the interdisciplinary study of US culture. Students will be exposed to a variety of influential theoretical and methodological interventions that have occurred over the field's history, and will also be introduced to some of the principal intellectual, political, and professional issues they will face while pursuing a career in the field.
AMST 8570Studies in American Culture (3)
Topics vary from year to year
Course was offered Spring 2022
AMST 8993Independent Study in American Studies (1 - 3)
Offered
Fall 2024
A single semester of independent study under faculty supervision for students doing intensive research on a subject not covered in the usual courses. Requires approval by a faculty member who has agreed to supervise a guided course of reading and substantial written exercise, a detailed outline of the research project, and authorization by the Director of the AMST program.
Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2019
Anthropology
ANTH 1010Introduction to Anthropology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This is a broad introductory course covering race, language, and culture, both as intellectual concepts and as political realities. Topics include race and culture as explanations of human affairs, the relationship of language to thought, cultural diversity and cultural relativity, and cultural approaches to current crises.
ANTH 1050Anthropology of Globalization (3)
Anthropology of Globalization
ANTH 1559New Course in Anthropology (3)
New course in the subject of anthropology.
ANTH 2040Tell Me Who You Are: Ethnographic Interviewing and Participatory Research (3)
How can we deepen our understanding of other people and their experience? This course introduces the research method of ethnographic interviewing and participatory field research, which is valued in public health, development, marketing, user experience design, activism, education, and scholarship. Students gain practical experience conducting independent ethnographic research about student life and presenting the results in a public blog.
Course was offered Fall 2019, Fall 2018
ANTH 2060Comparing World Racisms (3)
What can we learn about racism by comparing the forms it takes in different parts of the world? In this course we will compare anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, and other racisms in a selection of the following places and times: Brazil, Japan, Germany, South Africa, Rwanda, Israel/Palestine, China, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Canada, and the U.S.
ANTH 2120The Concept of Culture (3)
Culture is the central concept that anthropologists use to understand the striking differences among human societies and how people organize the meaningful parts of their lives. In this course we explore this diversity, examine its basis in neuroplasticity and human development, and consider its implications for human nature, cognition, creativity, and identity. By learning about other cultures, we gain new understanding of ourselves.
ANTH 2153North American Indians (3)
Ethnological treatment of the aboriginal populations of the New World based on the findings of archaeology, ethnography, linguistics, biological anthropology, and social anthropology.
ANTH 2160Culture and the Environment (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course explores anthropological understandings of culture and the environment, particularly with respect to the ecology of human perception, histories of colonialism and related inequalities, food production, consumerism, nature conservation, the Anthropocene concept, and pervasive environmental logics of globalizing capitalism.
ANTH 2190Desire and World Economics (3)
This course offers an insight into the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services practiced by peoples ignored or unknown to classic Western economics. Its principle focus will open upon the obvious differences between cultural concepts of the self and the very notion of its desire. Such arguments as those which theorize on the "rationality" of the market and the "naturalness" of competition will be debunked.
ANTH 2210Marriage and the Family (3)
Compares domestic groups in Western and non-Western societies. Considers the kinds of sexual unions legitimized in different cultures, patterns of childrearing, causes and effects of divorce, and the changing relations between the family and society.
Course was offered Fall 2011, Spring 2010
ANTH 2230Fantasy and Social Values (3)
Examines imaginary societies, in particular those in science fiction novels, to see how they reflect the problems and tensions of real social life. Focuses on 'alternate cultures' and fictional societal models.
ANTH 2250Nationalism, Racism, Multiculturalism (3)
Introductory course in which the concepts of culture, multiculturalism, race, racism, and nationalism are critically examined in terms of how they are used and structure social relations in American society and, by comparison, how they are defined in other cultures throughout the world.
ANTH 2260Water Worlds: the Anthropology of Water (3)
This course examines the many ways that people have managed, shared and made claim to water¿the construction of water worlds. It also looks at waterscapes, dam projects, water in cities, and wastewater and sewage systems globally. Importantly, the course addresses conflicting notions of how to value water, including contemporary debates about the sale of water and water rights, and examines the notion that water will be the locus of future wars.
Course was offered Fall 2023
ANTH 2262Community Science: From Participation to Environmental Justice (3)
Community Science (aka Citizen Science, Street Science, People's Science) encourages people without extensive formal scientific training to participate in scientific research. Lectures and weekly practicums focus on sociocultural aspects of different types of CS projects: crowdsourced, co-created, grassroots, and fugitive. Other topics include Indigenous science, CS as social justice, citizen archaeology, and bridging the amateur/expert divide.
ANTH 2270Race, Gender, and Medical Science (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Explores the social and cultural dimensions of biomedical practice and experience in the United States. Focuses on practitioner and patient, asking about the ways in which race, gender, and socio-economic status contour professional identity and socialization, how such factors influence the experience, and course of, illness, and how they have shaped the structures and institutions of biomedicine over time.
Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2017
ANTH 2280Medical Anthropology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The course introduces medical anthropology, and contextualizes bodies, suffering, healing and health. It is organized thematically around a critical humanist approach, along with perspectives from political economy and social constructionism. The aim of the course is to provide a broad understanding of the relationship between culture, healing (including and especially the Western form of healing known as biomedicine), health and political power.
ANTH 2285Anthropology of Development and Humanitarianism (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course explores anthropological writings on development and humanitarianism to better understand the historical context and contemporary practice of these distinct modes of world saving. We will attend to critiques of development and humanitarianism, and will also consider writings by anthropologists who champion the humanitarian project
ANTH 2310Symbol and Ritual (3)
Studies the foundations of symbolism from the perspective of anthropology. Topics include signs and symbols, and the symbolism of categorical orders as expressed in cosmology, totemism, and myth.
ANTH 2320Anthropology of Religion (3)
Explores anthropological approaches to religion, in the context of this discipline's century-old project to understand peoples' conceptions of the world in which they live.
ANTH 2325Anthropology of God (3)
How does the study of society and culture create an intellectual space for any explanation and experience of the Divine? How does anthropology deal specifically with explaining (rather than the explaining away) knowledge and understanding about divinity? Is God an American? If God has a gender and race, what are they? These and many other pertinent questions will be engaged and tackled in this cross-cultural study of the divine.
ANTH 2340Anthropology of Birth and Death (3)
Comparative examination of beliefs, rites, and symbolism concerning birth and death in selected civilizations.
ANTH 2345Anthropology of Reproduction: Fertility and the Future (3)
In this course, we will study human reproduction as a cultural process. Questions include how gender, class, race, and religion shape reproductive ideals and practices around the world. Ethnographic examples will come from around the world, but will emphasize South Asia and the United States. This course examines the perspectives of both men and women and situates local examples within national and global struggles to (re)produce the future.
Course was offered Summer 2013, Summer 2011
ANTH 2360Don Juan and Castaneda (3)
Analyzes the conceptual content in Castaneda's writings as an exploration of an exotic world view. Focuses on the concepts of power, transformation, and figure-ground reversal.
ANTH 2365Art and Anthropology (3)
The course emphasizes art in small-scale (contemporary) societies (sometimes called ethnic art or "primitive art"). It includes a survey of aesthetic productions of major areas throughout the world (Australia, Africa, Oceania, Native America, Meso-America). Included are such issues as art and cultural identity, tourist arts, anonymity, authenticity, the question of universal aesthetic cannons, exhibiting cultures,and the impact of globalization.
ANTH 2370Japanese Culture (3)
This course offers an introductory survey of Japan from an anthropological perspective. It is open without prerequisite to anyone with a curiosity about what is arguably the most important non-Western society of the last 100 years, and to anyone concerned about the diverse conditions of modern life. We will range over many aspects of contemporary Japan, and draw on scholarship in history, literature, religion, and the various social sciences.
Course was offered Fall 2014
ANTH 2375Disaster (3)
Sociocultural perspectives on disaster, including analysis of the manufacture of disaster, debates on societal collapse, apocalyptic thought, disaster management discourse, how disasters mobilize affect, disaster movies, and disasters as political allegory. Students work through a series of case studies from different societies that cover "natural," industrial, and chronic disasters, as well as doomsday scenarios.
Course was offered Spring 2020, Spring 2017, Fall 2015
ANTH 2400Language and Culture (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduces the interrelationships of linguistic, cultural, and social phenomena with emphasis on the importance of these interrelationships in interpreting human behavior. No prior knowledge of linguistics is required.
ANTH 2405Your Heritage Language (3)
This course explores the languages spoken with varying degrees of fluency within students' own families and home communities, either at present or in recent generations. The course prepares students to draw upon linguistic diversity as a positive resource in developing their own identities and interacting with others in our multicultural society.
ANTH 2410Sociolinguistics (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Reviews key findings in the study of language variation. Explores the use of language to express identity and social difference.
ANTH 2415Language in Human Evolution (3)
Examines the evolution of our capacity for language along with the development of human ways of cooperating in engaged social interaction. Course integrates cognitive, cultural, social, and biological aspects of language in comparative perspective. How is the familiar shape of language today the result of evolutionary and developmental processes involving the form, function, meaning and use of signs and symbols in social ecologies?
ANTH 2420Language and Gender (3)
Studies how differences in pronunciation, vocabulary choice, non-verbal communication, and/or communicative style serve as social markers of gender identity and differentiation in Western and non-Western cultures. Includes critical analysis of theory and methodology of social science research on gender and language.
ANTH 2440Language and Cinema (3)
Looks historically at speech and language in Hollywood movies, including the technological challenges and artistic theories and controversies attending the transition from silent to sound films. Focuses on the ways that gender, racial, ethnic, and national identities are constructed through the representation of speech, dialect, and accent. Introduces semiotics but requires no knowledge of linguistics, or film studies.
ANTH 2450Language & Environment (3)
In this course, students rethink assumptions about what "language" and "environment" are. Both depend on living systems to be rendered meaningful, and together we will wrestle with how these two ideas can be brought into relation and the implications associated with different frames of understanding. There are many perspectives on the issues raised in this course, and you will receive a broad introduction to that diversity.
Course was offered Spring 2024
ANTH 2470Reflections of Exile: Jewish Languages and their Communities (3)
Covers Jewish languages Yiddish, Judeo-Arabic, Ladino, and Hebrew from historical, linguistic, and literary perspectives. Explores the relations between communities and languages, the nature of diaspora, and the death and revival of languages. No prior knowledge of these languages is required. This course is cross-listed with MEST 2470.
ANTH 2500Cultures, Regions, and Civilizations (3)
Intensive studies of particular world regions, societies, cultures, and civilizations.
ANTH 2541Topics in Linguistics (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with linguistics.
ANTH 2557Culture Through Film (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester covering the diversity of human cultural worlds and the field of anthropology as presented through film. A variety of ethnographic and commercial films will be viewed and discussed in conjunction with readings.
ANTH 2559New Course in Anthropology (1 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
New course in the subject of anthropology.
ANTH 2560Hierarchy and Equality (3)
Provides an anthropological perspective on relations of inequality, subordination, and class in diverse societies, along with consideration of American ideas of egalitarianism, meritocracy, and individualism. Specific topics will be announced prior to each semester.
Course was offered Fall 2017, Fall 2016
ANTH 2575Migrants and Minorities (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with migration and migrants, and the experience of ethnic and racial minorities.
Course was offered Fall 2013
ANTH 2589Topics in Archaeology (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with archaeology.
ANTH 2590Social and Cultural Anthropology (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with social and cultural anthropology.
ANTH 2620Sex, Gender, and Culture (3)
Examines the manner in which ideas about sexuality and gender are constructed differently cross-culturally and how these ideas give shape to other social phenomena, relationships, and practices.
ANTH 2621Culture, Gender and Violence (3)
Beginning with a discussion of the cultural patterning of social action, this course examines sex, gender, and sexuality as culturally constructed and socially experienced, with special attention to non-Western examples that contrast with sex and gender norms in the U.S. The course then focuses on gender violence at U.S. universities, asking whether structural violence can be effectively countered by programs that focus on individual responses.
Course was offered Fall 2016
ANTH 2625Imagining Africa (3)
Africa is commonly imagined in the West as an unproblematically bounded and undifferentiated entity. This course engages and moves beyond western traditions of story telling about Africa to explore diverse systems of imagining Africa's multi-diasporic realities. Imagining Africa is never a matter of pure abstraction, but entangled in material struggles and collective memory, and taking place at diverse and interconnected scales and locales. Prerequisite: ANTH 1010
ANTH 2660The Internet Is Another Country: Community, Power, and Social Media (3)
The peoples of Polynesia and Indonesia, sharing a cultural and linguistic heritage, have spread from Madagascar to Easter Island. Examines their maritime migrations, the societies and empires that they built, and recent changes affecting their cultural traditions.
Course was offered Spring 2015, Fall 2009
ANTH 2800Introduction to Archaeology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Topics include alternative theories of prehistoric culture change, dating methods, excavation and survey techniques, and the reconstruction of the economy, social organization, and religion of prehistoric societies.
ANTH 2810Human Origins (3)
Studies the physical and cultural evolution of humans from the initial appearance of hominids to the development of animal and plant domestication in different areas of the world. Topics include the development of biological capabilities such as bipedal walking and speech, the evolution of characteristics of human cultural systems such as economic organization and technology, and explanations for the development of domestication.
ANTH 2820The Emergence of States and Cities (3)
Surveys patterns in the development of prehistoric civilizations in different areas of the world including the Inca of Peru, the Maya, the Aztec of Mexico, and the ancient Middle East.
ANTH 2823The Materiality of Death and Dying (3)
This course will focus on the materiality of death, and the human experience of death and dying. By using archaeological, ethnographic and ethnohistoric investigations, this course will review different theoretical perspectives on the treatment of the deceased in ancient societies, the kinds of data generated from such studies, and their relationship to status, gender, agency and power.
ANTH 2890Unearthing the Past (3)
An introduction to prehistory covering 4 million years of human physical evolution and 2.5 million years of human cultural evolution. Provides students with an understanding of how archaeologists reconstruct the rise and fall of ancient civilizations. Covers some major developments in prehistory such as origins of modern humans, the rise of the first complex societies & agriculture, and the emergence of ancient civilizations in North America.
ANTH 3010Theory and History of Anthropology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Overview of the major theoretical positions which have structured anthropological thought over the past century.
ANTH 3020Using Anthropology (3)
The theoretical, methodological and ethical practice of an engaged anthropology is the subject of this course, We begin with a history of applied anthropology. We then examine case studies that demonstrate the unique practices of contemporary sociocultural, linguistic, archaeological and bioanthropological anthropology in the areas of policy and civic engagement.
ANTH 3070Introduction to Musical Ethnography (3)
Explores music and sound as a social practice, using genres and traditions from throughout the world.
Course was offered Fall 2016, Fall 2015, Fall 2014
ANTH 3100Indigenous Landscapes (3)
This course engages with ways that historical process are inscribed in landscapes, which are the traditional territories of indigenous communities and have also been shaped by colonialism, extractive enterprise, and nature conservation. It challenges students to examine their assumptions to examine ways in which dominant values and stories are inscribed in landscapes and made to appear natural, and how indigenous people contest these processes.
Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2022, Fall 2019
ANTH 3105Love and Romantic Intimacies (3)
This course offers an introduction to recent anthropological scholarship on romance to examine how intimate relationships shape human experiences. Through readings and films, we investigate the increasingly popular idealization of "companionate marriages," in which spouses are ideally linked by affection. Our examples include queer and straight experiences, and a diversity of racial, cultural, classed, and gendered representations.
ANTH 3129Marriage, Mortality, Fertility (3)
Explores the ways that culturally formed systems of values and family organization affect population processes in a variety of cultures.
ANTH 3130Disease, Epidemics and Society (3)
Topics covered in this course will include emerging diseases and leading killers in the twenty-first century, disease ecology, disease history and mortality transitions, the sociology of epidemics, the role of epidemiology in the mobilization of public health resources to confront epidemics, and the social processes by which the groups become stigmatized during disease outbreaks. Prerequisite: introductory anth or soc course
ANTH 3152Rainforests of Flesh / Peoples of Spirit (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Ethnographies of Amazonian Peoples and the new anthropological theories about their way of life.
ANTH 3155Anthropology of Everyday American Life (3)
Provides an anthropological perspective of modern American society. Traces the development of individualism through American historical and institutional development, using as primary sources of data religious movements, mythology as conveyed in historical writings, novels, and the cinema, and the creation of modern American urban life. Prerequisite: ANTH 1010 or instructor permission.
ANTH 3170Anthropology of Media (3)
Explores the cultural life of media and the mediation of cultural life through photography, radio, television, advertising, the Internet, and other technologies.
Course was offered Spring 2013
ANTH 3171Culture of Cyberspace: Digital Fluency for an Internet-Enabled Society (3)
Today's personal, social, political, and economic worlds are all affected by digital media and networked publics. Together we will explore both the literature about and direct experience of these new literacies: research foundations and best practices of individual digital participation and collective participatory culture, the use of collaborative media and methodologies, and the application of network know-how to life online.
Course was offered Fall 2015
ANTH 3175Native American Art: The Astor Collection (3)
This is an upper-level anthropology course which is intended to engage students in the study of Native American art as well as the history and current debate over the representation of Native American culture and history in American museums. After a thorough review of the literature on those topics, the class focuses specifically on the Astor collection owned by the University of Virginia.
Course was offered Spring 2014, Spring 2012, Spring 2010
ANTH 3205Modern Families, Global Worlds (3)
This course examines the importance of kinship for the structure and dynamics of transnational economic relations and for the meaning and constitution of nation and citizenship in the contemporary global political economy.
Course was offered Fall 2016
ANTH 3220Economic Anthropology (3)
Comparative analysis of different forms of production, circulation, and consumption in primitive and modern societies. Exploration of the applicability of modern economic theory developed for modern societies to primitive societies and to those societies being forced into the modern world system.
ANTH 3240The Anthropology of Food (3)
This course approaches food from various social science perspectives, focusing on historically and culturally variable forms of food production, exchange, preparation and consumption as the means through which both individual and social bodies are constructed and reproduced. We examine food and the environment; food and colonialism; the globalization of food and food production; food and identities; and food and bodies.
ANTH 3255Anthropology of Time and Space (3)
All societies position themselves in space and time. This course samples the discussion of the ways social systems have configured spatial/temporal orders. It considers both internalized conceptions of time and space and the ways an analyst might view space and time as external factors orientating a society's existence. And it samples classic discussions of spatial-temporal orientations in small and large, "pre-modern" and "modern" societies.
Course was offered Fall 2017
ANTH 3260Globalization and Development (3)
Explores how globalization and development affect the lives of people in different parts of the world. Topics include poverty, inequality, and the role of governments and international agencies.
Course was offered Spring 2012, Fall 2010
ANTH 3265Cultures, Spaces, and Worldviews of International Aid (3)
The main focus of this class is the culture and values of development practitioners, and how these shape ideas of development itself. It explores the interconnected processes, relationships, and spaces through which development practitioners and planners learn, live , work, and encounter (or not) people who are the targets of development plans and interventions.
ANTH 3270Anthropology of Politics (3)
Reviews the variety of political systems found outside the Western world. Examines the major approaches and results of anthropological theory in trying to understand how radically different politics work. Prerequisite: ANTH 1010 or instructor permission.
Course was offered Fall 2016, Fall 2014
ANTH 3275The Corporation: History, Culture, Capital (3)
What is a corporation? Contrary to wide belief, the corporation is a very ancient social form that arose in diverse world regions and is the heritage of many civilizations. In this course, we explore its history and relation to culture, economics, and law. How has financialization shaped today's major business corporations and theories of corporate social responsibility? How might we improve the corporations of the future?
Course was offered Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2020
ANTH 3280Introduction to Native American Studies: (Mis)Representations (3)
An intro to the broad field of Native Studies, this class focuses on themes of representation and erasure. We read Indigenous scholars and draw from current events, pop culture, and historical narrative to explore complex relationships between historical and contemporary issues that Indigenous peoples face in the US. We examine the foundations of Native representations and their connections to critical issues in Native communities.
Course was offered Fall 2022, Fall 2021
ANTH 3290Biopolitics and the Contemporary Condition (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Biopolitical analysis has become one of the prominent critical approaches across the social sciences and humanities. This course will consider various biopolitical theories and the ways in which they help us understand diverse phenomena of our contemporary condition, which will be examined through various case studies.
ANTH 3295Moral Experience (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course introduces students to one of the key frameworks in anthropology's "ethical turn": moral experience. The investigation of moral experience explores questions of ethics from a phenomenological-hermeneutic perspective and attends closely to subjectivity, affect, and embodiment. We will explore moral experiences such as ethical self-cultivation, empathy, love, hope, breakdown, mood, and moral transformation.
Course was offered Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2022
ANTH 3300Tournaments and Athletes (3)
A cross-cultural study of sport and competitive games. Prerequisite: ANTH 101 or instructor permission.
ANTH 3310Controversies of Care in Contemporary Africa (3)
In this course we will draw on a series of classic and contemporary works in history and anthropology to come to a better understanding of current debates concerning corruption and patronage, marriage and sexuality, and medicine in Sub-Sahararn Africa.
Course was offered Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2016
ANTH 3320Shamanism, Healing, and Ritual (3)
Examines the characteristics of these nonmedical practices as they occur in different culture areas, relating them to the consciousness of spirits and powers and to concepts of energy. Prerequisite: At least a 2000-level ANTH course, or instructor permission.
ANTH 3325Capitalism: Cultural Perspectives (3)
Examines capitalist relations around the world in a variety of cultural and historical settings. Readings cover field studies of work, industrialization, "informal" economies, advertising, securities trading, "consumer culture," corporations; anthropology of money and debt; global spread of capitalist markets; multiple capitalisms thesis; commodification; slavery and capital formation; capitalism and environmental sustainability.
Course was offered Spring 2016
ANTH 3340Ecology and Society: An Introduction to the New Ecological Anthropology (3)
Forges a synthesis between culture theory and historical ecology to provide new insights on how human cultures fashion, and are fashioned by, their environment. Although cultures from all over the world are considered, special attention is given to the region defined by South and East Asia, and Australia. Prerequisite: At least one Anthropology course, and/or relevant exposure to courses in EVSC, BIOL, CHEM, or HIST or instructor permission
ANTH 3360The Museum in Modern Culture (3)
Topics include the politics of cultural representation in history, anthropology, and fine arts museums; and the museum as a bureaucratic organization, as an educational institution, and as a nonprofit corporation.
Course was offered Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2019
ANTH 3370Power and the Body (3)
Studying the cultural representations and interpretations of the body in society. Prerequisite: ANTH 1010 or permission of the instructor.
ANTH 3380The Nature of Nature (3)
This course explores the evolution of Nature as a concept and a human-created realm of reality, particularly in relation to colonialism and globalization. It focuses on environmental politics of diverse people who do not relate to reality as a separate object called Nature. It also addresses the idea that we are living in the Anthropocene, a moment in which humans have become a force of Nature, and Nature perhaps no longer exists.
ANTH 3390Pregnancy, Birthing and the Post-Partum (3)
There's no debate that human reproduction is a biological universal, but it's also an intensely cultural phenomenon with widely disparate, & often contested, specific cultural routines, symbolic systems, ideas & practices whether focused on mothers, fathers, infants or communities or who is recognized as a birthing expert. Course examines variations in physiological & cultural processes globally & explores both the individual experiences & and systemic patterns associated with the phases of reproduction from pregnancy through to post-partum.
ANTH 3392African American Women and the Cultural Politics of Body Size (3)
This course will examine the cultural politics of body size norms drawing on a range of perspectives within anthropology and related fields and from the lived experiences of diverse African American women.
ANTH 3395Mythodology (3)
A hands-on seminar in myth interpretation designed to acquaint the student with the concept and techniques of obviation.
ANTH 3440Language and Emotion (3)
This course explores emotion from the perspectives of cultural anthropology and sociolinguistics. Topics include: emotion in the natural vs. social sciences; cross-cultural conceptions of emotion; historical change in emotion discourses; emotion as a theory of the self; the grammatical encoding of emotion in language; (mis-) communication of emotion; and emotion in the construction of racialized and gendered identities.
ANTH 3450Native American Languages (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduces the native languages of North America and the methods that linguists and anthropologists use to record and analyze them. Examines the use of grammars, texts and dictionaries of individual languages and affords insight into the diversity among the languages.
ANTH 3455African Languages (3)
An introduction to the linguistic diversity of the African continent, with focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Topics include linguistic structures (sound systems, word-formation, and syntax); the classification of African languages; the use of linguistic data to reconstruct prehistory; language and social identity; verbal art; language policy debates; the rise of "mixed" languages among urban youth.
Course was offered Spring 2019, Fall 2017, Spring 2017
ANTH 3470Language and Culture in the Middle East (3)
Introduction to peoples, languages, cultures and histories of the Middle East. Focuses on Israel/Palestine as a microcosm of important social processes-such as colonialism, nationalism, religious fundamentalism, and modernization-that affect the region as a whole. This course is cross-listed with MEST 3470. Prerequisite: Previous course in anthropology, linguistics, Middle East Studies or permission of instructor.
ANTH 3480Language and Prehistory (3)
This course covers the basic principles of diachronic linguistics and discusses the uses of linguistic data in the reconstruction of prehistory.
ANTH 3490Language and Thought (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Language and Thought
ANTH 3541Topics in Linguistics (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with linguistics.
ANTH 3550Ethnography (3)
Close reading of several ethnographies, primarily concerned with non-Western cultures.
ANTH 3559New Course in Anthropology (1 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
New course in the subject of Anthropology.
ANTH 3589Topics in Archaeology (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with archaeology.
ANTH 3590Social and Cultural Anthropology (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with social and cultural anthropology.
ANTH 3603Archaeological Approaches to Atlantic Slavery (3)
This course explores how archaeological and architectural evidence can be used to enhance our understanding of the slave societies that evolved in the early-modern Atlantic world. The primary focus is the Chesapeake and the British Caribbean, the later exemplified by Jamaica and Nevis. The course is structured around a series of data-analysis projects that draw on the Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery (http://www.daacs.org).
Course was offered Fall 2017, Fall 2013, Fall 2010
ANTH 3630Chinese Family and Religion (3)
Analyzes various features of traditional Chinese social organization as it existed in the late imperial period. Includes the late imperial state; Chinese family and marriage; lineages; ancestor worship; popular religion; village social structure; regional systems; and rebellion.
ANTH 3675Museums and Cultural Representation in Quebec (3)
In this J-term course, we visit museums in Montreal and Quebec City to examine the politics of cultural representation, asking how various kinds of group identity are exhibited in art, history, and anthropology museums. Daily museum visits are accompanied by readings and lectures.
ANTH 3679Curating Culture: Collection, Preservation, and Display as Cultural Forms (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course teaches the importance of understanding cultural meanings when curating items, whether material or intangible, drawn from social worlds other than one's own. It provides a general introduction to collection, preservation, and display through study of a specific collection held by the instructor or by a local institution such as the Fralin Museum of Art.
Course was offered Spring 2023
ANTH 3680Australian Aboriginal Art and Culture (3)
This class studies the intersection of anthropology, art and material culture focusing on Australian Aboriginal art. We examine how Aboriginal art has moved from relative obscurity to global recognition over the past thirty years. Topics include the historical and cultural contexts of invention, production, marketing and appropriation of Aboriginal art. Students will conduct object-based research using the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection. Prerequisite: ANTH 1010 or instructor permission.
ANTH 3700Globalizing India: Society, Bazaars and Cultural Politics (3)
A study of selected interrelated major cultural, religious and political changes for comprehending India after independence. The course will focus on major urban centers for explicating changing family, marriage and caste relationships; middle class Indians; status of women and Dalits; and rising religious/ethnic violence, including Hindu religious politics and religious nationalism. Prerequisite: One course in Anthropology or permission of instructor.
ANTH 3705Anthropology of the Middle East (3)
Anthropological readings and films provide insight into the diversity of peoples and cultures of the modern Middle East. The focus will be on the everyday lived experiences of peoples in this part of the world. As we explore the rich diversity of cultures in the Middle East, key topics to be examined include tribalism, gender and politics, Islam, religion and secularism, colonialism, nationalism, and economic inequalities.
Course was offered Fall 2020, Fall 2016, Spring 2015
ANTH 3810Field Methods in Archaeology (3 - 6)
Provides a comprehensive training in archaeological field techniques through participation in research projects currently in progress under the direction of the archaeology faculty. The emphasis is on learning, in an actual field situation, how the collection of archaeological data is carried out in both survey and excavation. Students become familiar with field recording systems, excavation techniques, survey methods, sampling theory in archaeology, and artifact processing and analysis. (Field methods courses outside anthropology or offered at other universities may be substituted for ANTH 3810 with the prior approval of the student's advisor.) Supporting Courses. The following list includes additional courses which have been approved for the major program. Other courses can be added, depending on the student's area of concentration, with the approval of an advisor.
ANTH 3830North American Archaeology (3)
Surveys the prehistoric occupations of several areas of North America emphasizing the eastern United States, the Plains, California, and the Southwest. Topics include the date of human migration into the New World, the economy and organization of early Paleo-Indian populations, and the evolution of organization and exchange systems.
Course was offered Fall 2017, Fall 2014, Fall 2012, Fall 2011
ANTH 3840Archaeology of the Middle East (3)
This course is an introduction to the prehistory/early history of the Middle East (Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Levant and southeast Anatolia) from 10,000 to 4,000 BP.
ANTH 3850Historical Archaeology (3)
Historical archaeology is the archaeological study of the continental and transoceanic human migrations that began in the fifteenth century, their effects on native peoples, and historical trajectories of the societies that they created. This course offers an introduction to the field. It emphasizes how theoretical models, analytical methods, and archaeological data can be combined to make and evaluate credible inferences about the past.
Course was offered Fall 2015, Fall 2012, Fall 2009
ANTH 3870Archaeology of Virginia (3)
Reviews the current state of archaeological and ethnohistoric research in Virginia. Emphasizes the history and culture of Native Americans in Virginia from the earliest paleoindian cultures to the period of European colonization.
ANTH 3875Pre-Columbian South America (3)
This course will review the history of South America from its earliest population to the Spanish Conquest. Emphasis will be placed on tracing the rise of civilization in the Andes. The Inka empire was only the last of a long sequence of states and empires. Comparison of the Inka state with earlier polities such as the Moche and Tiwanaku will reveal the unique and enduring traditions of Andean political organizations.
ANTH 3880African Archaeology (3)
This course surveys transformations in the African past, from the Middle Stone Age emergence of modern humans, to the florescence of lifeways in the Late Stone Age, to the broad mosaic of small-, medium-, and large-scale Iron Age societies, to the archaeology of colonial encounters. We also consider how archaeological methods work to produce knowledge in combination with studies of genetics, climate and environment, and historical methods.
Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2012, Fall 2009
ANTH 3885Archaeology of Europe (3)
A survey of European archaeology beginning with the Neanderthal debate, and including interpretations of Upper Paleolithic cave painting, the spread village farming from the Near East, the role of megalithic monuments, the interaction of Rome and the `Barbarians', the growth of urban centers, the Iron Age, and the Viking expansion.
ANTH 3890Archaeology of the American Southwest (3)
The northern section of the American Southwest offers one of the best contexts for examining the evolution of local and regional organization from the prehistoric to the historic period. Readings and discussion focus on both archaeological and ethnographic studies of the desert (Hohokam), mountain (Mogollon), and plateau (Anasazi/Pueblo) cultures.
ANTH 4060People, Culture and Environment of Southern Africa (3)
Focusing on the intersection between peoples, cultures, and environments of southern Africa, this summer study abroad course details the continuities and contrasts between life in rural, marginalized and under-served regions of South Africa and Mozambique. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the community role in education and sustainable development - both developmental and anthropogenic impacts on the environment but also environmental.
ANTH 4420Theories of Language (3)
Survey of modern schools of linguistics, both American and European, discussing each approach in terms of historical and intellectual context, analytical goals, assumptions about the nature of language, and relation between theory and methodology.
ANTH 4559New Course in Anthropology (1 - 4)
New Course in the subject of Anthropology.
Course was offered Fall 2014, Spring 2013, Spring 2010
ANTH 4590Social & Cultural Anthropology (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with social and cultural anthropology.
ANTH 4591Majors Seminar (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The majors seminars in anthropology offer majors and minors an opportunity to engage deeply with a topic of anthropological concern. Through these courses anthropology students gain experience in doing an independent research project on a topic they care about and produce a significant paper or other major work. Enrollment for majors and minors is preferred.
ANTH 4840Quantitative Analysis in Anthropology I (3)
Examines the quantitative analytical techniques used in archaeology. Includes seriation, regression analysis, measures of diversity, and classification.
Course was offered Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2011
ANTH 4841Quantitative Analysis II (3)
This course offers training in statistical models and methods that will be useful for students in multiple fields, including archaeology, anthropology, and environmental science. The goal is to equip students with statistical skills useful in systematically describing and analyzing empirical variation, deciphering links to the environmental and historical contexts in which that variation occurs, and using the results to advance science. Prerequisites: ANTH 4840 Quantitative Analysis I.
Course was offered Spring 2017
ANTH 4993Independent Study in Anthropology (1 - 6)
Offered
Fall 2024
Independent study conducted by the student under the supervision of an instructor of his or her choice.
ANTH 4998Distinguished Majors Thesis Research (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Independent research, under the supervision of the faculty DMP thesis readers, toward the DMP thesis. Prerequisite: Admission to the Distinguished Majors Program in Anthropology.
ANTH 4999Distinguished Majors Thesis Writing (3)
Writing of a thesis of approximately 50 pages, under the supervision of the faculty DMP thesis readers. Prerequisite: ANTH 4998.
ANTH 5195TechnoScience (3)
What do rocket launches, genetic testing, robot marriage, protein folding, marine biology, climate change and nuclear meltdowns have in common? Anthropologists have studied them all to understand sociocultural factors involved in technoscientific production. Spend a semester in the borderlands between anthropology and STS (science and technology studies) studying the latest research as well as classic ethnographies, with hands-on demonstrations.
ANTH 5200History of Kinship Studies (3)
Critical assessment of major theoretical approaches to the study of kinship and marriage (from the 19th century to the present) and of the central role of kinship studies in the development of anthropological theory.
Course was offered Fall 2016, Fall 2012, Spring 2010
ANTH 5210Reconfiguring Kinship Studies (3)
Examines the ways in which the forms of kinship have been reconfigured in contemporary societies, and the ways in which traditional kinship studies have been reconfigured by their intersection with culture theory, feminist theory, gender studies, postmodern theory, gay and lesbian studies, and cultural studies of science and medicine. Prerequisite: ANTH 5200 or instructor permission.
ANTH 5220Economic Anthropology (3)
Considers Western economic theories and their relevance to non-Western societies. Includes a comparative analysis of different forms of production, consumption, and circulation.
ANTH 5225NGOs, Development, and International Aid (3)
Graduate level seminar explores the scholarly literature on NGOs and development aid organizations, emphasizing results of field studies. Issues include the relationship between policy and practice, the impact of changing trends and funding priorities, the politics of representing the voices of aid clients, economic and racial hierarchies in development, assessment and audit, and the nature of motivations to help. Prerequisite: 4th year ANTH, GDS, or PST Majors; or A&S Graduate students
Course was offered Spring 2014
ANTH 5235Legal Anthropology (3)
This course is an introduction to legal anthropology for graduate students or advanced undergraduates. This course investigates law systems, legal argumentation, and people's interactions with these thoughts and forms. Rather than taking as given the hegemonic power that legal structures might hold over people's lives and thought, this course questions how people use, abuse, subvert, and leverage legal structures in which they find themselves.
Course was offered Fall 2022, Fall 2014
ANTH 5240Relational Ethics (3)
How might we begin to conceive relational ethics? In the attempt to think through this question, we will slowly read and discuss some important texts in anthropology and continental philosophy that have attempted to think and articulate relationality, being-with and ethics.
Course was offered Fall 2021, Fall 2018
ANTH 5270Care and Abandonment (3)
This seminar will explore the norms, embodied practices, material artifacts, and forms of reasoning which shape processes of care and abandonment across a range of contemporary cases. We will explore Foucault's writings on bio-power, how a focus on abandonment and abjection has altered the field of anthropology, and how care might relate to other concepts like kinship.
Course was offered Fall 2020
ANTH 5360World Mental Health (3)
This course will examine mental health issues from the perspectives of biomedicine and anthropology, emphasizing local traditions of illness and healing as well as evidence from epidemiology and neurobiology. Included topics will be psychosis, depression, PTSD, Culture Bound Syndromes, and suicide. We will also examine the role of pharmaceutical companies in the spread of western based mental health care and culturally sensitive treatment.
ANTH 5425Language Contact (3)
Considers how languages change as part of social systems and affected by historical processes. We will contrast language change through internal processes of drift and regular sound change with contact-induced language change involving multilingualism and code switching, language shift and lexical borrowing, the emergence of pidgin, creole, and intertwined languages, language endangerment, and computational tools for historical linguistics.
Course was offered Fall 2023, Spring 2020, Fall 2018
ANTH 5465Language and the Culture of Preservation (3)
Why save endangered languages? What makes this work compelling to the diverse stakeholders involved? What kinds of obstacles do language preservation projects repeatedly encounter and why? This seminar explores language preservation as a cultural phenomenon in which issues of temporality, ownership, identity, and authenticity come to the fore.
Course was offered Spring 2020
ANTH 5470Language and Identity (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
In anthropology, where identity has become a central concern, language is seen as an important site for the construction of, and negotiation over social identities. In linguistics, reference to categories of social identity helps to explain language structure and change. This seminar explores the overlap between these converging trends by focusing on the notion of discourse as a nexus of cultural and linguistic processes.
ANTH 5475Multimodal Interaction (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Students build knowledge and practice of analysis of peoples' joint-engagement in embodied interactions. How does action weave together multiple sensory modalities into semiotic webs linking interactions with more durative institutions of social life? Course includes workshops on video recording, and the transcription and coding of verbal and non-verbal actions. Prior coursework in Linguistics, Anthropology or instructor permission recommended.
ANTH 5480Literacy and Orality (3)
This course surveys ethnographic and linguistic literature on literacy, focusing on the social meanings of speaking vs. writing (and hearing vs. reading) as opposed communicative practices, looking especially at traditionally oral societies.
Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2019, Fall 2014
ANTH 5485Discourse Analysis (3)
Discourse analysis looks at the patterns in language and language-use above the level of sentence grammar and seeks to apply the micro-level analysis of communicative interactions to understanding the macro-level processes of social and cultural reproduction. Topics include: symbolic interactionism, conversation analysis, critical discourse analysis, interactional sociolinguistics, discourse prosody, and digital analysis techniques.
Course was offered Fall 2021, Fall 2018
ANTH 5490Speech Play and Verbal Art (3)
This graduate-level seminar seeks to understand variation in language (and its significance for social relations and social hierarchies) by focusing on forms of language that are aesthetically valued (whether as powerful or as poetic) in particular communities. The course assumes some familiarity both with technical analysis of language and anthropological perspectives on social formations.
ANTH 5495Discourse Prosody (3)
Discourse prosody looks at intonation, rhythm, meter, and voice quality in everyday speech, developing descriptive and theoretical models for the systematic study of these linguistic phenomena. The course emphasizes instrumental analysis and focuses on how prosody: varies across dialects and languages; functions in spoken interaction; and affects structures of social life (identity, hierarchy, etc.).
ANTH 5510Topics in Ethnography (3)
Seminars on topics announced prior to each semester.
Course was offered Fall 2019, Fall 2015, Fall 2011
ANTH 5528Topics in Race Theory (3)
This course examines theories and practices of race and otherness, in order to analyze and interpret constructions, deconstructions and reconstructions of race from the late 18th to the 21st centuries. The focus varies from year to year, and may include 'race, 'progress and the West,' 'gender, race and power,' and 'white supremacy.' The consistent theme is that race is neither a biological nor a cultural category, but a method and theory of social organization, an alibi for inequality, and a strategy for resistance. Cross listed as AAS 5528. Prerequisite: ANTH 1010, 3010, or other introductory or middle-level social science or humanities course
ANTH 5541Topics in Linguistics (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with linguistics.
ANTH 5549Topics in Theoretical Linguistics and Linguistic Anthropology (3)
Seminars in topics of specific interest to faculty and advanced students will be announced prior to each semester.
ANTH 5559New Course in Anthropology (1 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
New course in the subject of anthropology.
ANTH 5589Selected Topics in Archaeology (1 - 6)
Seminars in topics announced prior to each semester.
ANTH 5590Topics in Social and Cultural Anthropology (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with social and cultural anthropology.
ANTH 5610Critical medical anthropology: healers, patients, scholars (3)
This class focuses on critical issues in medical anthropology on topics of patienthood, healing and healers and the theoretical, methodological and ethnographic perspectives of anthropologists who integrate issues of politics, economics, power and resistance in understanding health, illness, healing as individually experienced and culturally shaped phenomena .
ANTH 5620The Middle East in Ethnographic Perspective (3)
Survey of the anthropological literature on the Middle East & N. Africa. Begins historically with traditional writing on the Middle East and proceeds to critiques of this tradition and attempts at new ways of constructing knowledge of this world region. Readings juxtapose theoretical and descriptive work toward critically appraising modern writers' success in overcoming the critiques leveled against their predecessors.
Course was offered Spring 2013
ANTH 5808Method and Theory in Archaeology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Investigates current theory, models, and research methods in anthropological archaeology.
ANTH 5840Archaeology of Complex Societies (3)
Examines archaeological approaches to the study of complex societies using case studies from both the Old and New Worlds.
Course was offered Spring 2014, Fall 2009
ANTH 5870Archaeozoology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Laboratory training in techniques and methods used in analyzing animal bones recovered from archaeological sites. Include field collection, data analysis, and the use of zooarchaeological materials in reconstructing economic and social systems.
ANTH 5875Spatial Analysis and GIS in Archaeology (3)
This course explores theories and techniques underlying spatial analysis and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in archaeological research. Topics covered in this hands-on course include construction and manipulation of spatial data, basic spatial statistics and landscape studies. Students are expected to work on their own research projects, involving the construction, analysis and modeling of environmental and social variables.
ANTH 5880Gender in Archaeology (3)
Explores the range of case studies and theoretical literature associated with the emergence of gender as a framework for research in archaeology.
Course was offered Fall 2009
ANTH 5885Archaeology of Colonial Expansions (3)
Exploration of the archaeology of frontiers, expansions and colonization, focusing on European expansion into Africa and the Americas while using other archaeologically-known examples (e.g., Roman, Bantu) as comparative studies. Prerequisite: For undergraduates, ANTH 4591 senior seminar or instructor permission.
ANTH 5891Archaeology of Frontiers and Boundary Interaction (3)
The focus of this class is the nature of sociopolitical interaction across boundaries and imperial frontier regions, using multidisciplinary research and different scales of analysis. Among other disciplines, this includes archaeology, ethnohistory and history. Some of the case studies comprise the ancient frontiers of imperial formations in the ancient World, the pre-Columbian Americas, and those in the US and beyond.
ANTH 5993Independent Studies in Anthropology (3)
Independent study conducted by the student under the supervision of an instructor of his or her choice.
ANTH 7010History of Anthropological Theory (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduces major historical figures, approaches, and debates in anthropology (sociocultural, linguistic, archaeological), with a focus on understanding the discipline's diverse intellectual history, and its complex involvement with dominant social and intellectual currents in western society.
ANTH 7020Contemporary Anthropological Theory (3)
Explores the major recent theoretical approaches in current anthropology, with attention to their histories and to their political contexts and implications.
ANTH 7040Ethnographic Research Design and Methods (3)
Seminar on ethnographic methods and research design in the qualitative tradition. Surveys the literature on ethnographic methods and explores relations among theory, research design, and appropriate methodologies. Students participate in methodological exercises and design a summer pilot research project. Prerequisite: Second year graduate in anthropology or instructor permission.
ANTH 7050Ethnographic Writing and Representation (3)
Seminar on the craft of ethnographic writing and the ethical, political, and practical challenges of describing studied people in scholarly books and articles. What can student researchers do during fieldwork to help them write better dissertations more easily? How should they analyze and present field data? Prerequisite: ANTH 7040 or instructor permission. Suitable for pre- and post-field graduate students.
ANTH 7060Dissertation Research Proposal Workshop (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
A workshop for graduates preparing dissertation proposals and writing grant applications. Each student prepares several drafts of a proposal, revising it at each stage in response to the criticisms of classmates and the instructor.
ANTH 7100Indigenous Landscapes (3)
This course engages with ways that historical process are inscribed in landscapes, which are the traditional territories of indigenous communities and have also been shaped by colonialism, extractive enterprise, and nature conservation. It challenges students to examine their assumptions to examine ways in which dominant values and stories are inscribed in landscapes and made to appear natural and how indigenous peoples contest these processes. Prerequisite: Graduate status or instructor permission.
Course was offered Fall 2023, Spring 2022, Fall 2019
ANTH 7129Marriage, Mortality, Fertility (3)
Explores the ways that culturally formed systems of values and family organization affect population processes in a variety of cultures. Readings are drawn from comparative anthropology and historical demography. Cross-listed as ANTH 3129.
ANTH 7130Disease, Epidemics and Society (3)
Topics covered in this course will include emerging diseases and leading killers in the twenty-first century, disease ecology, disease history and mortality transitions, the sociology of epidemics, the role of epidemiology in the mobilization of public health resources to confront epidemics, and the social processes by which the groups become stigmatized during disease outbreaks. Prerequisites: previous ANTH or SOC course
ANTH 7290Nationalism and the Politics of Culture (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Analyzes the ways in which a spirit of national or ethic solidarity is mobilized and utilized.
ANTH 7344Anthropology and Anarchy (3)
Anarch--organizing society through horizontal relations of free association--has a modern European history contemporary with Anthropology and has Indigenous histories in many places where people decided together to organize society against the state and hierarchy. Readings survey anthropology of non-state societies and engages questions of how non-European anarchies of Black and Indigenous authors and organizers critique anthropological methods.
ANTH 7350The Nature of Nature (3)
This course explores the evolution of Nature as a concept and a human-created realm of reality, particularly in relation to colonialism and globalization. It focuses on environmental politics of diverse people who do not relate to reality as a separate object called Nature. It also addresses the idea that we are living in the Anthropocene, a moment in which humans have become a force of Nature, and Nature perhaps no longer exists.
ANTH 7370Power and the Body (3)
Study of the cultural representations and interpretations of the body in society.
ANTH 7400Linguistic Anthropology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
An advanced introduction to the study of language from an anthropological point of view. No prior coursework in linguistics is expected, but the course is aimed at graduate students who will use what they learn in their own anthropologically-oriented research. Topics include an introduction to such basic concepts in linguistic anthropology as language in world-view, the nature of symbolic meaning, language and nationalism, universals and particulars in language, language in history and prehistory, the ethnography of speaking, the nature of everyday conversation, and the study of poetic language. The course is required for all Anthropology graduate students. It also counts toward the Theory requirement for the M.A. in Linguistics.
ANTH 7420Theories of Language (3)
Survey of modern schools of linguistics, both American and European, discussing each approach in terms of historical and intellectual context, analytical goals, assumptions about the nature of language, and relation between theory and methodology.
ANTH 7440Language and Emotion (3)
This course explores emotion from the perspectives of cultural anthropology and sociolinguistics. Topics include: emotion in the natural vs. social sciences; cross-cultural conceptions of emotion; historical change in emotion discourses; emotion as a theory of the self; the grammatical encoding of emotion in language; (mis-) communication of emotion; and emotion in the construction of racialized and gendered identities.
ANTH 7450Native American Languages (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Surveys the classification and typological characteristics of Native American languages and the history of their study, with intensive work on one language by each student. Some linguistics background is helpful.
ANTH 7455African Languages (3)
An introduction to the linguistic diversity of the African continent, with focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Topics include linguistic structures (sound systems, word-formation, and syntax); the classification of African languages; the use of linguistic data to reconstruct prehistory; language and social identity; verbal art; language policy debates; the rise of "mixed" languages among urban youth. Taught concurrently with ANTH 3455.
Course was offered Spring 2019, Fall 2017, Spring 2017
ANTH 7470Language and Culture in the Middle East (3)
Language and Culture in the Middle East
ANTH 7480Language and Prehistory (3)
This course covers the basic principles of diachronic linguistics (the study of how languages change over time) and the uses of linguistic data in the reconstruction of prehistory. Considered is the use of linguistic evidence in tracing prehistoric population movements in demonstrating contact among prehistoric groups and in the reconstruction of daily life. To the extent that the literature permits, examples and case studies will be drawn from the Mayan language area of Central America, and will include discussion of the pre-Columbian Mayan writing system and its ongoing decipherment. Fulfills the comparative-historical requirement for Linguistics graduate students.
ANTH 7541Topics in Sociolinguistics (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Analyzes particular aspects of the social use of language. Topics vary from year to year.
ANTH 7559New Course in Anthropology (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of anthropology.
ANTH 7589Topics in Archaeology (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with archaeology.
ANTH 7590Topics in Social and Cultural Anthropology (3)
Topics to be announced prior to each semester, dealing with social and cultural anthropology.
ANTH 7603Archaeological Aproaches to Atlantic Slavery (3)
This course explores how archaeological and architectural evidence can be used to enhance our understanding of the slave societies that evolved in the early-modern Atlantic world. The primary focus is the Chesapeake and the British Caribbean, the later exemplified by Jamaica and Nevis. The course is structured around a series of data-analysis projects that draw on the Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery (http://www.daacs.org).
Course was offered Fall 2013, Fall 2010
ANTH 7630Chinese Family and Religion (3)
Analyzes various features of traditional Chinese social organization as it existed in the late imperial period. Includes the late imperial state; Chinese family and marriage; lineages; ancestor worship; popular religion; village social structure; regional systems; and rebellion.
ANTH 7840Quantitative Analysis in Anthropology I (3)
This course examines the quantitative analytical techniques used in anthropology and archaeology. Topics include seriation, regression analysis, measures of diversity, and classification.
ANTH 7841Quantitative Analysis II (3)
This is a second course in statistical methods useful in many disciplines, including archaeology, anthropology, and environmental sciences. Coverage includes linear and generalized linear models, non-parametric regression, multivariate distances, clustering, ordination methods, and discriminant functions. The course emphasizes practical data analysis using R. Prerequisite: Quantitative Analysis I (ANTH 4840/7840) or an introductory statistics course and a basic knowledge of R.
Course was offered Spring 2017
ANTH 7855Historical Archaeology (3)
Historical archaeology is the archaeological study of the continental and transoceanic human migrations that began in the fifteenth century, their effects on native peoples, and historical trajectories of the societies that they created. This course offers an introduction to the field. It emphasizes how theoretical models, analytical methods, and archaeological data can be combined to make and evlaluate credible inferences about the past.
Course was offered Fall 2015, Fall 2012, Fall 2009
ANTH 8559New Course in Anthropology (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of anthropology.
Course was offered Spring 2022
ANTH 8998Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research (1 - 12)
Offered
Fall 2024
For master's research, taken before a thesis director has been selected.
ANTH 8999Non-Topical Research (1 - 12)
Offered
Fall 2024
For master's thesis, taken under the supervision of a thesis director.
ANTH 9010Directed Readings (1 - 12)
Offered
Fall 2024
Directed Readings
ANTH 9020Directed Readings (1 - 12)
Offered
Fall 2024
Directed Readings
ANTH 9050Research Practicum (1)
Offered
Fall 2024
Research Practicum
ANTH 9998Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Doctoral Research (1 - 12)
Offered
Fall 2024
For doctoral research, taken before a dissertation director has been selected.
ANTH 9999Non-Topical Research (1 - 12)
Offered
Fall 2024
For doctoral dissertation, taken under the supervision of a dissertation director.
Arabic
ARAB 116Intensive Introductory Arabic (0)
This intensive course begins with instruction in basic oral expression, listening comprehension, elementary reading and writing, and continues with further development of these four skills at the intermediate level. Part of the Summer Language Institute.
ARAB 126Intensive Introductory Arabic (0)
This intensive course begins with instruction in basic oral expression, listening comprehension, elementary reading and writing, and continues with further development of these four skills at the intermediate level. Part of the Summer Language Institute.
ARAB 216Intensive Intermediate Arabic (0)
This intensive course begins with instruction in basic intermediate level expression, listening comprehension, reading and writing, and continues with further development of these four skills. Part of the Summer Language Institute.
ARAB 226Intensive Intermediate Arabic (0)
This intensive course begins with instruction in basic intermediate level expression, listening comprehension, reading and writing, and continues with further development of these four skills. Part of the Summer Language Institute.
ARAB 256Introduction to Levantine Arabic-I (0)
This course intends to introduce the students to colloquial Levantine Arabic by enabling them to communicate in Levantine Arabic, the colloquial spoken in Syria, Lebanon, the Holy Land, and Western Jordan Prerequisite: First Year Arabic
ARAB 266Introduction to Levantine Arabic-II (0)
This course intends to introduce the students to colloquial Levantine Arabic by enabling them to communicate in Levantine Arabic, the colloquial spoken in Syria, Lebanon, the Holy Land, and Western Jordan Prerequisite: First year Arabic and ARAB 0256/2256
ARAB 1010Elementary Arabic (4)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduction to the sound and writing systems of Arabic, including basic sentence structure and morphological patterns. A combination of the direct, audio-lingual, proficiency-based, and translation methods is used. The format consists of classroom discussions of a certain grammatical point followed by intensive practice.
ARAB 1016Intensive Introductory Arabic (4)
This intensive course begins with instruction in basic oral expression, listening comprehension, elementary reading and writing, and continues with further development of these four skills at the intermediate level. Part of the Summer Language Institute.
ARAB 1020Elementary Arabic (4)
Introduction to the sound and writing systems of Arabic, including basic sentence structure and morphological patterns. A combination of the direct, audio-lingual, proficiency-based, and translation methods is used. The format consists of classroom discussions of a certain grammatical point followed by intensive practice. Prerequisite: ARAB 1010 or equivalent.
ARAB 1026Intensive Introductory Arabic (4)
This intensive course begins with instruction in basic oral expression, listening comprehension, elementary reading and writing, and continues with further development of these four skills at the intermediate level. Part of the Summer Language Institute. Prerequisites: ARAB 1016 or equivalent.
ARAB 1060Accelerated Elementary Arabic (4)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course is intended for students with native or near-native speaking ability in Arabic, but with little or no reading and writing ability in Standard Arabic (MSA). The course focuses on reading and writing Arabic and aim to help students to: (a) achieve control of the Arabic sounds, (b) be able to write and speak in MSA, (c) and express themselves clearly in written form on a variety of topics using learned grammar patterns and vocabulary.
ARAB 1559New Course in Arabic (1 - 6)
New Course in Arabic
ARAB 2010Intermediate Arabic (4)
Offered
Fall 2024
Continues training in modern standard Arabic, with emphasis on speaking, comprehension, writing, and reading. The method of teaching primarily follows the proficiency-based approach to language learning. Prerequisite: for ARAB 2010: ARAB 1020 or equivalent, or instructor permission; for ARAB 2020: ARAB 2010 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
ARAB 2016Intensive Intermediate Arabic (4)
This intensive course begins with instruction in basic intermediate level expression, listening comprehension, reading and writing, and continues with further development of these four skills. Part of the Summer Language Institute. Prerequistes: ARAB 1016 & 1026 or equivalent.
ARAB 2020Intermediate Arabic (4)
Continues training in modern standard Arabic, with emphasis on speaking, comprehension, writing, and reading. The method of teaching primarily follows the proficiency-based approach to language learning. Prerequisite: for ARAB 2010: ARAB 1020 or equivalent, or instructor permission; for ARAB 2020: ARAB 2010 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
ARAB 2026Intensive Intermediate Arabic (4)
This intensive course begins with instruction in intermediate level oral expression, listening comprehension, reading and writing, and continues with further development of these four skills. Part of the Summer Language Institute. Prerequisites: ARAB 1016 , 1026 & 2016 or equivalent.
ARAB 2250Conversational Arabic (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduces students to spoken Arabic, with oral production highly emphasized. Prerequisite: ARAB 2020 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
ARAB 2256Introduction to Colloquial Arabic I (0.5)
This course intends to introduce students to a variety of colloquial Arabic by enabling them to communicate with native speakers in the region where this variety is spoken. The focus will be on vocabulary and expressions used in daily life. Prerequisite: ARAB 1010 and ARAB 1020, or instructor's permission.
ARAB 2266Introduction to Colloquial Arabic II (0.5)
This course is a continuation of ARAB 2256. The course intends to introduce students to a variety of colloquial Arabic by enabling them to communicate with native speakers in the region where this variety is spoken. The focus will be on the vocabulary and expressions used in daily life. Prerequisite: ARAB 1010, ARAB 1020, and ARAB 2256. or instructor's permission
ARAB 3010Advanced Arabic I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The goal of this course is to increase the student's knowledge of the Arabic language and culture via a communicative-based approach, meaning that though the students will be expected to learn grammatical structures emphasis will be placed on the functional usage of the language and on communication in context. Prerequisites: ARAB 2020 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
ARAB 3019Language House Conversation (1)
For students residing in the Arabic group in Shea House. Prerequisite: instructor permission.
ARAB 3020Advanced Arabic II (3)
The goal of this course is to increase the student's knowledge of the Arabic language and culture via a communicative-based approach, meaning that though the students will be expected to learn grammatical structures emphasis will be placed on the functional usage of the language and on communication in context. Prerequisites: ARAB 3010 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
ARAB 3230Arabic Conversation and Composition (3)
Using a communicatively oriented, proficiency-based approach the course will focus on the communicative prodution skills (speaking and writing) in the language through a combination of interactive classroom activities, take-home assignments and group work. Emphasis will be on the development of these two skills. Students will also be introduced to aspects of the Arab culture to build cultural awareness and communicative competence.
Course was offered Spring 2020, Fall 2018
ARAB 3240Advanced Arabic Conversation and Composition (3)
Develops oral and written proficiency to an advanced level of fluency, with emphasis on speaking and writing. Prerequisite: ARAB 3230 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
Course was offered Spring 2019, Spring 2011
ARAB 3259Advanced Arabic for Business (3)
The course aims to provide advanced training in developing linguistic and communicative skills in business Arabic. The business topics cover data & communication, finance, insurance, law & contract, research & production, marketing, transport, travel, meetings, and conferences. Instructor permission.
Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
ARAB 3330Arabic of the Quran and Hadith I (3)
Studies the language of the Quran and its exegesis, and the Hadith. Prerequisite: ARAB 2020 or higher, or permission of instructor.
Course was offered Fall 2011, Fall 2010
ARAB 3559New Course in Arabic (1 - 4)
This course provides the opportunity to offer a new topic in the subject area of Arabic.
ARAB 3672Review of Arabic Grammar (3)
In this course students will develop a mastery of core items relevant to Modern Standard Arabic grammar, a mastery which will enable them to produce discreet, sophisticated sentences, as well as to compose paragraphs and essays, all while utilizing the grammar points covered in this class. Those interested in taking this course are required to have completed ARAB 2020 or equivalent, or to receive approval of instructor.
ARAB 3810Modern Arabic Fiction (3)
Students are introduced to twentieth-century Arabic fiction, and to the varied genres of prose including letters, memoirs, short stories, travelogues, and novels. Topics include autobiography, war and nation construction, fantasy, and political and sexual identity crises. Students become acquainted with different schools of modern Arabic literary criticism, and learn to analyze texts using critical analysis and specific theoretical terminology. Prerequisite: ARAB 3020 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
ARAB 4010Advanced Arabic III (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The main goal at this stage is to reach a superior level of Modern Standard Arabic with due attention paid to all four language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing in addition to culture. Acquisition of more advanced grammatical structures will take place primarily through directed in-class drilling, coupled with an emphasis on the functional use of language through communication in context. Prerequisite: ARAB 3020 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
ARAB 4020Advanced Arabic IV (3)
The main goal at this stage is to reach a superior level of Modern Standard Arabic with due attention paid to all four language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing in addition to culture. Acquisition of more advanced grammatical structures will take place primarily through directed in-class drilling, coupled with an emphasis on the functional use of language through communication in context.
ARAB 4120Introduction to Arabic Drama (3)
This course introduces students to modern Arabic drama from the early pioneers' period in the 20th century to the contemporary era. We will study different forms of this genre including: musicals, traditional, experimental, feminist, and social drama. Further, students become acquainted with different schools of modern Arabic literary criticism and learn to analyze dramatic texts using critical analysis and specific theoretical terminology. Prerequisites: ARAB 5830 or 5840, or instructor's permission.
ARAB 4230Love, War, and Diaspora in Hoda Barakat's Writings (3)
In this course, we will examine the themes of love, war, and diaspora in the literature of the Lebanese writer, Hoda Barakat. Some of the topics that will interest us are: the role of the author as a witness to the Lebanese civil war, the challenges of rewriting history, recreating the homeland's image in diasporic locales, collective and individual memories and its role in trauma recall and testimony.
Course was offered Fall 2015
ARAB 4245Readings in Classical Arabic Prose (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Students will gain insight and learn to appreciate some of the most influential "Arab" literary figures and some of the most celebrated classical Arabic prose masterpieces. Students will also broaden their critical and comparative perspectives with regard to some of the most important literary and cultural issues related to the overall poetics and politics of the Arabic-Islamic heritage. Prereq: ARAB 3020 or Instructor Permission.
ARAB 4450The Other in Premodern Arabic Sources (3)
This course explores the unduly studied corpus of Arabic writings that describes the encounters with and perception of the Other. Much effort will be devoted to investigate medieval and early modern Arab-Muslim views of the Other in a cross-generic selection of non-religious Arabic prose such as travelogues, diplomatic memoirs, captivity reports, marvels, folktales, literary debates/boasting, and poetry. Prerequisite: ARAB 3020
Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2017
ARAB 4559New Course in Arabic (1 - 4)
This course provides the opportunity to offer a new topic in the subject area of Arabic.
Course was offered Fall 2016, Spring 2014, Fall 2009
ARAB 4993Independent Study in Arabic (1 - 3)
Independent Study in Arabic
ARAB 5230Love, War, and Diaspora in Hoda Barakat's Writings (3)
In this course, we will examine the themes of love, war, and diaspora in the literature of the Lebanese writer, Hoda Barakat. Some of the topics that will interest us are: the role of the author as a witness to the Lebanese civil war, the challenges of rewriting history, recreating the homeland's image in diasporic locales, collective and individual memories and its role in trauma recall and testimony.
Course was offered Fall 2015
ARAB 5240Advanced Arabic Conversation and Composition (3)
Develops oral and written proficiency to an advanced level of fluency, with emphasis on speaking and writing. Prerequisite: ARAB 3230 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
Course was offered Spring 2011
ARAB 5245Readings in Classical Arabic Prose (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Students will gain insight and learn to appreciate some of the most influential 'Arab' literary figures and some of the most celebrated classical Arabic prose masterpieces. Students will also broaden their critical and comparative perspectives with regard to some of the most important literary and cultural issues related to the overall poetics and politics of the Arabic-Islamic heritage.
ARAB 5310Introduction to the Arab World and Its Languages (3)
A general survey of the linguistic, geographical, historical, social, religious, cultural, and artistic aspects of the modern Arab world. Attention given to the Arabic language, family, gender relations, the Arab experience in the U.S., Arab American relations, the role of the past and of social change, and Arab art and music.
ARAB 5330Arabic of the Quran and Hadith I (3)
Studies the language of the Quran and its exegesis, and the Hadith. Prerequisite: ARAB 2020 or higher, or permission of instructor.
Course was offered Fall 2011, Fall 2010
ARAB 5410Advanced Arabic III (3)
The main goal at this stage is to reach a superior level of Modern Standard Arabic with due attention paid to all four language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing in addition to culture. Acquisition of more advanced grammatical structures will take place primarily through directed in-class drilling, coupled with an emphasis on the functional use of language through communication in context. Prerequisites: ARAB 3020 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
ARAB 5420Advanced Arabic IV (3)
This course focuses on reading texts in Modern Standard Arabic of different genres.
ARAB 5559New Course in Arabic (1 - 4)
This course provides the opportunity to offer a new topic in the subject area of Arabic.
ARAB 5810Modern Arabic Fiction (3)
Students are introduced to twentieth-century Arabic fiction, and to the varied genres of prose including letters, memoirs, short stories, travelogues, and novels. Topics include autobiography, war and nation construction, fantasy, and political and sexual identity crises. Students become acquainted with different schools of modern Arabic literary criticism, and learn to analyze texts using critical analysis and specific theoretical terminology. Prerequisite: ARAB 3020 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
ARAB 5830Topics in Arabic Prose I (3)
Emphasis on reading modern Arabic prose, and writing descriptive and narrative short essays. Prerequisite: ARAB 3020/5020 or equivalent, or instructor permission.
ARAB 5840Topics in Arabic Prose II (3)
Exposure to selected reading material in modern Arabic prose, and writing of short essays, summaries, and descriptive pieces in Arabic. Prerequisite: ARAB 5830 or instructor permission.
ARAB 5850Media Arabic (3)
Examination of electronic (television and radio) and print (newspapers, magazines, periodic publications) Arabic. Prerequisite: ARAB 5530 and 5540, or ARAB 3010/5010 and 3020/5020, or instructor permission.
ARAB 5870Media Arabic II (3)
A survey of print and electronic media, news and news reports, analysis, commentaries from or about the Arab world, intended to increase students' familiarity with the language used in news as reported in Arabic-media venues.  Prerequisite:  ARAB 5850, completion of ARAB 5530 and 5540 or permission of instructor.
Course was offered Spring 2013, Spring 2011
ARAB 6559New course in Arabic (3)
This course is to allow 6000-level new courses to be taught for one semester
ARAB 6672Review of Arabic Grammar (3)
The course treats in depth aspects of Arabic Grammar. It enables leaners to produce orally and in writing samples of Modern Standard Arabic.
ARAB 7120Introduction to Arabic Drama (3)
This course introduces students to modern Arabic drama from the early pioneers' period in the 20th century to the contemporary era. We will study different forms of this genre including: musicals, traditional, experimental, feminist, and social drama. Further, students become acquainted with different schools of modern Arabic literary criticism and learn to analyze dramatic texts using critical analysis and specific theoretical terminology. Prerequisites: ARAB 5830 or 5840, or instructor's permission.
ARAB 8559New Course in Arabic (3)
New Course in Arabic Prerequisite: ARAB 3020 or equivalent, or instructor permission
Course was offered Spring 2014
ARAB 8993Independent Study in Arabic (1 - 3)
Independent Study in Arabic.
History of Art
ARTH 150Special Topics in Art History (0)
Special Topics in Art History
ARTH 1004A History of Architecture (3)
This course will introduce students to the study of architecture through an examination of selected examples from the history of architecture with a focus on Europe and the United States and buildings relevant to those regions (e.g. the Great Pyramids, the Parthenon, Versailles). Classes will be a combination of lectures and discussions as students are taught the fundamentals of architectural history as well as how to analyze buildings.
ARTH 1051History of Art I (4)
A survey of the great monuments of art and architecture from their beginnings in caves through the arts of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome, Byzantium, the Islamic world, and medieval western Europe. The course attempts to make art accessible to students with no background in the subject, and it explains the ways in which painting, sculpture, and architecture are related to mythology, religion, politics, literature, and daily life. The course serves as a visual introduction to the history of the West.
ARTH 1052History of Art II: Renaissance to Post-Modern Art and Architecture (3 - 4)
Studies the history and interpretation of architecture, sculpture and painting from 1400 to the present.
ARTH 1054How Art Works (3)
An overview of art from the perspective of both its history and the ways it operates in the world today. Focusing on case studies from different periods and world regions, topics include how art works in museums, in the markets, in the law, in communities and the public sphere. The course addresses also how art relates to the sciences, cultural appropriation, social justice, and offers an overview of art historical methodologies to study it.
ARTH 1500Introductory Seminars in Art History (3)
Introductory Seminars in Art History are small classes for first- and second-year students that emphasize reading, writing, and discussion. While subject varies with the instructor, topics will be selected that allow students to engage broad issues and themes historically and in relationship to contemporary concerns and debates. Subject is announced prior to each registration period. Enrollment is capped at 15.
ARTH 1503Art and the Premodern World (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course will train students to understand and critically evaluate comparative, premodern, global cultures.
ARTH 1505Art and the Modern World (3)
This course will train students to understand and critically evaluate comparative, modern global cultures.
ARTH 1507Art and Global Cultures (3)
This course will train students to understand and evaluate global cultures from a critical and culturally sensitive perspective.
ARTH 1559New Course in Art History (3)
This course is an introductory level course in art history on a new topic.
Course was offered Fall 2022, Spring 2022
ARTH 2052Ancient Egypt (3 - 4)
Survey of Egyptian art and architecture (Predynastic-New Kingdom, 4000-1100 BC). The course introduces students to the great monuments and works of art, and to the beliefs that engendered them. While the focus is on pharaonic 'visual' culture, neglected 'others' (women, cross-gendered persons, foreigners, commoners) and their material/visual cultures are brought to attention to provide a nuanced understanding of Egyptian society and culture.
ARTH 2053Greek Art and Archaeology (3 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
The vase painting, sculpture, architecture, and other arts of the Greeks, from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic periods. Works are studies in their social, political, and religious contexts with a special focus on archaeology and material culture.
ARTH 2054Roman Art and Archaeology (3 - 4)
Following an overview of Etruscan art, the course examines the development of Roman architecture, urbanism, sculpture and painting from the Republic to Constantine. A focus is Rome itself, but other archaeological sites, such as Pompeii, in Italy and throughout the empire are also considered. Themes, such as succession, the achievements of the emperor, the political and social role of art, and the dissolution of classical art, are traced.
ARTH 2055Introduction to Classical Archaeology (3 - 4)
Introduces the history, theory, and field techniques of classical archaeology. Major sites of the Bronze Age (Troy, Mycenae) as well as Greek and Roman cities and sanctuaries (e.g., Athens, Olympia, Pompeii) illustrate important themes in Greek and Roman culture and the nature of archaeological data.
ARTH 2056Aegean Art and Archaeology (3 - 4)
Introduction to the art and archaeology of the prehistoric Aegean, from the Early Bronze Age to the end of the Late Bronze Age (ca. 3000-1200 BCE). Notable sites examined include Troy, Knossos, Mycenae, Thebes, Pylos. The course also examines cultural and artistic connections with New Kingdom Egypt and the Late Bronze Age Levant.
ARTH 2151Early Christian and Byzantine Art (3 - 4)
Studies the art of the early Church in East and West and its subsequent development in the East under the aegis of Byzantium. Includes the influence of theological, liturgical and political factors on the artistic expression of Eastern Christian spirituality.
ARTH 2153Romanesque and Gothic Art (3 - 4)
From the Romanesque churches along the Pilgrimage Routes to the new Gothic architecture at St. Denis outside Paris and on to late medieval artistic production in Prague, this course examines profound and visually arresting expressions of medieval piety, devotion, and power made by artists from roughly 1000-1500. Throughout our investigations, particular attention will be paid to the contributions of important medieval women.
ARTH 2154Early Medieval Art (3 - 4)
This course examines art created in the era from 300 to 1100, when early medieval artists, motivated by devotion to their faiths and scientific beliefs, crafted beautiful and refined visual expressions of their values. These crafted confessions in stone, paint, parchment, and metal provide the living historical records of a vibrant period, during which medieval artists asserted their various cultural identities.
ARTH 2251Italian Renaissance Art (3 - 4)
Studies painting, architecture, and sculpture in Italy from the close of the Middle Ages through the sixteenth century. Focuses on the work of major artists such as Giotto, Donatello, Botticelli, Leonardo, and Michelangelo. Detailed discussion of the social, political, and cultural background of the arts.
ARTH 2252High Renaissance and Mannerist Art (3 - 4)
Studies the painting, architecture, and sculpture or the sixteenth century, emphasizing the works of major artists, such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Giorgione, and Titian. Detailed discussion of the social, political, and cultural background of the arts.
ARTH 2271Northern Renaissance Art (3 - 4)
Surveys major developments in painting and graphics in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in the Netherlands and Germany. Includes the rise of Netherlandish naturalism and the origins of woodcut and engraving. Explores the effects of humanist taste on sixteenth-century painting and the iconographic consequences of the Reformation. Emphasizes the work of major artists, such as Van Eyck, Van der Weyden, Dürer, Bosch, and Bruegel.
Course was offered Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2015
ARTH 2273Disneyland (3)
This course examines the visual, aesthetic and cultural effects of Disneyland. It considers the history of the theme parks, its relationship to Disney films, and its visual construction of space, leisure, and American cultural identity. Presented both chronologically and thematically, this course is both reading and writing intensive.
Course was offered Summer 2017, Summer 2015, Summer 2013
ARTH 2275Heroes, Superheroes and American Visual Culture (3)
This course examines the aesthetic and cultural importance of 'heroes' and heroic representation in American visual culture from the mid-18th century to the present. It considers the construction and representation of heroic figures within debates about aesthetics, national identity, political representation, and popular culture. Presented both chronologically and thematically, this coure is both reading and writing intensive.
Course was offered Summer 2019, Summer 2016, Summer 2014
ARTH 2281The Age of Caravaggio, Velázquez, and Bernini (3 - 4)
Studies the painting, sculpture, and architecture of the seventeenth century in Italy, the Low Countries, France, and Spain. Focuses on Caravaggio, Bernini, Velazquez, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Poussin.
ARTH 2282The Age of Rubens and Rembrandt: Baroque Art in the Netherlands (3 - 4)
A survey of the art of the Dutch and Flemish Golden Age, including such artists as Rubens, Rembrandt, van Dyck, Hals and Vermeer. The course examines innovations in style and new subjects like landscape, still life and daily-life genre in relation to major historical developments, including the revolt of the Netherlands, the rise of the Dutch Republic, and the Counter-Reformation. The course includes a survey of Dutch architecture.
ARTH 2351Eighteenth-Century European Art (3 - 4)
Surveys European painting and sculpture from the late Baroque period to Neo-Classicism. Emphasizes the artistic careers of major figures and on the larger social, political, and cultural contexts of their work. Artists include Watteau, Boucher, Fragonard, Chardin, Falconet, Pigalle, Greuze, Batoni, Rusconi, Hogarth, Gainsborough, and Reynolds.
Course was offered Fall 2011
ARTH 2352Art of Revolutionary Europe (3 - 4)
Surveys European painting and sculpture from the last decades of the Ancien Regime to the liberal revolutions of 1848. Major artists, such as David, Canova, Ingres, Constable, Turner, Gericault, Delacroix, Friedrich, Goya, Corot, and Thorvaldsen are examined in their political, economic, social, spiritual, and aesthetic contexts.
Course was offered Fall 2018, Spring 2011
ARTH 2354British Art (3 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
This survey of British Art in the modern period examines the work of some of Britain's greatest painters, sculptors, and printmakers including Hogarth, Blake, Flaxman, Turner, the Pre-Raphaelites, Sickert, Bacon, and Freud. Major themes include the relationship of British art to religion, urbanization, empire, industrialization, and post-colonialism.
Course was offered Spring 2016, Fall 2013, Fall 2010
ARTH 2361Nineteenth-Century European Art (3 - 4)
A thematic survey of European art in the long nineteenth century, the course examines the work of German, French, Italian, British and Scandinavian artists, among them Boucher, Vien, David, Friedrich, Ingres, Gericault, Delacroix, Courbet, Manet, Whistler, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Munch, and others. Key course themes will include artistic training and practice, exhibition, and art-theoretical debates of the period.
Course was offered Spring 2012
ARTH 2371Impressionism and Post Impressionism (3 - 4)
Surveys modernist movements in European art during the second half of the nineteenth century. Major themes include the establishment of modernity as a cultural ideal, the development of the avant-garde, and the genesis of the concept of abstraction.
ARTH 2372Paris, "Capital of the Nineteenth Century" (3 - 4)
Examines the places, spaces, practices and representations of Paris in the nineteenth century. Tracing the changing faces of the city, we will study the modern city through architecture and urban planning, painting, drawing, photography, popular imagery and literature. Topics include Paris 'types'; fashion and birth of the department store; Haussmannization; and the 'spectacular' Paris of the panorama, morgue, Opera, and World's Fairs.
Course was offered Fall 2015, Fall 2012, Fall 2009
ARTH 2451Modern Art, 1900-1945 (3 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
A survey of major artistic movements in Europe and the United States during the first half of the twentieth century: Fauvism and Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, the School of Paris, Dada and Surrealism, the Russian avant-garde, modernist trends in America. Painting, sculpture, photography, and the functional arts are discussed.
ARTH 2470Art Now (3)
This course is designed to familiarize you with the major themes, issues, and questions being pursued in today's art world. Focusing on the last twenty years, the class is organized around five themes that define the majority of art being made today: portraying, experiencing, performing, reproducing, and agitating.
ARTH 2471Art Since 1945 (3 - 4)
Surveys art production and theory in the U.S. and Europe since World War II. Relationships between artistic practice and critical theory are stressed in an examination of movements ranging from abstract expressionism to neo-geo.
ARTH 2472Modern Art in Italy (3 - 4)
ARTH 2472 will use the resources of Italy's modern and contemporary art museums supplemented by classroom and on-site lectures to offer an overview of the major movements of modern art in Italy. It will examine the historical and political contexts for developments from Futurism and Valori Plastici to Informel and Arte Povera, with a particular focus on the postwar years..
ARTH 2491The History of Photography (3 - 4)
General survey of the photographic medium from 1839 to the present. Emphasizes the technical, aesthetic, and critical issues particular to the medium.
ARTH 2525Topics in Renaissance Art History (3 - 4)
Examines focused topics in Renaissance Art History.
ARTH 2559New Course in History of Art (3 - 4)
This course provides the opportunity to offer new topics in the subject History of Art.
ARTH 2745African American Art (3)
This course surveys the visual arts (painting, sculpture, photography, prints, mixed media and textiles) produced by those of African descent in the United States from the Colonial period to the present. Presented both chronologically and thematically, the class interrogates issues of artistic identity, gender, patronage and the aesthetic influences of the African Diaspora and European and Euro-American aesthetics on African American artists.
Course was offered Fall 2015, Fall 2012
ARTH 2751American Art to the Civil War (3 - 4)
This lecture course will examine the visual arts (painting, sculpture, photography, prints) of the United States from establishment of the nation to and through the Civil War. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural, political and social issues that provide a contextual framework for the interpretation and analysis of these works of art.
Course was offered Fall 2013
ARTH 2752America! Art, Identity, Politics (3 - 4)
This lecture course will examine the importance of identity and politics in the visual arts (painting, sculpture, photography, prints) of the United States from the Civil War to World War II. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural, political and social issues that frame the production and reception of images.
ARTH 2753Arts & Cultures of the Slave South (4)
This interdisciplinary course covers the American South to the Civil War. While the course centers on the visual arts 'architecture, material culture, decorative arts, painting, and sculpture' it is not designed as a regional history of art, but an exploration of the interrelations between history, material and visual cultures, foodways, music and literature in the formation of Southern identities.
ARTH 2769Queer Histories of US Art, 1950s-90s (3)
This course examines the flourishing of queer artistic production (painting, sculpture, film, photography, performance, and conceptual art) in the United States after World War II. It will chart how--despite attempts to censor or erase them--artists working with lesbian, gay, otherwise non-heterosexual, and/or transgender themes made major contributions to the development of art, culture, society, and politics in the United States.
Course was offered Spring 2023
ARTH 2771American Modernism (3 - 4)
American Modernism is a survey of American art in the first half of the 20th century. The course will address the arrival of modern art in America, the situation of the American artist in relation to European art, and an American public, and the question of the American art.
ARTH 2772Dark Men and Deadly Women: Noir and American Cinema (3)
This course examines the aesthetic and cultural importance of film noir in American cinema. With a prominent focus on these stylish mid-20th century crime dramas, we will consider a range of topics including the significance of "the city" and urban culture, debates and performances of gender, class and race, and the impact of noir's style on contemporary Hollywood movies.
Course was offered Summer 2020, Summer 2010
ARTH 2851World Art (3 - 4)
Big art history, on the role of art in human cultures. The construction of spaces in relation to human presence. Materials, skills, and the making of social hierarchies. Places, group origins, and identity. Kingship and empire across the continents; art and world religions. Contact, interaction and the beginnings of the present world.
Course was offered Spring 2015
ARTH 2861East Asian Art (3 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduces the artistic traditions of China, Korea, and Japan, from prehistoric times to the modern era. Surveys major monuments and the fundamental concepts behind their creation, and examines artistic form in relation to society, individuals, technology, and ideas.
ARTH 2862Arts of the Buddhist World- India to Japan (3 - 4)
Surveys the Buddhist sculpture, architecture and painting of India, China and Japan. Considers aspects of history and religious doctrine.
ARTH 2871The Arts of India (3 - 4)
The class is an overview of Indian sculpture, architecture, and painting from the Third Millennium BC to the 18th century AD and includes works from Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Islamic traditions.
ARTH 2882Sex, Spirits & Sorcery: Modern Aboriginal Art (4)
Located in Australia's tropical north, Arnhem Land has long been one of the epicenters of the modern Aboriginal art movement. The art of the region opens a window onto another world: a world in which ancestral spirits remain a constant presence in the land. Using the world-class holdings of the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, we'll explore the art of Arnhem Land from 1911 to the present.
Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2021
ARTH 2891Arts of African Civilizations (3 - 4)
This course offers an introduction to the arts of African civilizations from the first millennium to modern times, including Nok, Ife, Djenne, the Kingdom of Kongo, the Dogon and Yoruba peoples.
Course was offered Fall 2023
ARTH 2892Modern and Contemporary African Art (3 - 4)
This course will examine key artists, movements & theories of modern & contemporary art in Africa from the 20th century - present. Beginning with Modernism, we will explore some of today's most established artists working w/ different media. We will situate works within the continent¿s rich history of art making & the field's "global turn." Topics include Modernism, Post-colonialism, Pan-Africanism, Feminism, Afro-futurism, & exhibition histories.
Course was offered Spring 2024
ARTH 2961Arts of the Islamic World (3 - 4)
The class is an overview of art made in the service of Islam in the Central Islamic Lands, Egypt, North Africa, Spain, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and South and Southeast Asia. Discussion sections offer more in depth discussions of larger issues raised in the lectures.
ARTH 3051Greek Vase Painting (3 - 4)
Survey of the major styles, techniques, and painters of Greek vases produced in the Archaic and Classical periods (c. 700-350 b.c.). Emphasizes themes of myth and daily life, the relationship of vases to other ancient arts, the legacy of form and decoration in the arts of later periods, such as 18th century England, and comparisons with other cultures, such as the Native American southwest. Prerequisite: any course in Art History, Anthropology, Classics or History.
ARTH 3061Roman Architecture (3)
Study of the history of Roman architecture from the Republic to the late empire with special emphasis on the evolution of urban architecture in Rome. Also considered are Roman villas, Roman landscape architecture, the cities of Pompeii and Ostia, major sites of the Roman provinces, and the architectural and archaeological field methods used in dealing with ancient architecture.
ARTH 3062Pompeii (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Explores the life, art, architecture, urban development, religion, economy, and daily life of the famous Roman city destroyed in the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in a.d. 79.
Course was offered Fall 2022, Fall 2020
ARTH 3151Art and Science in the Middle Ages (3 - 4)
During the medieval period, power and knowledge required the endorsement of clerics. Alongside secular courtiers they also cultivated creative expressions of their erudition, revealing the medieval interpenetration of art, science and religion. The artworks surveyed in this course provide lasting records of critically creative confrontations between the scientific and spiritual traditions linked to medieval Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Course was offered Fall 2023, Spring 2014
ARTH 3251Gender and Art in Renaissance Italy (3 - 4)
Examines how notions of gender shaped the production, patronage, and fruition of the visual arts in Italy between 1350 and 1600. Prerequisite: A previous course in art history or gender studies.
Course was offered Fall 2017
ARTH 3254Leonardo da Vinci (3 - 4)
An analysis of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings, drawings, and notes, giving special attention to his writings and drawings on human anatomy, the theory of light and shade, color theory, and pictorial composition. His work is considered in relation to the works of fellow artists such as Bramante, Raphael, and Michelangelo as well as within the context of Renaissance investigation of the natural world. Prerequisite: One course in the humanities.
ARTH 3255Renaissance Art on Site (3)
Firsthand, direct knowledge of Renaissance art and architecture through an intensive program of on-site visits in Florence and Rome. The course aims to provide a deeper understanding of the specificity of images and sites; that is, their materials, texture, scale, size, proportions, colors, and volumes. It also aims to instill a full sense of the importance of the original location for the understanding and interpretation of Renaissance art. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ARTH 3257Michelangelo and His Time (3)
Analyzes the work of Michelangelo in sculpture, painting and architecture in relation to his contemporaries in Italy and the North. The class focuses on the close investigation of his preparatory drawings, letters, poems and documents. Prerequisite: One course in the history of art beyond the level of ARTH 1051 and 1052
Course was offered Fall 2010, Fall 2009
ARTH 3281Rembrandt (3)
Study of the life and work of the great Dutch seventeenth-century master. Topics include Rembrandt's interpretation of the Bible and the nature of his religious convictions, his relationship to classical and Renaissance culture, his rivalry with Rubens, and the expressive purposes of his distinctive techniques in painting, drawing, and etching.
Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2021
ARTH 3491Women Photographers and Feminist Aesthetics (3)
This course explores the question of whether there might be something called a 'feminist aesthetics.' We look at the work of a handful of women photographers, and read criticism about photography, to leverage our exploration into feminist aesthetics. The course works within the frame of feminist discourse. It presents the work of a small number of photographers whose work we will interpret in conjunction with readings in criticism and theory.
Course was offered Spring 2015, Spring 2014
ARTH 3494Individual Research Experiences (3)
This course focuses on building and improving undergraduate research and writing skills in preparation for larger research projects through a sandbox process. We will cover a variety of topics, such as why research is useful and how it can be personally satisfying. The course helps students build skills using a groundwork of essays, papers etc. from other courses, or experimenting with new topics, and expanding them into viable research projects.
Course was offered Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022
ARTH 3525Topics in Renaissance Art History (3 - 4)
Examines focused topics in Renaissance Art History.
ARTH 3545Topics In 20th/21st Century Art (3 - 4)
Examines focused topics in 20th/21st Art History.
Course was offered Summer 2023
ARTH 3559New Course in History of Art (3 - 4)
This course provides the opportunity to offer new topics in the subject History in Art.
ARTH 3591Art History Colloquium (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The Art History Colloquium combines lecture and discussion. Subject varies with the instructor, who may decide to focus attention either on a particular period, artist, or theme, or on the broader question of the aims and methods of art history. Subject is announced prior to each registration period. This course fulfills the second writing requirement, involving at least two writing assignments totaling at a minimum 4,000 words (20 pages).
ARTH 3595Art History Practicum (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The Art History Practicum course places added emphasis on immersive experience and the active construction of knowledge, involving hands-on projects, experiments, lab work, and field trips of varying lengths, including on-site studies at archaeological sites, laboratories, or museums.
ARTH 3651Anthropology of Australian Aboriginal Art (3)
This class studies the intersection of anthropology, art and material culture focusing on Australian Aboriginal art. We examine how Aboriginal art has moved from relative obscurity to global recognition over the past 30 yrs. Topics include the historical and cultural contexts of invention, production, marketing and appropriation of Aboriginal art. Students will conduct research using the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection and Study Center.
ARTH 3861Chinese Art (3 - 4)
The course is a survey of the major epochs of Chinese art from pre-historic to the modern period. The course intends to familiarize students with the important artistic traditions developed in China: ceramics, bronzes, funerary art and ritual, Buddhist art, painting, and garden architecture. It seeks to understand artistic form in relation to technology, political and religious beliefs, and social and historical contexts, with focus on the role of the state or individuals as patrons of the arts. It also introduces the major philosophic and religious traditions (Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism) that have shaped cultural and aesthetic ideals, Chinese art theories, and the writings of leading scholars.
ARTH 3863East Asian Art, Landscape, and Ecology (3)
This course introduces the concepts on nature in East Asian traditions--Daoism, Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism, their impacts on the relationship between human and their natural environment, and the art forms in which the theme of nature predominates, from landscape paintings to religious and garden architecture. It also explores how these ideas can contribute to the modern discourse on environmental ethics and sustainability.
ARTH 3993Independent Study (1 - 3)
Independent study in the history of art
ARTH 4051Art History: Theory and Practice (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course introduces art history majors to the basic tools and methods of art historical research, and to the theoretical and historical questions of art historical interpretation. The course will survey a number of current approaches to the explanation and interpretation of works of art, and briefly address the history of art history. Prerequisite: Major or minor in art history.
ARTH 4591Undergraduate Seminar in the History of Art (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Subject varies with the instructor, who may decide to focus attention either on a particular period, artist, or theme, or on the broader question of the aims and methods of art history. Subject is announced prior to each registration period. Representative subjects include the life and art of Pompeii, Roman painting and mosaics, history and connoisseurship of baroque prints, art and politics in revolutionary Europe, Picasso and painting, and problems in American art and culture. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ARTH 4951University Museums Internship (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This is the second semester of the internship at either the Fralin Museum of Art or Kluge Ruhe. Students will work approximately 100 hours per semester in the museum, and will participate in three training sessions and three academic seminars. Prequisite: ARTH/GDS 4951 and instructor permission, by application. Please see information at www.virginia.edu/art/arthistory/courses and www.artsandsciences.virginia.edu/globaldevelopment
ARTH 4952University Museums Internship (3)
This is the second semester internship at either UVA Art Museum or Kluge Ruhe. Students will work approximately 100 hours per semester in the museum, and will participate in three training sessions and three academic seminars. ARTH/GDS 4951 and instructor permission, by application; deadline May 1. Please see information at www.virginia.edu/art/arthistory/courses and www.artsandsciences.virginia.edu/globaldevelopment
ARTH 4998Undergraduate Thesis Research (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Research for a thesis of approximately 50 written pages undertaken in the fall semester of the fourth year by art history majors who have been accepted into the department's Distinguished Majors Program.
ARTH 4999Undergraduate Thesis Writing (3)
Writing of a thesis of approximately 50 written pages undertaken in the spring semester of the fourth year by art history majors who have been accepted into the department's Distinguished Majors Program.
ARTH 5559New Course in Art History (1 - 4)
This course provides the opportunity to offer a new topic in the subject of art history.
Course was offered Spring 2016
Arabic in Translation
ARTR 3245Arabic Literary Delights (3)
In this course, we will venture into the fascinating words and worlds of premodern Arab-Islamic leisure and pleasure. We will focus specifically on the literary representation of and socio-cultural/theosophical debate on humor, pleasantry, wit, frivolity, eating, feasting, banquets crashing, dietetics, erotology, aphrodisiacs, sexual education and hygiene.
Course was offered Fall 2017, Fall 2016
ARTR 3290Modern Arabic Literature in Translation (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduction to the development and themes of modern Arabic literature (poetry, short stories, novels and plays). Taught in English.
ARTR 3350Introduction to Arab Women's Literature (3)
A comprehensive overview of contemporary Arab women's literature, this course examines all Arab women's literary genres starting from personal letters, memoirs, speeches, poetry, fiction, drama, to journalistic articles and interviews. Selected texts cover various geographic locales and theoretical perspectives. Special emphasis will be given to the issues of Arab female authorship, subjectivity theory, and to the question of Arab Feminism.
ARTR 3450Global Masterpieces from the Classical Islamicate World (3)
The course explores the literary masterworks of some of the most celebrated prose authors of the Classical Islamicate World. Students will develop an appreciation for the development of the intellectual history of what may be called, not without reservation, the medieval and early modern Middle East (including North Africa, al-Andalus and Sicily).
Course was offered Spring 2024
ARTR 3490Arab Cinemas (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The course will concentrate on cinemas of Egypt, the Maghrib (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) as well as Syrian and Palestinian films. It will examine major moments in the history of these cinemas and the political developments that have inevitably had a major influence on filmmaking in the region.
Course was offered Spring 2022, Fall 2015
ARTR 3559New Course in Arabic in Translation (1 - 4)
This course is meant to work with students on major works of Arabic literature in English translation
Course was offered Fall 2018, Spring 2016, Fall 2015
ARTR 5245Arabic Literary Delights (3)
In this course we will focus specifically on the literary representation of and socio-cultural/theosophical debate on humor, pleasantry, wit, frivolity, eating, feasting, banquets crashing, dietetics, erotology, aphrodisiacs, sexual education and hygiene. We will organize the course around selected readings from a variety of premodern Arabic jocular, culinary and erotological literature available in English translations.
Course was offered Fall 2017, Fall 2016
ARTR 5290Modern Arabic Literature in Translation (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduction to the development and themes of modern Arabic literature (poetry, short stories, novels, and plays). Taught in English.
ARTR 5350Introduction to Arab Women's Literature (3)
A comprehensive overview of contemporary Arab women's literature, this course examines all Arab women's literary genres starting from personal letters, memoirs, speeches, poetry, fiction, drama, to journalistic articles and interviews. Selected texts cover various geographic locales and theoretical perspectives. Special emphasis will be given to the issues of Arab female authorship, subjectivity theory, and to the question of Arab Feminism.
ARTR 5450Global Masterpieces from the Classical Islamicate World: A Comparative Appr (3)
This course explores the literary masterworks of some of the most celebrated authors of the classical Islamicate world (500-1500). Drawing on both classical Arabic-Islamic and modern Western theories, we will further form comparative insights into the poetics and politics of the humanist topics encountered across our literary journeys into the rich corpus of Arabic-Islamic adab (belles-lettres).
Course was offered Spring 2024
ARTR 5490Arab Cinemas (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The course will concentrate on cinemas of Egypt, the Maghrib (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) as well as Syrian and Palestinian films. It will examine major moments in the history of these cinemas and the political developments that have inevitably had a major influence on filmmaking in the region.
Course was offered Spring 2022, Fall 2015
ARTR 5559New Course in Arabic in Translation (1 - 4)
This course is meant to work with students on major works of Arabic literature in English translation.
Course was offered Fall 2018
Studio Art
ARTS 1559New Course in Studio Art (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of studio art.
Course was offered January 2021
ARTS 2000Introduction to Studio Art (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
An introductory course, divided into three segments, which serves as a prerequisite to all studio courses. In Drawing students will learn observational drawing and how visual thinking connects with the hand. The Conceptual segment will exercise creative problem-solving skills and teach students to engage in critical discourse. The Digital segment teaches basic technical skills and digital tools including still and moving image and sound.
ARTS 2110Introduction to Photography I (3)
Focuses on gaining a working understanding of photographic processes and practice. Class assignments help students understand the visual language of photography using 35mm black and white film and printing their own photographs in the darkroom. In addition, lectures explore examples from the historical and contemporary worlds of fine art photography. Cameras are provided.
ARTS 2112Introduction to Photography II (3)
Offers an introduction to color photography and digital working methods. Advanced software skills are demonstrated and practiced with the goal of increasing the overall quality of the work. Further explorations into historical and contemporary art issues via presentations, visiting artists, and readings increase awareness. Students create a final portfolio in the form of a printable book. Cameras are provided. Prereqs: ARTS 2000 and ARTS 2110
ARTS 2220Introduction to New Media I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
An art class that introduces the creative use of digital tools within the fine art context. Students will both learn processes and history of experimental art and practice the use of the computer as a tool for personal expression.
ARTS 2222Introduction to New Media II (3)
An art class that continues the exploration of digital skills with an emphasis on artist¿s media rather than mass media. Students will continue to learn about the history and practice of art to inform their own creative work. Prerequisites: ARTS 2220
ARTS 2310Installation and Performance Art I (3)
This course introduces new art genres including installation, performance, and video documentation to the student's art practice. Includes contemporary Art History, theory, and the creation of art made with non-traditional materials, methods and formats. Prerequisite: ARTS 2000 or instructor permission
Course was offered Summer 2017, Spring 2013, Fall 2010
ARTS 2312Installation and Performance Art II (3)
In this interdisciplinary studio course students will investigate 'prior conditions of existence,' study critical theories, and produce artworks inspired by the archive. Students will research archive-related topics of their choosing, and synthesize readings and research through written and oral communication. They will develop critical thinking skills through the production of artwork and engagement in group critiques. Prereq: ARTS 2000 or instructor permission
Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2011
ARTS 2370Introduction to Cinematography I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The course introduces experimental 16mm film production as a practice of visual art. These courses include technical, historical, and theoretical issues that apply to cinematography and its relationship to the traditional visual arts.
ARTS 2372Introduction to Cinematography II (3)
The course introduces experimental 16mm film production as a practice of visual art. These courses include technical, historical, and theoretical issues that apply to cinematography and its relationship to the traditional visual arts.
ARTS 2511Special Topics in Photography (3)
This course will focus on the topic of documentary photography, a working style that combines accurate depiction with impassioned advocacy, usually with the goal of arousing public commitment to social change. Since the 1980s this mode has expanded to include formal and iconographical investigation of social experience with a counterstain of personal images. This class will use digital photography to develop projects and portfolios.
ARTS 2520Special Topics in New Media (3)
A new course in the subject of New Media.
ARTS 2530Special Topics in Cinematography (3)
An introduction to the specialized materials, methods, processes, and cultural issues as they relate to the history and practice of cinematography.
Course was offered January 2024
ARTS 2559New Course in Studio Art (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of studio art.
Course was offered Fall 2017, Spring 2016
ARTS 2560Special Topics in Printmaking: Works On/Of Paper (3)
This studio class explores works on paper, including monotype, monoprint, mixed media and paper construction. There's no prerequisite for this class.
ARTS 2570Special Topics in Painting (3)
Students are introduced to specialized materials, methods and cultural issues as they relate to painting.
ARTS 2580Special Topics in Sculpture (3)
An introduction to the specialized materials, methods, processes, and cultural issues as they relate to the history and practice of Sculpture.
ARTS 2610Drawing I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
A continued introductory study of the materials and techniques of drawing. Provides training in the coordination of hand and eye and encourages development of visual analysis. Emphasizes understanding form, space, light and composition.
ARTS 2620Drawing II (3)
Applies technical drawing skills to projects that delve into analytical thinking and idea-based work. Projects are designed to help students experiment and learn how to communicate meaning visually. Prerequisite: ARTS 2000 and ARTS 2610.
ARTS 2630Life Drawing I (3)
Creations of drawings of a living model in various media. Topics include artistic anatomy, figure and portrait drawing. Prerequisite: ARTS 2000 and 2610.
ARTS 2632Life Drawing II (3)
Creations of drawings of a living model in various media. Topics include artistic anatomy, figure and portrait drawing. Prerequisites: ARTS 2000 and 2610.
ARTS 2670Introduction to Intaglio & Monotype Printmaking (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduction to intaglio printmaking and monotype techniques, including hard and soft ground etch, aquatint, and drypoint.
ARTS 2672Introduction to Lithography & Relief Printmaking (3)
Introduction to Lithography (planographic), and woodcut and other relief printmaking processes. Prerequisite: ARTS 2610
ARTS 2710Introduction to Water-Based Painting (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduction to basic water painting techniques and materials (including acrylic, gouache, and water color), emphasizing perception and color. Assignments are designed to assist the student in understanding the creative process and interpreting the environment through a variety of subject matter expressed in painted images. Encourages individual stylistic development.
ARTS 2712Introduction to Oil-Based Painting (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduction to Oil-based painting. Prerequisite: ARTS 2610
ARTS 2810Introduction to Sculpture I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Investigates the sculptural process through modeling, carving, fabricating and casting. Examines traditional and contemporary concerns of sculpture by analyzing historical examples and work done in class.
ARTS 2812Introduction to Sculpture II (3)
Investigates the sculptural process through modeling, carving, fabricating and casting. Examines traditional and contemporary concerns of sculpture by analyzing historical examples and work done in class. Prerequisites: ARTS 2000
ARTS 3110Intermediate Photography I (3)
This intermediate-level course expands technical possibilities available to students by introducing medium and large format cameras. Working in black & white, students learn advanced techniques with film and darkroom printing. Further explorations into historical and contemporary art issues via presentations, visiting artists, and readings. Students create a final portfolio culled from class assignments. Cameras are provided. Prereq: ARTS 2110
ARTS 3112Intermediate Photography II (3)
Explores intermediate-level photographic techniques and concepts. Specific course content varies according to faculty. (Spring only). Prerequisite: ARTS 2110 and ARTS 2112.
ARTS 3220Intermediate New Media I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
An intermediate art class that covers moving image and digital work as broadly defined. Students will focus on video and sound editing as well as installation. Prerequisites: ARTS 2220 and 2222.
ARTS 3222Intermediate New Media II (3)
A project-based art class that allows intermediate students the time to develop independent ideas in cooperation with the professor while participating in a class community. Prerequisites: ARTS 2220 and 2222.
ARTS 3370Intermediate Cinematography I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course continues the practice of 16mm experimental film production with an increased emphasis on audio and digital video motion picture making. Student will complete assignments based on genres of experimental film making such as expressionism, naturalism, and realism. Prerequisite: ARTS 2370 and ARTS 2372.
ARTS 3372Intermediate Cinematography II (3)
This course continues the practice of 16mm experimental film production with an increased emphasis on audio and digital video motion picture making. Student will complete assignments based on genres of experimental film making such as expressionism, naturalism, and realism. Prerequisite: ARTS 2370 and ARTS 2372.
ARTS 3559New Course in Studio Art (3)
New course in the subject of studio art.
Course was offered Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Spring 2015
ARTS 3620Intermediate Drawing III (3)
Exploration of contemporary drawing techniques and concepts with emphasis on the role of drawing in an interdisciplinary practice. Students are encouraged to broaden their definition of drawing into color, print, digital and other media. Projects are given as prompts that assist students in the development of their own visual language.
ARTS 3670Intermediate Printmaking I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Includes relief printing, advanced lithography techniques, including color lithography, color etching, monotypes, and further development of black and white imagery. Printmaking professors and course content vary from semester to semester. Prerequisite: ARTS 2670 and ARTS 2672.
ARTS 3672Intermediate Printmaking II (3)
Includes relief printing, advanced lithography techniques, including color lithography, color etching, monotypes, and further development of black and white imagery. Printmaking professors and course content vary from semester to semester. Prerequisites: ARTS 2670 and ARTS 2672.
ARTS 3710Intermediate Painting I (3)
Exploration of contemporary painting materials, techniques, and concepts, as well as a continuation of basic oil painting processes. Assignments are designed to assist the student in developing their perceptions and imagination and translating them into painted images. Direction is given to the formation of personal original painting styles. Prerequisite: ARTS 2710, 2712.
ARTS 3712Intermediate Painting II (3)
In this interdisciplinary studio course students will investigate 'prior conditions of existence,' study critical theories, and produce artworks inspired by the archive. Students will research archive-related topics of their choosing, and synthesize readings and research through written and oral communication. They will develop critical thinking skills through the production of artwork and engagement in group critiques. Prereq: ARTS 2000
ARTS 3810Intermediate Sculpture I (3)
Continuation of ARTS 2810 and ARTS 2812 with greater emphasis on the special problems of the sculptural discipline. Prerequisite: ARTS 2810, 2812.
ARTS 3812Intermediate Sculpture II (3)
Continuation of ARTS 2810 and 2812 with greater emphasis on the special problems of the sculptural discipline. Prerequisites: ARTS 2810 or ARTS 2812
ARTS 4110Advanced Photography I (3)
Explores advanced-level photographic techniques and concepts. Prerequisite: ARTS 3110 and ARTS 2112
ARTS 4112Advanced Photography II (3)
Assists students in preparing their required thesis exhibitions. Meets twice a week as a group to evaluate and discuss work in progress. Students participate in class portfolio and acquire a print from each member of the class. (Spring only) Prerequisite: ARTS 3110
ARTS 4220Advanced New Media I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
A project-based art class that allows advanced students the time to develop independent ideas in cooperation with the professor while participating in a class community. Prerequisite: ARTS 3220 or 3222
ARTS 4222Advanced New Media II (3)
An advanced art class in which students design, propose and produce a semester-long thesis project that culminates in a public presentation of their work. Prerequisite: ARTS 3220 or 3222
ARTS 4370Advanced Cinematography I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Course continues the practice of 16mm film or digital video experimental production with an emphasis on a completed piece for public screenings or exhibitions. Prerequisite: ARTS 3370 or ARTS 3372.
ARTS 4372Advanced Cinematography II (3)
Course continues the practice of 16mm film or digital video experimental production with an emphasis on a completed piece for public screenings or exhibitions. Prerequisite: ARTS 3370 or ARTS 3372.
ARTS 4450Advanced Major Seminar I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Intensive independent work using either digital media, filmmaking, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture as the primary medium, culminating in a coherent body of work under direction of a faculty member. Prerequisite: Admission to the Advanced Major or Distinguished Major Program.
ARTS 4452Advanced Major Seminar II (3)
Intensive independent work using either digital media, sculpture, photography, printmaking, cinematography, or painting as the primary medium, culminating in a coherent body of work under direction of a faculty member. Prerequisite: Admission to the Advanced Major Program or Distinguished Major Program, ARTS 4450
ARTS 4620Advanced Drawing (3)
The final course in a comprehensive study of drawing. Continues the investigation of drawing as a flexible contemporary medium with a focus on developing an individual body of work. Students will work towards conception, planning and execution of a thematic series that emerges from thoughtful study of their intentions and interests. Prerequisite: ARTS 3620.
ARTS 4670Advanced Printmaking I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Designed for students who have completed two or more semesters of study of a specific printmaking technique (woodcut, etching, or lithography) and wish to continue their exploration of that technique. Prerequisite: ARTS 3670 or 3672.
ARTS 4672Advanced Printmaking II (3)
Designed for students who have completed two or more semesters of study of a specific printmaking technique (woodcut, etching, or lithography) and wish to continue their exploration of that technique. Prerequisite: ARTS 3670 or 3672.
ARTS 4710Advanced Painting I (3)
The capstone of a three year study in painting. Continues the investigation of oil painting as an expressive medium and stresses the development of students' ability to conceive and execute a series of thematically related paintings over the course of the semester. Painting professors and course content vary from semester to semester. Prerequisite: ARTS 3710 or 3712.
ARTS 4712Advanced Painting II (3)
Painting professors and course content vary from semester to semester. Prerequisite: ARTS 3710 or ARTS 3712.
ARTS 4810Advanced Sculpture I (3)
Continuation of the sculpture sequence with greater emphasis on developing a student's individual voice. Advanced projects in moldmaking, metal casting, and non-traditional sculpture materials are assigned. The creation of a sculptural installation is also assigned. Sculpture professors and course content vary from semester to semester. Prerequisite: ARTS 3810 or 3812.
ARTS 4812Advanced Sculpture II (3)
Continuation fo the sculpture sequence with greater emphasis on developing a student's individual voice. Advanced projects in mold-making, metal casting, and non-traditional sculpture materials are assigned. The creation of a sculptural installation is also assigned. Sculpture professors and course content vary from semester to semester. Prerequisite: ARTS 3810 or 3812
ARTS 4900Advanced Project in Art (1 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
Investigation and development of a consistent idea or theme in painting, sculpture, or the graphic arts. May be taken more than once under the same course number by students who are sufficiently advanced in studio work. This course is not intended to be used for major credit. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
American Sign Language
ASL 1010Elementary American Sign Language I (4)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduces receptive and expressive American Sign Language skills, including basic vocabulary, sentence structure, classifiers, use of space, non-manual type indicators, and fingerspelling. Examines signing deaf people as a linguistic/cultural minority.
ASL 1020Elementary American Sign Language II (4)
Introduces receptive and expressive American Sign Language skills, including basic vocabulary, sentence structure, classifiers, use of space, non-manual type indicators, and fingerspelling. Examines signing deaf people as a linguistic/cultural minority. Prerequisite: ASL 1010 or successful completion of placement exam.
ASL 1559New Course in American Sign Language (1 - 4)
New Course offering in the subject of American Sign Language.
ASL 2010Intermediate American Sign Language I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Continues training in American Sign Language, with focus on more complex sentence types, signs, and idioms. Considers ASL literary forms such as poetry, theater, and storytelling, as well as deaf history and other related topics. Prerequisite: ASL 1020 or successful completion of placement exam.
ASL 2020Intermediate American Sign Language II (3)
Continues training in American Sign Language, with focus on more complex sentence types, signs, and idioms. Considers ASL literary forms such as poetry, theater, and storytelling, as well as deaf history and other related topics. Prerequisite: ASL 2010 or successful completion of placement exam.
ASL 2300Women and Gender In The Deaf World (3)
Examines the roles of deaf women inside and outside of the signing Deaf community. Using an interdisciplinary approach, considers such topics as language and cultural barriers, violence against women, sexuality, race, class, education, and work. Investigates disparities between deaf and hearing women and the choices available to d/Deaf women, individually and collectively, in contemporary culture. No prior knowledge of ASL is required.
ASL 2450Deaf People, Society, and the Law (3)
This course will explore the Deaf community, discrimination, and laws affecting Deaf people in the United States. We will consider the experiences of Deaf people before and after such measures as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 to gain insight into how the law affects social perceptions and people's everyday lives. No prior knowledge of ASL or Deaf culture is required for this course.
Course was offered Spring 2013, Spring 2010
ASL 2559New Course in American Sign Language (1 - 4)
New course offering the subject of American Sign Language.
ASL 3010Conversational ASL (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Continues language and cultural instruction with emphasis on everyday conversation. Topics include common idioms and slang, explaining rules, discussing finances and major decisions, and storytelling techniques such as role-shifting and narrative structure. Students will be required to interact with deaf signers. Prerequisite: ASL 2020 or successful completion of placement interview.
ASL 3015Language House Conversation in ASL (1)
Offered
Fall 2024
The ASL language course related to residency in the Shea Language House at UVA for students who have applied to and been accepted into the ASL Language Pod in the Shea House dormitory. Student residents will further develop their ASL language skills and understanding of Deaf culture through conversations among their peers in their dorm setting, weekly dinner meetings, and other arranged activities.
ASL 3081History of the American Deaf Community (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This new course will examine the history of deaf people in the United States over the last three centuries, with particular attention to the emergence and evolution of a community of Deaf people who share a distinct sign language and culture. We will read both primary texts from specific periods and secondary sources. We will also view a few historical films. Prerequisite: none (thought a previous class in History or ASL is recommended)
ASL 3220Coda Literature: Deaf Culture, ASL, and Hearing Children of the Deaf (3)
In Deaf culture, "coda" means the hearing child or children of Deaf adults. This course will examine the body of coda literature or "coda stories" (written memoir, movies, social media, etc.) and examine the issues and commonalities among them. Through discussion, writing, and other activities we'll discover more about ourselves, cultures, and the human experience.
Course was offered Fall 2022
ASL 3400Deafness in Literature and Film (3)
This course will study the contradictory and telling ways that deaf people have been depicted over the last three centuries in addressing the question: What does deafness signify, especially in a western society that is centered upon speech? Our approach will be contrapuntal, juxtaposing canonical texts and mainstream films with relatively unknown works by deaf artists.
Course was offered Fall 2023, Fall 2020, Fall 2018
ASL 3410Contemporary Disability Theory (3)
This seminar offers an interdisciplinary approach to disability in the social, cultural, political, artistic, ethical, and medical spheres and their intersections. It also introduces students to critical theory concerned with the rights of the disabled.
Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2021, Spring 2019
ASL 3450Comparative Linguistics: ASL and English (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Describes spoken English and ASL (American Sign Language) on five levels: phonological, morphological, lexical, syntactic, and discourse and compares/contrasts them using real-world examples. Describes major linguistic components and processes of English and ASL. Introduces basic theories regarding ASL structure. Emphasizes ASL's status as a natural language by comparing/contrasting similarities and unique differences between the two languages.
ASL 3559New Course in American Sign Language (1 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
New course in the subject of American Sign Language.
ASL 4112Psychology and Deaf People (3)
This course will consider the psychological development and psychosocial issues of deaf people. Topics covered will include cognition, education, hearing and speech perception, impact of family interaction and communication approaches, influence of etiology/genetics, language development, literacy, mental health, social and personality development, interpersonal behavior, and current trends.
ASL 4115Multiculturalism in the Deaf Community (3)
Explores cultural influences on identity development, family systems, linguistics, engagement with educational and community agencies, and resilience within the Deaf community. The interaction of culture, identity and language will be highlighted and applied to future trends for groups within the Deaf community, such as children of Deaf adults, GLTB community members, ethnic minority groups, women, and persons with disabilities.
ASL 4559New Course in American Sign Language (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of American Sign Language.
Course was offered Spring 2014, Fall 2013, Spring 2013
ASL 4750Contemporary Deaf Studies (3)
Examines such topics as American deaf history; ASL linguistics; deaf education; cultural versus pathological views of deaf people; controversies over efforts to eliminate sign language and cure deafness; ASL poetry and storytelling; deafness in mainstream literature, film, and drama; deafness and other minority identities; and the international deaf community.
ASL 4993Independent Study in American Sign Language (1 - 3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Independent Study in American Sign Language. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission
Astronomy
ASTR 1210Introduction to the Sky and Solar System (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
A study of the night sky primarily for non-science majors. Provides a brief history of astronomy through Newton. Topics include the properties of the sun, earth, moon, planets, asteroids, meteors and comets; origin and evolution of the solar system; life in the universe; and recent results from space missions and ground-based telescopes.
ASTR 1220Introduction to Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
A study of stars, star formation, and evolution primarily for non-science majors. Topics include light, atoms, and modern observing technologies; origin of the chemical elements; supernovae, pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes; structure and evolution of our galaxy; nature of other galaxies; active galaxies and quasars; expanding universe, cosmology, the big bang, and the early universe.
ASTR 1230Introduction to Astronomical Observation (3)
An independent laboratory class for non-science majors, meeting at night, in which students learn how to observe the night sky, use a telescope, and take digital images of the sky. Students work individually or in small groups on observational projects that focus on the study of constellations, planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies using binoculars, 8-inch telescopes, and imaging equipment at the department's student observatory.
ASTR 1250Alien Worlds (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Alien worlds orbiting other stars were the subject of speculation going back to ancient times, and were first detected in the 1990s. Today, thousands of extrasolar planets are known and show a remarkable diversity compared to our own solar system. This introductory astronomy course for non-science majors discusses the known exoplanets: how they are discovered, their orbits, physical properties, formation, evolution and fate.
ASTR 1260Threats from Outer Space (3)
This introductory astronomy course for non-science majors deals with harmful, or potentially harmful, astronomical phenomena such as asteroid/comet impacts, supernovae, gamma ray bursts, solar storms, cosmic rays, black holes, galaxy collisions, and the end of the universe. Physical principles will be used to evaluate the dangers involved.
ASTR 1270Unsolved Mysteries in the Universe (3)
An exploration of the unsolved mysteries in the universe and the limits of our knowledge for non-science majors. The class emphasizes the nature of scientific endeavor, and explores the boundaries between science, philosophy, and metaphysics. A number of thought provoking topics are discussed including the beginning and end of the universe, black holes, extraterrestrial life, the nature of time, dark matter and dark energy.
ASTR 1280The Origins of Almost Everything (3)
From ancient Babylon to modern cosmology, nearly every culture on Earth has stories and myths of creation. It is a universal human desire to understand from where we came. In this introductory astronomy class for non-science majors, students will explore the origins of the Universe, structure and galaxies, stars, planets and life. The course will use the content to illustrate the nature of science and scientific inquiry.
ASTR 1290Black Holes (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Black holes are stellar remnants that are so dense that nothing, not even light, can escape their gravitational pull. Nevertheless, systems that contain these "dark stars" are among the brightest sources in the universe. In this introductory course, aimed primarily at non-science majors, students will explore the seemingly paradoxical nature of black holes and evaluate the astronomical evidence for their existence.
ASTR 1510Seminar (1)
Primarily for first and second year students, taught on a voluntary basis by a faculty member. Topics vary.
ASTR 1559New Course in Astronomy (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of astronomy.
ASTR 1610Intro to Astronomical Research for Potential Astronomy/Astrophysics Majors (1)
For first- and second-year students considering Astronomy/Astronomy-Physics as a major, or current A/A-P majors. Faculty will present ongoing research to introduce students to both the subject matter and the required physical, mathematical, and computational background of contemporary astronomy research. Potential long-term undergraduate research projects will be emphasized.
ASTR 2110Introduction to Astrophysics I (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Primarily for science majors. A thorough discussion of the basic concepts and methods of solar system, stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy and astrophysics with an emphasis on physical principles. Prerequisite/corequisite: MATH 1210 or 1310, PHYS 1420 or 1425, or instructor permission; ASTR 2110 and 2120 form a sequence and should be taken in that order.
ASTR 2120Introduction to Astrophysics II (3)
Primarily for science majors. A thorough discussion of the basic concepts and methods of solar system, stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy and astrophysics with an emphasis on physical principles. Prerequisite/corequisite: ASTR 2110, MATH 1210 or 1310, PHYS 1420 or 1425, or instructor permission; ASTR 2110 and 2120 form a sequence and should be taken in that order.
ASTR 2559New Course in Astronomy (1 - 4)
New Course in the subject of Astronomy.
ASTR 3130Observational Astronomy (4)
Primarily for science majors. A lecture and laboratory course that deals with basic observational techniques in astronomy. The laboratory section generally meets at night. Students use observational facilities at the McCormick and Fan Mountain Observatories. Additional work outside posted laboratory hours will be required to take advantage of clear skies.
ASTR 3150The Interstellar Medium: From Hydrogen to Humans (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course provides an overview of the origins of the elements through cosmic history. The course is taught chronologically, starting from the Big Bang and leading up to life as we know it. The course will cover a wide variety of topics, such as the formation of the first stars, galaxies, and the lifecycle of the interstellar medium. We will also study how material is re-incorporated into modern day stars, planets, and eventually life.
Course was offered Fall 2023, Fall 2022
ASTR 3410Archaeo-Astronomy (3)
Open to non-science students. Discussion of prescientific astronomy, including Mayan, Babylonian, and ancient Chinese astronomy, and the significance of relics such as Stonehenge. Discusses the usefulness of ancient records in the study of current astrophysical problems such as supernova outbursts. Uses current literature from several disciplines, including astronomy, archaeology, and anthropology. Prerequisite/corequisite: A 1000- or 2000-level ASTR course, or instructor permission.
ASTR 3420Life Beyond the Earth (3)
Open to non-science students. Studies the possibility of intelligent extraterrestrial life; methods and desirability of interstellar communication; prospects for humanity's colonization of space; interaction of space colonies; and the search for other civilizations. Prerequisite/corequisite: A 1000- or 2000-level ASTR course or instructor permission.
ASTR 3450Mission to Mars (3)
The next great adventure in space flight will be a human mission to Mars. In this course, we will explore how such a mission might take place. Topics will include the basics of spaceflight, spacecraft and rocket design, the history of human space exploration, its legacy and impact on the modern world, the current state of spaceflight, and new technologies that are being developed to make the mission possible.
ASTR 3460Development of Modern Astronomy (3)
The 20th Century saw a revolution in our study of the origin and evolution of the universe. It was a dynamic period with the opening of the electromagnetic spectrum and the transition to "Big Science." This course is a survey of the development of modern astrophysics, with an emphasis on the second half of the 20th Century. Prerequisite: A 1000- or 2000-level ASTR course or instructor permission.
ASTR 3470Science and Controversy in Astronomy (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Open to non-science students. Investigates controversial topics in science and pseudo-science from the astronomer's perspective. Analyzes methods of science and the nature of scientific evidence, and their implications for unresolved astrophysical problems. Topics include extraterrestrial life, UFO's, astrology, the Moon landing, and others.
Course was offered Fall 2017, Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2011
ASTR 3480Introduction to Cosmology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Intended for STEM majors and non-STEM majors who are comfortable with some non-calculus math. Cosmology explores the origin and evolution of the Universe, including cosmic expansion, mapping the Universe, dark matter and dark energy, the birth and evolution of galaxies, the early universe, and the Big Bang. This course strikes a balance between richly illustrated description and a simplified quantitative exploration of the above topics.
ASTR 3559New Course in Astronomy (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of astronomy.
Course was offered Spring 2010
ASTR 3880Planetary Astronomy (3)
Studies the origin and evolution of the bodies in the solar system, emphasizing the geology of the planets and satellites of the inner solar system and the satellites of the gaseous planets. Topics will include the interpretation of remote sensing data, the chemistry and dynamics of planetary atmospheres and their interactions with the planetary surfaces, and the role of impacts. Prerequisite: Introductory course in geosciences or astronomy.
ASTR 3881Planetary Astronomy Laboratory (1)
Optional one hour laboratory for students in ASTR 3880 that provides practical experience in accessing and analyzing data related to the origin and geology of solar system planetary bodies, including the Moon, Mars, and outer planet satellites.
ASTR 4140Research Methods in Astrophysics (3)
Primarily for astronomy/astrophysics majors. Students will be exposed to a research methods-intensive set of mini projects, with emphasis on current active areas of astrophysics research. The goal is to prepare students for research in astrophysics. Topics will include databases and database manipulation, astronomical surveys, statistics, space observatories and observation planning, intro to numerical simulations, and proposal writing.Prerequisites: ASTR 2110/2120 and PHYS 2660, or instructor permission.
ASTR 4460Physics of Compact Stars (3)
The compact stars - white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes - are the end state of stellar evolution. The conditions in and around these objects are extreme as compared to terrestrial standards, and they are responsible for some of the most powerful and dynamic phenomena in the universe. This course introduces the physics of strong gravity and dense matter required to understand compact stars and their observational manifestations.
Course was offered Fall 2023
ASTR 4470Computational Astronomy (3)
Computational methods are widely applied in all areas of astrophysical research, including data analysis, instrumentation, and theory. This course covers advanced computing skills that optimize the scientific return from using increasingly complex code bases and sophisticated code development tools. Using Python, we introduce widely applicable numerical methods while training the students in the use of commonly used code development concepts.
Course was offered Spring 2024
ASTR 4559New Course in Astronomy (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of astronomy.
ASTR 4810Astrophysics (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Basic concepts in mechanics, statistical physics, atomic and nuclear structure, and radiative transfer are developed and applied to selected fundamental problems in the areas of stellar structure, stellar atmospheres, the interstellar medium, and extragalactic astrophysics. Prerequisite: ASTR 2110, 2120 (recommended); MATH 4220; PHYS 3210, 3310 (concurrent), 3340, 3430 (concurrent), 3650; or instructor permission.
ASTR 4993Tutorial (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Independent study of a topic of special interest to the student under individual supervision by a faculty member. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ASTR 4998Senior Thesis (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ASTR 5010Astrophysical Processes (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
An introduction to the basic physics of astronomy and astrophysics organized around learning physical principles and applying them to astrophysical objects. Physics covered will be chosen from fluid mechanics, radiative transfer, statistical mechanics, classical and quantum radiation processes, and quantum mechanics of atomic and molecular structure. This graduate course will involve more complex and difficult assignments than ASTR 4810. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission.
ASTR 5110Astronomical Techniques (4)
Surveys modern techniques of radiation measurement, data analysis, and image processing, and their application to astrophysical problems, especially the physical properties of stars and galaxies. Relevant laboratory experiments and observations with the department's telescopes are included. Students are expected to develop a familiarity with programming and other basic computer skills if they do not already possess them. Prerequisite: ASTR 2110-2120; PHYS 3420, 3430 or instructor permission.
ASTR 5140Advanced Research Methods in Astrophysics (3)
Graduate students will be exposed to a research methods-intensive set of projects, with emphasis on current active areas of astrophysics research. The goal is to prepare students for research in astrophysics. Topics will include databases and database manipulation, astronomical surveys, statistics, space observatories and observation planning, intro to numerical simulations, and proposal writing.
ASTR 5260Introduction to Astrochemistry (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This interdisciplinary course will introduce advanced undergraduates and graduates to molecules and their chemistry in different sources throughout the universe. Topics include gas-phase and grain-surface reactions, astronomical spectroscopy, laboratory experiments, and astrochemical modeling. Prerequisite: There are no formal prerequisites, but some knowledge of chemical kinetics, spectroscopy, and/or the interstellar medium will be helpful.
ASTR 5340Introductory Radio Astronomy (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Studies the fundamentals of measuring power and power spectra, antennas, interferometers, and radiometers. Topics include thermal radiation, synchrotron radiation, and line frequency radiation; and radio emission from the planets, sun, flare stars, pulsars, supernovae, interstellar gas, galaxies, and quasi-stellar sources.
ASTR 5350Introduction to Radio Astronomy Instrumentation (3)
An introduction to the instrumentation of radio astronomy. Discussion includes fundamentals of measuring radio signals, noise theory, basic radiometry, antennas, low noise electronics, coherent receivers, signal processing for continuum and spectral line studies, and arrays. Lecture material is supplemented by illustrative labs. Prerequisite: ASTR 5340 or Instructor permission.
ASTR 5420Interstellar Medium (3)
Studies the physics of the interstellar gas and grains, the distribution and dynamics of gas, and cosmic radiation and interstellar magnetic fields. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ASTR 5430Stellar Astrophysics (3)
Studies observed properties and physics of stars including radiative transfer; stellar thermodynamics; convection; formation of spectra in atmospheres; equations of stellar structure; nuclear reactions; stellar evolution; and nucleosynthesis. Includes applicable numerical techniques. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ASTR 5440Stellar Astrophysics (3)
Studies observed properties and physics of stars including radiative transfer; stellar thermodynamics; convection; formation of spectra in atmospheres; equations of stellar structure; nuclear reactions; stellar evolution; and nucleosynthesis. Includes applicable numerical techniques. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Course was offered Spring 2014, Spring 2012, Spring 2010
ASTR 5450High Energy Astrophysics (3)
Introduces the physics of basic radiation mechanisms and particle acceleration processes that are important in high energy phenomena and space science. Discusses applications to pulsars, active galactic nuclei, radio galaxies, quasars, and supernovae. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ASTR 5460Physics of Compact Stars (3)
The compact stars - white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes - are the end state of stellar evolution. The conditions in and around these objects are extreme as compared to terrestrial standards, and they are responsible for some of the most powerful and dynamic phenomena in the universe. This course introduces the physics of strong gravity and dense matter required to understand compact stars and their observational manifestations.
Course was offered Fall 2023
ASTR 5470Computational Astrophysics (3)
Computational methods are widely applied in all areas of astrophysical research, including data analysis, instrumentation, and theory. This course covers advanced computing skills that optimize the scientific return from using increasingly complex code bases and sophisticated code development tools. Using Python, we introduce widely applicable numerical methods while training the students in the use of commonly used code development concepts.
Course was offered Spring 2024
ASTR 5559New Course in Astronomy (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of astronomy.
Course was offered Spring 2013, Spring 2012
ASTR 5610Galactic Structure and Stellar Populations (3)
Explores the structure and evolution of star clusters and galaxies, with emphasis on the kinematics, chemistry, ages, and spectral energy distributions of stellar populations. The course introduces fundamental tools of Galactic astronomy, including methods for assessing the size, shape, age, and dynamics of the Milky Way and other stellar systems, galaxy formation, interstellar gas and dust, dark matter, and the distance scale. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
ASTR 5630Extragalactic Astronomy (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course provides an overview of extragalactic astronomy. Topics include both qualitative and quantitative discussion of various types of galaxy (ellipticals, spirals, dwarf, starburst); results from theory of stellar dynamics; groups and clusters of galaxies; active galaxies; high-redshift galaxies; galaxy evolution; the intergalactic medium; and dark matter. The course is intended for advanced undergraduate astrophysics majors and first and second year graduate students. Prerequisite: Physics and Math through PHYS 2610, MATH 3250 (or equivalent); ASTR 2110, 2120 (or equivalent).
ASTR 5640Extragalactic Astronomy II (3)
This course provides an overview of extragalactic astronomy. Topics include both a qualitative and quantitative discussion of star formation in galaxies, galaxy interactions and mergers, active galaxies and quasars, cosmology, structure formation in the universe, and galaxy formation and evolution. The course is intended for advanced undergraduate astrophysics majors and first and second year graduate students. Proposed: This course provides an overview of extragalactic astronomy. Topics include both a qualitative and quantitative discussion of star formation in galaxies, galaxy interactions and mergers, active galaxies and quasars, cosmology, structure formation in the universe, and galaxy formation and evolution. The course is intended for advanced undergraduate astrophysics majors and first and second year graduate students. Prerequisite: ASTR 5630 or Instructor Permission
Course was offered Spring 2013, Spring 2011
ASTR 6230Introduction to Astronomical Observation Concepts (3)
The subject matter of this course is the same as ASTR 1230. Students are offered special assignments and consultation on introductory concepts in observational astronomy related to education. Offered concurrently with undergraduate sections. Prerequisite: Curry School students; instructor permission.
ASTR 6340Astronomy Concepts in the Classroom (3)
A seminar-style class offered for graduate students in the School of Education and in-service teachers seeking credit towards (re) certification. In addition to astronomy content, students will learn effective astronomy lessons. Prerequisite: instructor permission
ASTR 6420Life Beyond the Earth Concepts (3)
The subject matter of this course is the same as ASTR 3420. Students are offered special reading assignments and consultation on extraterrestrial life concepts related to education. Offered concurrently with undergraduate sections. Prerequisite: Curry School students; instructor permission.
ASTR 6470Science and Controversy Concepts (3)
The subject matter of this course is the same as ASTR 3470. Students are offered special reading assignments and consultation on science and pseudoscience concepts related to education. Offered concurrently with undergraduate sections. Prerequisite: Curry School students; instructor permission.
Course was offered Fall 2011
ASTR 6480Introduction to Cosmology Concepts (3)
The subject matter of this course is the same as ASTR 3480. Students are offered special reading assignments and consultation on cosmology concepts related to education. Offered concurrently with undergraduate sections. Prerequisite: Curry School students; instructor permission.
ASTR 6559New course in Astronomy (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of Astronomy.
ASTR 7559New Course in Astronomy (1 - 4)
New Course in the subject of astronomy.
ASTR 8500Current Astronomical Topics (1)
UVa staff and guest speakers discuss current research problems.
ASTR 8559New Course in Astronomy. (1 - 4)
New Course in the subject of Astronomy.
ASTR 9559New Course in Astronomy (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of Astronomy.
ASTR 9995Supervised Research (1 - 12)
Offered
Fall 2024
Under supervision, the student undertakes or assists with a current research problem. This course may be repeated for credit.
ASTR 9999Non-Topical Research (1 - 12)
Offered
Fall 2024
For doctoral dissertation, taken under the supervision of a dissertation director.
Bengali
BENG 1559New Course in Bengali (1 - 4)
This course provides the opportunity to offer new topics in the subject of Bengali.
Course was offered Fall 2009
BENG 2559New Course in Bengali (1 - 4)
This course provides the opportunity to offer new topics in the subject of Bengali.
Course was offered Spring 2010
BENG 3559New Course in Bengali (1 - 4)
This course provides the opportunity to offer new topics in teh subject of Bengali.
Course was offered Fall 2009
Biology
BIOL 150Special Topics in Biology (0)
Special Topics in Biology.
BIOL 1020Darwinian Medicine (3)
We will explore an emerging aspect of medical thinking- "Darwinian medicine." This new discipline applies the principles of evolutionary biology to the problems of medicine. The evolutionary explanations generated by this approach will help to uncover new and more effective methods of treatment. As a class, we will attempt to construct Darwinian explanations for a variety of illnesses and to design experiments to test this perspective.
BIOL 1040The DNA Revolution in Science and Society (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Imagine a world where your DNA is sequenced for free and any human gene can be altered at will. The goal of this course is to address the question: can our society be better prepared for this transformation in science? Is genetic privacy achievable or genetic discrimination avoidable? Who owns your genes? Do your genes drive your medical future? Classes involve student perspectives and discussions with experts in science, policy, ethics and law.
BIOL 1050Genetics for an Informed Citizen (3)
Genetics and Genomics form the basis for much of modern biology and the future of medical practice. A basic understanding of them is important for people to be able to evaluate the science behind many issues both public and private. Genetics and Genomics and some of the ways they confront and inform modern life will be covered in a way that is accessible to non-scientists.
BIOL 1060Principles of Nutrition (3)
Paleo or South Beach? Are supplements wise? Together we will investigate advertising claims, discover & evaluate nutritional resources, discuss public policies & food industry regulations, search through data from epidemiological studies and read clinical cases. To do this, we will delve deep into the physiological workings of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the molecular metabolic pathways that cells and tissues need to survive & thrive.
BIOL 1080Nerve Cells, Networks and Animal Behavior (3)
Ecolocation in bats, development of learning in songbirds, paralytic goats and toxic fish. In this course, we'll examine these and other examples from nature to model the fundamental properties of neurons and the neural circuits that underlie various aspects of animal behavior. Building an understanding of the structure & function of the nervous system will include consideration of the evolutionary and developmental emergence of its properties.
Course was offered Spring 2017, Spring 2016
BIOL 1210Human Biology and Disease (3)
Introduces how the human body works using basic biological principles. Uses disease as a lens to develop healthcare literacy and to understand fundamental healthcare decisions. This course provides tools to help make informed choices as voters and consumers.
BIOL 1559New Course in Biology (3)
New course in the subject of Biology.
BIOL 2030Introductory Biology Laboratory I (1)
An investigative experience illustrating modern methods of studying genes and proteins including techniques of DNA isolation, separation, cloning, sequencing, creating recombinant DNA, and using bioinformatics tools. Prerequisite: Limited to 2nd, 3rd, 4th year students who have completed BIOL2010
BIOL 2040Introductory Biology Laboratory II (1)
Studies life forms, from simple to complex organization, demonstrating the unique properties of living organisms. Exercises focus on evolution, physiology and development. Prerequisite: Limited to 2nd, 3rd, 4th year students who have completed BIOL2020
BIOL 2100Introduction to Biology with Laboratory: Cell Biology & Genetics (4)
Offered
Fall 2024
BIOL 2100 is one of two semester courses that together provide an intensive introduction to biology for prospective Biology majors and pre-health (med, vet, dental) students. This course focuses on the fundamentals of cell biology and genetics with an emphasis on classical and modern experimental approaches. Lecture topics and concepts are reinforced and extended during once-weekly laboratory/small group discussions.
BIOL 2200Introduction to Biology w/Laboratory: Organismal & Evolutionary Biology (4)
BIOL 2200 is one of two semester courses that together provide an intensive introduction to biology for prospective Biology majors and pre-health (med, vet, dental) students. This course focuses on evolution, physiology and development. Lecture topics and concepts are reinforced and extended during once-weekly laboratory/small group discussions. The Introductory courses are not sequenced and may be taken in either order.
BIOL 2559New Course in Biology (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of biology.
BIOL 2757Science Writing: Creative Approaches to Biology & Ecology (3)
Writing is fundamental to the practice of science. We write about individual organisms, ecosystems, and patterns, to record our findings and to reach broader audiences. This course explores diverse writing styles to improve student communication both inside scientific communities and to the public. Students will be inspired by their experiences at MLBS and by prominent nature and science writers to create a variety of written works.
BIOL 2900Teaching Methods for Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (1)
This STEM teaching course will help Undergraduate TAs integrate learning theory and effective student engagement practices into their teaching. UTAs will participate in guided discussions to relate recommendations from the education literature to their classroom experiences. Assignments will include learning activities, such as teaching observations & reflections, and designing interventions to assist students with difficult topics/skills.
Course was offered Fall 2018, Fall 2017, Fall 2016
BIOL 3000Cell Biology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Examines the fundamental principles of eukaryotic cell biology at the molecular level. Topics will include: structure and function of the plasma membrane, transport of small molecules, ions and macromolecular complexes across membranes, protein trafficking, the cytoskeleton, signal transduction pathways , and the control of cell division and cellular proliferation. Prerequisites: Must have completed BIOL 2010 or BIOL 2100 or BME 2104 and any two of the following classes CHEM 1410, 1420, & 1820. BIOL 3000 is not repeatable.
BIOL 3010Genetics and Molecular Biology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
What makes humans different from fruit flies? Why does your brain have neurons and not liver cells? This course is all about the answer to these questions: It's the genes! This course covers the chemical make-up of genes, how they're passed on through generations, how they're expressed and how that expression is regulated, how disruption in the structure and expression of genes arise and how those disruptions lead to cellular defects and disease. Prerequisite: Must have completed BIOL 2010 or BIOL 2100 or BME 2104 and either CHEM 1410 or CHEM 1810 or CHEM 1610. BIOL 3010 is not repeatable.
BIOL 3020Evolution and Ecology (3)
Examines the mechanisms of evolutionary change, with an emphasis on the genetic and evolutionary principles needed to understand the diversification of life on earth.  Covers the ecology of individuals and population dynamics.  Major topics include the genetics and ecology of natural populations, adaptation, molecular evolution and macroevolution, and the application of evolutionary and ecological concepts to conservation biology.  Required for all Biology majors. Prerequisite: Must have completed BIOL 2200. BIOL 3020 is not repeatable.
BIOL 3030Biochemistry (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Biochemistry underlies nearly every biological process, from environmental science to medicine. When living systems are in chemical and energetic balance, organisms thrive. When they're out of balance, as in disease or unpredictable environments, life is compromised. This course will explain how simple chemical and physical principles apply to the major classes of biological macromolecules that maintain life. Prerequisite: BIOL 2010 or BIOL 2100 or BME 2104 and BIOL 2020 or BIOL 2040 and either CHEM 2410 or CHEM 1820
BIOL 3040Developmental and Regenerative Biology (3)
Are developmental biology and regenerative biology one and the same? Throughout this course, we will emphasize both classical and modern experimental approaches that have been used to unravel the genetic, molecular and celluar mechanisms of development. Additionally, the practical value of understanding development is enormous, and the relationship between embryology and clinical applications will be a theme that runs throughout the course.
BIOL 3050Introduction to Neurobiology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Analyzes the concepts of general neurobiology, including basic electrophysiology and electrochemistry, origin of bioelectric potentials, sensory, motor, integrative and developmental neurobiology, and conceptual models of simple learning. Prerequisite: Must have completed BIOL 2010 or BIOL 2100 or BME 2104 and BIOL 2020 or BIOL 2040. May not take if previously completed BIOL 3170.
BIOL 3090Our World of Infectious Disease (3)
Infectious disease impacts every human, plant and animal on earth. What is the most deadly disease in human history? What is killing our ocean's turtles? Why is Zika so scary? We will explore questions related to the biology, transmission, and pathogenicity of infectious agents across the world. We will also place special emphasis on what it takes to successfully control an infectious disease.
BIOL 3120General Microbiology (3)
Microbes rule. In this course, we will explore how microbes rule the world and how genomics has revolutionized the way we study them. Fundamental principles of microbiology, together with the basics of genomics will be introduced. Topics include microbial cell structure, metabolism, genetics, microbial diversity and ecology, epidemiology, genome sequencing technologies and bioinformatics. Prerequisites: Must have completed BIOL 2010 or BIOL 2100 or BME 2104 and BIOL 2020 or BIOL 2200
BIOL 3140Biology of Aging (3)
This interdisciplinary course will explore our current knowledge of the biology of aging in populations of plants and animals, including humans. Topics include demographic trends across species; analysis of why organisms age in the context of evolutionary theories; analysis of how organisms age in the context of cellular and physiological theories; and the genetic basis of longevity. Prerequisites: BIOL 2010 and 2020.
BIOL 3150General Microbiology Laboratory (2)
An introduction to microorganisms and to basic microbiological principles through laboratory experimentation. Emphasis is on the structure, physiology and genetics of bacteria and bacterial viruses. Prerequisite: BIOL 3120
BIOL 3180Introduction to Plants and Society (3)
This is an introductory course that takes a multidisciplinary approach to studying the relationship between plants and people. The course focuses on providing students foundational information on the growth, development, physiology and genetics of plants and explores the connection between plants and people by looking at the use of plants as sources of food, shelter, medicinals and manufactured goods.
BIOL 3230Animal Physiology (3)
Focuses on selected vertebrate organ systems; considers other systems where relevant. Prerequisite: BIOL 2010 and 2020.
BIOL 3240Introduction to Immunology (3)
Studies the genetics and cell biology of the vertebrate immune system, with a focus on adaptive immunity. Classic and current experimental systems are emphasized. Prerequisite: Must have completed or be currently taking BIOL 2010 or BIOL 2100 or BME 2104
BIOL 3250Introduction to Animal Behavior (3)
An introduction to comparative studies of animal behavior from neuroethological and evolutionary prospectives. The first deals with proximate causes of behavior, with emphasis on motor, sensory and central aspects of the nervous system. The second deals with ultimate causes, with emphases on natural selection, natural history, and adaptive aspects of behavior.
BIOL 3260Editing Genes and Genomes (3)
Genome databases contain a wealth of information that enable us to answer myriad questions in biology. Working with genome data requires foundational knowledge in molecular genetic concepts, as well as technical knowledge of how to read and analyze sequence data. This class will provide students with the skills to understand genomic data and its applications in biology and medicine.
Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2023
BIOL 3270General Microbiology with Laboratory (4)
Microbes rule. In this course, we will explore how microbes rule the world and how genomics has revolutionized the way we study them. Fundamental principles of microbiology will be introduced. Topics include microbial cell structure, metabolism, genetics, diversity, evolution and infectious disease. Laboratory work will complement lecture topics and cover the core themes & concepts, as recommended by the American Society of Microbiology.
BIOL 3400Functional Morphology of Vertebrates (4)
Comparative investigations of functional morphology across major vertebrate lineages.  Lectures are organized into three units; 1) evolutionary history and patterns of development, 2) integumentary, skeletal and muscular systems, and 3) sensory systems, and neural and endocrine integrations.  Topics of investigation focus on biomechanical and physiological performance of biological structures, from cells to organ systems, and on the origins and diversification of form-function complexes among vertebrates.  Lab exercises include dissections, observation of prepared specimens and other material, and modeling/simulation of biomechanical systems.  This course serves as a 3000-level lab requirement for either the B.A. or B.S. in biology. Prerequisite: BIOL 2010, 2020, 2040.
Course was offered Fall 2012, Fall 2011, Fall 2010, Fall 2009
BIOL 3410Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course, the first in a two-course sequence, is an introduction to the structure and function of the human body. Review of the structure and physiology of cells and tissues leads to in-depth study of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Control mechanisms and the contributions of each system to overall homeostasis are emphasized.
BIOL 3420Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
This course, the second in a two-course sequence, examines structures and functions of the endocrine, cardiovascular, urogenital, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal and reproductive systems. Control mechanisms and functional integration of these systems in overall homeostasis is emphasized.
BIOL 3440Endocrinology (3)
Endocrinology
BIOL 3450Biodiversity and Conservation (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduction to the fundamental principles of conservation biology (e.g., global species numbers, value of biodiversity, causes of extinction, genetic diversity, island biogeography, priority setting) and current topics of debate (including zoo versus field conservation, effects of global change on species extinction). Conservation case studies will allow students to judge the relevance of biological theory to practical problems in conservation.
BIOL 3510Field Biology at Mountain Lake Biological Station (1 - 4)
Field experiential courses in evolution, ecology, behavior and biology taught at the Biology Department's Mountain Lake Biological Station (MLBS), a field research and teaching facility located in southwestern Virginia. Students may enroll for more than one section as each section is a specialized topic. Prerequisites: BIOL 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040 or AP credit or equivalent.
BIOL 3559New Course in Biology (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of biology.
BIOL 3600Natural History of the Appalachians (3)
We will explore the habitats that make the Appalachians a unique hotspot for North American biodiversity. We will learn how geology, species interactions, and land-use patterns shape the composition of ecological communities. Field studies near Mountain Lake and trips to other habitats will emphasize field identification, ecological relationships, and conservation issues relating to a wide range of organisms.
BIOL 3650Molecular Biology of Human Disease (3)
This course addresses molecular mechanisms of gene expression and regulation (e.g., transcription, mRNA splicing, RNA surveillance, and translation) and DNA replication in the context of infectious and genetic diseases. Prerequisites: BIOL 2010 and any two of CHEM 1410, 1420, 1810 & 1820.
BIOL 3660Marine Biology and Coral Reef Ecology in San Salvador (4)
The course will introduce students to the plants and animals found in the marine and terrestrial environments of the Caribbean and their adaptations in the context of community ecology. Fishes, invertebrates, reptiles and marine algae will be the major groups encountered and snorkeling will be used for observation and collection. Lectures, labs, discussions, and extensive field work included, plus an independent research project. Prerequisites: BIOL 2010, 2020, 2040, or EVSC 3200, or permission of the instructor.
BIOL 3665Tropical Ecology and Conservation in Belize (3)
This course is an introduction to the organisms and ecosystems of Belize, including fresh water, marine and terrestrial examples. Special emphasis will be placed on the interactions of the ecosystem components and on the conservation of specific ecosystems and locales. Prerequisites: The completed sequence BIOL 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040, or their equivalents, or permission of instructor.
BIOL 3710The Biology of Stress (3)
What exactly is stress? When is it a good thing; when & why does it become damaging? In this course, we will study how the body responds to physical and psychological stressors. And, we will examine how the physiological mechanisms by which the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and corticosteroids mediate both positive and negative effects of stress. Understanding of these mechanisms, we can consider how best to prevent damage from stress.
Course was offered Fall 2018, Fall 2017
BIOL 3900Independent Readings in Biology (1 - 3)
Tutorial or seminar course that allows intensive study of the literature in a particular area of biology under the guidance of a Biology faculty member.
BIOL 4005Functional Genomics Laboratory: Disease Mechanisms & Cures (3)
This course introduces students to scientific-based discovery of how molecular dysfunction leads to disease. It also exposes them to the most current tools used in biomedical research to find novel genes and compounds that could help treat human disease. The course includes discovery-oriented lab, workshops, and lectures. Prerequisite: BIOL3000 and BIOL3010
BIOL 4011Homeostasis: The Wisdom of the Body (3)
The human body maintains stable energy levels, hydration, and temperature despite the challenges of ever-changing external environment, a process known as homeostasis. This course explores biological models and mechanisms of homeostasis, including how survival needs are monitored and met through changes in behavior and physiology. Students will gain a state-of-the-art perspective on homeostatic biology and its research methods and technology.
Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2022, Spring 2021
BIOL 4012Evolution and Ecology of Infectious Diseases (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
In this course, we'll dive into our current understanding of the evolution and ecology of parasitic interactions through primary literature, modeling, and experimental design. Throughout, we will focus on generating and testing hypotheses, evaluating theoretical models with evidence, drawing parallels between diverse domains of life, and connecting evolutionary and ecological ideas to today's past, present, and future epidemics.
Course was offered Fall 2021
BIOL 4013Stem Cells in Development and Disease (3)
The course will deep dive into what stem cells are, what they do, where and how they function, and how we can use stem cells in the clinic to repair damaged tissue and restore tissue function. The course will consist of a series of lectures and student run discussions related to current scientific literature.
Course was offered Spring 2022
BIOL 4014Cellular Origins of Animal Diversity (3)
Animals are incredibly diverse, but they all evolved from the same single-celled ancestor that lived hundreds of millions of years ago. This course takes a cell-biological approach to explore key questions in animal evolution such as the origins of multicellularity and differentiation. Students will gain a cutting-edge perspective on current research that integrates cell, developmental, and evolutionary biology to explore animal origins.
Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2022
BIOL 4015Neural Development Laboratory: From stem cells to neuronal circuitry (3)
Neural stem cells proliferate throughout development to generate the immense diversity of neuronal cell types present in our adult brains. What are the signals that drive neural stem cells to proliferate & what are the signals that terminate stem cell divisions once development is complete? Using Drosophila we will investigate these questions and address specifically the role of nutrition in regulating profileration of the stem cell population. Prerequisite: BIOL 3000, BIOL 3010
Course was offered Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017, Fall 2015
BIOL 4016Genetic Approaches to Precision Medicine (3)
This course addresses the impact of the human genome project on understanding human genetic disease, focusing on the invaluable role for animal models of diseases in augmenting evaluation of genomic information to develop strategies for precision medicine. Animal models are an invaluable asset in reaching this goal because they allow experimental manipulations that go far beyond what is possible in human patients.
Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2022
BIOL 4018NextGen Sequencing: Minion the Microbe Detective (3)
Microbes rule. This course will teach microbial genomics using the cutting edge next-generation DNA sequencing technology and its applications to study microbes around us. Topics covered include microbial genomics, DNA sequencing and sequence analysis.
Course was offered Fall 2023, Fall 2022
BIOL 4019Psychopharmacology of Plants (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course begins with discussion of pharmacological principles and normal function of the nervous and endocrine system. As we continue, we will describe how exogenous substances derived from plants (like drugs) impact the nervous system to restore normal or near-normal function, or alter normal function, in humans. The use of agents from plants in the alleviation of depression and anxiety will be emphasized.
Course was offered Fall 2023
BIOL 4020Computational Evolutionary Biology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The evolutionary history of a population can be studied by examining patterns of genetic variation among individuals. Using information about genetic variation, we can infer historical evolutionary events like migration and adaptation. In this lab course, you will learn to utilize genomic data to conduct evolutionary inference. We will learn fundamentals of population genetics, bioinformatic skills, and research methods applied to real short-read sequencing data.
BIOL 4040Laboratory in Cell Biology (3)
Introduces students to experimental approaches, including mammalian cell culture, gel electrophoresis, western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy, that are used to study both normal and pathological processes at the level of individual cells. The biological theme of the course will be Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative disorders. One laboratory lecture and one afternoon laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 3000
BIOL 4045Neurodegenerative Diseases (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This course for advanced undergrads will focus mainly on research about Alzheimer's disease, and will meet once/week for 3 hours. The first 3 weeks will be primarily didactic, and the remainder of the course will be a "journal club" in which primary research paper discussions will be led by teams of students. Assessments will be based on how well students lead and participate in discussions, and on exams.
Course was offered Fall 2023, Fall 2022
BIOL 4050Developmental Mechanisms of Human Disease (3)
This course will cover advanced principles of developmental biology and how embryonic developmental pathways impinge on human disease. Topics will include congenital organ related disease, stem cell biology and its therapeutic applications, regenerative medicine and the impact of environmental factors on disease.
BIOL 4060Organ Development and Tissue Engineering (3)
Why do most of our adult body tissues have limited regenerative capacity? How can terminally diseased organs be replaced? This course will cover the cellular mechanisms that regulate animal tissue formation, regeneration and repair in vivo. Students will gain insights into the opportunities, limitations, and risks of tissue engineering in vitro, as an emerging research field that may lead to revolutionary organ replacement strategies. Prerequisite: BIOL 3000
Course was offered Spring 2015
BIOL 4070Developmental Biology Laboratory (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The goal of this course is to provide an original, unknown outcome research experience in developmental biology. After training in basic methods and descriptions of selected research problems, students form teams and investigate a problem of their choosing. Team members work together in the lab, but each writes an independent research proposal, a notebook, and a final project report on which they are graded. Prerequisite: BIOL 3000 or 3010.
BIOL 4080Advanced Hormones and Behavior (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
From plants to humans, hormones shape various aspects of organismal form and behavior over contemporary and evolutionary time. Delve into endocrine pathways, hormones' influence on development, and their role in coordinating responses to environmental and physiological stimuli. Gain a deep understanding endocrinology theories, concepts, and methods, and the ability to critically evaluate hormonal impacts on ecosystem and human health.
BIOL 4090Environmental Public Health (2)
This is an interdisciplinary exploration of environmental public health issues. Students develop and research topics, lead small group discussions, give oral presentations, and write papers. Scope of student research in topic development includes env. science, ecology, epidemiology, toxicology, pathophysiology, gene-environment interactions, directions in clinical and translational research, and environmental and biomedical policy development.
BIOL 4100Management of Forest Ecosystems (4)
An ecosystem course that treats the ecology of forests and consequences of forest processes in natural and managed systems. The class emphasizes the "pattern & process" concept that is the central theme in modern vegetation sciences at increasing scales: from form/function of leaves and other parts of trees through population, community and landscape ecology to the role of forests in the global climate and carbon-cycling. It is recommended to take EVSC 3200 prior to enrollment in this class.
BIOL 4120When Good Cells Go Bad (3)
This course will cover topics related to major neurodegenerative diseases including Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Muscular Dystrophy (MD), Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (Neurofibrosarcoma) and Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). Topics related to pathology and molecular mechanism of diseases, possible drug discovery targets, and therapeutic discovery approaches will be emphasized. Prerequisites: BIOL 3000 and BIOL 3010.
Course was offered Fall 2014, Fall 2013, Fall 2011, Fall 2010
BIOL 4130Population Ecology and Conservation Biology (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
The mathematical foundations of population dynamics and species interactions as applied to population and community ecology and problems in conservation biology. One semester of calculus is recommended. Prerequisite: BIOL 3020 or EVSC 3200
BIOL 4135Biology of Aging (3)
Aging is an evolutionary paradox because it decreases physiological function and increases the risk of mortality, yet aging persists in most species. We will explore the theories of aging and the diversity of the patterns of aging across species from flies to plants to humans. We will use the primary literature in the fields of evolution, genetics and cell biology to gain a comprehensive understand of the latest advances in this field.
Course was offered Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2016
BIOL 4140NextGen Sequencing and Its Applications (1)
Students will learn the next generation sequencing technologies and explore their applications in the studies of evolution and ecology. This course is a lecture and journal club format where primary scientific literature will be discussed. Students will also learn basic bioinformatic skills. Prerequisite: BIOL 3020
Course was offered Fall 2013
BIOL 4150Evolution of Sex (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Despite the many benefits of asexual reproduction, the vast majority of eukaryotic organisms reproduce sexually. How sex evolved, and how it persists despite its many associated costs, are major unanswered questions in biology. We will explore the diversity of sexual reproduction and associated evolutionary phenomena with a focus on critically evaluating current research and theory in this field. Prerequisite: BIOL 3020 or permission from Instructor
BIOL 4180Behavioral Ecology (3)
Behavioral ecology explores the evolutionary analysis and explanations for the diversity of animal behavior, including foraging decisions, altruism, cooperation, mate choice, group living, parental care and range of other sociobiological phenomena. Prerequisite: BIOL 3020.
BIOL 4190Biological Clocks (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Introduces biological timekeeping as used by organisms for controlling diverse processes, including sleep-wakefulness cycles, photoperiodic induction and regression, locomotor rhythmicity, eclosion rhythmicity, and the use of the biological clock in orientation and navigation. Prerequisite: BIOL 3000 or 3010 or 3020
BIOL 4210Genome Sciences: The DNA Revolution in Science and Society (3)
This course will chronicle the meteoric rise in our ability to collect DNA sequence data & reconstruct genomes, and how this contributes to understanding evolution & the genetic basis of traits, including disease. Discussions with leading experts in science, policy or law will allow students to consider the promises & limitations of genomic research, as well as the future societal impact of having nearly ubiquitous genetic information. Prerequisite: BIOL 3010 and BIOL 3020
Course was offered Spring 2015
BIOL 4220Introduction to Systems Biology (3)
An introduction to a new research paradigm that focuses on the systematic study of complex interactions at the molecular, network and genomic level. This course will review state-of-the-art high throughput techniques and modeling methods used to obtain, integrate and analyze complex data from biological systems. This course will be a combination of text based lectures and discussions of the current literature pertinent to Systems Biology. Prerequisites: BIOL 3010. Also recommended is BIOL 3000
BIOL 4230Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics (4)
The Genome Era has transformed modern biology, providing sequence data that records genetic changes that occur over time scales from billions of years (evolution) to months (tumor growth). This interdisciplinary course introduces the algorithms, statistics & biological concepts used to make inferences from genome datasets and will provide the computational foundation & practical experience needed to test biological questions using genome data.
Course was offered Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016
BIOL 4240History and Philosophy of Biology (3)
This course will give an overview of the major conceptual and experimental advances in Biology. It will explore the relationships of Biology to mathematics and physical sciences and explore philosophical issues relevant to science in general, Biology in particular.
BIOL 4250Human Genetics (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Focuses on the fundamental knowledge about organization, expression, and inheritance of the human genome. Reviews classical Mendelian genetics and human genetic (pedigree) analysis. Emphasizes understanding human genetics in molecular terms. Includes gene mapping procedures, methodologies for identifying genes responsible for inherited diseases, the molecular basis of several mutant (diseased) states, the human genome project, and discussions about genetic screening and gene therapy. Prerequisite: BIOL 3010.
BIOL 4260Cellular Mechanisms (3)
This course uses a case study approach to examine cellular processes that underlie diverse diseases and to identify the relevant molecular components that have been validated or that may serve as new therapeutic targets. We will discuss both established, transformative drugs as well as novel, emerging therapies under development. We will consider socio-economic and demographic issues that impact the accessibility and affordability of new drugs.
BIOL 4265Developmental Neurobiology (3)
The diverse functions of the nervous system depend on precise wiring of connections between neurons. This course covers cellular and molecular processes of how neuronal connections are established during development. Diseases which result from failing to establish the circuitry will also be discussed. This course will introduce research methods and technology, and encourage students to develop logical rationale of contemporary research.
Course was offered Fall 2019
BIOL 4270Animal Behavior Laboratory (3)
Offered
Fall 2024
This laboratory course provides hands-on experiences with experimental approaches used to study animal behavior. The laboratory exercises explore visual and auditory sensory perception, biological clock, reproductive and aggressive behaviors using actively behaving animals such as hamsters, cichlid fish, crickets and electric fish. Students are given opportunities to design hypothesis-testing experiments in some laboratories.
BIOL 4280The Genetic Basis of Behavior (3)
This course studies behavior paradigms in model animals and the modern genetic tools used study and dissect the circuits underlying them. Can an animal as simple as a fly or mouse learn simple tasks, show appetitive behaviors and cravings, and inform studies of human addiction? Readings from classic and current literature will show the historical context of this field and develop critical reading skills. Prerequisites: BIOL 3000, BIOL 3010
BIOL 4310Sensory Neurobiology (3)
This two-lectures-per-week course explores the basic principles of sensory neurobiology. The course consists of four modules. Each module represents one of the senses & consists of an introductory lecture, one or several lectures that will delve into the details of that sense, a current topic lecture on some recent finding, & finally, a guest lecture from a UVa researcher. Completion of BIOL 3050 or PSYC 2200 or PSYC 3200 strongly recommended.
BIOL 4320Signal Transduction: How cells talk to each other (3)
This advanced undergraduate course explores how cells communicate with each other and respond to their environment. This area of biology is referred to as signal transduction and is the basis for most if not all normal and disease processes in humans. Therefore, significant time is spent on defining archetypal signaling modules that all cells use to receive and communicate information to and from their environment. Prerequisites: BIOL 3000 & BIOL 3010
BIOL 4330Wiring the Brain (3)
This course focuses on how relatively simple model systems provide the clues as to how certain synaptic connections form and lead to specific behaviors. This will be followed by discussion of how this knowledge can be applied to the understanding and treatment of human neural disorders. 25% of the course is standard lectures and the rest, student-led discussion of primary literature. Prereqs: BIOL 3000 & BIOL 3010; BIOL 3050 or PSYC 2200 or 3200
BIOL 4335Functional Organization of Sensory Systems (3)
How do variations in the design of sensory structures and central nervous circuits lead to specialized behaviors as diverse as echolocation, acoustic perception of species-specific mating songs and spatial navigation? Throughout the course, we will examine the scientific literature that relates to the functional design of vertebrate and invertebrate sensory systems through classroom presentations and discussion.
BIOL 4340Experimental Foundations of Neurobiology (3)
The course content will focus on three areas of neurobiological research: conduction of the nervous impulse, sensory physiology, and synaptic physiology. Prerequisites: Must have completed BIOL 3050 or BIOL 3170 or PSYC 4200
BIOL 4350Metabolism: In Sickness and in Health (3)
A worldwide obesity epidemic exists. With it comes increased risk of chronic disease, such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. This course will survey the molecular, genetic, physiologic and behavioral paths that lead to obesity and that contribute to prevalent chronic diseases. Through discussions of scientific literature, we will gain an integrated view of the factors that influence our energy homeostasis. Prerequiste: BIOL 3000, 3010.
Course was offered Spring 2018, Spring 2017
BIOL 4360Cytokine Signaling and Neural Development (1)
This is a journal club format seminar where we perform an in depth analysis of the papers listed below. One paper will be covered per week with a review article also assigned for background. There are no presenters; rather we will have discussion leaders. All participants should be prepared to present any of the panels in the week's paper.
BIOL 4365How to Map a Brain (1)
If you want to understand how our brain works, this is the course for you! In this student-driven Journal Club-style seminar series, we will consider recent neuroscience literature for discussion of the most innovative discoveries. A broad range of outstanding neuroscience issues will be considered; topics could include, for example, strategies for gene therapy for human neurological diseases, or the remote control of learning and memory. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission
Course was offered Fall 2019, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
BIOL 4370Epigenetics (3)
Explores the emerging science, Epigenetics. Topics include epigenetics in model organisms and molecular mechanisms such as the Polycomb and Trithorax Group proteins, histone modifications and variants, dosage compensation, DNA methylation, nuclear reprogramming and stem cell pluripotency. Prerequisites: Genetics and Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry strongly recomended.
Course was offered Fall 2013, Fall 2012, Fall 2011, Fall 2009
BIOL 4380Evolution and Ecology of Development (3)
From the seahorse's body to the venus flytrap's jaws to the human brain, nature abounds with amazing adaptations. This interdisciplinary course explores how and why such biodiversity evolves as well as what limits diversity. Lectures and case studies will focus on core concepts, recent advances, and integrative approaches, placing special emphasis on the interplay between gene regulatory networks, the environment, and population genetics. Prerequisites: BIOL 3010, BIOL 3020
Course was offered Fall 2014
BIOL 4390Biological Therapy of Cancer (3)
This seminar course revolves around student-led presentations of primary literature in the field of cancer therapy using novel approaches including immunotherapies. Objectives include providing the student with significant exposure to primary literature and the development of critical thinking skills. Prerequisite: BIOL 3240.
BIOL 4410Molecular Biology and Genetics (3)
A survey of contemporary issues in molecular biology and genetics. The course will be a combination of text based lectures and discussions of the current literature emphasizing the development of critical reading techniques. Prerequisites: BIOL 3000, 3010
Course was offered Spring 2011, Spring 2010
BIOL 4430Experimental Plant Biology Laboratory: Drugs & Infectious Diseases (3)
We can't live without plants. Plants make our existence possible, and they hold secrets for a better future. Our experimental approach in this lab will combine genetics and genomics strategies to uncover some of those secrets. We'll search for genes and biosynthetic pathways that contribute to the success of plants at fighting off microbial infections. Ultimately, studies like these will lead to new, highly effective antimicrobial therapies. Prerequisite: BIOL 3010, BIOL 3150
BIOL 4440Cell Biology of Lipids and Membranes (3)
Life requires lipids. Discussion of the literature will integrate lipids into our current protein-centric view of cell biology. Topics considered are current models of membrane structure and its effect on metabolism; synthesis and distribution of lipids to regulate cell communication, gene expression, and the coding of identity; how pathogens turn lipids against host cells; and how common pharmaceuticals affect lipid biology to treat disease.
Course was offered Spring 2017
BIOL 4450Plant-Animal Interactions (3)
Plants & animals have a long co-evolutionary history, with their interactions shaping natural ecosystems, as well as our own daily lives. We'll emphasize the evolutionary and ecological implications of these interactions to consider topics, such as pollination, herbivory and dispersal. We'll also address questions like: Why is flower color, shape and scent so diverse? How do animals eat toxic plants? How do fruit help plants finds new habitat?
Course was offered Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018
BIOL 4460Forest Sampling (3)
Study of quantitative methods for sampling forest ecosystems
Course was offered Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
BIOL 4480Macromolecular Structure (3)
Exploration, in depth, of principles underlying protein and nucleic acid structures and the techniques used to determine those structures. Prerequisite: CHEM2410 and 2420 or BIOL3000 or permission of instructor
Course was offered Spring 2014, Fall 2011, Fall 2010
BIOL 4510Field Biology at Mountain Lake Biological Station (1 - 4)
Field experiential courses in evolution, ecology, behavior and biology taught at the Biology Department's Mountain Lake Biological Station (MLBS), a field research and teaching facility located in southwestern Virginia. Students may enroll for more than one section as each section is a specialized topic. Prerequisites: BIOL 3020 Evolution & Ecology or equivalent.
BIOL 4559New Course in Biology (1 - 4)
Offered
Fall 2024
New course in the subject of biology.
BIOL 4560Electric Crayfish: Elements of Neurophysiology (3)
Course uses electrophysiological techniques with living crayfish material to examine principles of neurobiological function, including cellular resting potentials, propagated action potentials, neuromuscular physiology, aspects of neuromuscular organization, and sensory neuron physiology and organization. A lab lecture will precede each lab session. Grading will be based upon written laboratory reports and two midterm laboratory exams. Prerequisite: BIOL 3170
Course was offered Fall 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014
BIOL 4585Selected Topics in Biology (1 - 3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Periodic seminar offerings to provide intensive study of the scientific literature in focused areas of Biology.
BIOL 4610Molecular Evolution: Diversity, Mutants, and the Biological Myth of Race (3)
Through the analysis of patterns of genetic variation in DNA, the field of Molecular Evolution seeks to gain insight into the fundamental evolutionary forces that generate, maintain, and remove genetic diversity. These forces shape the abundance of deleterious and beneficial mutations and reflect physical and behavioral differences between populations. In this course, we will dive into theoretical population genetics as a framework to develop an intuitive understanding of these evolutionary processes. We will apply this understanding to diversity among humans and all other life on earth. Prerequisite: BIOL3010, BIOL3020 required; STAT 2020 and calculus (MATH 1210, 1220, 1310, or 1320) suggested.
BIOL 4660How do they do it? Method and Logic in Biomedical Science (3)
How has a bioluminescent jellyfish saved lives? What does a Himalayan pond fish have to do with research into the origins of psychiatric disorders? Innovative methods in biomedical research have played a significant part in the development of revolutionary disease cures, treatments and diagnostics. This course will examine many of these technical approaches and how they have led to such significant discoveries in basic biomedical research. Prerequisite: BIOL 3010
BIOL 4751Plant Diversity& Conservation: Bioinformatics and Systematics (3)
The extraordinary diversity of the southern Appalachians will be used to explore the world of plants. We will visit unique mountain habitats to study the different species assemblages in these ecologically wide-ranging sites. Based upon our observations and analyses, we will critique contemporary views of the most effective conservation units (individual, population, species, family, habitat) and the methods used to achieve conservation goals.
BIOL 4752Stream Ecology (3)
Students will integrate principles of stream and watershed ecology to gain insight into stream-dwelling organisms and their environments. Participants will be introduced to the physical, chemical and biological organization of aquatic ecosystems, current theories in stream and watershed ecology, and lab and field methods for conducting stream research, and will participate in field/lab explorations and student-led discussions.
BIOL 4753Field Biology of Fungi (3)
The southern Appalachians provide an ideal setting to explore the biology of fungi. This class provides an introduction with emphasis on fieldID and current experimental methods used to study fungal genetics, ecology, and evolution. Lab exercises will use filamentous fungi to demonstrate methods for identification, culture techniques, breeding systems, genetic analysis, and interaction biology. Field trips will survey the taxonomic diversity.
Course was offered Summer 2016
BIOL 4754Field Herpetology (3)
We will focus on the ecology and evolution of reptiles and amphibians, leveraging their diversity in the southeastern US. In both the field and laboratory, we will study 1) the evolutionary relationships among reptiles and amphibians, 2) key evolutionary innovations that characterize each major lineage, 3) reptile and amphibian systems in ecological and evolutionary research, and 4) location and identification of reptiles and amphibians.
BIOL 4755Field Biology of Fishes (3)
MLBS sits on the Eastern Continental Divide providing an incredible diversity of freshwater habitats. Proficiency in ichthyology will be developed through field trips and lab work. Themes include: fish ID; patterns and drivers of diversity; interactions on individual, population, community and ecosystem levels; evolution; and influences of human activities. Students will design and conduct a research project and present at a class symposium.
BIOL 4756Field Ornithology (3)
Students will be exposed to the biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology of birds through hands-on experience. Field exercises will teach how to identify birds by sight and sound, measure birds in hand, and monitor birds and their behaviors. These opportunities will be augmented with lectures on bird physiology, morphology, and diversity. Independent research projects will enable students to further develop their skills.
BIOL 4757GIS for Field Biologists (3)
This course will cover the fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems as applied to biological questions with application in ecology, evolution, conservation, disease ecology, and human land-use. Students will learn spatial theory, analysis, and hands-on use of GIS software (including ArcGIS). Field laboratories will allow students to use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and learn to incorporate this technology into spatial analyses.
Course was offered Summer 2014
BIOL 4758Field Biology of Insects (3)
Insects are perhaps the most important animal group on the face of the earth. Their enormous diversity makes them important models for understanding many concepts in biology. Students will observe the bits and pieces of an insect, they will discover how adaptation relates to diversity, and they will learn to identify the major insect groups. Field trips to varied habitats allow students to collect insects and understand their natural history.
Course was offered Summer 2019, Summer 2017
BIOL 4759Field Methods in Wildlife Ecology (3)
An introduction to field research methods for measuring and monitoring animals with an emphasis on testing biological and wildlife management hypotheses. We will survey small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Students will learn sampling designs, protocols, and types of studies. Exercises will include surveying, trapping, marking, and measuring animals. Skills learned will be used in hypothesis-driven group projects.
Course was offered Summer 2015
BIOL 4760Hormones and Behavior (3)
Hormones alter the development and expression of animal behavior. Behavior in turn changes the effects of hormones. We'll take an evolutionary approach in exploring the causation and mechanism of hormone-mediated behaviors. We will use endocrinological techniques to examine behavior and hormone variation in wild populations. Students will help design and conduct a class research project with the goal of publishing our results.
Course was offered Summer 2015
BIOL 4761Wildlife Disease Ecology (3)
This course focuses on the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases in wild animal populations. Topics include the population biology of parasites and pathogens, host immune defenses and pathogen virulence, and wildlife conservation and disease. Students will gain experience with quantitative methods and field and laboratory techniques, including parasite identification and handling of insects, birds, amphibians, and small mammals.
Course was offered Summer 2024, Summer 2018
BIOL 4762Field Behavioral Ecology (3)
This course will illustrate principles of behavior and provide experience with methods used in animal behavior research. Students will develop an understanding of the scientific process as applied to behavior research, learn how behavior evolves and why we see the behavioral patterns that we do, and learn how to conduct research in wild populations. The class will work collaboratively to develop and carry out a field research project.
Course was offered Summer 2023, Summer 2022
BIOL 4770Synthetic Biology (3)
By applying the principles of engineering to biology, students will design molecules, viruses, and cells to solve global problems in public health, food security, manufacturing, information processing, and the environment, changing the traditional question of 'How do cells work?' to 'How can I get a cell to work for me?' Students will gain experience in writing internationally competitive research project proposals. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission
BIOL 4810Distinguished Major Seminar in Biological Research I (2)
Offered
Fall 2024
Two-hour, weekly discussion of recent advances in biology; attend biology seminars, interact with seminar speakers, explore the philosophy and practice of science, and learn skills in oral and written research presentation. Prerequisite: Fourth-year DMP in Biology.
BIOL 4820Distinguished Major Seminar in Biological Research II (2)
Two-hour, weekly discussion of recent advances in biology; attend biology seminars, interact with seminar speakers, explore the philosophy and practice of science, and learn skills in oral and written research presentation. Prerequisite: Fourth-year DMP in Biology.
BIOL 4900Independent Study in Biology (1 - 3)
Offered
Fall 2024
Independent study under the direction of a Biology faculty member for students to read and critically assess primary research papers and current reviews in a focused area of the life sciences. Directed readings and discussions can be used to explore how contemporary topics and research areas can be incorporated into other formal courses. Students will have the opportunity to develop both scientific writing and oral presentation skills.
BIOL 4910Independent Research in the Life Sciences (2)
Offered
Fall 2024
Undergraduate research under the direction of a UVA Professor who doesn't belong to the Biology Department. Despite the 'Closed' status of BIOL4910 on SIS, the course is open for enrollment. For application instructions, see the section 'How to Enroll in Independent Research with a Faculty Member Outside of the Biology Department' at: https://bio.as.virginia.edu/undergraduate/research. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission
BIOL 4920Independent Research in Biology (2)
Offered
Fall 2024
Independent research for qualified undergraduates under the direction of a faculty member within the Biology Department. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission
BIOL 4930Distinguished Major Thesis Research (2)
This course is the final semester of Independent Research for participants of the Biology Distinguished Majors Program. During this semester, students will complete their laboratory investigations, ultimately presenting the sum of their work in a written thesis. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission
BIOL 4940Capstone Research for the BS in Biology (2)
This course will provide students with essential hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, analysis, and science communication. Students will have the opportunity to think critically and creatively about biology and to develop research competencies. Students will work with a mentor to develop a project that makes a unique scientific contribution and will communicate their findings to a broader audience.
BIOL 5070Practical Aspects of Light Microscopy in the Biological Sciences (3)
Practical usage of various microscopy imaging methodologies to study the morphology and cellular function in various biological systems from single cell to single molecule in cells and tissues. Topics include basics theory of microscopy, imaging and image analysis to solve various biological questions, fluorophore labeling, technical and hands on training on various microscopy techniques applied in different biological and biomedical investigations. Lectures, discussion, student presentations and laboratory.
BIOL 5080Developmental Mechanisms (3)
Analyzes the cellular and molecular basis of developmental phenomena, reviewing both classical foundations and recent discoveries. Lectures focus on the major developmental systems used for analysis of embryogenesis (e.g., mouse, frog, and fly) and concentrate on several themes that pervade modern research in this area (e.g., signal transduction mechanisms). Readings are from the primary research literature, supplemented by textbook assignments. Lectures and discussion. Prerequisite: BIOL 3000 and BIOL 3010 or equivalent.
Course was offered Spring 2011, Spring 2010
BIOL 5250Ecological Issues in Global Change (4)
Introduces development and application of theoretical constructs and mathematical models for projecting the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems to large scale changes in the environment. Prerequisites: EVSC 3200 or equivalent, one year of college calculus, or instructor permission.
Course was offered Spring 2012, Spring 2010
BIOL 5559New Course in Biology (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of biology.
Course was offered Summer 2016, Spring 2013
BIOL 5995Biological Research at Mountain Lake Biological Station (1 - 4)
Biology Research at Mountain Lake Biological Station is designed for students participating in the Mountain Lake Biological Station summer Master's Degree Program.
BIOL 6559New Course in Biology (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of biology.
BIOL 7013Stem Cells in Development and Disease (3)
The course will deep dive into what stem cells are, what they do, where and how they function, and how we can use stem cells in the clinic to repair damaged tissue and restore tissue function. The course will consist of a series of lectures and student run discussions related to current scientific literature.
Course was offered Spring 2022
BIOL 7020Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics (3)
Examines the mechanisms of evolution within populations, molecular evolution, and the process of speculation. Topics include genetics of adaptation and speciation, natural selection, and the processes influencing the evolution of genes and genomes at the molecular level. Prerequisites: BIOL 3010
Course was offered Spring 2011
BIOL 7045Neurodegenerative Diseases (3)
This course will focus mainly on research about Alzheimer's disease, and will meet once a week for 3 hours The first 3 weeks will be primarily didactic, and the remainder of the course will be a "journal club" in which primary research paper discussions will be led by teams of students. Assessments will be based on how well students lead and participate in discussions, and on exams.
Course was offered Fall 2022
BIOL 7060Organ Development and Tissue Engineering (3)
Why do most of our adult body tissues have limited regenerative capacity? How can terminally diseased organs be replaced? This course will cover the cellular mechanisms that regulate animal tissue formation, regeneration and repair in vivo. Students will gain insights into the opportunities, limitations, and risks of tissue engineering in vitro, as an emerging research field that may lead to revolutionary organ replacement strategies. Prerequisite: BIOL 3000
Course was offered Spring 2015
BIOL 7110Teaching Science in Higher Education (1)
This STEM teaching course will help graduate TAs integrate learning theory and effective student engagement practices into their teaching. GTAs will participate in guided discussions to relate recommendations from the education literature to their classroom experiences. Assignments will include learning activities, such as teaching observations & reflections, and designing interventions to assist students with difficult topics/skills.
BIOL 7120When Good Cells Go Bad (3)
This course will cover topics related to major neurodegenerative diseases including Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Muscular Dystrophy (MD), Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (Neurofibrosarcoma) and Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). Topics related to pathology and molecular mechanism of diseases, possible drug discovery targets, and therapeutic discovery approaches will be emphasized.
Course was offered Fall 2014, Fall 2013, Fall 2011
BIOL 7130Population Ecology and Conservation Biology (4)
The natural history and mathematical theory of population dynamics, species interactions and life history evolution. Lectures emphasize theory and experimental tests; class discussions focuses on applications to conservation of plant and animal populations.
Course was offered Fall 2011, Fall 2010
BIOL 7140NextGen Sequencing and Its Applications (1)
Students will learn the next generation sequencing technologies and explore their applications in the studies of evolution and ecology. This course is a lecture and journal club format where primary scientific literature will be discussed. Students will also learn basic bioinformatic skills.
Course was offered Fall 2013
BIOL 7150Evolution of Sex (3)
Despite the many benefits of asexual reproduction, the vast majority of eukaryotic organisms reproduce sexually. How sex evolved, and how it persists despite its many associated costs, are major unanswered questions in biology. We will explore the diversity of sexual reproduction and associated evolutionary phenomena with a focus on critically evaluating current research and theory in this field. Prerequisite: BIOL 3020 or permission from Instructor
BIOL 7160Functional Genomics (3)
The first half of the course serves as an introduction to basic bioinformatics and genomics. The second half of the course concentrates on the rapidly evolving discipline of Functional Genomics, which takes advantage of the dramatic increase in the amount.
Course was offered Spring 2011, Spring 2010
BIOL 7170Cellular Neurobiology (4)
Explores a cellular approach to the study of the nervous system. Topics include the structure & function of ionic channels in cell membranes; the electrochemical basis of the cell resting potential; the generation & conduction of nerve impulses; and synaptic transmissions. Three lecture and demonstration/discussion credits. Class mtgs include lectures, discussion, student presentations, and computer simulations of neurophysiology w/ NeuroDynamix.
Course was offered Fall 2012, Fall 2010
BIOL 7180Behavioral Ecology (3)
Behavioral ecology explores the evolutionary analysis and explanations for the diversity of animal behavior, including foraging decisions, altruism, cooperation, mate choice, group living, parental care and range of other sociobiological phenomena.
Course was offered Fall 2014, Fall 2013, Fall 2011, Fall 2010
BIOL 7190Biological Clocks (3)
Introduces biological timekeeping as used by organisms for controlling diverse processes, including sleep-wakefulness cycles, photoperiodic induction and regression, locomotor rhythmicity, eclosion rhythmicity, and the use of the biological clock in orientation and navigation.
BIOL 7220Introduction to Systems Biology (3)
An introduction to a new research paradigm that focuses on the systematic study of complex interactions at the molecular, network and genomic level. This course will review state-of-the-art high throughput techniques and modeling methods used to obtain, integrate and analyze complex data from biological systems. This course will be a combination of text based lectures and discussions of the current literature pertinent to Systems Biology.
BIOL 7230Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics (4)
The Genome Era has transformed modern biology, providing sequence data that records genetic changes that occur over time scales from billions of years (evolution) to months (tumor growth). This interdisciplinary course introduces the algorithms, statistics & biological concepts used to make inferences from genome datasets and will provide the computational foundation & practical experience needed to test biological questions using genome data.
Course was offered Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016
BIOL 7240Foundations of Neuroscience I: Genetics, Development, Molecular-Cell Bio (6)
Offered
Fall 2024
This intensive, graduate-level course is designed to provide a foundational understanding of the principles underlying the development, genetics, and molecular-cellular biology of the nervous system. Over the span of the semester, students will engage with three core areas of neuroscience: Genetics in Neuroscience, Neurodevelopment, Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) of Neurons.
Course was offered Fall 2022
BIOL 7280The Genetic Basis of Behavior (3)
This course studies behavior paradigms in model animals and the modern genetic tools used study and dissect the circuits underlying them. Can an animal as simple as a fly or mouse learn simple tasks, show appetitive behaviors and cravings, and inform studies of human addiction? Readings from classic and current literature will show the historical context of this field and develop critical reading skills.
BIOL 7310Sensory Neurobiology (3)
This two-lectures-per-week course explores the basic principles of sensory neurobiology. The course consists of four modules. Each module represents one of the senses and consists of an introductory lecture, one or several lectures that will delve into the details of that sense, a current topic lecture on some recent finding, and finally, a guest lecture from a UVa researcher. Prerequisites: Instructor Permission.
BIOL 7320Signal Transduction: How cells talk to each other (3)
This advanced undergraduate course explores how cells communicate with each other and respond to their environment. This area of biology is referred to as signal transduction and is the basis for most if not all normal and disease processes in humans. Therefore, significant time is spent on defining archetypal signaling modules that all cells use to receive and communicate information to and from their environment.
BIOL 7360Cytokine Signaling and Neural Development (1)
This is a journal club format colloquium where we perform an in depth analysis of the papers listed below. One paper will be covered per week with a review article also assigned for background. There are no presenters; rather we will have discussion leaders. All participants should be prepared to present any of the panels in the week's paper.
BIOL 7370Epigenetics (3)
Explores the emerging science, Epigenetics. Topics include epigenetics in model organisms and molecular mechanisms such as the Polycomb and Trithorax Group proteins, histone modifications and variants, dosage compensation, DNA methylation, nuclear reprogramming and stem cell pluripotency.
Course was offered Fall 2013, Fall 2012, Fall 2011, Fall 2009
BIOL 7380Evolution and Ecology of Development (3)
From the seahorse's body to the venus flytrap's jaws to the human brain, nature abounds with amazing adaptations. This interdisciplinary course explores how and why such biodiversity evolves as well as what limits diversity. Lectures and case studies will focus on core concepts, recent advances, and integrative approaches, placing special emphasis on the interplay between gene regulatory networks, the environment, and population genetics. Prerequisite: BIOL 3010, BIOL 3020
Course was offered Fall 2014
BIOL 7410Molecular Biology (3)
A survey of contemporary issues in molecular biology and genetics. The course will be a combination of text-based lectures and discussions of the current literature emphasizing the development of critical reading techniques. This course is meant for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Background material will be from Molecular Biology of the Gene, 5th ed, Watson et al, Pearson/Benj Cummings, More recent material will be from current literature.
Course was offered Spring 2011, Spring 2010
BIOL 7510Field Biology at Mountain Lake Biological Station (1 - 4)
Field experiential courses in evolution, ecology, behavior and biology taught at the Biology Department's Mountain Lake Biological Station (MLBS), a field research and teaching facility located in southwestern Virginia. Students may enroll for more than one section, as each section is a specialized topic.
BIOL 7516Field Ornithology (1 - 4)
Students will be exposed to the biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology of birds through hands-on experience. Field exercises will teach how to identify birds by sight and sound, measure birds in hand, and monitor birds and their behaviors. These opportunities will be augmented with lectures on bird physiology, morphology, and diversity. Independent research projects will enable students to further develop their skills.
BIOL 7559New Course in Biology (1 - 4)
New course in the subject of biology.
BIOL 7660How do they do it? Method and Logic in Cutting-edge Biomedical Science (3)
Do you know how a bioluminescent jellyfish protein is saving lives? The green fluorescent protein, earning its discoverers the 2008 Nobel Prize, is only one example of the recent biomedical breakthroughs leading to revolutionary diagnostics, treatments and cures that we will cover. Topics will range from how scientists are using roundworms to cure diabetes to why a pond fish from Himalayas might unlock the mysteries of psychiatric disorders.
Course was offered Fall 2018, Fall 2017
BIOL 7751Plant Diversity & Conservation: Bioinformatics and Systematics (3)
The extraordinary diversity of the southern Appalachians will be used to explore the world of plants. We will visit unique mountain habitats to study the different species assemblages in these ecologically wide-ranging sites. Based upon our observations and analyses, we will critique contemporary views of the most effective conservation units (individual, population, species, family, habitat) and the methods used to achieve conservation goals.
BIOL 7752Field Methods in Stream Ecology (3)
We will focus on integrating principles of stream and watershed ecology to gain insight into stream dwelling organisms and their environments. Students will be introduced to 1) the physical, chemical and biological organization of aquatic ecosystems, 2) current theories in stream and watershed ecology, and 3) lab and field methods for conducting stream research. Students will conduct independent and group research projects.
Course was offered Summer 2014
BIOL 7753Field Biology of Fungi (3)
The southern Appalachians provide an ideal setting to explore the biology of fungi. This class provides an introduction with emphasis on fieldID and current experimental methods used to study fungal genetics, ecology, and evolution. Lab exercises will use filamentous fungi to demonstrate methods for identification, culture techniques, breeding systems, genetic analysis, and interaction biology. Field trips will survey the taxonomic diversity.
Course was offered Summer 2016
BIOL 7754Field Herpetology (3)
We will focus on the ecology and evolution of reptiles and amphibians, leveraging their diversity in the southeastern US. In both the field and laboratory, we will study 1) the evolutionary relationships among reptiles and amphibians, 2) key evolutionary innovations that characterize each major lineage, 3) reptile and amphibian systems in ecological and evolutionary research, and 4) location and identification of reptiles and amphibians.
BIOL 7755Field Biology of Fishes (3)
MLBS sits on the Eastern Continental Divide providing an incredible diversity of freshwater habitats. Proficiency in ichthyology will be developed through field trips and lab work. Themes include: fish ID; patterns and drivers of diversity; interactions on individual, population, community and ecosystem levels; evolution; and influences of human activities. Students will design and conduct a research project and present at a class symposium.
BIOL 7756Field Ornithology (3)
Students will be exposed to the biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology of birds through hands-on experience. Field exercises will teach how to identify birds by sight and sound, measure birds in hand, and monitor birds and their behaviors. These opportunities will be augmented with lectures on bird physiology, morphology, and diversity. Independent research projects will enable students to further develop their skills.
BIOL 7757GIS for Field Biologists (3)
This course will cover the fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems as applied to biological questions with application in ecology, evolution, conservation, disease ecology, and human land-use. Students will learn spatial theory, analysis, and hands-on use of GIS software (including ArcGIS). Field laboratories will allow students to use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and learn to incorporate this technology into spatial analyses.
Course was offered Summer 2014
BIOL 775