FOUNDATION: Social Sciences political economy
Students are permitted to choose any three out of these four blocks to fulfill their Foundation requirement in the Social Sciences. Please note that all Concentration economics courses require Political Economy (SOC 2100) as a prerequisite. Students planning to register in these courses later on are therefore advised to include Political Economy as one of their Foundation choices.
Political Economy (SOC 2100) This course imparts students with a deeper understanding of economic life and government’s role in it. It introduces students to economics and economic policy-making and explores the fundamental principles of capitalism. The course connects capitalist economic decision-making to both political liberalism and religious and cultural practices. Students learn fundamental economic terms and concepts as they explore the development of modern economies.
democracy & Justice Democracy and Justice (SOC 2200) Democracy and Justice examines the ideas of leading thinkers in the history of political thought and the questions they raise about the design of the political and social order. It considers the ways in which these thinkers have responded to the particular political problems of their day, and how they contribute to a broader conversation about human goods and needs, justice, democracy, and the relationship of the individual to the state.
self, culture & Society Self, Culture, and Society (SOC 2400) Students reflect upon psychological, anthropological, sociological, and geographical issues in human populations. The guiding question for a particular block could be, “What does it mean to be civilized?� In order to explore this question, we consider a range of topics investigated in the social sciences, beginning with definitions of self, culture, and society along with issues of power, rights, and responsibilities.
global perspectives Global Perspectives (SOC 2300) The aim of this course is to orient the student toward contemporary problems around the world. Themes may include intercultural communications, globalization and development, international relations, and global social issues such as AIDS, poverty, and environmental degradation. It helps students become more conscious of how people can converse across cultures and ethnicities, step outside of their own experiences, and appreciate the positions of citizens from a variety of origins.
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