HUM 324: Global Modernities

Investigates events, ideas and values from the 16th to the early 20th centuries during what is commonly described as the Modern era. The course presents diverse multicultural perspectives on the scientific, political, industrial and social changes that came about during this time: (e.g., the rise of globalization, feminism and international declarations of rights). Students investigate the profound influence of these historical moments on philosophy, religion, literature and the arts. Sources are drawn from multiple disciplines and include global cultural forms. The course narrative considers the intersection of local and international conditions that led to the era’s ongoing significance. All sections meet weekly for a common lecture, and classes may include close reading, discussion, writing, presentations and project-based activities. Fall and Spring. (Fewer sections offered in the fall.)

Prerequisite: HUM 214

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students demonstrate knowledge of the intellectual and cultural trends of modern civilization as global.
  2. Students identify different values and worldviews, with an emphasis upon understanding relationships: between government, religion, art, and science and between the individual, society, and the global community.
  3. Students write a well-supported, organized, and clearly articulated argument using both primary and secondary sources, and correct documentation style.
  4. Students critically analyze, in writing and orally, religious and secular philosophies, power-structures and their meaning in the modern world.