courses of instruction - Lafayette College

ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY
tion, students take Anthropology and So
ciology 235. They also select five other
courses relating to Business, Work, and
Society including at least one course from
each of the following three categories: (a)
anthropology or sociology, (b) economics,
and (c) economic history.
4. Urban Studies. This concentration
focuses on the urban experience. Stu
dents select six courses relating to the city
in such fields as government and law,
economics, history, and sociology.
5. Independent Concentration. Stu
dents may shape their own programs if
they prefer to focus on a theme of concen
tration other than Social Justice, Popular
Culture and High Culture, Business,
Work, and Society, or Urban Studies.
150. Introduction to American Studies.
This course provides an introduction to
American Studies through interdisciplinary
study of modern culture and society. The
course considers the ways in which various
cultural forms including novels, poetry,
movies, music, painting, sociological stud
ies, journalism, and statements of govern
ment policy shape and are shaped by the
historical moment in which they appear.
Offered in fall semester. Mr. Rotella
241. Work, Culture, and Society in In
dustrial America: Regional Culture in the
Industrial Age. An introduction to the
study of the modernization process in
America with emphasis on the Lehigh Val
ley-anthracite region, the seedbed of the
American industrial revolution. Topics in
clude the development of industrial capi
talism and the factory system; changing
modes of work; the rise of the labor move
ment; immigration and ethnicity; and lit
erature in the industrial age. Mr. Miller
350-352. Special Topics. These courses
offer study of various topics in American
Studies. Topics will be announced before
each semester in which the courses are of
fered. S taff
362. Seminar in American Studies. The
seminar in American Studies is interdisci
56
plinary in approach. The topic changes an
nually. Recent topics have included: the
northeast Pennsylvania region, visions of
New York City, social history of American
journalism, and the post-World War II in
dustrial city. Offered in spring semester.
[W] Mr. Rotella
363. Senior Research Seminar. This sem
inar provides a capstone to the American
Studies major. Each student writes a major
research paper about some aspect of
American society or culture. Students
choose topics that build upon and inte
grate the courses they have taken. The pa
per must be based on original sources and
must involve a combination of at least two
disciplines (such as art and literature, eco
nomics and sociology, or history and law).
Offered in fall semester. [W] Ms. Rosen
390, 391. Independent Study. Qualified
students may develop, in consultation
with a faculty member, a one-semester
course directed to a particular theme or
topic in American Studies. 390 offered in
fall semester; 391 in spring semester. Pre
requisite: American Studies 150. Staff
495, 496. Thesis. Students majoring in
American Studies who wish to become
candidates for honors register for the se
nior thesis. During the senior year, honors
candidates pursue independent study cul
minating in a thesis that utilizes more than
one discipline. Honors are awarded upon
successful defense of the thesis in oral ex
amination. Offered in fall and spring se
mesters. Staff
ANTHROPOLOGY
AND SOCIOLOGY
Professor Schneiderman, Head; Professors
Niles, Norton; Associate Professor Baiter;
Assistant Professors Shulman, Smith
Is human society to be viewed as an order
ly, integrated, cohesive system, or is it a
battleground of conflicts between classes
and ethnic groups, even men and women?
What does it mean to be human? These