courses of instruction - Lafayette College

ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY
207. The Inca World: Empire and Imagi
nation in the Ancient Andes. The course
explores the empire created by the Incas,
noting the ways that the ordered their
society and reconstructed their natural
world through terracing, irrigation, and
architecture. Using archaeological evidence
and eyewitness accounts of their society,
students consider how Inca political orga
nization and handiworks reflect an Andean
orientation toward the supernatural world.
The course concludes with an examination
of native resistance to Spanish rule. Prereq
uisites: A&S 102 or 103, or permission of
instructor. [W] Ms. Niks
208. New World Civilizations. The course
considers the rise of native civilizations in
Mesoamerica and the Andes, focusing on
the Mayas, the Aztecs, and the Incas. It
considers the evidence by which we under
stand these cultures including glyphic in
scriptions, works of art and architecture
and their legacy in the contemporary cul
tures of Latin America. Prerequisite: A&S
102,103, or 104, or permis- sion of instruc
tor. [W] Ms. Niks
209. Selected Studies in Ethnography.
The focus of the course will be an ethno
graphic area, such as the Middle East,
Oceania, or Mesoamerica. Descriptions of
current offerings are available through the
departmental office or through the Regis
trar's Office. Prerequisite: A&S 102 or 103,
or permission of instructor. Staff
210. Contemporary American Society.
This course provides a critical understand
ing and analysis of modern American so
ciety, culture, and state. The approach is
interpretive and thematic, examining indi
vidualism, community, ethnicity, work
and leisure, technology, politics, the state,
etc. The course builds on introductory lev
el perspectives, applying them in a more
detailed and focused manner. Prerequisite:
A&S 102 or 103, or permission of instruc
tor. Staff
211. Symbolic Interaction. This course
examines the role of symbolic communica
tion and interaction in the formation of in
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dividuals and societies. The theories of
self formulated by Cooley, Mead, Thomas,
and Goffman are emphasized among oth
ers. Prerequisite: A&S 102 or 103, or per
mission of instructor. Mr. Schneiderman
212. Sex and Gender: A Cross-Cultural
View. Students explore the variety of ways
that cultures assign roles on the basis of
gender by in-depth consideration of several
contemporary societies. Students also con
sider the evolution of gender roles, and the
way in which Western perceptions of these
roles may have contributed to explanatory
models in the social sciences. Prerequisite:
A&S 102,103, or 104, or permission of in
structor. [W] Ms. Niks
214. Race and Ethnic Relations. Minority
group distinctions of race, religion, or na
tional origin are considered in relation to
migration, confrontation of differing cul
tures, psychological tensions, and cultural
change. American examples are analyzed
and compared with situations in other
ethnically composite societies. Prerequi
site: A&S 102 or 103, or permission of in
structor. Ms. Smith
215. Occupations and Professions. This
course focuses on the sociological study of
occupations and professions in modern
societies. Among topics to be discussed
are the social meaning of work; the con
cept of career; and the process of profes-
sionalization. Special attention is given to
the study of occupational groups as a
means of exploring some basic social
problems and issues of American society.
Prerequisite: A&S 102 or 103, or permis
sion of instructor. Mr. Norton
216. Class, Status, and Power. This course
focuses on the development, application
and redefinition of the concept of social
class as related to contemporary society.
Power and status relations, social mobility,
and mass society will be topics of special
interest. Prerequisite: A&S 102 or 103, or
permission of instructor. Mr. Norton
218. Political Sociology. This course is de
voted to an examination of the social caus-