Elective Courses

CoLA Programs offer an array of courses that are of interest to students across the university. If you are looking to fill an elective for SUMMER OR FALL 2023, check out the CoLA classes below that are grouped by "theme." These courses do not require a prerequisite.

Click on the Course Flyers (title) for additional information. For a full listing of courses offered by CoLA Programs in Summer and Fall 2023, please see the Schedule of Classes.

International

GER 101a and 101b: German Language and Culture
Dr. Mary Bricker
Summer
GER 101a is 5/15/23-6/09/23
GER 101b is 6/12/23-8/6/23 (must take GER 101a first)
Online, asynchronous
This course offers an introduction to the language and culture of the German-speaking peoples. It combines an overview of German political, economic, social and aesthetic developments with the acquisition of elementary-level written and spoken German.

CHIN 370: Contemporary China
Dr. Shu-Ling Wu
Fall
Online, asynchronous
This course explores the social, political, economic, and cultural changes in the Chinese-speaking world and examines the underlying historical factors, values, and beliefs that shape them. The objectives are to equip students with the background knowledge that is crucial to interpret and understand China-related events.

HIST 461: Socialism: The Dream and the Nightmare
Dr. Jonathan Bean
Fall
On-Campus T 5:00-7:30 or Online, asynchronous
This course examines the history of socialism, from Marx to the triumph of socialist states around the world and, then, their sudden collapse in the 1990s. It examines the writings of socialist thinkers and their critics, histories of communism in various nations, democratic socialism in Europe, along with the experiences of those who lived under socialism. This is a multi-disciplinary course that incorporates philosophy, history, film, literature, and other media.

HIST 493: Racism and Antiracism in the Americas
Dr. Theodore Cohen
Fall
Online, asynchronous
What is racism? And, how do we identify it? How does the definition vary from country to country? What is anti-racism? And, how does it relate to the history of racism? Find out in this class?

INTL 301: Working Internationally
Summer: Online, asynchronous with Dr. Jeffrey Punske
Fall: On-Campus MW 2:00-3:15 or TR 3:35-4:50; or online. Various Instructors.
Students are introduced to a wide variety of interactional and organizational patterns observed in international and professional contexts. They acquire conceptual and practical skills to work effectively with people of diverse international and professional backgrounds. This course prepares students to work internationally.

Business, Politics, and Science

ANTH 104: The Human Experience
Dr. Ulrich Reichard
Summer
Online, asynchronous
This course offers a broad, cross-cultural, and evolutionary perspective to Anthropology. It provides an appreciation of how anthropology frames and views the world and the study of humans, and it covers the four established sub-fields of anthropological inquiry: human biocultural evolution, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, sociocultural anthropology, and the emerging field of humans and sustainability.

GER 481: Film in the Third Reich: The Manipulation of Mass Culture
Dr. Chris Chiasson
Fall
MW 2:00-3:15
Nazi cinema offered visions of heroism, hope, and hatred, from the melodramas of private life to historical fantasies to the public spectacle of Nazi Party rallies. Explore how films brought together fascist politics and mass culture.

HIST 409: Food and History
Dr. Hale Yilmaz
Intersession: May 15-June 11
Online, asynchronous
Food is fundamentally about survival-it was for our ancestors millenia ago, and continues to be so, not only for the millions of undernourished worldwide, but for all of humanity as we confront the impact of obesity, globalization and environmental change. Because food is essential to our survival, its history is long, varied, and rich, and touches on themes including (but not limited to) politics and government; gender, race, and ethnicity; the family, religion and culture; health and the environment, and business, industry, and advertising. This class will explore these themes of global food history.

PHIL 320: Deductive Logic
Dr. Matthew Brown
Summer
Online, asynchronous
This course is an introduction to modern, formal, deductive logic. Formal logic is the formal study of the structures of language, reasoning, inference, and proof. This course will focus on formal analysis of statements and arguments, sentential and quantified logics, formal semantics and models, and logical proofs. The course is particularly useful for pre-law students preparing for the LSAT, computer science and mathematics students interested in formal proofs and logical structures, any anyone interested in improving their skills in reasoning and argumentation.

PHIL 490: History and Philosophy of Science
Dr. Matthew Brown
Fall
On-Campus T 1:00-3:30
An exploration of historical and philosophical perspectives on the theories, methods, practices, and institutions of the sciences, including the natural and social sciences, mathematics, medicine, and engineering. Topics may include the nature of the scientific process and scientific method, the origins and historical development of the sciences, theory change, experiments, models, objectivity, scientific realism, and the role of values in science.

Cultural Topics

AFR311A/HIST362A: Black American History to 1865
Dr. Theodore Cohen
Fall
On-Campus, MWF 10:00-10:50
This course covers the role of Black Americans, and their contributions, in the building of America. Topics include: 1619 and the Origins of Slavery, Black Resistance and Black Radicalism, Race and Democracy, and Abolition and Its Legacies.

CLAS 133A: Elementary Latin
Dr. David Johnson
Fall
On-Campus MWF 10:00-10:50
Introduction to the basics of Latin, taught in a natural method so you can learn Latin the way you learned English. A great way to improve your English and learn something more about Ancient Rome.

CLAS 230: Greek Mythology
Dr. Mont Allen
Fall
On-Campus MW 11:00-11:50+Friday Discussion
Journey into the stories that ancient Greeks told about their gods, heroes, and monsters — from major Olympian gods such as Zeus and Athena to minor Dryads and Nymphs, from mighty Titans and Giants to mischievous Centaurs and monstrous Minotaurs, from heroic human warriors to murderous fathers and sorcerous mothers.

CLAS 271: Roman Civilization
Dr. David Johnson
Summer (5/15/23-6/11/23) and Fall
Online, asynchronous
Study the rise and fall of Rome through readings, discussion, and historical role-playing games. Why did the Roman Empire rise, succeed, then fall? Would you, as a leading Roman, move to avenge the death of Julius Caesar? Persecute the Christians?

CLAS 333/HIST 303: Socrates and Galileo
Dr. David Johnson
Fall
On-Campus MWF 2:00-2:50
Why did the Athenians kill Socrates, the founder of western philosophy? And why did the Catholic Church condemn Galileo for putting the sun at the center of the solar system? You’ll learn through historical role-playing games in which you will debate a fascinating mix of religion, politics, science, and philosophy.

CMST 493: Studies in Tourism
Dr. Rebecca Walker
Summer (6/12/23-7/7/23)
Online, asynchronous MTWF; R 10:00-12:00 via Zoom
Do you like to travel? Do you like learning about other cultures? Want to get out there and see a bit more of Southern Illinois? This class is for YOU! This course explores contemporary tourism in a broad context of intercultural communication, rhetoric, performance, and cultural studies.

GER 230: Germanic and Norse Mythology
Dr. Chris Chiasson
Summer (6/12/23-8/6/23): MWR 1:00-3:00(online)
Fall: MWF 9:00-9:50
GER 230 is an introductory course in Germanic and Norse mythology. It provides an overview of the beliefs and religious practices of the pre-Christian Germanic tribes and documents the afterlife of many of these myths in the contemporary world. All readings and lectures are in English.

LING/PHIL 410: Philosophy of Language
Dr. Jeffrey Punske
Summer
Online, asynchronous
In this course, we will discuss ideas of "truth", "meaning", and natural language.

SOC/WGSS 223: Intro to Gender and Society
Intersession: May 15-June 9
Online, asynchronous
Did you ever wonder if men and women are as different as the media suggests? Or why the media says women earn less than men? Or why we say 'woman doctor' and 'male nurse'? Did you know that many aspects of your life are a result of the ideas that society has about men and women? Did you know tha the gender system shapes the lives of boys/men and not just girls/women?

WGSS 496/591: Sex & HIV/AIDS
Dr. Jacob Juntunen
Summer
Online, asynchronous
Since the appearance of a "strange new disease" in gay men in the U.S., HIV/AIDS has been closely associated with sexuality. In this course we will draw upon scholarship in the social sciences and humanities to examine the interplay between HIV/AIDS and sexuality.

Race and Identity

Interactive Learning

CMST 493: Communication Skills for Career Development
Dr. Criag Engstrom
Fall
Online
In this class, Dr. Engstrom will share his knowledge and teach learners the skills and competencies needed to be a successful career and communication coach. Students will be tested on their ability to coach others and provide feedback effectively. This course is not about how to get a job; rather, it explores how to use communication theory and skills to coach clients on how to be persuasive and use effective communication in their professional development and career journeys. Ideally, learners will have taken a few communication courses.

Elective Courses | College of Liberal Arts | SIU

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