text:
Working with a variety of drawing materials-charcoal, pencil, ink, gouache, and acrylic paint-students investigate a fundamental aesthetic and visual vocabulary. Beginning with exercises in mark-making, then working through a formal study of basic visual elements and simple subject matter, students develop a working understanding of two-dimensional composition.
Quad-sitting table rentals are now available on a first come first serve basis at the SAC Desk M-F. Check-outs start at 11:30AM. Check-ins end at 2:00PM.
The location of Quad sitting is in the JSC Quad (between the JSC and The Cooler!)
See you on the Quad!!!
Occidental College
Advisory Committee
Professor, Chemistry; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry
B.S., University of Puget Sound; M.S., D.A., Washington State University
Professor, Biology; Biochemistry; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry
B.S., Emory University; Ph.D., Harvard University
Associate Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.A., Macalester College; Ph.D., UC Berkeley
Associate Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry
B.A., University of San Diego; Ph.D., UC Santa Barbara
Non Tenure Track Professor, Chemistry; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry
B.A., State University of New York; M.S., Nova University; Ph.D., University of South Florida
Associate Professor, Chemistry; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry
B.S., Moscow State Lomonosov University; Ph.D., Armenian Academy of Sciences
Assistant Professor, Biology
B.A. Pomona College; Ph.D. UCLA
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biology
B.S., State University of New York at Binghamton; Ph.D., New York University
Associate Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.S., Indiana University; Ph.D., UC San Diego
Associate Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., UCLA
Associate Professor, Chemistry
H.B.Sc., University of Toronto; Ph.D., Caltech
- Phone: (323) 259-2761
- Fax: (323) 341-4912
Occidental College
Regular Faculty
Daniel Pondella, chair
Associate Professor, Biology; Director, Vantuna Research Group
A.B., M.A., Occidental College; Ph.D., UCLA
Associate Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.A., Macalester College; Ph.D., UC Berkeley
Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Kinesiology; Advisory Committee, Urban and Environmental Policy; Affiliated Faculty, Latino/a and Latin American Studies
B.A., Colorado College; Ph.D., UC Berkeley
Associate Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry
B.A., University of San Diego; Ph.D., UC Santa Barbara
Professor, Biology
B.A., M.A., California State College, Sonoma; Ph.D., UC Berkeley
Assistant Professor, Biology
B.S., University of Arizona; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Urban and Environmental Policy
B.A., Stanford University; M.A., University of Connecticut; M.A., College of William and Mary; Ph.D., UCLA
Assistant Professor, Biology
B.A. Pomona College; Ph.D. UCLA
Professor, Biology; Biochemistry; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry
B.S., Emory University; Ph.D., Harvard University
Associate Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.S., Indiana University; Ph.D., UC San Diego
Associate Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., UCLA
On Special Appointment
Non Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Biology
B.S., University of California, Santa Barbara; M.A., Northeastern University; M.S., California State University, Northridge; Ph.D. Florida State University
Non Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Biology
B.S., University of Illinois; Ph.D., Binghampton University
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biology
B.S. U.C. Santa Barbara, M.S. University of Hawaii, Ph.D University of Hawaii
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biology
B.A., Occidental College; Ph.D., UCLA
Non Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Biology
B.S., Humboldt State University; Ph.D., University of Michigan
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biology
B.A. Occidental, Ph.D U.C.L.A.
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biology
B.S., State University of New York at Binghamton; Ph.D., New York University
Adjunct Instructor, Biology
B.S., UNC Wilmington, M.S., CSU Northridge
Adjunct Instructor, Biology
B.S. University of California, Santa Cruz, M.S. California State University Long Beach
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biology
B.S. University of Wisconsin, Ph.D University of Michigan
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Occidental College
Art History & Visual Arts
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S101 - Drawing Fundamentals
Working with a variety of drawing materials-charcoal, pencil, ink, gouache, and acrylic paint-students investigate a fundamental aesthetic and visual vocabulary. Beginning with exercises in mark-making, then working through a formal study of basic visual elements and simple subject matter, students develop a working understanding of two-dimensional composition.
S102 - Painting Fundamentals
Beginning with a familiarization of paint, gesture and mark, then working through a formal study of basic visual elements (line, shape, form, light, space, and color) and simple subject matter (still life, landscape, the figure, abstraction), students develop a basic understanding of image construction and two-dimensional composition.
S103 - Sculpture I
The aim of this course is to introduce the conceptual, technical and critical tools necessary to begin a vibrant contemporary sculpture practice. The class consists of a combination of technical seminars, in-class fabrication, critiques, field trips, informal lectures in contemporary art history, readings, and a series of short papers. Emphasis will be placed on the student's ability to make, understand, discuss and write about sculpture in a substantive way.
S104 - Life Study
Working with a variety of drawing materials, through direct observation of the human figure, students will explore and compare traditional and contemporary approaches to the study of the human figure. Emphasis will be on the believability of form in space.
S105 - Basic Printmaking
Through a series of projects, students develop an understanding of the unique properties of relief and intaglio printmaking. Students are introduced to different print media to gain awareness of how process influences changes in visual communication.
S106 - Color and Composition
An introduction to the understanding of visual composition, design concepts, and color theory. Students complete a series of visual problems which focus on creative thinking in a variety of wet and dry media.
S107 - Digital Photography
The aim of the Digital Photography Course is to develop the conceptual, technical and historical tools to develop a critical photography practice. The course will consist of a combination of technical seminars, critiques, class readings, field trips, lab time and lectures in photographic history and contemporary art practice. The course will provide a technical introduction in the fundamentals of digital photography, including camera operation, file management, image processing, Photoshop, printing techniques and image presentation. Additionally, students will develop the critical skills needed to discuss photographs, productively participate in critiques, and generally situate their photographic production within a larger cultural and historical construct. Emphasis will be placed on student's ability to make, understand and discuss photographs in a substantive way. Lectures, critiques and personal consultations will stress the interdependent concerns of technique and content. Underscoring the course's outcomes of visual literacy are the centrality of photography to the historical development of modernity and the crucial role of digital photography in our image-centric globalized world. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to integrate the breadth of their liberal arts studies in their image making.
S110 - Ceramics
Introduction to wheel and building methods of ceramic production. To be taught in collaboration with Xiem Clay Center in Pasadena. Access to studio, materials fully supplied.
2 units
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: FINE ARTS (2 units of 4 unit requirement)
S203 - Intermediate Scupture
Intermediate study in sculpture, including developing theoretical, historical, and critical understanding of materials and media. Emphasis may change from year to year. Prerequisite: Art S103 or permission of instructor.
S209 - Photography Against the Grain
This course is a conceptual art class that takes photography as its subject. Using a wide range of photographs and photographic practices, the class will consider how photographs are instrumental in forming our notions of self, family, work, and nation. We will also grapple with the difference between analogue and digital photography, and photography's relation to the physical world. The class will read key photography essays that will challenge you to think critically about the role of photography in contemporary culture and modernity, historiography and science. We will use a broad range of art techniques like drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, digital alteration and even craft techniques to remake and rework photographs to reveal hidden truths, or create new meanings. Unlike some classes where you learn art techniques first, here you will be expected to adopt techniques and generate art from a set of ideas that arise from our readings, discussions, experiments, and field trips. Prerequisite: Any studio art course.
S210 - Intermediate Painting
Intermediate study in painting, including developing theoretical, historical, and critical understanding of materials and media. Emphasis may change from year to year. Prerequisite: Art S102.
S215 - Silkscreen Printmaking
This is an introduction to the fine art of silkscreen printmaking. Students learn the historical, theoretical and critical understanding of the process with an emphasis on developing their artistic voice by completing specific assignments.
S216 - Lithography
An introduction to the process of lithography, which entails the printing from a drawn image on limestone. Course emphasis will be on the drawing and how the medium allows for evolving the visual image over time. Prerequisite: one course in studio art.
S217 - Photo Processes in Printmaking
An introduction to new combined photo and drawing processes in printmaking including photo-sensitive emulsion on copper plates, solar etching and paper plate lithography. This course will explore how photography can influence the many approaches to contemporary printmaking. Students should have an interest in creating photo images and some familiarity with Photoshop software. Prerequisite: Art S105.
S290 - Art Outside the Bounds: Wanlass Artists in Residence
Students will work with prominent visiting artists who will be working on campus as Wanlass Artists in Residence. The emphasis of the course will vary with the Artist in Residence's practice area, which will vary. Work may include installation, performance or social practice. Readings and conceptual ideas specific to the Artist's chosen medium and project will be explored; students will work with the artists to create individual and collaborative projects.
S310 - Advanced Projects in Painting and Drawing
Advanced study in painting and drawing, including developing a theoretical, historical and critical understanding of materials and media. Specific focus may vary from year to year. Prerequisite: Art S102 and Art S210, or permission of instructor.
S320 - Advanced Projects in Interdisciplinary Arts
This course invites students with art experience from across the College, including visual arts, music, theater, creative writing, etc., to pursue self-directed interdisciplinary art projects. Video installation, sound art, performance art, site-specific art, and collaborative projects will be the focus of the class. The class meets once a week for seminars and critical feedback, along with out of class visits to contemporary art and performance venues. Prerequisite: any two AHVA, Music, Theater, or Creative Writing courses, and permission of instructor.
S325 - Papermaking/Artists' Books
Advanced course in papermaking with emphasis on the creative potential of handmade paper. Projects include colored pulp painting, cast paper and sheet forming, with a major focus on making three handmade paper artists' books. Prerequisite: one course in studio art.
S327 - Book Arts/Letterpress Printing
This class is an introduction to the historical art of letterpress printing using design elements with text and image. Students will complete a collaborative artist book with hand binding and original imagery using typographic design, hand typesetting, and letterpress printing.
2 units
S328 - Book Arts: The Handprinted Book
Students will advance their knowledge of letterpress printing by planning, designing and producing a handprinted artist book. Elements covered: narrative, sequencing, page layout and design, type as graphic, innovative image-making methods for the Vandercook and structure of the book, . Theoretical readings and research conducted in Special Collections will support the students' projects and focus on 20th and 21st Century artist book design and production. Prerequisite: ARTS 327 or permission of instructor
2 units
S330 - Advanced Printmaking
Advanced study in printmaking, including developing a theoretical, historical and critical understanding of photo-based materials and media including images on pronto plates and monotypes. Prerequisite: Art S105.
S380 - Providing Context: Practices of Making, Writing, and Curating Art
This class is designed to introduce students to the practice of writing about and curating contemporary art. Guided by influential texts from sources as varied as blogs, podcasts, magazines, TV shows, zines, vlogs, and, of course, books, we will explore the shifting roles of the contemporary artist, art writer, and curator in today's diverse and globalized art world. Students will put theory into practice by engaging in their own writing about contemporary art in Los Angeles, with the goal of creating an expansive critical space for their thoughts to flourish. Additionally, we will investigate conventional and alternative curatorial practices that question the cultural, political, economic, regional, and social contexts shaping the exhibition of contemporary art. Students will mount their own exhibitions designed to question the boundaries of the "white cube gallery", pushing art into surprising public and private spaces. ! Coursework will include multiple arts writing assignments, regular visits to a variety of arts venues, and individual and collaborative curatorial projects Prerequisites: Major in AHVA or permission of the instructor
2 units
S397 - Independent Study in Studio Art
Prerequisite: permission of department.
2 or 4 units
S490 - Studio Senior Seminar
Group critiques of individual projects in student's choice of medium. Discussion of techniques, exhibition problems, self-evaluation, and current art movements, in the context of the history of art. Prerequisites: At least junior standing and ARTS 102, ARTS 103, ARTS 105, ARTS 203, ARTS 210; and ARTS 216 or ARTS 217
S499 - Honors Research in Studio Art
Prerequisite: permission of department.
No result
M110 - Introduction to Digital Design
This 2-unit course focuses on the fundamental processes and tools involved in digital design for the media arts: color, resolution, image manipulation, compositing, typography, vector graphics, basic Web design, project workflow, and output/finishing formats. Students will become familiar with the interfaces of essential software platforms including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Dreamweaver and will apply concepts and techniques to various assignments. This course satisfies the Introduction to Digital Design prerequisite required for many courses at Art Center College of Design. Prerequisite: Instructor permission required
2 units
M140 - Introduction to Film and New Media
Basics in film and video making. Students explore and compare traditional and contemporary approaches to the motion picture, experimental film, and video art through the development of a series of production assignments and a final project. Class will be comprised of discussions of theoretical readings, screenings, technical demonstrations and critiques. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
M143 - Introduction to Visual and Critical Studies
M145 - Introduction to Digital Media and Culture
Born Digital, Growing Up Digital, Teaching Digital Natives, Understanding the Digital Generation ... these are just some of the titles in a veritable explosion of guidebooks on how thinking, learning, and doing have changed in a world transformed by digital, networked, and social media. In this course, we take a critical look at the theories and prophesies on the "Net Gen"; we explore and assess new digital possibilities for communicating, teaching, and learning; and we think critically, contextually, and historically about the ways in which new media forms and practices shape identity, community, sociality, creativity, privacy, civic engagement, and everyday life. Class projects will enable students to experiment with and gain practical experience applying a range of media 2.0 technologies to their own academic work. Should be completed by the end of the sophomore year for AHVA Media Arts and Culture majors.
M146 - Aesthetics of the Cinema
This course breaks down the aesthetic components of film and examines each element's function in the production of meaning in a text. The course underscores the fact that cinema's aesthetic language is not solely generated by Hollywood. It is a fluid system, highly contingent upon cultural, temporal, technological, and economic considerations. Selected international and alternative cinema movements will be examined for their enduring influences upon the global audiovisual aesthetic lexicon. Should be completed by the end of the sophomore year for AHVA Media Arts and Culture majors.
M220 - Narrative Practices
This course focuses on theory, form, and practice of audiovisual, time-based storytelling. Students will become versed in the format and syntax of screenwriting and will explore the potentials of storytelling, manipulation of time, space, and point of view, character development, and narrative theory through a series of writing exercises and the crafting of short screenplays. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
M240 - Sound Theory and Design
Despite a preoccupation with visual analysis of film, video, and new media, these forms are in fact audiovisual, with sound exerting enormous influence on our perceptions of content, story, and reality. This course will historically, critically, and practically explore the emergence and evolution of audiovisual, time-based media. Sample topics will include early global aesthetic debates on the arrival of synchronized sound in cinema; sound and genre films; sound design and documentary; soundscapes and immersive new media; music and the moving image; as well as and techniques in sound recording and editing. Weekly readings and screenings will be complemented by short audio-visual projects, critical writing, and a final paper/project. Prerequisite: Art M 140.
M241 - The Politics and Poetics of Documentary Film
What are the ethical responsibilities of a documentary filmmaker in relation to the history of atrocity such as the Holocaust and the Rape of Nanjing in WWII? What gives documentary films their unique voice in representing undocumented and underrepresented social groups including migrant laborers, racialized sexual minorities, and war widows? What are the types of documentaries that forge interethnic, intercultural, and intergenerational understanding? How can the blurring of boundaries between fiction and nonfiction inquiry serve progressive purposes in the public sphere? This course studies the history of the documentary film and its various modes through the key issues in social and political representation. Prerequisite: Art M146 or 243, or permission of instructor.
M242 - Projects in Documentary Video
The course will explore a variety of approaches to documentary video, including both narrative and experimental forms. Hands-on projects will be supplemented by discussions of theoretical readings, screenings, and technical issues. Prerequisite: Art M140, Art M241 recommended.
M244 - Topics in Media Representation
This intermediate topical course of varying emphases focuses on representations of difference, while underscoring the connections between race, class, gender, and sexual identity. Through screenings and key texts from film and media studies, cultural studies, gender studies, and visual culture studies, students will learn critical methodologies for analyzing a range of media forms and the complex relationship between authors and spectators.
M246 - Topics in Film History
Classical and Post-Classical American Cinema (1930s to 1960s). A survey course on American independent cinema and Hollywood studio productions from the emergence of sound cinema and the fortification of business models and generic conventions in the studio system up through the social, political, and civil rumblings of the early 1960's. Topics include genre theory; gender, race, and class in American cinema and society; independent and experimental counter-cinemas operating outside the Hollywood model; censorship; and the evolution of film genres. The course will draw upon Occidental's location in Los Angeles as a source of research, screening, and programming opportunities. Prerequisite: M146 or 243.
American Cinema (1970s to the Present). A survey course on American independent cinema and Hollywood studio productions from the late 1970s to the present. Topics include the response of independent and experimental cinemas to Hollywood's hegemony; the cultural significance of American cinema; the global success of American films and their impact upon production, stardom, distribution, and exhibition; the aesthetics of film image, sound, and narration; and the effects of new digital technologies on spectacle, and spectatorship. The course will draw upon Occidental's location in Los Angeles as a source of research, screening, and programming opportunities. Prerequisite: M146 or 243.
Modernity and the Rise of Cinematic Visuality. Many have argued that the history of modernity has been, above all, a history of visualization. In this course, we will examine a diverse range of nineteenth and early twentieth century visual practices, technologies, and experiences—including train rides, panoramas, urban spaces, assembly lines, medical photographs, amusement parks, side shows, optical toys, and more—that helped shape the "modern observer" by altering both the perception and understanding of time and space, public and private, work and leisure, the normal and deviant, and the individual and collective. Through a combination of critical readings and screenings, we will ask how such practices of looking not only influenced early cinematic form and content, but also how they continue to inflect postmodern media culture, from television to the internet.
M248 - Topics in Global Media
A survey course on the global language of film and media. Screenings and readings will cover a range of national contexts, examining questions of national identity, national cinema, alternative cinema, Third cinema, experimental ethnography, diaspora, postcoloniality, globalization, and transnationality. The course will take advantage of the international and intercultural makeup of Los Angeles as a means of exploring media and accessing practitioners who are working across national boundaries.
M250 - Topics in Media Theory and Practice
M255 - Media, Bodies, and Space
This course examines the history, theory, and practice of integrating time-based media into three-dimensional space. This is a theory/practice course: students will study the history of video and audio installation and attendant theories around interactivity, virtuality, and site specificity, while experimenting with different methods of troubling the passive relationship of viewer to screen in traditional cinema. Through hands-on exercises, students will develop sensitivity to three-dimensional space, explore the relationship of the human body to aural and visual environments, and create a series of linear and non-linear narratives that take into account viewers in motion. The class will culminate in the production of a media object and/or installation that demonstrates a careful consideration of form and content in relation to space. Prerequisite: ARTM 140.
M260 - Topics in Digital Culture
This intermediate topical course addresses new and evolving issues around digital technologies and networked publics, examining their social, cultural, political, and global ramifications both on- and off-line. Coursework will engage digital media theory and scholarship.
Exploring Virtual Reality. This 5-unit theory/practice course takes a historical, critical, and experiential approach to the questions around virtual reality and the hopes and fears generated by technologically-simulated experiences. Through readings, screenings, field trips, and hands-on workshops, students will study the discourse around virtual reality, telepresence, hyperreality, and cyberspace; experience first-hand examples of the current state of the art; examine how authors and film-makers have depicted the relationship of the "virtual" to the "real" and one's avatar to one's self; and participate in small-scale collaborative projects that attempt to map and conjoin the virtual and real spaces of Occidental College. Screenings will include: The Matrix, Existenz, Sleep Dealer, and Avatar. No Prerequisites.
M290 - Intermediate Productions
This course provides the opportunity to crew on an Art F490 Senior Comprehensives media project as the designated director of photography, receiving specialized cinematography training at the intermediate level from a professional cinematographer. Projects range in form from fiction and documentary to experimental and installation-based media. Through screenings, readings, hands-on workshops, and shoots, students will learn technical skills, research and develop an aesthetic plan, devise a production plan, and execute principal photography for their chosen senior comprehensives project. Course may be taken up to two times for credit within the major. Prerequisites: M140.
This course provides the opportunity to crew on an Art F490 Senior Comprehensives media project as the designated producer, learning the logistics, ethics, business, and art of independent media producing. Producers will be working on a range of potential project forms, from fiction and documentary, to more experimental or new media works, each with its own producing particularities. No prior experience is required, but commitment to the class experience and the chosen student production is vital. Course may be taken up to two times for credit within the major.
M295 - Topics in Film and Media Studies
The study of film and media has involved disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches for about half a century. This intermediate topical course of varying emphases studies the key critical terms, issues, and debates in popular media cultural study, including genre study, in relation to specific topics. Readings of film and media examples illustrate how different theories or perspectives can be applied to contemporary pop culture.
Genre in Contemporary Film, TV, and Digital Media. Genre films were part of Classic Hollywood, but genres started changing in interesting ways as media industries evolved after World War II, with the introduction of television, new technologies that enabled shooting on location or new opportunities with color film, the rise of drive-in movie theaters and indie or exploitation filmmaking. We will study the shift from classic genre films and theory to hybrid genres and genre revisionism in film/media movements spearheaded by people of color, feminists, and LGBT communities as well as studios. The focus in the class is on genre theory studied through historical and technological shifts in media production. Screenings will introduce a range of genres, from classic films like the Western and noir to more recent genres like road films, television melodramas and war video games. Prerequisite: M146 or 243, or permission of instructor.
Imagining War: Genre on Screen and Battlefield. The war film has arguably been one of the most consistent and popular elements of cinema's history. It was a component of film from its beginnings and is now a regular mainstay amongst Hollywood blockbusters. It has also undergone several political revisions and technological shifts in media production, distribution and exhibition, making it ideally suited to study the theory and history of genre. Importantly, this course will not only look at how war figures in film, but how film also profoundly effects and configures war. Entertainment andwar are the United States' primary exports. Militarism and the Hollywood studio system have had a long and deadly interdependence. By conceiving of the viewing screen as an extension of the battlefield (and vice versa), this course will look at the profound social and political implications of the classic genre system. We will do this by examining such films as Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Battle of Algiers, Black Hawk Down, Kandahar, Night and Fog, The Hurt Locker. Das Boot, Saving Private Ryan, All Quiet on the Western Front, Dr. Strangelove, Inglourious Basterds, Birth of a Nation, Rambo, MASH, as well as a host of television shows, Websites, and video games. rerequisite: M146 or 243, or permission of instructor.
The Western: From Colonialism to Gaming. This course will primarily explore the classic Hollywood genre system through a detailed look at 'The Western.' However, before looking at how genre operates within cinema, we take a broad historical and theoretical examination of genre within literary studies, critical theory, Wild West shows, philosophy, travel literature, ethnographic photography, and cultural studies. The aim is to critically examine a wide array of generic conventions within The Western film, while simultaneously situating these conventions within the broader historical and ideological context of European colonization of North America. Particular attention will be placed on the role of racial and gender performances within The Western genre as both a founding American myth and a component of the Hollywood film system. We will analyze both the classic Western as well as revisionist films. Additionally, we will investigate how the genre transforms as it moves into other media, including fine art, television, gaming, and other digital contexts.
M320 - Advanced Narrative Practices
This course emphasizes the advanced design and writing of innovative narratives for various audiovisual time-based media. Students will become conversant in the tools and propensities of audiovisual narratives in fiction and documentary modes through screenwriting exercises, group video exercises, and the completion of a written script of significant length along with a preproduction plan involving visual, sound, and music design. Prerequisites: M220. Instructor Permission Required
M340 - Advanced Editing
This course provides technical training on a range of post-production software platforms, best practices in sound and picture editing, and skills in post-production finishing/project delivery workflow. Production comprehensives seniors, or their dedicated project editors, will use senior comprehensives footage to complete a series of structured projects and assignments. The course will also provide professionalization tools, training students in development and production of media portfolio materials. Prerequisites: 140 and Senior status or affiliation with a Senior comps project.
M355 - Advanced Projects in Video and Digital Media
Advanced study in the ideation and execution of video and digital media projects, including developing a theoretical, historical, and practical exploration of form, function, and exhibition. Each student will direct a media project of their own devising and work in a range of rotating crew roles in realizing the projects of their peers. Prerequisites: Art M140 and Junior Status in major.
M390 - Junior Seminar in Film Theory and Criticism
Topical course of rotating thematic subject matter bringing together all Film & Media Studies juniors, regardless of the intended form of their senior comprehensives project. Students will read, watch, write, debate, and present self-directed research, laying the groundwork for their senior year comprehensives work. Required course for AHVA Film/Media Studies Juniors. Prerequisites: permission of instructor.
M397 - Independent Study in Media Arts & Culture
Prerequisite: permission of department. Laboratory fee: $55 for projects in production.
2 or 4 units
M490 - Senior Seminar in Media Arts & Culture
Critical. Advanced pro-seminar designed to provide guidance and intellectual community around the completion of a critical media comprehensives project. Students pursuing Honors are also encouraged to enroll in this course. Prerequisite: open only to senior AHVA majors who have a Film & Media emphasis.
Production. Advanced course designed to provide guidance towards the development of a comprehensive project with production components. Prerequisite: open only to senior AHVA majors who have a Film & Media emphasis. Art M242 or 355, and if making a fiction project Art M220 as well.
M499 - Honors Research in Media Art & Culture
Prerequisite: permission of department.
No result
H160 - Introduction to Asian Art
Selected periods and monuments of Asian art from India, China, and Japan, and an introduction to the methods of art-historical analysis. Emphasis will be placed on the understanding of works of art in their original religious, intellectual, political, and social contexts, with particular attention to the ways each developed characteristics appropriate to these contexts. Among the topics to be explored are ritual arts, Buddhist art (painting, sculpture, and architecture), secular painting, and garden architecture. Museum visits required. Not open to seniors. Not open to students who have taken Art H261
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: CENTRAL, SOUTH, AND EAST ASIA • FINE ARTS • PRE1800 and REGIONAL FOCUS
H170 - Introduction to Early European Art
European painting, sculpture and architecture from the Prehistoric Aegean to Renaissance Italy. Although the course will proceed chronologically, its goals are to introduce the student to a range of art historical skills and issues including stylistic analysis, iconography, the relationship between image and the artist's biography, and the relationship between the image and its historical context. Museum visits required. Not open to seniors.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: EUROPE • FINE ARTS • PRE-1800 and REGIONAL FOCUS
H180 - Introduction to Later Western Art
A selective survey of Western European painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Lectures and readings are designed to provide an overview of artistic developments, as well as how to articulate the ways in which forms of expression and modes of representation were affected by unfolding political, religious, social, cultural, and economic conditions. Major themes will include: patterns of narrative and description, strategies of realism and abstraction, the changing status of the artist, patronage and audience, and the rise of the avant-garde. Museum visits required. Not open to seniors.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: INTERCULTURAL • FINE ARTS and GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
H190 - American Indian Art History: Contemporary Issues
CORE REQIOREMENT MET: US and US DIVERSITY and FINE ARTS
H250 - American Indians in Film
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: US and US DIVERSITY
H260 - Arts of Mesopotamia and Egypt
This course will explore the works of two ancient civilizations (beginning c. 3,000 BCE) which were independent and at the same time connected through territorial proximity as well as cultural ideals and artistic intentions; the Ancient Near East and Ancient Egypt manifest complex societies with distinct administrations, religious practices and social interests, and yet in both we note (among other elements) monumental ceremonial architecture, images of divinity, and portraits of rulers as well as the documentation of both historical and mythological narratives.
H261 - Buddhist Art in South and East Asia
A survey of Buddhist art as it originated in India and spread across Central Asia to China, Japan, and Tibet. We will devote special emphasis to the ways Buddhism and Buddhist art both changed and were changed by the various cultural traditions they encountered. We will also examine the history of "Western" encounters with Buddhism and how these have shaped - or biased - our understanding of Buddhist art and culture. Not open to students who have taken Art H160.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: CENTRAL, SOUTH, AND EAST ASIA • PRE-1800 , Fine Arts and REGIONAL FOCUS
H266 - The Arts of Japan
An introduction to Japanese painting, sculpture, and architecture from antiquity through the Tokugawa Period. Emphasis will be placed on the formation of an indigenous artistic tradition and its transformation under Chinese influence. The arts produced for patrons in Shinto, Buddhist, Zen, courtly, and samurai contexts will be examined. Museum visits required.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: CENTRAL, SOUTH, AND EAST ASIA • FINE ARTS • PRE1800 and REGIONAL FOCUS
H270 - Greek Art
An investigation of the art and architecture of ancient Greece, from the Bronze Age (c. 3000 BCE) to the colonization of Greek culture by Rome (c. 100 BCE). Sculpture, metalwork, mural painting, vase painting, and architecture will be considered, with particular interest in how these forms are reflective of the fundamental political, spiritual, and philosophical developments during this era - as well as how these artistic forms serve as the foundation elements for European art history.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: EUROPE • FINE ARTS • PRE-1800 and REGIONAL FOCUS
H274 - Roman Art
Roman art and architecture develop in response to increasingly complex issues of individual identity, cosmopolitanism, personal and state propaganda, and the social and political pressures inspired by managing large and varied population concentrations. Roman visual culture addresses these challenges by adapting to new ideas and subject matter while at the same time maintaining traditional notions of personality, organization, and imperial supremacy.
H275 - Early Christian and Medieval Art
An introduction to the major works and issues of the period through an examination of key moments in Europe and the Mediterranean basin from c. 300 CE to 1500 CE. A study of the forms, language and uses of medieval visual culture will be related to the circumstances associated with the demise of the Roman Empire, migrations of Northern European peoples, the increasing power of secular rulers, the development of monasticism, and the theological perspective of the Roman Christian Church. Art and architecture associated with contemporary monotheistic religions (Judaism, Islam) will also be considered.
H278 - Early Islamic Art and Architecture
A chronological survey of the visual art and architecture created within and for the Islamic cultures of Western Asia, North Africa, and Europe, 622-1453. Covers sacred and secular architecture and architectural decoration, sculpture, painting, manuscripts, textiles, and metalwork, including objects in area collections. Readings will include primary sources, exhibition catalogs, and scholarly articles; visits to museums and a mosque is anticipated.
H280 - Michelangelo
This course is designed as an introduction to the life and work of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564). We will investigate his painting, sculpture and architecture, while considering its context within the major urban cultural centers in which he worked: Florence and Rome. The course will proceed chronologically, but will vary from week to week as to relevant themes and methodological approaches to the career of arguably the most influential of all Renaissance artists. Among those topics to be explored: development and dissolution of a classical vocabulary; relationships between style and technique; art, biography and self promotion; the relationship between Christianity and sexuality for Michelangelo and the Cinquecento; patronage and context in Florence and Rome; the development of classical form; meaning in the restored Sistine Chapel.
H283 - Renaissance Architecture in Italy
This course examines the development of Italian Renaissance architecture from about 1300 to about 1550. It will consider buildings in the civic and ecclesiastic context, both sacred and secular. The evolution of this tradition will be studied in relationship to issues of function and structure, contemporary writing, and religious, political, and economic influences.
H285 - Nineteenth Century Art: Culture, Politics & National Identity
This course will explore artistic practices in the US, North America, and Europe during the long 19th century, from roughly 1789 to 1900. Lectures, discussions, and readings are designed to provide a thematically-driven, chronological overview of the period. Yet the course will not be a traditional "survey"; rather, it will focus on some of the key changes in ideas about artistic culture, art practice, and practices of regional, national and transnational identity formation as expressed in visual art. Art's role in social and political revolution, as well as its formative status as an engine of cultural imperialism in the 19th century will be explored in addition to some of the more traditional approaches to studying the status of art, the role of the artist, and the transformation of the art "market" in the wake of the industrial revolution. Key debates within the field of art history will be explored as well. Museum visit required.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: INTERCULTURAL ● FINE ARTS and GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
H287 - History of Photography
What is a photograph? Is it a "document" or a "work of art?" Who makes a photograph, and for whom does s/he make it? How and where do photographs circulate? What effect does the context in which a photograph is viewed have on its meaning(s)? Designed as a selective history of photography in the 19th and 20th centuries, this course revolves around questions like these (although these are not the only issues we will explore) regarding the nature and function of photography in modern culture. Through thematic lectures, a wide-ranging list of readings and in-class discussion, we will explore the medium from multiple perspectives. Students will develop the critical skills they need to read and critically analyze the visual rhetoric that shapes photographic representations. In addition to learning about the different photographic genres - exploration and travel photography; studio and portrait work; medical and legal documentation; fine art prints; photojournalism - this class will push students to investigate photography's position within a broader cultural field: the medium's shifting relations to the artistic avant-gardes; advertising and consumer culture; constructions of race, gender, and national identity; and photography's role in producing history itself. Readings will include primary source materials and theories of photographic meaning; students will be asked to grasp not only the medium's technological and rhetorical functions, but also to develop their own critical perspectives on photography's shifting relations to intellectual, social and political ideologies. Coursework will require one hands-on photographic project and a museum visit.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: INTERCULTURAL • FINE ARTS and GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
H289 - Modern/Contemporary Architecture of the Asia Pacific
A thematic course on the history, theory, and practice of Modern Architecture in Europe and the United States from the 1780s to the later 20th century. Themes we'll explore include the following: architectural theory and design as social planning; competing notions of public and private space; modernist architectural theory and urban development; rural and urban ideologies in American architecture; the changing image of the architect in the 19th and 20th centuries; architecture and urbanism in Southern California. Coursework will include a collaborative research project and a required half-day field trip to downtown Los Angeles.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: INTERCULTURAL • FINE ARTS and GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
H291 - Arts in Los Angeles
A 2-unit seminar course to be taught by visiting curators, critics, art historians or artists focused on some aspect of the arts in Los Angeles. Topics will change in light of availability of top quality visiting faculty, and will engage directly with current exhibitions, events, and issues relevant to the artistic culture of Los Angeles.
Exhibiting Latino and Latin American Art in the 21st Century. Blending theory, history and practice, this course explores current and future strategies for exhibiting Latino and Latin American artists in the global contemporary art world. Offsite fieldwork may include gallery, museum and artist studio visits. This two-unit course will be held every other week (3 hours each session) over the course of a 15-week semester. Prerequisite: permissiomn of Instructor.
2 units
History of Green Architecture. This course will pursue, and ultimately aim to reconcile, two separate questions about sustainability and architecture. To begin with, what makes a particular building -- house, office block, or skyscraper -- green? Second, and more fundamentally, how has our understanding of the relationship between architecture and nature shifted over the centuries? The course will begin by looking at a range of depictions of that relationship in art, architecture, literature, and philosophy before moving on to examine architecture's role in the nascent environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s. It will consider the rise and increasing codification of green architecture in the last 15 years in the U.S. and Europe, isolating certain buildings as case studies and assessing in some depth recent debates over the American green-design rating system known as LEED. Finally, we'll ask what green architects might learn from the ways that other sustainability movements -- in transportation, product design, clean-energy, and food policy -- have matured over the years. Students will visit a number of built examples of green architecture in and around Los Angeles. No prior study of architectural history is required.
2 units
H362 - Art in Early China
Chinese art and archaeology from the neolithic period through the Tang Dynasty. Readings in historical, literary, and religio-philosophical texts will contextualize the study of the formative period of Chinese art history. We will trace the emergence, florescence, and decline of ritual art in ancient China; the birth and ascent to dominance of the Confucian scholar-elite as consumers (and ultimately producers) of art; and the impact of the introduction of Buddhism on the history of Chinese art. Archaeological discoveries continue to deepen our understanding of ancient China, and we will examine the most important excavations of the past 30 years. Prerequisite: Art H160 or Asian history course, or permission of instructor.
H364 - Art in Later China
Chinese art of the last millennium. Primary attention will be paid to the arts of painting, calligraphy, and architecture (palaces and gardens), seen in the context of patronage groups and other intellectual, social, and political factors. The role of the scholar-gentry class in the consumption and production of art is particularly important, but we will also examine the impacts of the imperial court, the religious establishment (Chan or Zen Buddhist), and the merchant class on the art of imperial China. The course will conclude with a consideration of art in contemporary China and its relationship to pre-revolutionary Chinese traditions. Prerequisite: Art H160 or Chinese history course, or permission of instructor.
H368 - Japanese Painting
A survey of Japanese painting with emphasis on the Heian through Tokugawa periods (10th-19th centuries). The transformative influences of Chinese culture and changing patronage groups (from courtly to zen/samurai to the merchant class) will inform our analysis of monochrome ink scrolls, gold-leaf screens, and ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Where possible, we will consider the works in the architectural settings for which they were intended. Field trips to the L.A. County Museum of Art and other collections will be arranged. Prerequisite: Art H160 or Art H266, or Japanese history course.
H373 - Major Figures in the Italian Renaissance. Art and Biography of Michelangelo
Painting, sculpture, architecture, and urban planning of Michelangelo Buonarroti. This course considers the development of the artist from his apprenticeship in the shop of Domenico Ghirlandaio through his late paintings in Rome. All works are considered for their stylistic, iconographic, and social context. Particular attention will be paid to the urban and specific patronage context of each work, which are critical for a more complete understanding of Michelangelo?s art and intellectual development. This course requires travel to Italy during the winter break. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: EUROPE • FINE ARTS • PRE-1800 and REGIONAL FOCUS
H374 - Art of the Early Italian Renaissance
A survey of the painting, sculpture and architecture of Italy from about 1300 to 1500. All major figures, including Giotto, Ghiberti, Donatello and Botticelli will be considered. Works will be examined in terms of setting, patronage, and cultural context in addition to questions of style and meaning. Prerequisite: Art H170 or permission of instructor.
H376 - Sixteenth Century Italian Art
High Renaissance and Mannerism. Among those artists considered are Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian and Raphael. Of special consideration is the nature of the Papacy as a patron of art and the city of Rome as a context for artistic activity. The course will also consider the reasons for the dissolution of the classical tradition during this time by artists such as Pontormo, Parmigianino and Giulio Romano. Prerequisite: Art H170 or permission of instructor.
H378 - Art of the Northern Renaissance
An examination of the artistic traditions of Northern Europe from c. 1400 to 1600 CE. Points of consideration include significant artistic personalities and individual works, the relationship between patron and image, territorial distinctions, in addition to the connection between northern and southern (Italian) visual developments during this period. Prerequisite: Art H170 or permission of instructor.
H387 - European Visual Culture, 1900-1945
This course will focus on European visual culture from 1900-1945. We will consider the nature and transformation of the avant-gardes during this period through lectures and discussions about Cubism, the Russian Avant-Garde, the Bauhaus, Dada, and Surrealism. Yet we will also try to make sense of practices that do not usually figure in histories of this period, paying particular attention to the ways in which a "return to order" emerged in artistic practices during the years after World War I. Media to be explored include painting, sculpture, photography, film, and architecture; we will also investigate the increasingly important role played by art exhibitions in shaping contemporary ideas about art, artistic identity and art's connection to politics. Readings will be drawn from art history, art theory, literature, history and philosophy. Coursework will require one formal oral presentation and a museum visit. Prerequisite: Art H180 or permission of instructor.
H389 - Modern and Contemporary Art
This course will explore the diverse forms of visual culture - painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and video - produced after 1945. Through clusters of thematic and monographic lectures, we will investigate questions about artistic identity, the status and function of art in the post-World War II period, and the changing nature of avant-garde (and neo avant-garde) practices in the wake of the social, cultural, and economic changes of the 1960s and 1970s. Post-industrial society, new movements advocating civil rights, feminism, environmentalism will form the cultural backdrop of our work, as will more focused investigations of postmodernism, critical theory's increasingly central role in artistic culture, and a burgeoning global network of artistic and cultural exchange and contestation. In addition to presenting a selective history of visual culture after 1945, this course will explore how changing ideas about race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and cultural identity have impacted the art and criticism of the period under consideration. At least one field trip to a gallery or museum will be required. Prerequisite: Art H180 or permission of instructor. Course required for Studio Art Emphasis.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: INTERCULTURAL • FINE ARTS and GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
H390 - Seminar in Art History:
Chinese Paintings at LACMA. This seminar in research methods in art history will focus on detailed study of Chinese paintings in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Each student will study a single painting, looking at it from numerous perspectives: stylistic, historical, social and artistic contexts, etc. We will view the paintings in storage at the museum, and the Curator of Chinese Art will talk to us about issues in collecting and curating Chinese paintings. Can be repeated twice for credit. Prerequisite: ArtH 160 or permission on instructor . Required for Art History Emphasis.
Colonial Urbanism In this course, we will examine the spatial legacy of colonial cities. The focus is on colonial urban spaces and architectural projects that were manifestations of the political, economic, and social relationships between the colonizers and the colonized. In relation, imperialism's role – as it transpired in both the colonies and colonizing societies of Europe and the United States – will reveal the ways in which the imperial imagination was visible in physical form. Through a range of case studies including sites in former European and American colonies of Asia and the Pacific, as well as former imperial centers such as London and Washington D.C., students will develop a theoretical toolkit for the critical study of urban colonial environments. Prerequisite: ArtH180, 289 or 389 or permission of instructor.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: INTERCULTURAL and GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
Donatello This course is an intensive examination of the career of the Florentine sculptor Donatello. Of particular interest will be his centrality in the development of public and private art in Florence, his relationship with the Medici family, and the interaction between religion and sexuality in fifteenth century Italy. Prerequisite: Instructor permission required
H391 - Seminar in Early Western Art
A seminar focusing on a topic in the history of Western art through the Renaissance. Emphasis on research methods and writing research papers.
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
Appropriating Asia: The Depiction of the Exotic in Western Art. Using artworks in collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, this course analyzes the impact of Asia on Europe from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The examination of drawings, paintings, sculpture and tapestries from religious, mercantile, and political perspectives provides a nuanced understanding of appropriation and cultural translation. Readings and group discussions will address the inevitable misunderstandings that arose when European artists encountered Asian art and culture. Special attention will be given to notions of wonder and curiosity, globalization and exoticism, fact and fantasy. Taught by a Getty curator and Oxy alumnus, this course allows for a first-hand analysis of art by Bellini, Rubens, Rembrandt, Delacroix, and Gauguin. It also provides insight into curatorial research, exhibition display, and the writing of didactic texts. Class will take place at the Getty Museum every other Friday.
2 units
H392 - The Culture of Collections: Introduction to Museum
The history, purpose and varied practices of museums are examined cross-culturally in this introductory course designed as a community-based practicum. Core concepts of museology such as collections management, educational outreach and programming, standards and ethics, curation, exhibition strategies, and disciplinary standards are examined in case study scenarios supported by academic readings and collections-based inquiry. Students will work collaboratively with others in team based learning and problem solving while demonstrating critical thinking in written essays and oral debates. The class will make use of the resources of the Autry National Center of the American West. Prerequisite: one 200 level art history course.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: INTERCULTURAL and US
H395 - Topics in the History of Art
Art in Modern and Contemporary China.
This course will introduce students to the modern and contemporary art of Mainland China beginning with the New Culture Movement (1919) and continuing up until the present. Organized chronologically, it will introduce seminal works in a variety of media (e.g. paintings, revolutionary woodblock prints, propaganda artworks, sculptures, contemporary photography, video, installation, etc.) and prominent artists and movements (including Zhang Daqian, Xu Beihong, Lin Fengmian, the Storm Society, Chen Yifei, communist cultural collectives, the Stars Group and Ai Weiwei, Xu Bing, and Cai Guo Qiang). Simultaneously, the course will highlight key examples from film and literature which relate to the major art movements. Through class lectures and discussion, and as reflected in the readings and screenings, we will study these artists and movements within the volatile socio-political context of twentieth century China, in the process raising related theoretical concerns, such as semi-colonial modernism and anti-imperialism in early twentieth century China, the ideological program of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), and the changing role of the Chinese artist in an increasingly globalized art world today. Prerequisites: ArtH 160 or 180 or 364 or 387 or389; or a course in Chinese history or politics; or permission of instructor.
Visions, Judgment, Apocalypse.
This class will consider Christian visionary experiences as described in texts from the Bible forward, as depicted and encouraged in manuscripts, paintings, and sculptures, and as commemorated and facilitated through architecture. Special attention to manuscripts in the J. Paul Getty Museum. Prerequisite: ArtH 170, or ArtH 275, or Permission of the Instructor
Who Owns Art?
As art objects--especially those from antiquity--have become increasingly valuable as both commodities and as national treasures, the question of who owns art, and who is best to care for them is essential to museum curators, academics, and politicians. There are several debates over who owns art of ancient civilizations like Greece and India. Do treasures like the Parthenon sculptures at the British Museum belong to Greece and should they be returned? Or should they remain in the museum where more people have access to them? This seminar will introduce students to laws enacted by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to protect world cultural and national heritage as well as examine museum collecting policies in America. Specific cultural patrimony cases will also be examined and discussed. This seminar is for students who are interested in learning more about cultural patrimony, art law and museums.
H397 - Independent Study in Art History
Prerequisite: permission of department.
2 or 4 units
H490 - Senior Seminar in Art History
Prerequisite: senior Art History majors only.
H499 - Honors Research in Art History
Prerequisite: permission of department.
- Phone: 323-259-2749
- Email: email@example.com
- Location: Weingart 109
Occidental College
103 - Topics: Ecological Enhancement and Restoration
Biological, ecological, and social views regarding need, methods, and effects of restoration and enhancement of ecosystems. Recent events from California and the rest of the world are discussed, focusing on marine and terrestrial ecosystems, invasive species, overharvesting, industrial impacts on the environment, and methods of mitigating or repairing damages. Examples of discussions include: methods of combating overharvesting in the Pacific Ocean; natural and anthropogenic methods of recovering from forest fires; oil platforms functioning as artificial reefs to help endangered species thrive; also, how does a nuclear generating station affect a giant kelp forest, and what can be done to mitigate those damages?
104 - Introduction to the Biology of Stem Cell Therapeutics
An introduction to the basic research of stem cells, potential sources, stem cell characterization, and stem cell development for therapeutic applications. The student will also gain an understanding in aspects of developmental biology, and the progression of translational research from basic science to clinical utility. Designed for non-science majors.
105 - Marine Biology
This course will be an introductory survey of marine organisms and their environment. It will cover fishes, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles and algae. Included will be an investigation of behavior, ecology, adaptations, and environmental relationships to humans. An emphasis will be placed on forms common to California. Includes one 3-hour lab period per week and field trips will be included during the laboratory period. (Labs may take longer than the scheduled laboratory period to accommodate field trips.)
106 - Biology of California
A component of the California Environment Semester. Enrollment limited to first-year students enrolled in the California Environmental Science Semester.
110 - Organisms on Earth
Principles and concepts of organismal structure and function, diversity, evolution and ecology examined through case studies of organisms and interactions with their environments. Emphasis will be placed on how organisms from distinct biological groups meet environmental challenges such as obtaining energy and nutrients, maintaining water and osmotic balances, reproducing, and finding a place to live. Students will learn to recognize and frame hypotheses about biological organisms and phenomena that can be tested (or falsified) by acquiring and analyzing appropriate evidence. Students will learn to acquire, analyze, and evaluate biological data through observation and experimentation in the laboratory and in the field.
115 - General Zoology
An introduction to the diversity, comparative anatomy and physiology of animals. Emphasis is placed on the classification of animals, how animals are adapted to the environment, and the evolutionary relationships between the phyla. This class is designed for science majors. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week.
130 - Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
A concept-driven survey course designed to provide broad introduction to the biochemistry, physiology, and molecular biology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Topics include structure/function relationships of biological macromolecules; the roles of such molecules in cellular metabolism and membrane biology; molecular biology of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis; the cell cycle; elementary genetics; and cellular communication. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Chemistry 120 or 130 or permission of instructor. Prerequisites may be taken concurrently with 130.
197 - Independent Study in Biology
Research in biology, for students who do not have advanced competence in biology (see Biology 397). Prerequisites: permission of instructor and approval of department.
2 units
221 - Molecular Biology
The study of DNA replication; transcription, processing and translation of gene products; molecular mapping of genes; chromosomal organization; molecular regulation mechanisms in prokaryotes and eukaryotes; mutation and repair processes; recombination mechanisms; microRNAi and RNAi; and the techniques to study these processes. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week plus two hours arranged. Prerequisites: Biology 130 and Chemistry 220; or permission of instructor.
222 - Biochemistry
Survey of the basic principles that power biological processes in all living organisms. Includes introduction to biochemical techniques, enzyme structure and function, intermediary metabolism, synthesis and degradation of biological macromolecules, information transfer, and a concept-driven integration of these subjects into a biological context. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Chem 220 or permission of instructor. Co-requisite: Biology 222L.
222L - Biochemistry Laboratory
Laboratory techniques in biochemistry including protein purification, chromatography, crystallography, enzyme kinetics, and computer-aided structural analysis. Co-requisite: Biology 322. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
224-524 - Genetic Analysis
Intensive, concept-driven exploration of genetic information transfer between generations. Topics include: Mendelian principles; sex-linkage; chromosomal and fine structure genetic mapping; allelic and genetic interactions at the phenotypic level; principles of molecular genetics; and an introduction to the genetics of complex traits, developmental genetics and genomics.Includes one three-hour laboratory session per week plus two hours arranged. Prerequisites: Chemistry 120 or 130 and Biology 130, or permission of instructor.
226 - Cell Biology
A course designed to provide a thorough understanding of the molecular biology of eukaryotic cells. The course will discuss topics in modern cell biology including the molecular basis of cellular organization, structure and function, cell motility, organelle biogenesis and function, cellular communication and signaling, and intracellular processes such as apoptosis and autophagy. Includes one three-hour laboratory that provides experience with modern cell biology techniques. Prerequisite: Biology 130.
238 - Epidemiology
This course is designed to introduce the basic concepts, principles, and methods of epidemiologic research. In our pursuit to understand the interplay of risk factors and patterns of human disease and health, we will cover the history of epidemiology, the principles of epidemiologic thinking and of causal inference, the basic measures of disease frequency and of association and how to compute them. We will also learn about the major types of epidemiologic study designs and explore the major fields of epidemiologic investigation (such as global health, infectious diseases, outbreaks, occupational and environmental epidemiology). Prerequisite: Introductory Biology (Bio 105, Bio 106, Bio 110, Bio 115 or Bio 130) and statistics (Math 146, Math 150, Bio 268 or Bio 368)
240-540 - Vertebrate Physiology
Physical and metabolic activities of cells and tissues; properties of the cellular environment; regulatory and homeostatic functions of organ systems. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week plus two hours arranged. Prerequisites: Biology 130 plus any other 100-level Biology course except Bio 103), or permission of instructor (Bio 130 may be taken concurrently).
250 - Plant Form and Function
This course is a comprehensive introduction to the plant kingdom, emphasizing the ways in which organismal form and structure are shaped through evolutionary and ecological processes. The primary goal of the course is for students to learn how a major life form has adapted to physical factors such as light and water and to biological factors such as fungi, insects, and vertebrates. Labs involve experimental analysis of fundamental processes such as water uptake, photosynthesis, and hormonal regulation, as well as hands-on investigation of the vegetative and reproductive adaptations of the plant kingdom. Independent lab projects and fieldtrips are also key components of the course. Includes one three hour laboratory session per week. Prerequisite: any 100-level Biology course except Bio 103 or permission of instructor.
260 - Biodiversity and organization of marine ecosystems
The goal of this course is to introduce marine ecosystems and the physical and biological attributes contributing to their organization. The course will focus on the nearshore marine environment of the Southern California Bight referencing examples from comparable ecosystems. It will introduce basic physical attributes and the organisms of these dynamic ecosystems. Students will learn how to collect data in field and laboratory settings, database management, advanced data base queries, conduct basic statistical analyses, test hypotheses, produce graphics and write scientific papers. This course will serve to prepare students for focused upper division courses and independent research. Labs may take longer than the scheduled lab period to accommodate field trips. Includes one three-hour laboratory session per week. Prerequisites: Biology 105, 106, 110 or 115, or permission of the instructor.
268 - Biostatistics
The application of statistical methods to the solution of biological problems. Focus will be on applied statistics (as opposed to mathematical statistics) to study variation in nature. This course will survey descriptive statistics, probability and probability distributions, and methods of hypothesis testing (e.g., analysis of variance, regression, correlation, goodness of fit as well as selected nonparametric procedures). Course includes laboratory workshops sessions. Prerequisite: Bio 130 and Bio 105, 106, 110, or 115 or permission of instructor.
270 - Ecology
Ecology explores the interactions between organisms and their biotic and abiotic environments at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. Topics include factors affecting organisms at the population, community, and ecosystem levels, and the effect of human actions on natural systems. Practical aspects of studying ecology involve work in the laboratory, computer simulations and modeling, and field work. This course emphasizes the fundamentals of study design, sampling, field techniques, data analysis, and written and oral presentation of results. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week and weekend field trips to be arranged. Prerequisite: Any 100-level Biology course except Biology 103, or permission of instructor.
275 - Flora of Southern California
Identification and classification of plants found in the various vegetational communities of southern California, with emphasis on understanding their ecological and evolutionary affinities. Current methods of field sampling and systematic analysis will be employed. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week and other field trips to be arranged. Prerequisite: Any 100-level Biology course except Bio 103 or permission of instructor.
279 - Evolutionary Biology
A detailed analysis of the causes and consequences of biological evolution. The focus here is on understanding basic evolutionary mechanisms, with plant and animal examples used to illustrate and clarify the fundamentals of the evolutionary process. Classical and recent contributions to our understanding of evolutionary biology are examined, including population genetics, theoretical models, geographical variation, speciation, biogeography, phylogeny reconstruction, molecular evolution, macroevolution, and the evolution of Homo sapiens. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Any 100-level Biology course except Bio 103, or permission of instructor.
280 - Evolutionary Biology
A detailed analysis of the causes and consequences of biological evolution. The focus here is on understanding basic evolutionary mechanisms, with plant and animal examples used to illustrate and clarify the fundamentals of the evolutionary process. Classical and recent contributions to our understanding of evolutionary biology are examined, including population genetics, theoretical models, geographical variation, speciation, biogeography, phylogeny reconstruction, molecular evolution, macroevolution, and the evolution of Homo sapiens. Prerequisites: Any 100-level Biology course except Bio 103 or permission of instructor.
290 - Research Methods in Biology
This two-unit course will offer students the opportunity to learn techniques of contemporary biology that are used in the laboratory and in the field. These may include culture and handling of biological specimens, observational methods, imaging, use of instrumentation to gather data, methods of data analysis, and identification of organisms. By the end of the semester, students will have been exposed to and gain practice in a diversity of techniques relevant to the practice of biological science. Graded on a credit/no credit basis only. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisites: Biology 105, 106, 110, or 115, and Biology 130.
310-510 - Museum Science
Introduction to the principles and practice of museology and the functioning of a research natural history museum. Emphasis will be on the development of the "museum conscience" and attendant curatorial skills through extensive training as a curatorial assistant in the bird, mammal and fish collections of the Moore Laboratory of Zoology (world's largest collections of Mexican birds and Southern California Rocky Reef Fishes). Prerequisite: permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
2 units
320 - Developmental Biology
Animal development with an emphasis on the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell fate, cell adhesion and motility, and the formation of different tissue types. Cell signaling pathways and gene regulatory mechanisms that control development and are relevant to adult stem cell biology and cancer biology are stressed throughout the course. The laboratory focuses on major invertebrate and vertebrate model organisms and both classical and molecular genetic approaches used to study animal development. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week plus 1-2 hours arranged. Prerequisites: Bio130; and Bio 221 or Bio 224 or Bio 226. Co-requisite: Biology 320L.
320L - Developmental Biology Laboratory
An introduction to classical and molecular methodologies used to study animal development. The laboratory focuses on early embryonic development of major invertebrate and vertebrate model organisms: sea urchins, C. elegans, zebrafish and chick. Co-requisite: Biology 320. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
1 unit
323-523 - Histology
An introduction to histology. Lectures present the structure and function of cells, tissues, and organs in healthy and diseased conditions. The laboratory introduces students to preparation of tissue for paraffin, plastic and cryostat sectioning and examination by light and electron microscopy. Students work on projects of their own choice. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week plus two hours arranged. Prerequisites: Biology 105 or 115 and 130.
323L - Histology Laboratory
Laboratory techniques in histology. Co-requisite: Biology 323. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
1 unit
325-525 - Microbial Diversity
An introduction to the world of microbes, including viruses, archaea, and bacteria, and their role in shaping and sustaining life on Earth. Emphases will be placed on structure, metabolism and bioenergetics, physiological and biochemical adaptations to unusual environments, phylogenetic analysis, biotechnology, microbial ecology and biological interactions, including plant and animal symbioses. Laboratory exercises will include an exploration of microscopy, cultivation, biochemical techniques, and molecualr tools for studying microorganisms. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Biology 221, 222, 224, or 270 or permission of the instructor.
325L - Microbial Diversity Laboratory
Students will examine microbial growth, form, and function and will select familiar environments from which to investigate microbial life. Co-requisite: Biology 325. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
1 unit
326/526 - Molecular Evolution and Phylogenomics
An introduction to the theory of how DNA and other molecular markers evolve. Theoretical knowledge will be applied to reconstructing evolutionary histories and genes and organisms, with emphasis on the application of molecular evolution to phylogenomics. Laboratory sessions will introduce the student to techniques for the isolation of genomic data and its storage, bioinformatic processing, and analysis via a broad suite of analytical software. Prerequisite: Bio 280 or permission of the instructor
330-530 - Immunology
Introduction to current concepts of immunology, including immunoglobulin structure and function, T cells and B cells, cell-cell cooperation in the immune response and the role of the major histocompatibility complex. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week plus two hours arranged. Prerequisites: Biology 221 (which may be taken concurrently) or permission of instructor. Co-requisite: Biology 330L
330L - Immunology Laboratory
Introduction to essential immunological techniques including immunization and immunoassay such as ELISA; generation of hybridomas and screening and characterizing monoclonal antibodies; and introduction to other techniques such as FACS. Co-requisite: Biology 330. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
1 unit
333-533 - Neurobiology
Emphasis on cell biology and phsyiology of neurons. Development and plasticity of the nervous system in invertebrates and vertebrates. Overview of selected central nervous system structures and their function and the cellular and molecular basis of selected nervous system diseases and disorders. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week plus 1-2 hours arranged. Prerequisites: Bio 130 and Bio 240 or Bio 226
333L - Neurobiology Laboratory
Laboratory techniques in neurobiology. Co-requisite: Biology 323. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
1 unit
336 - Microbial Pathogenesis
This course will examine interactions between the human host and infectious microbial pathogens including bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. Emphases will be placed on mechanisms of microbial defense (virulence factors), immune evasion and adaptation strategies as well as the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the innate (immediate) response of the host in both immune and non-immune cells. Laboratory includes techniques used in clinical microbiology labs including culture and identification techniques as well as cell biology techniques. Prerequisites: Biology 221 or 226, or permission of instructor. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week plus two hours arranged. Prerequisite: Bio 221 or 226
5 units
340-540 - Advanced Animal Physiology
Dynamic physiological properties will be examined in single cells, tissues, and whole organisms. Emphasis will be placed on the physiology of excitable cells and their integration in the whole animal. Laboratories will utilize advanced recording techniques including microelectrodes, isometric tension measurements, semi-intact preparations and modern electronics. Prerequisite: Biology 240.
340L - Advanced Animal Physiology Laboratory
Fundamental physiological processes will be investigated using advanced recording techniques including microelectrodes, isometric tension measurements, semi-intact preparations and modern electronics. Co-requisite: Biology 340. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
1 unit
344 - Invertebrate Morphology and Physiology
The structure and functional organization of animal-like protists and invertebrates are examined as adaptations to life in specific habitats. The current use of these organisms in applied systems such as aquaculture and as models to study basic biological processes are discussed. Marine organisms and parasites are emphasized. The phylogenetic relationships between taxa are also debated. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week plus two hours arranged. Prerequisites: Biology 105 or 115, and 130 or permission of instructor.
344L - Invertebrate Morphology Laboratory
Field and laboratory exercises designed to 1) further expose students to invertebrate diversity, 2) examine and experiment with physiological processes such as locomotion, nutrient allocation, excretion, sensory function, and reproduction, 3) introduce parasite life cycles and parasite-host interactions, and 4) understand animal relationships based on morphological and molecular evidence. Co-requisite: Biology 323. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
1 unit
349 - Biochemistry I
This course explores the roles of the essential biological macromolecules focusing on proteins, while covering lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Topics include the structure and function of these macromolecules as well as an investigation of the biochemical methods used to study them. Also included are topics covering proteomics, DNA-based information technologies, biosignaling and an introduction to enzyme kinetics. Prerequisite: BIO 130 and CHEM 220 or permission of instructor
349L - Biochemistry Laboratory
Biochem lab The application of techniques to study protein structure and function, including protein purification, column chromatography, enzyme kinetics, crystallography and computer-aided structural analysis. Course Corequisite: BIO 349
1 unit
350 - Microbial Symbiosis
Symbioses are intimate associations involving two or more species. Symbiotic associations are widespread in nature and we can expect to find them in every type of ecological niche. This course will cover the diversity of symbiotic interactions that exist between both microbes and fungi and various eukaryotic hosts, including plants, animals, and protists, as well as other microorganisms. Topics in both lecture and lab will range from molecular to ecological, including the specific molecular communication between partners, the evolution of unusual host structures, novel physiological and biochemical capabilities, and the unique ecological advantages that many symbioses confer. This course will also include writing, presenting, and reviewing published work on various symbioses. prerequisites: Biology 115, (or equivalent Including 105 106, 110), and 130; Biology 221 or 224 strongly recommended). Course co-requisites: Bio 350L
350L - Symbiosis Laboratory
Students will investigate the presence of bacterial symbionts within animals, plants, and protists, using molecular and microscopic techniques. Co-requisite: Biology 350. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
356-556 - The Biology of Marine Fishes
The biology of marine fishes begins with a study of the phylogenetic evolution of fishes. Within this context it discusses the physiology, ecology and behavior of marine fishes utilizing examples from our local fauna. Advanced methods of studying marine fishes will be covered with an emphasis on field research in which the class will visit various marine habitats throughout southern California. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week. (Labs may take longer than the scheduled laboratory period to accommodate field trips.) Prerequisite: Biology 105, 106, 110, OR 115 or permission of instructor.
356L - Marine Fishes Laboratory
Laboratory techniques in marine fishes. Co-requisite: Biology 356. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
1 unit
360 - Avian Biology
Avian Biology is the study of birds, with particular emphasis on identification, natural history, and evolution of birds local to southern California. Prerequisite: Bio 130 and Bio 105, 106, 110, or 115 Course co-requisite:Bio 360L
369-569 - Biological Oceanography
Biological oceanography will focus on the biology of the open ocean with emphasis placed on relating parameters of the physical-chemical ocean to the distribution and abundance of marine organisms. We will focus on understanding the physical and biological processes of the southern California marine area using field and laboratory techniques. Using examples from our local ecosystem, students will explore the intricacies of macro scale oceanographic processes. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week. (Labs may take longer than the scheduled laboratory period to accommodate field trips.) Prerequisite: Biology 260 or permission of instructor.
369L - Oceanography Laboratory
Laboratory techniques in oceanography. Co-requisite: Biology 369. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
1 unit
370 - Tropical Ecology
This course addresses tropical ecology starting with the discoveries and theories of early explorers to modern theories of biogeography of species richness. A large emphasis in this course will be placed on introducing students to field research in the tropics, including the design, implementation, data analysis and presentation of individual and group research projects. We will also learn to identify terrestrial and marine biodiversity of Central America, and how humans impact tropical diversity and the sustainability of tropical ecosystems. We will discuss questions that are actively investigated by tropical ecologists, namely: why are the tropics so diverse, how is this diversity maintained, how do communities respond to disturbance, how are different land uses having an impact on tropical people and communities, and how will global climate change affect communities and species richness. The course will include a three-week trip to Costa Rica and Panama, Central America, where students will directly interact with and do scientific research in the tropical terrestrial and marine ecosystems studied throughout the semester at Occidental College. Prerequisite: Bio 260 or Bio 270 Co-requisite Bio 370L
370L - Tropical Ecology lab
After the semester, students will complete the lab for Bio 370, which will consist of a three-week trip to Costa Rica and Panama, Central America. Students will directly interact with and do scientific research in tropical terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Corequisite: BIO 370
378-578 - Animal Behavior
Emphasizes the evolutionary approach to the study of animal behavior, drawing broadly from the various disciplines within biology concerned with the factors that determine which organisms survive and reproduce. The course material will be divided into four broad categories: sensory capabilities, feeding patterns, spacing patterns, and reproduction. For each topic, theory and application will be presented. Students will analyze research papers and lead discussions on an aspect of each major topic. The laboratory portion of the course will focus on observational and experimental approaches to studying animal behavior in the lab and in the field. We will make use of local resources such as zoos, aquaria, wildlife conservation areas, veterinarians, and animal rehabilitation facilities. An independent research project is required. This course is designed for biology majors, although it would be appropriate for students from other majors. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week and weekend field trips to be announced. Prerequisite: Any 100-level Biology course except Biology 103, or permission of instructor. Biology 270 and/or 280 are recommended.
378L - Animal Behavior Laboratory
Laboratory techniques in animal behavior. Co-requisite: Biology 378. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
1 unit
380 - Plant Physiological Ecology
An investigation of physiological processes in plants, including photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and water relations, and how they are affected by environmental conditions and interactions with other organisms, including insects, vertebrates, and fungi. The emphasis will be on how to quantify and predict plant physiological responses to the particular ecological pressures of Southern California. Classroom discussions and presentations will focus on papers from the current scientific literature. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Biology 250 or permission of instructor.
380L - Plant Physiological Ecology Laboratory
Instruction in contemporary physiological and environmental diagnostic instrumentation and analytical methods will be followed by directed and independent investigations in the laboratory and field. Day-long and overnight field trips will be scheduled. Co-requisite: Biology 380. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
1 unit
390 - Special Topics in Biology
This seminar course will teach students skills needed to read and critically analyze original journal articles. Some lectures will be given, but the bulk of the course will consist of student-led discussions and analysis of scientific papers. Students will improve their communication skills by discussing papers and leading discussions, by writing a research paper and editing each others' papers, and by preparing PowerPoint presentations as an aid for leading discussions. May be taken more than once for credit, as the topics will differ each semester, but can only be used to fulfill one of the requirements for the Biology major. Cannot be used to fill the Biology requirement of the Biochemistry major.
395 - Research in Biology
Research for approximately five hours per week for students to study in an area not otherwise included in the departmental curriculum. Prerequisite: permission of instructor and approval of department.
2 or 4 units
397-597 - Independent Study in Biology
Directed research with individual faculty members for students with advanced competency to study in an area not otherwise included in the departmental curriculum. In addition to topics that may be studied on the Occidental campus, courses offered at the marine station of the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies may be taken for credit under this course number. Prerequisite: permission of instructor and approval of department.
2, 4, or 5 units
490 - Senior Seminar in Biology
Topics of these seminars will be announced at spring pre-registration. Each senior must pass one seminar for the comprehensive requirement. Each meets two hours per week, with extensive reading, discussion, and a major oral presentation by each student.
499 - Honors in Biology
Prerequisite: permission of department.
501 - Graduate Research
Supervised investigation by properly qualified graduate students working toward a Master's degree. Students may not register for more than two courses of Research during any semester.
5 units
590 - Thesis for Master of Arts Degree
Preparation of the Master's thesis in consultation with the advisor and committee members. Prerequisites: at least two courses of Biology 501 and permission of the department.
5 units
595 - Graduate Seminar
This special-topics seminar course will be offered as needed to graduate students in the department. May be repeated once for credit.
2 units
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Occidental College
MAJOR: The major consists of nine Biology courses (36 units) plus Senior Comprehensive Seminar (Biology 490, 4 units), and five supporting courses (20 units). Required Biology classes are Bio 105, 106, 110 or Bio 115, Bio 130, Bio 490, and seven additional 200- and 300- level Biology classes that satisfy the breadth and depth requirements defined below.
Two semesters of introductory biology are required. In these courses, students are exposed to basic biological principles and the diversity of life.
The introductory courses may be taken in any order, but at least one should be taken during the first year. One course must be in organismal biology, stressing diversity and the relationship between structure and function (Bio 105, 106, 110 or 115). The second course must be in cellular and molecular biology (Bio 130) and provide a broad introduction to the biochemistry, physiology, and molecular biology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. 100-level Biology courses are not open to senior Biology majors.
To meet the requirement for breadth within Biology, majors will take four classes, one from each of four biology subject areas: Cellular and Molecular Biology (Bio 221, 222, 224 or 226), Environmental Biology (Bio 106, 260, 270 or 275), Evolutionary Biology (280), and Organismal Biology (Bio 240, 250 or 275) 200 level requirements. In 300-level courses, students engage deeply with a particular specialized subject. Three 300-level courses (at least two of which must be Biology laboratory courses) are required. We accept Kinesiology 301 for this 300 level requirement.
One seminar course (Biology 490) is required to fulfill senior comprehensive requirements.
Five supporting classes are required for the major: Two semesters of chemistry (Chemistry 120 or 130, and 220); Calculus I or Calculus II and one other course with a strong quantitative component (this requirement can be filled by Calculus II, Math 150; Math 186, Bio 260, Bio 268 or Bio 368; Physics 110, 115, 120 or 125; or Psychology 201); and one other 4 unit course with a lab from Biology, Chemistry, Cognitive Science, Geology, Kinesiology, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology at the 200 or 300 level.
Biology majors must complete these courses within the Biology Department at Occidental: at least two of the four 200-level courses and at least two 300-level electives. A course used to fulfill one requirement cannot fulfill another major requirement. 2 unit and AP courses, AP exams or placement exams do not meet requirements for the major.
Students intending to apply to health professional programs or graduate programs in Biology should include four semesters of Chemistry, two semesters of Physics, and two semesters of Calculus in their course plan. Pre-professional students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Health Professions Office early in their career. Students planning to apply to graduate programs in Biology are also advised to include research (Biology 395) in their program of study, and may wish to select an emphasis (see below).
Students intending to obtain a teaching certification in biology should contact the Education Department as early as possible for advice on course selection. Additional advice concerning courses and career planning may be obtained from the major advisor.
The Biology Department encourages international study for Biology majors. Among the semester options available are programs in Tropical Biology in Costa Rica, Global Medicine and Public Health in Costa Rica, and direct enrollment at James Cook University in Australia (with strengths in Marine Biology and Tropical Biology.) Students may receive credit towards the Biology major and to meet Core distribution requirements. See the International Programs Office and Professor Braker for more information.
EMPHASIS WITHIN THE MAJOR: Students may construct an individual program to meet the Biology major requirements, or they may choose an emphasis in Cell and Molecular Biology or Marine Biology, or the Environmental Science Concentration in Biology.
Cell and Molecular Biology Emphasis: This emphasis is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in the health professions or graduate school in cellular or molecular biosciences. Cell and Molecular Biology encompasses a wide range of studies, including: gene expression and regulation, transmission of genes between generations, cell-to-cell communication, cell physiology, the biochemistry of DNA and RNA, the development of a fertilized egg into a multi-cellular organism, the biology of microbes, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive the specialized functions of the immune system, the nervous system and other organs and tissues. All requirements for the Biology major apply, with the addition that students must take two of the three courses at the 200 level as part of their program of study: Bio 221, 224, and 226 as part of their program of study. At least two of the required three courses at the 300 level must be chosen from the following list: Bio 320, 322, 323, 325, 326, 330, 333, 340, 349 and 350. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in research with faculty (Biology 395). Courses in organic chemistry and physics are strongly recommended for students planning to attend graduate and professional schools.
Marine Biology Emphasis: The marine emphasis is designed for biology majors who are interested in pursuing careers or graduate school in the marine sciences. Marine science is one of the most integrative fields in biology with research topics ranging from molecular methods for the classification of marine bacteria to the effects of global warming on fisheries. Students are required to satisfy all the requirements for the biology major and must take four of the following upper-division courses: Biology 260, 268, 344, 356, 368, 369, or Geology 245. These courses may also satisfy biology major requirements. In addition to the coursework, students are encouraged to participate in as many of the following activities as their schedules allow: 1) independent or collaborative research with faculty (Bio 395), 2) scuba diving as part of a club or research team, 3) participation in programs (academic year and/or summer) at marine science institutions, 4) participation in faculty led field trips, and/or 5) attendance at seminars on marine topics at Oxy and other nearby campuses. Students graduating with a marine emphasis will have strong lab/field research experience, know the common local marine organisms (plankton to mammals), and be able to discuss the pertinent physical and biological processes affecting the southern California marine area. Students interested in joining this emphasis should monitor our web site at www.oxy.edu/oxy/marinebio and contact one of the marine faculty to discuss their course of study.
Environmental Science Concentration in Biology: Environmental Science is a Concentration that explores earth processes and ecosystems and develops skills that students need for environmental analysis and problem-solving. The Environmental Science Concentration is designed for students who want to more fully understand the biological and geologic foundation of Environmental Science and provides them with a shared academic experience and expertise within a specific scientific field. Participation in a core of introductory courses establishes the interdisciplinary breadth necessary for understanding complex environmental problems. Further specialization gives students a strong background in Biology or Geology, preparing them to become involved in research projects, fieldwork, internships, and environmental studies. Students will receive their Bachelor of Arts in Biology or Geology with an Environmental Science Concentration, enabling them to pursue graduate work in Biology, Geology or Environmental Science, and professional careers in these and related fields.
Students complete the Environmental Science Introductory Core and additional courses to complete a major in Biology or Geology.
Environmental Science Introductory Core: (7 courses)
First level courses:
Earth: Our Environment (Geology 105)
Introductory Biology (105, 106, 110, or 115)
Introductory Economics (101)
Second level courses:
Spatial Analysis with GIS (Geo 255)
Earth's Climate: Past and Future (Geo 245)
Biodiversity and Organization of Marine and Terrestrial Ecosystems (Bio 260)
or Ecology (Bio 270)
Environmental Economics (Econ 301) or another 300-level course dealing with environmental
policy, chosen in consultation with Academic Advisor.
Environmental Science Concentration in Biology
Environmental Science Core (above) plus:
Introduction to Cellular And Molecular Biology (Bio 130)
Vertebrate Physiology (Bio 240), Plant Form And Function (Bio 250), or Flora Of Southern California (Bio 275)
Evolutionary Biology (Bio 280)
Three 300-level courses (e.g., Bio 350, 360, 369, 377, 380)
Chemistry 120 and one other chemistry course with lab
Mathematics through Math 120 (or equivalent)
or Math 110 and a Department-approved statistics course.
MINOR: Five courses (20 units) are required for the minor. These include any two of our introductory courses (Biology 105, 106, 110, 115 and 130) and any three additional courses at the 200 or 300 levels, two of which must be taken in the Biology Department. Independent Studies and Advanced Placement credit may not count toward the minor.
WRITING REQUIREMENT: Students majoring in Biology will satisfy the final component of Occidental College's campus-wide writing requirement by successfully completing two courses at the 300-level (or appropriate course work). Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. See the Writing Program and consult the department chair for additional information.
HONORS: The Honors Program at Occidental College is designed to allow the superior student's attention to be focused on a directed investigation for a sustained period of time. It is expected that students admitted to the College Honors Program will have established themselves as outstanding prospects for individualized work in the department of their major and will also have established themselves as doing work of very high quality in all that they have undertaken at Occidental. Student admission to the College Honors Program will be by formal action of the faculty in the student's major department (taken from the College Catalogue statement on Honors).
- Student typically will have worked on a research project for 2 semesters (or 1 semester + summer session) minimum, before applying for honors
- Student must have an average GPA of 3.25 (college policy)
Application Process
- Student should discuss with their research mentor and submit an official Letter of Intent to the Biology Chairperson by the beginning of their senior year, or sooner.
- The letter of intent should include a summary of research results (realized and projected), as well as significance of the research and any projects in progress at the time of submission.
- Applications will be evaluated by the Biology faculty.
- Students nominated for honors will be notified by the Biology Chairperson.
Completion Process
- At the time of nomination, each candidate will be assigned an honors thesis committee of two Biology faculty members, in addition to their faculty mentor. This committee will be available for guidance and to help ensure that milestones are met in a timely manner.
- Milestones will include a thorough literature review, written drafts of the introduction, methods, and results sections, including draft figures, and a final discussion section, as well as preparation of a public seminar.
- The candidate must complete a written thesis of their work. It is expected that the student will spend part of their final semester or directed research writing the thesis.
- The written thesis will be due to the mentor by Monday in the 4th week of February.
- The revised honors thesis will be due to the committee by Monday in the 3rd week of February.
- The thesis will be reviewed by committee, and final revisions must be submitted by the last day of March.
- Honors candidates will also give a presentation on their research during the week of April 15.. These presentations will last approximately 15 minutes, with 5 min for questions.
- Honors grades are Pass/Fail and reported to the registrar by the Chair. The chair will inform the students of their grade when it is decided upon by the committee.
GRADUATE STUDY: Graduate study toward the degree of Master of Arts under the thesis plan may be undertaken in Biology by properly qualified students. Thesis projects may be elected in any of the following fields: cellular biology, developmental biology, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, neurobiology, biochemistry, comparative physiology, animal behavior, environmental biology, ecology, systematics and evolutionary biology, and marine biology. Graduate courses, numbered 500 and above, are valued at five units unless otherwise noted. Consult the department chair for further information on graduate studies.
- Phone:
(323) 259-2697
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(323) 341-4974
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Los Angeles, CA 90041
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Occidental College
Art History & Visual Arts
Regular Faculty
Broderick Fox, chair
Associate Professor, Art History and the Visual Arts
B.A., Harvard University; M.F.A., Ph.D., USC
James Irvine Distinguished Professor, Art History and the Visual Arts
B.A., B.F.A., Indiana University; M.F.A., Tyler School of Art
Professor, Art History and the Visual Arts
B.A., Dartmouth College; M.A., Syracuse University; Ph.D., New York University
Assistant Professor, Art History and the Visual Arts
B.A., Grinnell College; M.F.A., New York University; Ph.D., University of Southern California
Associate Professor, Art History and the Visual Arts
B.F.A., Boston University; M.F.A., California Institute of the Arts
Assistant Professor, Art History & Visual Arts
B.A., University of Victoria; M.A., York University; M.A., UC, Irvine
Associate Dean for Curriculum and Academic Support; Professor, Art History and the Visual Arts
B.A., Pomona College; M.A., Boston University; Ph.D., UC Berkeley
Professor, Art History and the Visual Arts
B.A., M.F.A., Kent State University
Associate Professor, AHVA; Joint appointment at the Autry National Center of the American West
B.A. Appalachian University; M.A., Ph.D. Stanford University
On Special Appointment
Wanlass Aristist in Residence: Lucky Dragons
NTT Assistant Professor, Art History & Visual Arts
B.S. Cornell University; M.A. University of California, Los Angeles; Ph.D. Yale University
NTT Instructor, Art History & Visual Arts
B.A. University of Virginia; M.A. Pennsylvania State University
Adjunct Instructor, Art History & Visual Arts
B.A. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, M.A. U.C. Santa Barbara
Wanlass Aristist in Residence: Lucky Dragons
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Art History & Visual Arts
B.A. Montana State University, M.A. U.C. Irvine
NTT Assistant Professor, Art History & Visual Arts
B.A. Occidental College; M.A. Oberlin College; Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara
NTT Assistant Professor, Art History & Visual Arts
B.A. University of California, Berkeley; M.A. Sophia University; Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles
NTT Instructor, Art History & Visual Arts
B.A. Hampshire College; MFA Claremont Graduate University; M.A. California Institute of the Arts
NTT Assistant Professor, Art History & Visual Arts
BFA, M.A., Ph.D. University of Southern California
Adjunct Instructor, Art History & Visual Arts
B.A., UC Davis; M.F.A., UC Irvine
Adjunct Instructor, Art History & Visual Arts
B.F.A. University of Illinois, M.F.A. California Institute of the Arts
- Phone: 323-259-2749
- Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
- Location: Weingart 109
Occidental College
Art History & Visual Arts
MAJOR: Eleven or twelve courses (44 or 48 units, depending on the emphasis) chosen in consultation with the major advisor.
Emphasis in Studio Art: Minimum of 48 units, chosen in consultation with the major advisor. Three beginning courses: S102, S103 and S105; Two of the following intermediate courses: S203, S210, S216 or 217; Two of the following Advanced Projects courses: S310, S320, or S330; and S490 Senior Seminar; One course, in Media Arts and Culture (Criticism or Production); Two Art History courses -H180 and H389. The sequencing of courses is crucial: students should take beginning and intermediate courses in the Frosh and Sophomore years; 300 level courses (Advanced Projects) in their junior year; and S490 (Senior Seminar) and any elective studio courses in the senior year. You may not take a required 100 level course as a Senior. In addition, the two Art History courses (H180 and H389), and one 300 level Advanced Projects course must be completed before the start of the senior year. S101, 104 and 106 may only be taken as electives and do not count as required beginning courses.
Emphasis in Media Arts and Culture: Minimum of 48 units. AHVA's Media Arts & Culture Program fosters critical, historical, and practical exploration of audiovisual culture, with students producing senior comprehensives capstone work in either media production or critical media. All students, regardless of their project choice, are expected to push the boundaries of media scholarship, project form, and modes of audiovisual communication.
A minimum of twelve courses (48 units) are required for the MAC emphasis with students moving fairly freely between courses in production and those more focused on media history and critical analysis. Of the twelve required courses, students must take: at least three of the four 100-level gateway courses (ArtM 140, 143, 145, and/or 146), at least three (4-unit) 200-level courses, and the junior and senior seminars (ArtM 390 and 490). In addition, majors must complete one ArtH (Art History) and one ArtS (Studio) course.
All production comprehensives students must have taken ArtM 140 and either 242 or 355 by the end of junior year, along with 220 if producing fiction. In addition to ArtM 390, critical media comprehensives students must have taken at least two critical or historical media studies courses at the 200- or 300-level before the end of junior year.
Students may take relevant courses offered in other Occidental departments such as Theater, Music, CTSJ, or ECLS, which can be applied to the major upon approval of their faculty advisor. Eligible students may apply to study abroad in the Fall semester of Junior Year. Students may enroll for 2-unit internships through the Career Development Center. Occidental College also has a cross-registration agreement with Art Center College of Design, which offers various technical courses in media software.
Emphasis in History of Art: A minimum of 48 units, including three survey-level courses (H160, H170, and H180; one of these may be replaced by a 200-level elective in the same area) or equivalent; at least one course above 300 in two of these areas: Asian, Early Western, and twentieth century (either H387 or H389); the Seminar in Art History (H390); and the Senior Seminar (H490); two additional art history courses above the 100 level, of which at least one is at the 300 level; at least two courses (8 units) in Media Arts and Culture and/or Studio Art. In consultation with the advisor, a student may substitute a course outside the department (such as history, literature, politics, or philosophy, preferably related to the topic area of the senior thesis) for one of the art history electives.
Combined Emphasis: Students may declare a combined emphasis in art history and studio art: A minimum of 48 units, including four introductory courses two each in studio art (chosen from ARTS 101, 102, 103, 105, 106) and art history (chosen from ARTH 160, 170, 180); and six courses above the 100-level, three each in studio art and art history, including at least one 300-level course in each area; the Senior Seminar in studio art (ARTS490) or art history (ARTH490). Similar combined emphases between Art History and Media Arts and Culture or between Studio Art and Media Arts and Culture may be proposed in consultation with the faculty advisor.
Emphasis in Studio Art: Five courses (20 units) in the department including any four studio courses and one art history course. Studio courses must be selected from more than one professor.
Emphasis in Media Arts and Culture: Five Art M courses (20 units).
Emphasis in History of Art: Five art history courses (20 units) including at least one from Western art and one from Asian art; at least three must be 200-level courses or above.
WRITING REQUIREMENT: All students majoring in the department must successfully complete discipline-relevant writing within the context of the Junior Seminar for their specific area of emphasis (Studio Art - Art S390, Art History ¬Art H395, Media Arts and Culture - Art M390). For further information see page 40 and consult the department chair or your major advisor.
HONORS: A student with an overall GPA of at least 3.2 overall and 3.5 in the major who has demonstrated excellence in departmental courses must submit a proposal for an honors project for consideration before April 1 of the junior year. For further information, please see the Honors section of the catalog and consult the department chair.
- Phone: 323-259-2749
- Email: email@example.com
- Location: Weingart 109
Occidental College
American Studies
MAJOR: The American Studies major consists of a minimum of 10 courses (40 units) to include History 101 or 102 (or their equivalent), ECLS 189 or 289 (or their equivalent), Psychology 110 or 333 and 333L, and AMST 290, 390, and 490, and five other courses selected in consultation with an advisor from the American Studies faculty. Three of the five courses are required to be in American Studies. They include AMST 240, 242, 270, 272, 280, and 295. Courses acceptable from other departments include ECLS 189, 255, 289, 356. Education 213, 215. History 206, 277, 307, 312, 395. Politics 208, 209, 362. Psychology 385, Religious Studies 240, 245, 347. Sociology 350. Consulting with an American Studies advisor is essential for successful completion of the major.
MINOR: Five courses (20 units) to include AMST 290 or 390, History 101 or 102, ECLS 189 or 289 and two other courses in American Studies. They include AMST 240, 242, 270, 272, 280, and 295.
WRITING REQUIREMENT: Students majoring in American Studies will satisfy the final component of Occidental College's college-wide writing requirement by successfully completing American Studies 290 and 390 (or their equivalent) with a grade of B- or higher. Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. See the college writing requirement and consult the department chair for additional information.
COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT: Completion of a paper and a presentation on a topic in the student's area of emphasis as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the senior seminar (AMST 490). Research proposals for the senior project are due October 1 of the senior year.
HONORS: Students meeting college requirements for honors may apply for admission to the program by submitting a written proposal for an honors thesis by October 1 of their senior year. Those accepted may register for American Studies 499 during the fall or spring semester of the senior year; the thesis should be completed by the end of the senior year. In general it is expected that honors students will also take American Studies 490. For further information see the Honors Program and the department chair.
- Phone: (323) 259-2751
- Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
- Location: Swan Hall
Occidental College
American Studies
197 - Independent Study in American Studies
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
2 or 4 units
215 - Discipline/Desire: History of Sexuality in the U.S.
This course examines the history of the politics of sexuality in the United States since the American Revolution. It begins with theoretical works on the intersections of sexuality and politics, including writings by Sigmund Freud, Wilhelm Reich, Daniel Bell, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler, and Michael Warner. It then considers important moments in the history of American sexuality, including the growth of cities and erotic subcultures after the war for independence, the establishment of "republican discipline" and Victorianism in the early 19th century, blackface minstrelsy and the eroticization of slavery, the confinement of prostitution, the creation of domestic and public spheres, the explosion of working-class sexual entertainment during the industrial revolution, feminism and the social hygiene movement, etc.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: US and US DIVERSITY
240 - African American Women Writers
This course examines the constructions of black women's identities as represented in twentieth century fiction by U.S. black women writers whose themes include the impact of slavery, migration, class, and family on sexuality, "sisterhood" and racial solidarity. Typical texts include works by writers as varied as Octavia Butler, Lorraine Hansberry, Andrea Lee, Paule Marshall, Toni Morrison, Ntozake Shange, and Paula Woods.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: UNITED STATES and US DIVERSITY
242 - Great Migration & Emergence of "New Negroes"
This interdisciplinary course examines the migration and transformation of more than half a million African American southerners who left the south to move to cities in the northeast and midwest in search of greater freedom. We will also discuss the Harlem Renaissance when the art and literature of this era were seen as examples of racial progress. Political leaders and their organizations often clashed with one another and we will discuss those debates in this critical period in African American history.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: UNITED STATES and US DIVERSITY
246 - African American Lit Tradition
A socio-historical analysis of narratives and novels by African American writers. The course will examine the intellectual, political, and cultural influences on writers such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, Charles Chesnutt, Nella Larsen, Zora Neale Hurston, Ann Petry, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and Charles Johnson.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: UNITED STATES and US DIVERSITY
270 - Asian American LIterature
This course analyzes the social experience and cultural heritage of Asian Americans through their writing and places them in a broader comparative context of multi-racial/ethnic American society. We will examine the development of Asian American literature, its social implications and historical context, and the diversity of subject matter which makes up the literary scene of Asian American communities since the mid-19th century.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: UNITED STATES and US DIVERSITY
272 - Asian Immigrants in American Society
This course examines the experiences of Asian immigrants and their descendants in American society since the mid-19th century. Topics include "push" and "pull" factors that have led various Asian groups to the United States, the problems they faced as they adapted to their new homeland, changes in Asian American communities since the 1960s, the influence of U.S. policies toward Asia on Asian immigration, and the impact of globalization and transnational networks on Asian Americans in our rapidly changing era.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: UNITED STATES and US DIVERSITY
280 - The United States and East Asia
This course explores the history of the United States' involvement with and policy toward countries in East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines, from the early 19th century to the present. Topics include the changing roles of the United States in East Asia, the process of economic development in an international context, cross-cultural misperceptions, and power rivalries in the Pacific Rim.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: INTERCULTURAL and GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
290 - American Studies: Theory and Methodology
This course introduces students to the major theories employed by scholars in American Studies and to the methods and materials that have been used to create interdisciplinary analyses of the cultures of the United States. Through close reading of scholarly studies and a variety of primary texts (e.g., novels, films, essays, song lyrics, children's textbooks, clothing styles), we will analyze the creation, maintenance, and transmission of cultural meaning in the U.S.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: UNITED STATES and US DIVERSITY
295 - Topics in American Studies
Latino/a Experience. This course will explore the history and experience of Latino/a immigrants in the United States, paying particular attention to how race, ethnicity, identity, politics, class, and gender influence the lives of Latino/a immigrants. We will also examine how they have influenced historical developments in different regions of the country, especially in terms of U.S. demographics.
Black Literary History and the Archive
Black Literary History and the Archive Description: How do we resurrect the lives of people who were considered unimportant, those whose contributions were dismissed and buried? What does the existing historical archive tell us about what is considered valuable and about what constitutes "memory"? This class examines the lives of two of the most important nineteenth-century Black women writers, Harriet Jacobs and Harriet Wilson, as a means to develop the tools of literary recovery. As we expand the contours of the historical canon, we will also reflect on our own sense of the scope and shape of African American historical memory and the ways in which we organize history. How do we interpret religion, resistance and labor activities that that fall "outside" of the most recognized narratives about African American experience? This class will take on these larger questions as we also engage in archival work in newspapers, census records and beyond.
African American Literature: Race/Gender/Sexuality. AMST 295: African American Literature: Interrogating Race, Gender, and Sexuality. This course is designed as a survey of African American literature. We will examine a multitude of genres including oral forms (spirituals, ballads, work songs), poetry, fiction, drama, and essays by authors such as Phillis Wheatley, David Walker, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Ida B. Wells, W.E.B. DuBois, Langston Hughes, Nella Larson, Zora Neale Hurston, Jean Toomer, Jessie R. Faucet, Claude McKay, Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, Ann Petry, and Gwendolyn Brooks. Beyond strictly a "greatest hits" or "major authors" course, this class will also consider the ways African American writers interrogate complex categories of personal identity, which requires an in-depth investigation into the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic class. Through lectures, class discussions, and student presentations, we will highlight the critical impact of African American literature on American culture.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: UNITED STATES and US DIVERSITY
310 - The American South
This interdisciplinary seminar examines representations of the American South in literature and film as well as material and popular culture from Aunt Jemima collectibles, D.W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation," to CNN's 2005 coverage of "Hurricane Katrina." We will also discuss the impact of Asian and Latino immigration on a region traditionally characterized as "black and white." Prerequisites: one American Studies or American History course.
346 - Beautiful Democracy: 19th Century Af Am Lit
This course thinks through current debates over the relationship between literary aesthetics and harmony in American democracy. Do aesthetics foster a more harmonious or disharmonious national culture? Do aesthetics create more peaceful cities and craft a common culture? Should its subject matter be legal resolutions to conflict and representations of peaceful communities? Or, is disharmony ever important to progress? How does literature represent protests for social change that are often only possible outside the law, like the many freedmen and freedwomen escaping slavery and demanding the destruction of that system? How does this alter our understandings of what it means to be "fugitive"? How can the fugitive fighting for freedom be distinguished from the unprincipled outlaw? From another perspective, we will consider how the complications of American society have altered certain traditional literary forms. While recent scholarship has addressed these questions in regards to early to mid 20th century literature, this course will look back further, starting from the early 19th century to the very beginning of the 20th. will complement the literature by reading relevant historical materials from the abolitionist movement, labor movements, government debates over Emancipation and Reconstruction, etc. The course will include literature from Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Walt Whitman, Ida B Wells, and Charles Chesnutt, among others, and will cover several genres, including oratory, autobiography, political pamphlets and short fiction. Prerequisite: Any 100 or 200-level English course or junior or senior standing. Major requirement met: Group II. Same as ENGL 346
375 - Sociopolitics of Race: Color-blind/Color-insight
This seminar explores the social politics of race through the lens of color-conscious and color-blind ideologies. Topics focus on the construction of race; racial identity development and socialization for differently positioned group members; psychological impact of race and racial identification for academic achievement, esteem, and health; contemporary research on colorblind and color conscious ideologies and primes; and social policy. Interdisciplinary readings include Psychological theory and research (Steele's Whistling Vivaldi, Sue's Microaggressions, Contemporary journal articles), Critical Theory ( Delgado & Stefanic's Critical Race Theory), and Sociology (Bonilla-Silva's Racism without Racists). Heavily discussion-based. Prerequisite: Psychology 110/223/323 or American Studies 290/390. Same as PSYC 375
CORE REQUIREMENT MET: MATH/SCI and US DIVERSITY and UNITED STATES
390 - Junior Seminar in American Studies
The 1960s
A close examination of the significant social movements of the 1960s and their ongoing relevance in the 21st century. Prerequisite: American Studies major or permission of instructor.
CORE REQUIREMENT MET:UNITED STATES and US DIVERSITY
American Experiments in Communal Living
This interdisciplinary seminar explores American visions of utopia in fact and in fiction. Students will study the proliferation of American "utopian" societies, both religious and secular, from 1780 up to the 1930s before moving to an examination of more contemporary intentional communities, including dystopian separatists, and counter-culture communes. Readings include statements by charismatic founders, personal accounts of members, historical analyses, and utopian novels.
397 - Advanced Independent Study
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
2 or 4 units
490 - Senior Seminar in American Studies
This course is designed to assist students with the completion of their research papers on topics that reflect their areas of emphasis in American Studies. It will provide an opportunity for seniors to synthesize their area of specialization with an analysis of critical issues in the study of American culture and society.
499 - Honors in American Studies
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
2 or 4 units
S111 - Power and Identity
This course revolves around the theme of power. This course considers how oppressive structures establish and sustain themselves -- and face opposition -- at local, national, and international levels. We will begin by addressing the question, how does opposition imply alternative forms of power, visions of freedom, self-identification, and belonging? Using historical, literary, theoretical, and social perspectives, we will focus on the tensions between power's oppressive and liberatory tendencies. For example, we will examine famous African American intellectual W.E.B. Du Bois's sole published biography, John Brown; test historical case studies through academic inquiries into British and Japanese imperialism; and take an intersectional approach to understanding identity, power, and domination. Throughout, students will build and develop their critical and interpretative skills through reading, writing, debate, and presentation. This course is taught by Professor Jaclyn Rodriguez (Psychology), Professor James Ford (English), and Professor Paul Nam (History).
Offered during the Summer as part of the Multicultural Summer Institute.
- Phone: (323) 259-2751
- Email: email@example.com
- Location: Swan Hall