Interdisciplinary Programs
First-Year Writing
Director of Writing: Dr. Crystal Fodrey
Co-Coordinators of First-Year Writing: Dr. Crystal Fodrey and Dr. Karen Groller
Writing Center and Writing Fellows Program Coordinator: Meg Mikovits
Mission
Through a writing-enriched curriculum that emphasizes the transfer and iterative building of writing abilities across a student’s liberal arts education, the Writing at Moravian program seeks to foster rhetorically informed and reflective writing experiences within all academic units at Moravian University.
Moravian's First-Year Writing Courses: An Introduction
First-Year Writing at Moravian University is your introduction to college-level writing, reading, and critical thinking as well as the campus services that can and will aid you in your success. Depending on your placement, First-Year Writing is LinC 101: First-Year Writing Seminar OR the two semester course sequence of Writing 101: College Reading and Writing and LinC 102: Writing Seminar OR the two semester course sequence of Writing 105: College Reading and Writing for Multilingual Learners I and Writing 106: College Reading and Writing for Multilingual Learners II. While these different courses are detailed below, all FYW sections share these important characteristics:
- The engaging, focused topic and types of writing assigned in each writing seminar are determined by the individual faculty member, growing out of his/her specialty and interests. The threads of academic literacy that connect all FYW courses—designed to foster the transfer writing skills from FYW to other LinC and upper-division writing courses—are the critical reading and writing-related outcomes and an emphasis on the development of writing abilities through the integration of key concepts such as discourse community, research, rhetorical situation, audience, purpose, genre, writing process, and reflection.
- All first-year students who begin in the Fall semester participate in a common InFocus sponsored first-year reading and related discussion and activities, usually including campus visit and presentation by the author(s) of the reading.
- FYW also introduces first-year students to the many resources offered by Student Affairs and other student support offices and to the many activities, organizations, and opportunities that enrich their lives as Moravian students.
- FYW is based on the concept of the seminar—teaching a small group of students (17–19).
- The format of FYW features ongoing, frequent meetings that encourage participation and interaction between students and faculty, between students, and between students and representatives of campus organizations and offices.
- Selected upper-level students called Writing Fellows are trained as writing tutors to work alongside faculty with first-year students.
First-Year Writing Courses:
WRIT 101: College Reading and Writing
College Reading and Writing is designed to help students transition to college expectations and introduces students to academic literacy practices of critical reading and writing essential to academic success at the college level. Students work collaboratively with classmates, the professor, and the Writing Fellow to improve writing, build community, and explore available campus resources to achieve academic and personal success during their time at Moravian. (This course, a precursor to our interdisciplinary Writing Seminars, is required for some incoming students based on academic history and is recommended to others based on responses given on the new student survey and availability.)
LinC 101: First-Year Writing Seminar
First-Year Writing Seminar (FYWS) introduces students to academic literacy practices central to success in any discipline at Moravian University. The course is designed to help students transition to college expectations, generate research questions, find and evaluate sources, and make informed decisions about how best to achieve their purposes in various writing situations. The subject area focus of each section of First-Year Writing Seminar varies, but all sections are similar in their approach: students develop the skills of critical reading, research, argumentation, revision, and reflection; and students work collaboratively with classmates, the professor, and the Writing Fellow to improve writing, build community, and explore available campus resources to achieve academic and personal success during their time at Moravian. (Fall semester only. Meets LinC F1 Requirement.) Click here to see current FYWS course topics.
LinC 102: Writing Seminar
Writing Seminar introduces students to academic literacy practices central to success in any discipline at Moravian University. The course is designed to help students transition to college expectations, generate research questions, find and evaluate sources, and make informed decisions about how best to achieve their purposes in various writing situations. The subject area focus of each section of Writing Seminar varies, but all sections are similar in their approach: students develop the skills of critical reading, research, argumentation, revision, and reflection; and students work collaboratively with classmates, the professor, and the Writing Fellow to improve writing. (This course typically runs in the Spring semester and is for students who successfully complete Writing 101: College Reading and Writing. Meets LinC F1 Requirement.)
WRIT 105: College Reading and Writing for Multilingual Learners I
College Reading and Writing for Multilingual Learners I is designed to help students transition to US college expectations and introduces students to academic literacy practices of critical reading and writing essential to academic success at the college level. Students work collaboratively with classmates, the professor, and the Writing Fellow to develop English literacies, build community, and explore available campus resources to achieve academic and personal success during their time at Moravian.
WRIT 106: College Reading and Writing for Multilingual Learners II
College Reading and Writing for Multilingual Learners II builds on the English and academic literacy practices from College Reading and Writing for Multilingual Learners I. The course is designed to help students develop academic reading and writing skills and strategies, generate research questions, find and evaluate sources, and make informed decisions about how best to achieve their purposes in various writing situations. Prerequisite: WRIT 105. (Meets LinC F1 Requirement.)
WRIT 190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.
WRIT 286, 381-383. Independent Study.
WRIT 384. Independent Research.
WRIT 288, 386-388. Internship.
WRIT 400-401. Honors.
Interdisciplinary Courses
IDIS 110. World Geography and Global Issues. Relationships between place and culture, politics, economics, and society. How various regions respond to problems such as poverty, war, and health care, and how their responses affect the global community. Topics change at the discretion of the instructor. Two 70-minute periods. (M5)
IDIS 161. All About Prague. This course is an introduction to Czech history and architecture in the context of Central European history, with a minor emphasis on music. This introduction includes the historical origins of the Moravian Church and a subsequent visit to Bethlehem Chapel, effectively its birthplace. We survey Czech history and European architecture before departing on a week-long trip to Prague, where all architectural styles of the last one thousand years are on display.
IDIS 164. History, Architecture, and Politics of Venice, Salzburg, Munich, Paris, and Berlin. This course is devised around a 20-day trip which will take students to five cities: Venice, Salzburg, Munich, Paris and Berlin. The main purpose of this course is to introduce the students to the major architectural styles, as they are expressed through the landmarks of each one of the five cities, and relate them to the history and political regimes of the time those landmarks were created. The ultimate objective here is two-fold. By the end of the trip students should be able to identify most of the major architectural styles that have dominated the history of the western world and recognize the major features of each of those styles. They should also understand the extent to which architecture, on top of being a form of art in its own right, is also a powerful tool in the hands of political leaders to showcase the power, the wealth and sometimes, but not always, the genius of the regimes they lead. The course will consist of visits to sites preceded and followed by readings on the part of students and lectures by the instructor. (M6)
IDIS 165. Life Walk of Justice: Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies. (Also Religion 165) In this course students will be encouraged to identify and analyze (in)justice in our own lives, communities and world. In addition to course readings, we will use the contemplative practices of memoir and walking as resources for critical thinking. A majority of the course will involve students developing responses to (in)justice through various projects that reflect students’ own passion and design, including academic, artistic, political, social, service-oriented, and personal responses. Prerequisites: First-Year students and sophomores only; juniors and seniors with permission of the instructor. (M3)
IDIS 185. (185.2). Interdisciplinary Project
The Interdisciplinary Project is an experiential and interdisciplinary project available to students who have completed at least one term of study at Moravian University. The project must be interdisciplinary in scope. Projects may be undertaken by a group of students working with a faculty member, or by a single student working one-on-one. Projects are normally conducted on campus, but could include some immersion in the local community, with faculty supervision. Unlike an internship, there usually is no site supervision from the community. Work done for the project must be independent from that prepared for other classes, or from service hours required for other classes or extracurricular organizations.
A full-unit interdisciplinary project requires a minimum of 8 hours of “hands-on” work per week for a fall or spring term (a minimum of 4 hours of “hands-on” work per week is required for a half-unit interdisciplinary project). Examples of “hands-on” work might be building sets in the theatre; preparing other students for musical performance working with other students or a faculty member on some element of research; or doing work outside the institution in a professional setting, similar to some of the work one might find in an internship placement. The faculty supervisor will assign additional work, such as readings and written work, to foster critical thinking and reflection in the applied disciplines, to ensure that the project meets the 174-hour minimum requirement.
At the end of the semester students provide evidence if reaching this goal in a formal presentation, performance or comparable public display. The overall experience enhances students’ preparedness for future employment or post-graduate studies. Students who are undecided may use the project to help discern possible career/major paths. Applications for the Interdisciplinary Project are submitted to the Learning in Common Committee for review by the end of term prior to the term of the project (for example, by the end of fall for a spring project).
IDIS 200. Witches and Demons in German History and Culture. (Also German 200) Examines a wide variety of texts and other media to explore the idea and representation of the strange and "deviant" in German literature and culture from early modern Europe to the present. Focus on the concept of the witch, witch-hunts, the Faust legend, and gender issues. Supplemented by audio-visual materials from art history, film, and popular culture. Taught in English. (M2)
IDIS 210. Modern Urbanization: Destruction and Restoration of Cities around the World. Modern urbanization has threatened the nature of our cities for years. Unless efforts are made to protect them, cities around the world will lose their historical, cultural, and social specificities, and probably look alike by mid-century. By focusing primarily on seven of the world's greatest cities (Bangkok, Beijing, Berlin, Cairo, Kyoto, Paris, and Venice), we examine how they address (or fail to address) those challenging issues. (M5)
IDIS 213. The Impact of Technology on Diet and Disease. Historically, technology has had an enormous impact on diet and disease. Beginning with the domestication of crops and animals, the course will trace changes in the diet and human social systems resulting from advances in agriculture and food distribution. Topics include the 18th-century agricultural and industrial revolutions and the "green revolution" of the 1950s; hormones, antibiotics, genetically engineered crops; pandemics such as the Black Death of the 14th century, Spanish influenza in 1918, and AIDS and other emerging diseases. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. (U1)
IDIS 214. Immigration, Exile and Internal Displacement in Latin American and Latino Literature. (Also Foreign Language 214) Immigration, exile and internal displacement are phenomena seen across the world, and ones that are frequent topics of discussion. This course will examine such issues among the diverse Latin American cultures through the lens of fiction. These texts and films deal directly with moments of social transformation, power differences, and cultural (mis)understanding. Studying how these works will help students better understand the timely issues of displacement, as well as how these issues are perceived and represented. Course conducted in English. (M5) Prerequisite: Writing 100 or LinC 101.
IDIS 216. Intersection of Culture and Healthcare. (Also Nursing 216) In this course the student will develop an understanding of health, illness, and the meanings of these concepts for members of non-western socio-cultural populations. Topics include culturally bound practices; the impact on healthcare practices and decision-making; structures that promote access to healthcare and structures that impede access. The concept of delivering culturally competent care will be examined and strategies for promoting competence will be explored. (M5)
IDIS 217. From Ape to Madonna: The Evolution of Humankind. Addresses the historical and comparative evolution of our species. Using the approaches of evolutionary biology, physical anthropology, and archaeology, this course traces human physical evolution and cultural development from its earliest beginning, more than five million years ago, to about 15,000 years ago, just before the beginnings of plant and animal domestication and the rise of complex societies. Special attention paid to the impact that evolutionary ideas have had on social, political, and educational issues in American life. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. (U1)
IDIS 218. Wicked Plants. This course explores the origin and diversification of land plants, especially flowering plants with ethnobotanical uses. This course covers plant identification and nomenclature, botanical accuracy of medicinal plants, edible plants, and toxic plants. This course also introduces students to plants that changed the course of history through their capacity to be edible, deadly, addictive, healing, and economically profitable. The cultivation and global spread of plants became the impetus for many inventions that are discussed in this course. Students read primary literature, communicate scientific findings, synthesize information from multiple sources verbally and in written format. This is an interdisciplinary course that combines plant taxonomy with the historical use of plants. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. (U1)
IDIS 220. The Holocaust. (Also History 220) Discusses the persecution and mass killing of European Jews by Nazi Germany. Describes anti-Semitism in historical context and explores the complexities of ultimate moral choices by asking how a cultured civilization produced mass killers and an educated class went unprotesting to its extermination. Students will explore the experience of those who were sent to the camps, how they constructed a kind of everyday life, and how gender influenced their experience. Finally, we study how and why the world outside Germany—foreign governments, intellectuals, religious and humanitarian groups—reacted to or failed to confront the Holocaust. Prerequisite: Junior or senior class standing. (U2)
IDIS 222. African Art. (Also Art 222) Students will develop an aesthetic and cultural overview of African art, from prehistory to the present day. Sculpture is the primary medium studied in the course, but textiles, painting, artisanal works and architecture are also included. Students will consider how religion and cultural influences affect the development of regional and national styles. The influence of the African diaspora on art in Europe, Latin America, and the United States will be considered. Students will acquire the critical vocabulary required to analyze and interpret African art, and apply it in both discussion and writing. (M5)
IDIS 228. Telling and Selling Your Brand: The Art of the Story. (Also Management 228) The use of mythology, archetypes, and storytelling to create a cohesive and compelling identity for an organization. Focus on how legendary organizations have built trust and created iconic brands by understanding and applying these principles. The use of symbolism (visual and mental) and metaphor to create a theme that is enduring, powerful, and integrated throughout the organization. Ways that organizations and people can develop deep and lasting relationships with their customers and other stakeholders through the understanding and application of these storytelling techniques. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or higher.
IDIS 244. Climate Negotiations on the International Stage. This interdisciplinary course introduces students to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including the science, different mechanisms within the UNFCCC, the subsidiary bodies which assist the COP, and the various constituencies of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Students will be introduced to the multi-cultural perspectives (including those of indigenous peoples, and contrasts between the global north and south) and other issues such as gender that influence individual country positions. Students examine not only the process used for developing multilateral agreements, but also how these are ratified and implemented in different countries. This course will utilize multiple modes of teaching and learning including weekly lecture-discussion sessions; group work; individual and team projects; use of online resources and tools for research, blogging, and weekly virtual discussions; and students will also actively follow and engage in the UNFCCC negotiations during the annual fall conferences. Prerequisites: Sophomore or higher standing required.
IDIS 250. Moral Marketing. (Also Management 250) How the ideas of tzedek ("justice") and charity ("love") apply to marketing to the world's poorest people (those living on less than $2 a day). Examination of three different perspectives of social justice: Jewish, Christian, and American secular traditions. Each of these three perspectives has unique traditions regarding the role of the individual and the community, and the obligation towards helping those less fortunate. Discussion of differences between morality and ethics based on these three perspectives, as well as approaches to social justice as an obligation, an act of love, or a practical solution. Needs of the poor in emerging nations and how products could be created and distributed in these emerging nations in accordance with these different ethical and moral perspectives. (U2) Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.
IDIS 251. Human Sexuality. (Also Sociology 251) The physical, psychological, relational, and socio-cultural aspects of sexuality influence humans from before birth through death. This course will increase students' understandings of lifespan human sexuality; engage them in critical thinking about sexuality in the context of culture; help them identify and critique their sexual values, attitudes and morals; and enable students to make relational and sexual decisions in keeping with their values. Prerequisite: Junior or senior class standing. (U2)
IDIS 256. Social Controversies. (Also Sociology 256) Ethical concerns associated with traditional and contemporary social issues. Assessment of moral arguments based upon individual beliefs as well as those promoted by traditional philosophy. Encourages exploration of students' own philosophies in the context of everyday life. Prerequisite: Sociology 115; junior or senior standing. (U2)
IDIS 259. Sport and Its Cultural Legacy. A critical examination of the changing relationship between sport and culture, particularly as it pertains to Western sport. The course will include an historical overview of sport as cultural marker and its resultant industries before moving toward a range of specific socio-political dimensions, including issues of inequality, labor, marketing, and socialization schemes, paying particular attention to the narratives expressed through various media forms. Writing-intensive.
IDIS 262. Literature and the Way We Live. (Also English 262) This course considers such moral issues as the environment; identity, duties to kin; love, marriage and sex; racism and sexism; as posed within a variety of world literature that includes short stories, novels, poetry, and drama, ranging from the era of Sophocles' Antigone to the present. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. (U2)
IDIS 263. Civil Rights and the Moral Life. (Also Religion 263) Many forces and ideas shaped the civil rights movement. Through both a historical and a theological/philosophical lens, students will examine those forces and ideas and will consider how the power and depth of the movement continues to challenge us with its continued relevance today. The course includes in-close examinations of key events in the movement, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Nashville sit-ins, in order to view the movement from the vantage of people involved in the movement. (U2)
IDIS 268. Costa Rica as a Model of Sustainability and Tropical Ecology. In 1948, the small Central American country of Costa Rica abolished its military and has long avoided the conflict and civil war that has plagued its neighbors. This has enabled the country to invest in conservation, national parks, health care, education, renewable clean energy, ecological research, and other practices leading to it becoming a model for sustainable development. The country routinely scores highly in the global Happiness Rankings – an indicator of the well-being of citizens. In this course, students not only explore the biodiversity and tropical ecology of the beautiful and varied landscapes, but also research examples of sustainable practices including agriculture, indigenous traditions, conservation, reduction of a nation’s carbon footprint, and ecotourism. A trip to Costa Rica over spring break is a required component of the course that allows students to explore first-hand some examples of remarkable ecological theory and evolutionary adaptations and how sustainable theory is put into practice through a combination of traditional knowledge and national policy.
IDIS 310. "Doing Good" at Work. (Also Management 310) "Doing good" is philanthropy, ethical codes of conduct, voluntarism, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. Not only is "doing good" at work the morally correct thing to do for the individual employee, but the more individuals in the organization who "do good," the more likely the organization will succeed on economic, social, and mission-related levels and goals. Students will learn about the philosophy, history and practice of "doing good" at work, and integrate what they have learned and what they believe to develop their own model for "doing good" that they can work and live with. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. (U2)
IDIS 320.2. Writing in Science Education. Topical writing for various audiences in science education, including students, parents, colleagues, administrators, editors of professional journals, and review committees of funding agencies. Topics involve contemporary issues in science and/or science education. For general science teacher education students in the elementary and secondary programs only. Writing-intensive. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.
IDIS 350. Media Technology and Society. (Also Sociology 350) Technological development and implications of mass-media forms. Students will analyze mass media as a social force that shapes personal and collective ideas and behaviors in the modern world. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. (U1)
IDIS 358. Segregation in America: The Legacy of Jim Crow. (Also Sociology 358) A more grounded approach for tracing and interpreting the wide reach of legalized and enforced segregation in American life focusing primarily on the post-bellum period of the 19th century through the civil rights struggles of the 1960s and 1970s. Looks past many of the more commonly understood (and misinterpreted) elements of the so-called Jim Crow edifice by looking at all regions of the country during this period in a more comparative frame. Examines the social, historical, economic, and political forces that fueled the construction of segregation then while attempting to make sense of discussions relative to race, class, and power in America today. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. (U2)
IDIS 370. Integrative Writing Seminar. This writing intensive course is designed to aid students in utilizing research as a contextual and integrative process. It will address issues such as the relationship between the academic and the informative; what it means to be a scholar and a college graduate who is aware of the globalized world. As students get in contact with their academic passions and programmatic course work, this seminar will encourage discourse around the intersectionality of scholastic research and the integration of personal reflection and personal growth in and out of an academic context. Students will realize the role of the scholarship in their lives, how to approach research from the root of the their own inquiry versus a single discipline; and how to properly develop their own academic voice through writing and revision. The knowledge base will be drawn from the philosophies of social science, integrative, and creative inquiry with the goal of enhancing the complexity of liberal studies within research. Finally through extensive writing the seminar will encourage open dialogue and close collaboration engaging with multiple perspectives and disciplines. (WI)
IDIS 372. Developmental Implications of Medical Technologies. (Also Psychology 372) Explores implications of recent medical advances. Topics to be explored include: assisted reproductive technologies, genetic testing, premature and low-birth-weight infants, performance-enhancing drugs, sex selection, and euthanasia. Students will be provided with an overview of the medical technologies in question and will explore ways in which individuals, families, and society are socially, emotionally, morally, legally, and economically affected by these advances. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. (U1)
IDIS 385. Peace and Justice-Making Praxis. Students develop a “hands on” learning experience in the community with an emphasis on justice and peace-building that suits the particular design of their educational direction in the minor. Faculty mentors guide students’ choices of additional study materials, participation in the “Vocational Reflection Circle” and additional memoir chapters.
IDIS 190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.
IDIS 286, 381-383. Independent Study.
IDIS 384. Independent Research.
IDIS 288, 386-388. Internship.
IDIS 400-401. Honors.
Internship
INTR 275.2. Personal and Professional Development Seminar. A course that considers the skills a student needs to prepare for the world of work. Topics include exploring areas of industry, resume/cover letter preparation, job/internship search preparation, interview skills, salary negotiation, and social media and professional etiquette in the workplace. Prerequisite: second semester sophomore standing or higher.
INTR 386-388. Internship.
Student Success
COLL 100. Student Success Seminar. This course helps students explore how to more successfully engage in the academic life and work of the University. Students will reflect on their development as learners and the skills and habits needed to be successful through a multitude of activities, including academic readings, research and writing, and class discussion. Students will develop skill in and appreciation for reflective learning, effective prioritization, active inquiry, professional communication, and the overall demands of academic work.
Interdisciplinary Majors for Middle Level Teacher Certification
Elementary General Science
The interdisciplinary major in elementary general science for middle level teacher certification consists of nine and a half course units, including Biology 100, 112, or 119; Biology 107 or Environmental Studies 112; Chemistry 108 or 113; Physics 109 or 111 (the pre-requisite for either is Mathematics 170); two courses chosen from Earth Science 110, 120, or 130; three science electives; and the writing intensive course IDIS 320.2.
Historical Studies
The interdisciplinary major in historical studies for middle level teacher certification consists of eleven course units, including History 112 or 116; History 113 or 114; one 100-level history course focusing on an area outside Europe or the United States; History 270 (writing intensive); two additional history courses at the 200 level and two at the 300 level, to include at least one course each in United States history, European history, and history of an area outside Europe and the United States; Political Science 110; Political Science115 or 125 or a political science course in an international topic, chosen in consultation with an advisor; and Interdisciplinary Studies 110.
Mathematics and Elementary General Science
The interdisciplinary major in mathematics and elementary general science for middle level teacher certification consists of twelve course units, including Mathematics 170, 171, 211 or higher, 216 (writing intensive), 220, and 340; Biology 100, 112, or 119; Biology 107 or Environmental Studies 112; Chemistry 108 or 113; Physics 109 or 111; and two courses chosen from Earth Science 110, 120, or 130.
Mathematics and English
The interdisciplinary major in mathematics and English for middle level teacher certification consists of twelve course units, including Mathematics 170, 171, 211 or higher, 216 (writing intensive), 220, and 340; Education 131; English 211 or 212 (writing intensive); English 221; English 225 (writing intensive); and two courses in English numbered 200 or above, one of which must also satisfy the U1 or U2 LinC requirement.
Elementary General Science and English
The interdisciplinary major in elementary general science and English for middle level teacher certification consists of twelve courses, including Biology 100, 112, or 119; Biology 107 or Environmental Studies 112; Chemistry 108 or 113; Physics 109 or 111; two courses chosen from Earth Science 110, 120, or 130; Education 131; English 211 or 212 (writing intensive); English 221; English 225 (writing intensive); and two courses in English numbered 200 or above, one of which must also satisfy the U1 or U2 LinC requirement.
Interdisciplinary Certificates
Indigenous Studies
The Indigenous Studies certificate is an interdisciplinary program that examines the culture, history, literature, art, and languages of indigenous people primarily within the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Hawaiian Islands, although some consideration will be given to communities in other parts of the world. The program uses an interdisciplinary methodology with a particular emphasis on indigenous systems of knowledge.
The Indigenous Studies certificate consists of five course units; including INDG 110 and INDG 370 and a minimum of three (3) additional elective courses. The three additional courses must be taken in at least two different departments (English and history or anthropology and English, for example) and at least one must be at the 200- or 300-level to ensure students have a multidisciplinary experience. Students may take one internship and one independent study as part of the certificate.
INDG 110. Introduction to Indigenous Studies. This course examines the cultures, politics, religious beliefs, and cultural production of indigenous peoples in historical and contemporary contexts and analyzes how first people have adapted to and resisted settler colonialism. While the issues covered in this course are global in scope and efforts will be made to draw on diverse experiences from around the world, we will focus mainly on the indigenous peoples of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Hawaiian Islands. (M5)
INDG 120. The History of Native North America. Embracing hundreds of distinct cultures over a period of 15,000 years, the history of Indigenous peoples in North America is vast and complex. This course uses case studies of specific cultures from Mexico, the United States, and Canada to provide a thematic overview of the continent’s Indigenous history until the present. The course will take an interdisciplinary approach to issues such as trade, religion, warfare, colonization, disease, dispossession, and revitalization and introduce students to the methods scholars use to study oral cultures. In addition to written sources, we will draw on the insights of anthropology, archaeology, genetics, chemistry, and linguistics to expand our understanding of the history of Native North America. (M5)
INDG 370. Capstone in Indigenous Studies. Intensive independent study and research in an area of Indigenous Studies. The capstone project must incorporate the perspectives and methodologies of two or more disciplines and integrate Indigenous intellectual, philosophical, or aesthetic traditions. Content will vary depending on the interests of the student, the instructor, and if applicable, of participating communities or institutions. Prerequisite: INDG 110 and permission of program director.
INDG 190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.
INDG 286, 381-383. Independent Study.
INDG 384. Independent Research.
INDG 288, 386-388. Internship.
INDG 400-401. Honors.
Interdisciplinary Minors
Africana Studies
The Africana studies minor is an interdisciplinary and consortial program which provides students an opportunity to explore the experiences of the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa and the African diaspora. The starting point is black Africa from ancient times until the present and extends to the global experiences of peoples of black African descent. This program could be of interest to students inclined toward careers in multidisciplinary education, social work, law, international affairs, business, diplomacy, non-governmental organizations, urban development, and social policy, among others.
The Africana studies minor at Moravian consists of five course units; including AFST110 (Introduction to Africana Studies) as a required course and four elective courses, of which at least two must be upper level courses (200 level and above). Qualified students are encouraged to enroll in an Independent Study for one of the four elective courses.
Moravian University offers Africana Studies 110 and electives, including the following courses: English 105 and 240, Foreign Language 116, Spanish 215 and 358, History 110 and 111, Interdisciplinary Studies 358, Music 113 and 115, and Sociology 258, 266, 357, and 358. Africana courses, including special topics courses, will be marked as Africana studies courses at each registration period.
In addition, each term the Africana Studies Consortium of the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC) will publish a list of Africana studies courses offered at nearby LVAIC institutions so that students can cross-register for a wide variety of courses. This list will be available from the registrar and the Africana studies coordinator. Each institution offers the basic Introduction to Africana Studies course. Other courses are offered regularly at other LVAIC institutions.
AFST 105. African American Literature. African-American Literature. Introduction to the poetry, non-fiction, fiction, and drama of the African-American tradition in literature from the beginnings of the Colonial period to the present day, emphasizing analytical and communication skills through written and oral projects. (M2)
AFST 110. Introduction to Africana Studies. This course explores the significance of Africa and its global descendants through an interdisciplinary approach. The critical methodologies of the humanities and social sciences will be used to consider some of the questions provoked by African and African diasporan experiences. For example, is an African diaspora an objective reality or has it existed solely in response to American and European notions of racial difference? What have been the characteristics encompassed by that reality or those notions of race? Course materials will allow students to survey the lasting contributions of Africans and their descendants to the development of various world civilizations. (M5)
AFST 190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.
AFST 286, 381-384. Independent Study. Individual study of an Africana studies topic in areas where the student has demonstrated the interest and ability needed for independent work. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor and program coordinator.
AFST 190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.
AFST 286, 381-383. Independent Study.
AFST 384. Independent Research.
AFST 288, 386-388. Internship.
AFST 400-401. Honors.
Informatics
Advisor: Coleman
Informatics is the application of computing skills, statistical methods, and domain knowledge to obtain and analyze data in order to make decisions about organizations and society.
The minor in informatics consists of five courses: CSCI 120; CSCI 265; one course in statistical reasoning (MATH 107, HLTP 189, ECON 156, or MATH 231); one course in ethics (NURS 360, IDIS 215, or a PHIL course with “Ethics” in the title); and one course in applications (HLTP 230, MGMT 311, BIOL 363, ECON 256). Other courses in statistical reasoning, ethics, or applications may be accepted with approval of the program director.
International Studies
Advisor: Akbar Keshodkar
The study-abroad experience may be completed in one of the following ways:The international studies minor is an interdisciplinary program designed to advance appreciation and understanding of the diversity of the world through an emphasis on the humanities and social sciences. The program seeks to generate an appreciation for the interconnected nature of our world, to increase awareness and interest in world cultures and issues, to encourage international study and travel, and to offer students an opportunity to add a global perspective to their major area of study.
To achieve these goals, the minor in international studies consists of five (5) course units or four (4) course units plus a one (1) unit travel course.
The minor requires Political Science 115. (Political science majors pursuing a minor in international studies must substitute Interdisciplinary 110.) Two course units in the humanities and two additional course units in the social sciences must be taken to complete the minor. No more than two courses may be taken in a single department, and students must complete at least two course units at the 200 level or higher. Courses currently approved as part of the international studies minor include but are not limited to:
| Art 113 | Global Perspectives in Art History to the Renaissance |
| Biology 209 | Humankind and the Global Ecosystem |
| Economics 236* | International Economics |
| English 240 | Post-Colonial Literature |
| French 220 | Modern France and Its Cultural Heritage |
| German 220 | Modern Germany and Its Cultural Heritage |
| History 111 | Modern Latin America |
| History 112 | How Was Hitler Possible? War, Society, and Culture in Europe Since 1500. |
| History 115 | History of Africa. |
| History 255 | The United States and Latin America: History of Their Relations |
| Interdisciplinary 110 | World Geography and Global Issues |
| Interdisciplinary 214 | Immigration, Exile and Internal Displacement in Latin American and Latino Literature |
| Management 333 | International Issues in Management |
| Music 113 | Introduction to Non-Western Music |
| Music 175.2 | Musics of the World |
| Political Science 125 | Introduction to Comparative Politics |
| Political Science 235 | Contemporary European Politics |
| Political Science 245 | Topics in Politics of the Third World |
| Political Science 327 | Topics in Comparative Politics |
| Political Science 347 | Topics in Comparative Politics |
| Political Science 348 | Topics in Chinese Politics |
| Religion 122 | Eastern Religious Traditions |
| Religion 123 | Religions of India |
| Religion 124 | Religious Thought of China and Japan |
| Sociology 113 | Cultural Anthropology |
| Sociology 268 | Communities and Conflict in India |
| Spanish 246 | Culture and Civilization of Spain |
| Spanish 248 | Latin American Contemporary Culture |
| * Economics 152 is a prerequisite; students completing both Economics 152 and 236 may count both courses toward the international studies minor. | |
Medieval Studies
Coordinator: John Black
The medieval studies minor is an interdisciplinary program that examines the art, history, literature, music, and philosophy of the middle ages (c.500 CE to c.1500 CE). The program seeks to increase students' knowledge of the middle ages and appreciation for the ways in which medievalists draw on interdisciplinary methodologies and sources. Courses taken as part of study abroad may work well within this minor. If you are interested in pursuing the medieval studies minor, please contact Dr. John Black, coordinator of the medieval studies minor.
The requirements for the medieval studies minor consist of five course units: two core courses, two electives, and the capstone. Students must take courses in at least three disciplines; in other words, at least one of the two elective courses must come from a discipline outside of English or history. Medieval Studies 370 is the capstone course for the minor. As for all independent study courses, students must have a QPA of at least 2.70 to enroll. The minor requirements cannot be fulfilled without successful completion of the capstone course.
Core (two courses): History 116 (Medieval Europe) and either English 350 (Chaucer) or 355 (Literature and Culture of Medieval Britain) or English 104 (Experience of Literature: Medieval Voices) [Note that there are multiple sections of English 104; ONLY this specific section, taught by Dr. Black, fulfills a requirement for the medieval studies minor.]
Electives (two courses): Selected from the list below. At least one of the two elective courses must come from a discipline outside of English or history.
Capstone (MDVL 370): see further below
List of elective courses:
| Art 113 | Global Perspectives in Art History to the Renaissance (M6) |
| English 104* | Experience of Literature: Medieval Voices (M2) [Note that there are multiple sections of English 104; ONLY this specific section, taught by Dr. Black, fulfills a requirement for the medieval studies minor.] |
| English 350* | Chaucer |
| English 355* | Literature and Culture of Medieval Britain |
| History 117 | England through the Reign of Elizabeth (M1) |
| History 119 | Arab-Islamic Civilizations (M5) |
| History 237 | Popular Culture in Medieval and Early Modern Europe |
| History 238 | Women in Europe, 500-1700 |
| History 376 | Medieval Peasants |
| Music 281 | Western Music to 1750 |
| Philosophy 243 | Medieval Philosophy |
| * Whichever is not selected as the required course above. | |
MDVL 190-99, 290-99, 390-99. Special Topics. Selected interdisciplinary topics in medieval studies. Prerequisites: History 116; English 104 (see note attached to English 104 above), 350, or 355; and permission of instructor and program coordinator.
MDVL 370. Capstone in Medieval Studies. Intensive independent study and research in an area of medieval scholarship in which the student has demonstrated sufficient interest and ability. Content varies. The capstone project must draw explicitly on methodologies of more than one discipline. Prerequisites: History 116; English 104 (see note attached to English 104 above), 350, or 355; GPA of 2.70 or above; satisfactory completion of a writing-intensive course; and permission of instructor and program coordinator.
MDVL 190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.
MDVL 286, 381-383. Independent Study.
MDVL 384. Independent Research.
MDVL 288, 386-388. Internship.
MDVL 400-401. Honors.
Peace and Justice Studies
Advisors: Kelly Denton-Borhaug and Daniel Jasper
The minor in religion, peace and justice is a multidisciplinary program whose objective is to encourage students to think critically and develop strategic responses that will promote positive transformation with regard to:
- the nature and causes of violence and conflict;
- racism, gender bias, inequity, degradation of the natural world, and other manifestations of human violence;
- the nature of religious understandings, values and practices as contributing to conflict and violence and as a resource for just peace-building;
- the destructive power of war and militarism;
- the sources, structures and dynamics of injustice and justice-making, and the values, experiences and bases of peace and justice; and
- possibilities and strategies to encourage personal and collective transformation for the public good and individual human flourishing.
The minor consists of five course units: IDIS 165 and 385, plus two courses from the first group listed below (Courses in Religion, Peace, and Justice) and one course from the second group (Structures and Ideas). In addition to the courses listed in the groups below, certain special topics courses may also be approved as choices in these groups. Interested students should check with the advisors for the minor. Ideally, Interdisciplinary 165 is taken before other courses in the minor. No more than one course from the first group taken prior to Interdisciplinary 165 may count toward the minor.
Courses in Religion, Peace, and Justice (2 courses required)
Students will choose two (2) from among the following courses in the department of religion that focus on the nexus of religion, peace and justice. Additional courses may be added to this list as they become available according to faculty interest and development:
| Philosophy 250 | Environmental Philosophy and Religion |
| Religion 210 | Christian Ethics, War and Just Peacemaking |
| Religion 240 | Jewish and Christian Feminism |
| Religion 245 | Religion and Politics |
| Religion 246 | War and Peace in the Biblical World |
| Religion 255 | Liberation Theology with Travel Seminar |
| Religion/Interdisciplinary 263 | Civil Rights and the Moral Life |
| Religion 370 | The Problem of Evil |
| Sociology 268 | Nation, Religion and Region in India |
Structures and Ideas (1 course required)
Students choose one course in the applied analysis of peace and justice issues in specific social, political, economic, and cultural systems; and/or on how peace and justice are theorized. These courses may be changed and added to in accordance with faculty interest in this program.
| Art 212 | Artists as Activists |
| Education 160 | Culture, Community, Diversity: Introduction to Cultural Diversity |
| English 263 | Writing And/As Activism |
| English 344 | Native American Literature |
| History 220 | The Holocaust |
| History/Interdisciplinary 220 | The Holocaust |
| Interdisciplinary 104 | Experience of Literature: War in the 20th and 21st centuries |
| Interdisciplinary 110 | World Geography and Global Issues |
| Interdisciplinary 212 | Artists as Activists |
| Interdisciplinary 214 | Immigration, Exile and Internal Displacement in Latin American and Latino Literature |
| Philosophy/Women’s Studies 265 | Feminist Philosophy |
| Political Science 115 | International Politics |
| Political 120 | Introduction to Political Thinking |
| Political Science 210 | US Workers in the New Globalized Economy |
| Political Science 245 | Politics of the Third World |
| Political Science/Women’s Studies 257 | Politics of Women’s Rights in Asia |
| Political Science/Women’s Studies 260 | Critical Gender Studies |
| Sociology 258 | Structured Inequalities |
| Sociology 268 | Nation, Religion & Region in India |
| Sociology/Interdisciplinary 358 | Segregation in America: The Legacy of Jim Crow |
| Spanish 345 | Agency, Citizenship and Identity in the Southern Cone |
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that he or she meets all course prerequisites before selecting courses from the above lists to complete the minor.
PJUS 244. What is Peace?. (Also REL/PHIL 244). Students explore the nature, meaning and discipline of peace studies from different traditions, theories and perspectives. They investigate case studies of peace movements in recent times, and develop their own visions of peace through a research project they present for peer review. This final project will take the shape of a paper, film, or other modality according to student interest. (M3)
PJUS 265. Japan: Experiencing Culture, Peacebuilding, History. This course consists of a two-week travel seminar to Japan along with pre- and post-trip reading, reflection, writing, and discussion. Students will be exposed to the rich history and culture of Japan while also experiencing contemporary Japanese society. Students will explore Japanese culture through studying the continuing legacy of war and of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While yearly foci of the course will change in accordance with different faculty leaders, the course will explicitly tie content to InFocus challenge areas. Students will have opportunities to learn alongside peers from Moravian partners. Current partners include Osaka Ohtani University and Nagasaki University. (M5)
PJUS 190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.
PJUS 286, 381-383. Independent Study.
PJUS 384. Independent Research.
PJUS 288, 386-388. Internship.
PJUS 400-401. Honors.
Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Coordinator: Jane Berger
The women's studies minor is an interdisciplinary program focused on the social, psychological, economic, artistic, historical, religious, and political breadth of women's experiences. Attention will be given to the diversity of women's lives and the intricate connections between race, class, sexual preference, and gender in culture and society.
The women's studies minor consists of five course units, including Women's Studies 101 and four electives. At least three of these four electives must come from the list of women's studies courses below. Students may, if they choose, take one of their four electives from the list of gender-related courses below. As with other minors, at least three courses must be taken at the 200 or 300 level.
| German 341 | Women in German Literature and Culture |
| History 238 | Women in Europe 500-1700 |
| Music 188 | Women and Music |
| Philosophy 265 | Feminist Philosophy |
| Political Science 257 | Politics of Women's Rights in East Asia |
| Psychology 345 | Psychology of Women |
| Religion 136 | Seeing and Believing: Women, Religion, and Film |
| Religion 240 | Jewish and Christian Feminism |
| Women's Studies 222 | Women and Health |
| Women's Studies 190-199, 290-299, 390-399 | Special Topics |
| Women's Studies 286, 381-384 | Independent Study |
| Women's Studies 288, 386-388 | Internship |
| Women's Studies 400-401 | Honors |
| Gender-related courses (no more than one can count toward the minor) | |
| Interdisciplinary 232 | Ethical Issues in Reproductive Technology |
| Political Science 260 | Critical Gender Studies |
| Sociology 310 | The Family and the Law |
| Sociology 355 | Sociology of Gender |
| Other women's studies courses may be counted toward the minor with the approval of the women's studies coordinator. | |
Students are encouraged to enroll in an Independent Study for one of the four electives. Students may also cross-register for women's studies courses at other LVAIC institutions.
WGSS 101. Introduction to Women's Studies. Introduction to issues, topics, and methodologies of women's studies in a global context. Examines the lives of women around the globe in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with particular attention to the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the West, focusing on gender inequality, feminist ethics, gender as a category of analysis, and social construction of gender. (M5)
WGSS 105. African American Literature. African-American Literature. Introduction to the poetry, non-fiction, fiction, and drama of the African-American tradition in literature from the beginnings of the Colonial period to the present day, emphasizing analytical and communication skills through written and oral projects. (M2)
WGSS 136. Seeing and Believing: Women, Religion, and Film. (Also Religion 136) Students explore how films appropriate religion in the service of the cultural production of images of women and women's lives; and investigate the ways the creation and viewing of film might share similarities with the construction and practice of religion. (M3)
WGSS 188. Women and Music. (Also Music 188) Women composers and performers from various countries, historical eras, and musical genres. Prior musical knowledge helpful but not required. Fall. Two 70-minute periods. (M6)
WGSS 222. Women and Health. Introduction to feminist analysis of women's health issues. Historical trends in health and health care in relation to changing patterns in social position and roles of women. Ways in which lay, medical, and research assumptions about women have developed and influenced existing literature about women's health and structure of health services as they relate to women's health-care needs. Topics include reproductive health, mental health, chronic illnesses, lesbian health issues, women and aging, nutrition, occupational health hazards, sexuality, race and class health issues, eating disorders, and the women's health movement.
WGSS 232. Ethical Issues in Reproductive Biotechnology. (Also Interdisciplinary 232) Ethical and biological considerations for the individual, family, and society regarding recent technical procedures and diagnostic methods in reproductive biology. Topics include prenatal genetic diagnosis and treatment, assisted reproductive technologies, premature birth and associated medical concerns and treatments, birth-control methods, sex-selection technologies, and pregnancy- and birth-related technologies. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. (U1)
WGSS 240. Jewish and Christian Feminism. (Also Women's Studies 240) Introduction to theological feminist theory, comparing and contrasting Jewish and Christian women theologians/ethicists on themes such as images of the divine, sacred text, halakhah, community, sexuality, ritual, etc. In addition, students will learn from the lives of women in our own community. (U2)
WGSS 257. Politics of Women's Rights in East Asia. (Also Political Science 257) Course explores the history and politics of women's rights in China, Japan, and Korea through readings, discussions, writing, interviews, videos, and debates. Focus will be on cultural and gender differences and the politics concerning women that emerge from the different written and visual sources covered. Writing-intensive. (M5)
WGSS 260. Critical Gender Studies. (Also Political Science 260) This advanced-level political theory course introduces students to scholarly texts, activist writings, and historical documents pertinent to feminist theory and masculinity studies. Selected readings also address multiculturalism, race, class, sexuality, religion, and ethnicity. Theories studied will vary by semester. This class exposes students to diverse approaches to the politics of sex and gender. Prerequisite: Political Science 120 or permission of the instructor.
WGSS 265. Feminist Philosophy. (Also Philosophy 265) Feminist writings on questions such as: How do the legacies of gender inequality persist today? What would gender justice look like? Is there such a thing as a gender-neutral point of view? How do gender, race, class, and sexuality relate? Prerequisite: one prior course in philosophy or women's studies, or permission of instructor. Fall, alternate years. (U2)
WGSS 345. Psychology of Women. (Also Psychology 345) Research on gender differences and female gender development from various perspectives. Critical analysis of assumptions about human nature and science embedded in our approach to these issues. Interdisciplinary approach, with attention to biological, cognitive, behavioral, and social factors that influence emergence of gender. Topics include gender-role development, achievement and motivation, health issues, sexuality, adjustment, victimization, and minority-group issues. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.
WGSS 355. Sociology of Gender. (Also Sociology 355) Relationships between biologically defined sex and culturally defined gender; analysis of expectations and limitations upon males and females in traditional and contemporary societies. Significant focus on inequality in social institutions, including family, workplace, and legal system, that reflect differences in sex and sexual orientation. Prerequisite: Sociology 258 or Women's Studies 101. Writing-intensive.
WGSS 190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics. Selected interdisciplinary topics in women's studies. Prerequisite: Women's Studies 101 or permission of instructor.
WGSS 286, 381-384. Independent Study. Intensive study in an area in which the student has demonstrated the interest and ability needed for independent work. Prerequisite: permission of instructor and program coordinator.
WGSS 384. Independent Research.
WGSS 288, 386-388. Internship.
WGSS 400-401. Honors.