Brazil’s culture is vibrant and its natural resources are extensive, but the country continues to feel the effects of historical struggles related to the enduring effects of colonization and racism, wealth inequality and corruption, violence, and the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. This course will introduce students to a rich history of social movements that emerged in response to these struggles, including subversive movements in which resistance to authoritarian rule was expressed in music and embodied in dance. Focusing on the sociohistorical context of Brazil, students will learn analytic tools drawn from contemporary theories of collective action to examine and critically assess the role of social movements in society. We will consider the following questions: (1) What are the characteristics of successful social movements? (2) Why do everyday citizens choose to join social movements, often at high personal risk? (3) How and when have those movements achieved their goals, and what common obstacles have they faced? Students will identify key patterns in the social movements, and will explore similarities between Brazilian and American examples of civic engagement and resistance. The class will meet regularly on the Rochester campus in the spring semester for discussions and assignments. This course will conclude with a mandatory, 2-week study tour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to foster a deeper understanding of these issues and their contemporary international relevance. The trip will take place immediately following the end of the spring semester. Students will receive an “Incomplete” in the spring semester, which will be changed upon fulfillment of the travel requirement. Tuition is part of the full-time spring semester. A program fee is charged for the international travel, which includes the costs of airfare, transportation, meals, tours, lodging, and health insurance.

This honors seminar is a foundational course that examines how our social worlds are linked to our natural and built worlds. The corresponding emphasis on inquiry, analysis, and interpretation facilitates student-engaged learning. In exploring pertinent place and space related issues/topics through an experiential, active, and site-specific curricular focused learning, various aspects of the human condition are discovered. The theme or topic of this honors seminar, as chosen by the instructor, is announced in the subtitle as well as course notes and is developed in the syllabus. The honors seminar integrates the required Year One curriculum.

This course examines how different paradigms and worldviews have shaped our understanding of the world and life, from antiquity to the present. This course is exploratory in nature. In other words, we will question who we are, how we fit into the world, and what ideas seem to define the world in which we live. How have different cultures, nations, and regions viewed the world differently? What are scientific paradigms? What is the Postmodern or the Posthuman? How can a cosmopolitan society reconcile different attitudes and belief systems? What happens when disparate worldviews or conceptual schemes collide or are threatened with cultural, economic, or political devastation? How should the individual relate to society? How should they relate to the environment? How have artists and writers addressed such questions? We will examine how these concepts have evolved in the modern era, especially, and how paradigms and worldviews have differed across the globe. Key authors and readings from the fields of cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, intellectual history, history of science, philosophy, psychoanalysis, and/or history of art will be discussed.

This course examines how to understand the individual’s role and ethical responsibilities in civil society, the economy, and the globe. The course is exploratory, collaborative, and participatory. The course will involve reading, discussion, and reflection on notable texts about individualism from antiquity to the present, as well as discussion sessions with notable individuals in our community. In consultation with the faculty instructor, students will develop a research and action plan based on their own sense of individuality.

Special topics are experimental courses offered per semester.

A capstone class for students in the Individualized Program bachelor of science degree program. Course provides students an opportunity to reflect upon and enhance the many aspects of their individualized educational programs and focus on future goals. Senior status is required. Students should consult their adviser before registering. (Pre-requisites: Senior status and permission of academic adviser).