Design” is a keyword of the 21st century. In this introduction to anthropology, we will examine design as a cultural practice and artistic expression of form-making. We will look across architecture, engineering, and the design disciplines to understand how norms, values, and customs shape the forms designers make and, in turn, how these forms impact our psychological, social, and political lives. Through case studies drawn throughout the global North and South, students will learn to situate the artistic expressions of designers within their cultural contexts and critically and comparatively assess how the material culture of design structures human experience.

This course explores influential classical and contemporary theories regarding society and culture. Students will assess the utility of different theories in addressing key enduring questions regarding human behavior, the organization of society, the nature of culture, the relationship between the individual and society, social control and social conflict, social groups and social hierarchy, the operation of power, cultural and social change, and the interplay between the global and the local. Theories will be marshaled to shed light on contemporary social and cultural phenomena and problems such as crime, violence, exploitation, modernity, and globalization.

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) engage undergraduate students in long-term, large-scale, multidisciplinary project teams that are led by faculty. VIP courses are project-based, team-based courses directly supporting faculty research and scholarship. VIPs under this course number have a particular focus on interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences expertise, with membership in teams across RIT colleges.

Grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, this course immerses students in collaborative research and scholarship that draws on theory, methods, and applications from the humanities, social sciences, and/or natural sciences. Students develop and apply theoretical frameworks, research methods, and analytical skills from these disciplines to multi-disciplinary, project-based problems. Course work is organized through Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP), with the bulk of each student’s effort focused on liberal arts and sciences inquiry rather than professional or technical skill development. The course carries General Education credit and contributes to the VIP Immersion. Registration by permission of instructor. [Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) engage undergraduate students in long-term, large-scale, multidisciplinary project teams that are led by faculty. VIP courses are project-based, team-based courses directly supporting faculty research and scholarship. VIPs under this course number have a particular focus on interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences expertise, with membership in teams across RIT colleges. Each VIP team has large-scale and multi-faceted objectives in research, design, entrepreneurship, and/or community outreach & service. A VIP faculty advises each VIP team composed of 2nd through 5th year students, with each student participating from one to three years. VIP teams generally can, and will, also include Graduate students at the Masters and PhD levels. New VIP students learn from and replace those who graduate by engaging in peer-to-peer learning and mentorship which sustains each VIP team beyond any one student. The teams are: Multidisciplinary - drawing students from different disciplines on campus; Vertically-integrated - maintaining a mix of sophomores through PhD students each semester; Long-term - each undergraduate student may participate in a project for up to three years.]

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) engage undergraduate students in long-term, large-scale, multidisciplinary project teams that are led by faculty. VIP courses are project-based, team-based courses directly supporting faculty research and scholarship. VIPs under this course number have a particular focus on interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences expertise, with membership in teams across RIT colleges.

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) engage undergraduate students in long-term, large-scale, multidisciplinary project teams that are led by faculty. VIP courses are project-based, team-based courses directly supporting faculty research and scholarship. VIPs under this course number have a particular focus on interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences expertise, with membership in teams across RIT colleges.

This course explores influential classical and contemporary theories regarding society and culture. Students will assess the utility of different theories in addressing key enduring questions regarding human behavior, the organization of society, the nature of culture, the relationship between the individual and society, social control and social conflict, social groups and social hierarchy, the operation of power, cultural and social change, and the interplay between the global and the local. Theories will be marshaled to shed light on contemporary social and cultural phenomena and problems such as crime, violence, exploitation, modernity, and globalization.